Benjamin McEldowney is 23 years old and grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland. After studying linguistics in England, France and Canada, he now lives in Brussels, Belgium, teaching English to jobseekers, studying French and Dutch, and keeping a beady eye on the E.U. institutions.
A life long fan of cycling, he bikes to work, in 2011 completed a 1000km ‘mini-Tour de France’ to raise money for the Marie Curie hospice in Belfast, and takes every opportunity to tell anyone who’ll listen about how great bikes are.
His dream is to one day combine his passions for food and cycling, by starting a cycle-friendly snack bar.
Edmund Luke, also 23, was born and brought up in South West England. Much of his teenage years were spent mountain biking around the muddy hills of rural Wiltshire before a 10 day Lands End – John O’Groats cycling trip in 2008 introduced him to the Lycra-clad community of road cycling and touring.
Having spent four years studying French in the UK and Canada, Ed dipped his toe in the world of TEFL teaching before immersing himself in the wine industry and currently lives near Reading, England.
An advocate of cycle commuting and keen to promote improved cycle safety on British roads, Ed is never more than 3 feet away from a flashing light and florescent jacket.
Furious Green Ideas 
Alexander Longos
Ben, you seem like an absolute catch. Are you single?
If so, you probably wouldn’t be if you had a car. #justsayin
derimitator
hey ben,
thanks for following my african travels. did we ever meet? you know that i’m also in brussels from time to time, doing this?!? –>
http://www.cactus-co.be
i’ll be back in may – want to meet?
groetjes,
simon
benjemce
Hey Simon, yes we met one time after a critical mass last year.. think you were planning the trip across africa at the time. Congratulations on making it all the way 🙂
Would be great to meet up when you’re back in Brussels, send me an email sometime – bpmceldowney [at] gmail.com
Looking forward to it! Ben
T Philip Galbraith
Hi Ben. Just saw your trip in a Google search. I’m thinking of doing a solo cycle from Budapest following Danube as far as SW Romania (Vidin), then south through Bulgaria to Thessaloniki. Linking up with friends in southern Greece. Would welcome direct contact by email. Would welcome your thoughts re the route, quiet roads etc. Maps or Garmin? Both? I live in Enniskillen and I teach English to non native speakers. Hope to hear from you soon. Best wishes, Phil Galbraith.
Simon
hi guys, please let me know what date you believe to be passing by ulm this august. thanks! fritz3721@googlemail
edmundluke
Hi Simon,
We should be in Ulm on the night of the 19th August or possibly a day later on the 20th. A more detailed route can be found here: http://mapsengine.google.com/map/viewer?mid=zfarjlExcUP0.kZkdKqZix46M – each square is a proposed overnight stop.
All the best,
Ed
simon
thanx, unfortunatelly I will already be in romania at that date (I pass ulm on the 5th or so). if you want me to announce you or check out certain information on the part ulm- baja, let me know!