Life as a gravelly digital nomad might sound like the dream gig, but does living out of a bag, never being able to find your smartphone charger and always looking for a clean pair of socks really hold that much appeal? Nol from FatPigeon.cc spills the beans on how 2023 went for them.
To be as free as a bird. That’s what this pigeon right here was aiming for. My name is Nol van Loon of Fatpigeon.cc and since 2020 I’ve been a full-time adventurer. In the first three years, I behaved like a true pigeon - always returning home from wherever I’d been riding my bike. Somehow there has always been this voice in my head, asking what it would be like to truly live from one adventure into another.
I love riding my bike in unknown places and sharing my experiences. So why not merge all my desires in one massive adventure cocktail called ‘The 2023 season’? Just a Ridley bike, some bikepacking bags, a camera, a laptop and quite a decent amount of courage were all I needed.
With a fully booked calendar, I gave up my home in the Netherlands, leaving all the stuff I didn’t need in a local storage. For me, just taking this step already felt like an adventure, a deep dive into the unknown. I might be living the dream, but it also might just end up unpleasantly. In any case, I was open to embracing the outcome. Worst case scenario was finding a new home, but with a massive bag of experiences and lessons learned. Nothing to lose, right?
Planning
So, what does the 2023 string of adventure look like? Basically, just an insane gathering of worldwide adventures with a logistical challenge in between:
Where to start, when undertaking so many successive adventures? Planning. Planning is key if you’re going from one adventure to another. For me personally one of the best parts of adventure is not planning at all, just going with the flow and being adaptable to change. On the other hand, a basic level of planning significantly improves the quality of the adventure.
For example the bikepacking from Strade to Girona. Planning my gear was crucial for this trip. I’d never been riding with my laptop before and so I needed something trustworthy in all conditions. Luckily the guys at Tailfin provided me with their carbon Aero Pack. Also my choice of bike (Ridley Kanzo Fast) proved to be the right one. Only about 10% of the eventual route was on gravel, but also on the road, I really enjoyed the comfort on this long trip.
For places to eat, sleep, detailed route planning and that kind of stuff I just went with the flow. Having the right gear on one hand and being flexible on the other hand is for me the ideal way of experiencing adventure. That’s also what I liked most about this specific trip - to be fully self-supported. Only yourself to take care of (and that was more than enough, to be honest).
The complete opposite happened on my trip to Rwanda. Having local friends was really fun. In the past, I did some UCI racing in Burkina Faso and also the first two editions of Migration Gravel Race in Kenya. Therefore, I knew some guys who formed the base of my local network out there. During the hours behind my laptop I was alone, but all coffees and rides were shared with old and new friends.
The connecting power of the bike has always been a special thing for me, even long before my time as a Fat Pigeon. Once again Rwanda and its wonderful community showed a great example of how bringing your bike to a certain place always results in the most immersive experience possible. Made friends for life, shared breathtaking stories and many more Rwanda trips have been planned ever since.
Besides blistering heat, the 2023 season also had some incredibly cold rides. For example, the first and last on the calendar were ridden in sub-zero temperatures. Whether you’re riding a 1250km ultra across all northern spring classics or bikepacking and camping on a Norwegian glacier, there’s something special about deep winter riding. Mostly there’s no one else out there, resulting in a feeling of being alone in the world. Also, the layers and layers of winter kit provide this cosy feeling of comfort in your own little bubble.
The reward of an ice cream on a summer ride is nice, but the feeling of drinking a hot chocolate after a deep winter ride is hard to beat! And that’s what videographer Ruben and I experienced whilst camping out in the snow. With a blizzard going on outdoors, we were casually sipping on hot chocolate, discussing our failed crossing of the glacier that day.
But it’s not all cool stories and epicness. Living from adventure to adventure also means dirty clothing to wear, packing bikes on cold airport parking lots and not being home while your friends gather. Not having a home base means you're constantly losing gear and searching for that one little adaptor, knee warmer or charger.
But the hardest part was not being able to properly pack and unpack. No dedicated place for certain gear and mostly living in a mess. The last time I just laid down on a sofa, there was still CX on television. This was something that popped into my mind in October. I then decided that I did need a kind of home base - a place to have your gear sorted and where you can properly recharge body and mind, but also camera gear and Di2.
Does this mean 2024 will be less adventurous? NO!! It just means 2024 will be better organised in terms of logistics and packing. In terms of the signature Fatpigeon.cc ‘Next Level Gravel Adventures’ nothing will change. With a new home base to watch cyclocross in Eindhoven, The Netherlands I just have more time and energy to experience the adventures to the fullest, rather than the frustration of logistics.
What I cherish most and what I’ll definitely be taking into 2024, is the confidence that living this lifestyle unlocked. I’m now 100% sure that no matter what happens during an adventure, there’s always a solution which I can create myself. Also, the knowledge of what it brings to be open-minded. That way I’ve built friendships, improved routes significantly and even got myself a relationship after a gravel event!
Reflection and Future Adventures
Use a series of photos to reflect on your personal journey. Tease upcoming plans with visually enticing images.
Invite readers to share their favourite photos or ask questions. This condensed structure allows you to cover key aspects of your digital nomad journey, while maintaining a strong emphasis on visual elements. Each chapter can be a visual feast, drawing readers into your experiences through captivating images and concise captions.
If you would like to follow the adventures of Nol and the rest of the FatPigeon crew, head over to their website or check out their Instagram account.