The Motorcycle Sidecar Journey That Changed Everything
5/15/20261 hr 5 min
Eva Strehler had already learned what drew her to the road on a motorcycle: freedom, movement, and a way of living outside the usual shape of things. Then she built a sidecar for her dog, Polly, and headed east. What followed was meant to be another long motorcycle journey — through Turkey, into Iran, and across landscapes that changed as quickly as the people she met along the way. But somewhere during the trip, the journey became about something else entirely. This is a conversation about travel, companionship, risk, solitude, and the moments that quietly change the meaning of a journey while you’re still inside it.
🔗 Show Notes & Links:
Find photos, links, and resources related to this episode on our website at Adventure Rider Radio.
🎧 Subscribe & Never Miss an Episode:
We release new episodes of ARR every week on Thursday and of RAW on the 21st of every month—full of inspiring stories, expert advice, and insight from the world of adventure motorcycling. Hit subscribe so you never miss out!
💡 Got an Idea?
Have a guest suggestion or topic you’d love us to cover? We’d love to hear from you! Drop us an email through our website.
⭐️ Leave a Review:
Enjoying the show? A 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app goes a long way in helping others discover the show.
📱 Follow Us:
Join our growing community on Facebook and Instagram. Let’s stay connected!
🙌 Support the Show:
Love what we do? Help keep the adventure alive by supporting us. Your contribution allows us to keep bringing you great content week after week.
📤 Share the Show:
Know someone who would enjoy this episode? Share it with them! Word of mouth helps us grow and reach more riders around the world.
📬 Join Our Newsletter:
Be the first to hear about new episodes, bonus content, and more! Sign up for our newsletter at Adventure Rider Radio.
🙏 Thanks for Listening!
We truly appreciate you being part of our adventure community. Until next time—ride safe and keep exploring!
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsJim Martin· Host0:01
Eva had already learned what motorcycle travel gave her, freedom, movement, a way to live outside the usual shape of things. Then she brought Polly into that life. With a sidecar built for her dog, Polly, Eva set off east with only sort of a loose plan and a long horizon. The road led through Turkey and into Iran, where the journey became something that she had not planned for. This is a conversation about motorcycle travel, sidecar life, traveling with a dog, and the question that stayed with Eva even after Iran, what makes a journey a good one? I'm Jim Martin. This is Adventure Rider Radio. Stay with us. We got a good one for you.
Ted Simon· Soundbite0:43
[upbeat music] Hi, this is Charlie Boorman.
Eva Strehler· Guest0:49
Nora-Lee Schomaker.
Jim Martin· Host0:50
Sam Manicom.
Eva Strehler· Guest0:50
Austin Vince.
Jim Martin· Host0:51
Henrik Pedersen. Grant Johnson. Jocelyn Snow.
Ted Simon· Soundbite0:53
Ted Simon. Simon Pavey.
Jim Martin· Host0:54
Jimmy Lewis.
Eva Strehler· Guest0:55
Kevin Busque.
Ted Simon· Soundbite0:56
Tiffany Coates.
Chris Birch· Soundbite0:57
Chris Birch.
Ted Simon· Soundbite0:57
Simon Thomas.
Eva Strehler· Guest0:58
Lisa Thomas.
Ted Simon· Soundbite0:59
Graeme Jarvis.
Eva Strehler· Guest0:59
Quentin Smout.
Ted Simon· Soundbite1:00
And you're listening to Adventure Rider Radio.
Jim Martin· Host1:02
Experienced riders choose the Cycle Pump tire inflator made by Best Rest Products for one reason, because they can count on it when they pull that out of their pannier, no matter what. They're so tough, they're warrantied for life. Best Rest has loads of other moto-specific products like the hex wrench, which is a combination tire iron/wrench, and they're known for their top quality tire plugs and patch kits. More at cyclepump.com. And