Who we are
Marc and Rob completed their first bicycle journey in 2009 aged 17 and 16, cycling from Paris to Amsterdam over 7 days. They were not cyclists by any means but they were up for the challenge and the prospect of an adventure. It turned out to be a lot harder than they imagined, but it was an unforgettable experience and they were hooked. In the years that followed, Marc and Rob have cycled from the South of France to Valencia (pictured on the right in 2011) and from Bristol to Snowdonia with many shorter trips in between. Bicycle journeys have become their passion and a strong foundation for their lasting friendship.
It was a major developmental experience for them at 17 and 16 years old and every time they have done it since. Experiencing the joys of free travel, the presence of mind, the ups and downs in a day, cycling through beautiful landscapes and meeting interesting people. This sparked their interest in wanting to share and provide this experience for others.
Marc Fruitema - Cofounder & Trip Director
As Trip Director, Marc leads on all aspects of organising and leading trips. From start to finish, Marc will guide you through the process from planning itineraries, managing bookings, working with you to plan the trip of your dreams and guiding you on the trips itself!
Marc is currently based in Indonesia and works part time as an advisor to conservation NGOs in Indonesia and other parts of the world. Through his work Marc aims to support the human rights of coastal fishing communities while enabling them to also manage the marine resources they depend on.
Over the years, Marc has co-founded his own NGO, worked for international NGOs and also led numerous volunteer, education and training programmes for primary schools, university students and adults. With this successful track record of leading teams and developing training programmes, Marc brings diverse experiences to organizing unique and meaningful cycling experiences for others.
While in Indonesia, he enjoys exploring the wilder parts of Bali on his bicycle, but he spends his summers in Europe to organize bicycle journeys and be close to family and friends. In July of 2023 Marc undertook his first big solo bikepacking trip from Lisbon, Portugal to Tours, France. Cycling 1500km by himself was a big lesson in self reliance, resilience and positivity. He brings his many experiences on two wheels and his experiences in community conservation to LifeCycled Journeys.
Rob Owen - Cofounder & Guest Trip Leader
Rob is fascinated by life and living systems. He explores this through working in agriculture and forestry and also by viewing what he sees through a scientific lens. At The University of Exeter he has explored how natural systems regulate themselves and he is also part of a project producing participatory research with a network of Kenyan farmers who are implementing agroforestry.
Before his split life as a landworker and academic he worked in the third sector. He ran a a social enterprise and also worked as a consultant, helping individuals and communities to create positive change in whatever form that may be.
Rob and Marc conceived of Lifecycled Journeys together in 2020 at the start of the Covid pandemic. Although fully committed to his work with Holistic Restoration, Rob remains an advisor to Lifecyled Journeys and hopes to make a guest appearance as trip leader sometime in the future. He is based in Devon but loves travelling by bicycle through countries to exercise his limited language skills.
