He bought his first bike in May 2009. He met the “Ankara Thursday Night Bicyclists” community where he got familiar with bike and city biking rules and in the end began to commute on bike daily.
In September 2009, he completed his first long distance tour on bike from Amasra to Istanbul.
In October 2009, he joined the “Gokova Bicycle Tour” organized by Mugla Bicyclists Association.
He accomplished his first international tour from Turkey to Japan between April 2010-March 2011 which he called “Pedal for Nature” on his own budget. He pedaled for 12,500 km through Middle and Eastern Black Sea regions of Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Mongolia, South Korea and Japan.

He was the first Turk, who pedaled through Central Asian Turkic States, the entire North Asia and the Silk Road, the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan, the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, the Wakhan Valley of Tajikistan requiring about 37,000 km of climb on bike in total and Pamir Gateway the so called roof of the world at an altitude of 4,650 m.

During 2011 and 2012, he shared his experiences with 25,000 people from 38 universities, 48 primary schools, 30 private and government agencies. He held four photography exhibitions. He made two short films which he sent to film festivals. Also on his tour around the World he meets with students and young people since 2012. Holding presentations he is sharing his experiences continuing to inspire people.

During his tour around the World which he started in 2012, he is intending to travel in 94 countries traversing 7 continents within his project called “Pedal for Future” supported by his “dream partners” and “followers”. His route passes through the highest paved mountain passes and the biggest deserts in the five continents. He is monitoring his route with a road computer and a GPS device mounted on his bike willing to set his records in Guinness World Records.

In December 2012, he cycled through Ukraine, in January 2013 traversed Russia and in February 2013 Finland and Sweden. He has faced minus 40°C at night in his tent, minus 57°C in winter and plus 61°C in the dessert in summer on his bike. He has become one of the few touring cyclists and explorers crossing the Arctic Circle in winter and traversing deserts in summer during a “World Tour”.

He is the first cycling traveler traversing the deserts Kara Kum in Turkmenistan, Taklamakan in China, Gobi in Mongolia, Tabernas in Spain, Sahara in Africa, Arabian Desert in Middle East on bike. There are 3 deserts remaining to be traversed during this world tour.

He accomplished 45,000 m climbs crossing the 32 Alpine passes in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and France. He crossed the highest paved mountain pass Col de la Bonette (2,802 m) riding through the most difficult legs of Tour de France on his 55 kg bike.

During his tour around the world he started in September 9th, 2012

Europe leg: Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Scotland, England, Spain,

North Africa and Middle East leg: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrein, Qatar, United Arab Emirates Oman, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho and SouthAfrica

South America leg; Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brezilia, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peri, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador Guatemala

he rode for 122000km on his bike. Presently riding in South America. He stoped Guatemala December 2022. Becouse he had not United state visa. He had to come back his country after 10 years on road. He has United state, Kanada, Avusturalia and Schengen visas now He is going to start again at 18 September  2023.

Additional initiations and projects he is undertaking during his world tour are still in course

Gurkan Genc Grants Bicycle (click here)

He grants bicycles upon raffling among the young people sending the right answer to the questions related to his road memories on his web site about the cultures, economies and histories of the countries he traveled in. The readers both learn about the regions he traveled in and also support cycling life.

Gurkan Genc Foreign Language Education Scholarship (Click here)

He asks general questions about the cultures, economies and histories of the countries he traveled in mentioned in his road memories on his web site and gives educational scholarships upon raffling among the young people sending the right answer. He tries to support education as far as he can.

Gurkan Genc Traveler Scholarship (click here)

Through the “Young Explorers Academy” he established he supports young people for traveling and learning about their country every summer. This project is carried out with members the bicycle teams of universities.

Gurkan Genc Supports Athletes (click here) 

He supports national athletes, in particular women, who had some success and did not give up due to some hardships or not achieving any support by participating in their success.

Frequently asked questions and answers about his tour around the world tour and him, what he is planning to do after the end of the tour.

World tour articles, World tour videos, World tour photos

Turkey-Japan tour on bike articles and videos.