Global Voyage on Two Wheels: Judi Desire's Solo Motorbike Journey Spans New York to New Zealand
In the heart of Harlem, Judi Desire continues her passionate advocacy for cycling, spearheading the Uptown & Boogie Bicycle Advocacy group. Founded in 2017, this organisation offers learn-to-ride classes, bicycle repair education, and group rides primarily in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx—areas often underserved in cycling infrastructure compared to lower Manhattan and Brooklyn [1].
Desire's journey began in 2012 when she embarked on her first proper bike tour, cycling for three months in Sao Paolo, Brazil. Since then, she has traversed remote locations worldwide, including the beaches of Hawaii, and faced numerous challenges along the way.
One of her most memorable experiences was during her first attempt at bike touring from New York City to Cape Cod. She got lost and had to adjust her plan, turning a 7-day tour into a 3-day tour to Connecticut [2]. Despite these setbacks, Desire remains undeterred, viewing each adventure as a learning opportunity.
While bike touring, Desire has camped in diverse locations, from the backyard of a police officer in Bolivia to the dormitories of female firefighters in Argentina. However, she is hesitant to bicycle across the United States due to the "extreme racism" in many states [3].
Desire's experiences have not been without incident. In Istanbul, a man slapped her on the shoulder in front of bystanders, who seemed unalarmed. Her host later informed her that Black people in Turkey are perceived to be prostitutes [4]. She has also faced exotification and inappropriate touching in some regions.
Despite these challenges, Desire remains optimistic about increased cycling interest in Harlem, especially among people of colour. She views biking as a tool for positive community change [1]. While she returns to her Harlem apartment to subsidise her trips, she has eight bicycles crammed into her living room [5].
Despite pandemic-related interruptions, Desire is optimistic about the surge in cycling in New York City leading to long-term behavioural change, particularly in her own community [6]. There are indications of ongoing or upcoming bike-related announcements and community events in Harlem in August 2025, suggesting continued activity in local cycling advocacy, possibly connected to Desire or Uptown & Boogie [3].
Women, and women of colour, are extremely underrepresented in bike touring. However, Desire's goal is to use the bicycle to bring positive change to her own community [7]. She works as a computer programmer to fund her bike tours and only purchases one-way tickets [8].
Despite facing undermining and patronizing behaviour from male bicycle mechanics, Desire holds multiple bicycle mechanic and bike tour leader certifications [9]. She uses the nonprofit homestay and networking platform, Couchsurfing, to connect with locals and travelers for bike tours [10].
Desire learned to ride a bike in her 20s and initially found the idea of long-distance bike touring intimidating. However, her determination and resilience have led her to become a trailblazer in the world of bike touring and community advocacy [11].
[1] New York Times
[2] Cycling Weekly
[3] Harlem World Magazine
[4] The Guardian
[5] CBS News
[6] Gothamist
[7] Bicycling
[8] Forbes
[9] BikeRadar
[10] Couchsurfing
[11] Bicycle Times
- Judi Desire's passions extend beyond cycling advocacy, as her home-and-garden transforms into a temporary storage for her eight bicycles, which she uses for her extensive travel, exploring remote locations worldwide.
- As a trailblazer in the world of bike touring and community advocacy, Judi Desire aims to use her lifestyle, encompassing travel and sports, to inspire women, particularly women of colour, to embrace the bicycle as a tool for positive change and community development, especially in underserved areas like Harlem.
