About Us

A brief history of the Supple Life.

Whether it’s riding gravel, hosting #coffeeoutside, or building bike tourism, we believe there’s more to cycling than just placing onto a podium. 

Laura and Russ: travelers and storytellers.

Way back in 2009, we took a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and sold everything we owned to travel by bike. We spent three years pedaling over 15,000 miles across the US and New Zealand – all while sharing stories from our travels to inspire others to also travel by bike. Along the way, we began to see how bicycle travel can bring economic development to rural areas – and we began to connect with community members and rural tourism advocates to develop and grow the concept of bicycle tourism.

In 2016, we took our love of all things bike to YouTube, to showcase the vast and growing world of non-competitive cycling – and #thesupplelife was born.

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Learn more about our background by reading our Essential Blog Posts.

18 Comments

  1. Streetsblog Los Angeles » Welcome to the Blogroll: The Path Less Pedaled July 30, 2009 at 9:52 am

    […] from the teary goodbyes to their friends (and bikes) to exciting tales of life on the road, the duo leaves this explanation of why they’re leaving Southern California for life on the […]

  2. New Adventures « Small Wheels… Big World! August 8, 2009 at 7:27 am

    […] By Jon Unfortunately not for me, but for Russ and Laura, a couple in California whose blog, The Path Less Pedaled, I follow. They’re off on an open-ended adventure through the US and beyond. Reading the post […]

  3. 15-year old Lincoln Heights boy murdered anyway after surrendering his bike « BikingInLA August 29, 2010 at 11:46 pm

    […] Roca, one half of the Long’s Beach biking expats touring the country for the past year, eloquently explains the beauty of riding without set […]

  4. Long Distance Utility Cycling | Utility Cycling September 18, 2010 at 12:14 pm

    […] is that they are not interested in any specific number of miles or days on the road.  Rather, their goal is to find meaning and joy in the journey itself and connect with people around the country and […]

  5. The grand tour: How bike tourism helps local economies | Bikenomics | Grist June 6, 2011 at 11:07 am

    […] embracing it as completely as Russ Roca and Laura Crawford, who a year and a half ago decided to sell all their possessions and take off across the country by bike without a set destination or plan. They financed the trip in part with speaking engagements at […]

  6. Saving Rural Economies « An Old Guy On Two Wheels August 7, 2011 at 12:32 pm

    […] This morning they posted a very interesting graphic.  It is spot on.  The benefits of bicycle tour, especially to rural/local economies, is hard to argue with.  Their idea provides the seed of a way to market bicycle touring to people who might not understand how beneficial it can be.   Well done Laura and Russ.  […]

  7. Of Bikes and Bracelets | September 17, 2011 at 7:36 am

    […] https://www.pathlesspedaled.com/about/ […]

  8. Osprey Packs Bike Blog » The Path Less Pedaled: What Is Bicycle Travel? March 7, 2012 at 12:15 pm

    […] Three years ago, Russ Roca and Laura Crawford left their home in Long Beach, California, on what would turn out to be a fateful bike trip to Joshua Tree. By the time they returned, began plans to sell everything they owned to take off on an incredible adventure — on two wheels. […]

  9. Questo e' il cicloturismo.. March 9, 2012 at 1:41 am

    […] pathlesspedaled.com marzo 9th, 2012 | urbancycling | No Comments | Tag:cicloturismo, […]

  10. Blog stalkingblo « Art Of Hookie March 13, 2012 at 11:15 am

    […] https://www.pathlesspedaled.com/about/ […]

  11. A Chance Encounter With Path Less Pedaled March 30, 2013 at 9:35 pm

    […] bicycle touring not only desirable, but extremely accessible to get into! As they say on their about page: “Since that first day on the road, our goal has been to inspire others to travel by […]

  12. Small Bike, Big Ideas | muppix June 10, 2013 at 2:46 am

    […] mostly for the kudos of knocking out a 100+ mile day on something the size of a carry-on bag. If Russ and Laura can do […]

  13. The Path Less Pedaled | Teva Collect Blog | Live Better Stories June 12, 2013 at 4:35 pm

    […] the summer we caught up with two adventurers, Ross Roca and Laura Crawford who set out to see the world on two wheels. Fresh off zig-zagging their way across the US, the two have since embarked on some one-off trips […]

  14. Things Worth Having: Acorn Boxy Rando Bag | February 6, 2014 at 2:50 pm

    […] Russ Roca, of the Path Less Pedaled, said in his 10,000 mile review of the same bag: […]

  15. Impossible Way Of Life by nomusic.nomusic. March 31, 2014 at 10:31 am

    […] supported and centered around riding bikes.  People like John Prolly, the nice couple of The Path Less Pedaled and the lovely Bicycle blog come to mind.  It seems like the best life style one can have – […]

  16. Happy Links: From Love to a Giveaway — go small, think big & be happy July 10, 2014 at 10:43 am

    […] Note: The portrait above was taken in the Fall of 2009. At that time, we were living in Sacramento, CA. Photography by Russ Roca. […]

  17. 5 Female Cyclist Bloggers You Need To Read — SHE-NANIGANS April 27, 2017 at 4:43 am

    […] 4. The Path Less Pedaled […]

  18. How Bike Tourism Helps Local Economies - Focus Outdoor Advisors May 19, 2017 at 1:07 pm

    […] embracing it as completely as Russ Roca and Laura Crawford, who a year and a half ago decided to sell all their possessions and take off across the country by bike without a set destination or plan. They financed the trip in part with speaking engagements at […]

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