Take the Plunge: Bikepacking, Serendipity & Living Without Regrets with Alenka Vrecek
There are some conversations that feel like they happen exactly when they’re meant to, and this one was just that. Recorded on a glassy August morning in the middle of Lake Tahoe, I sat down on a boat with author and adventurer Alenka Vrecek. Her book She Rides: Chasing Dreams Across California to Baja first planted the seed of bikepacking in my mind years ago, and in this episode, she shares the powerful story of finally taking her 2,500-mile ride from Tahoe to the tip of Baja.
👉 Hit play below to listen to the full conversation!
Finding Confidence in the Unknown
Alenka didn’t come into her ride with all the “right” gear or experience. She started with what she had and figured it out along the way.
“Once you start in that direction, once you take that first step out of your comfort zone, then everything else will follow.”
What began as a symbolic way to take back control of her life turned into something much bigger: a journey that rebuilt her confidence and reignited her fire.
Cost vs. Value
One of my favorite takeaways from this conversation was Alenka’s reflection on the difference between price and value. Whether it’s a $400 bottle of wine versus a $6 one, or a brand-new bike versus the one you already have, the true worth comes from the experience and the people you share it with.
“Does a painting your five-year-old granddaughter made have a price? No. But the value is everything. It’s the same with adventure—you don’t need the newest gear to have a life-changing experience.”
Writing It Down, Making It Real
Manifestation came up again and again in our talk. Years before her ride, Alenka scribbled down the dream of biking from Tahoe to Baja in a little notebook.
“If we just think about things, they float away. When I wrote down that idea, it kept staring at me. Fifteen years later, I finally said: am I just going to talk about it, or am I going to do it?”
Her reminder? Don’t just write it down—believe it, and be ready to act when the timing is right.
Why You’ll Want to Hit Play
✅ How cancer gave Alenka permission to live without regrets
✅ What 2,500 miles and 5.5 “Everests” taught her about self-reliance
✅ Why failure can be the best teacher—and how it led her to writing a book
✅ The power of manifesting on paper (and truly believing it)
✅ Why it’s never too late to chase your adventure dream
Get the Book and Follow Alenka
📖 She Rides: Chasing Dreams Across California to Baja
🌐 Alenka Vrecek’s Website
IG: @mother_len
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