meet the family
Meet Samer
“Born and raised in Boston, I grew up playing soccer, skiing, and doing anything that kept me moving. I could never sit still. From an early age, I also loved to travel. I was lucky enough to travel to places that opened my eyes to the world — the Galápagos, Peru, South Africa, the Middle East, alongside the classic European and American destinations. Those experiences sparked a lifelong curiosity for discovery and connection with people from different walks of life.
Like many others, I followed a traditional path into adulthood: school, university, and eventually a real estate finance job in New York City. I was doing all the things I thought I was supposed to do. Life was comfortable, structured, and predictable. Then the world shut down in 2020, and everything changed.
Looking back, COVID was the best thing that ever happened to me. It forced me to step outside my routine and question what really mattered to me, and what did not. I realized that a 9-to-5 desk job was not for me. Around that time, I started biking more seriously.
Then, when the explosion happened in Beirut in August 2020, it gave me the final push I needed to leave the corporate world behind. I moved to Lebanon, where my family is from, and began volunteering with Offre Joie, an NGO helping with the reconstruction. During that time, biking became more than a passion. It became a purpose.
Exploring Lebanon by bike, even completing a full loop of the country in just three days, made me realize I never wanted to be boxed in again. I wanted to see the world on two wheels.”
Over a year later, in 2022, I set a new goal: to ride from my hometown of Boston to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in South America.
That dream soon became something much bigger. Three years and 75,000 kilometers later, I’ve pedaled across six continents (all but Antarctica) and more than sixty countries on my Hook EXT.
The bike has connected me with people everywhere. It makes me feel alive, fast enough to cover distance, yet slow enough to truly connect with the world up close, discover new cultures, and learn more about myself than I ever imagined.
Now, I’m preparing for my next cross-continent ride — still chasing the magic of the open road and hoping to inspire others to take their first step toward challenge, adventure, and self-discovery on two wheels.”
How did you get into cycling?
“It was actually my dad who got me into cycling. During COVID, I had moved back home and was working remotely. My dad, an avid cyclist, had just bought a new bike and convinced me to ride with him using his old one. I still remember my first ride — falling at a red light because I couldn’t unclip fast enough.
Not long after, I moved to Lebanon and began exploring the country by bike — its endless climbs, mountain villages, and winding coastal roads. That’s where I fell in love with cycling as the perfect way to explore and connect with a place.
The following year, I rented a bike and borrowed a tent to ride across France, from Paris to the mythic Mont Ventoux. By then, biking was all I could think about. I bought my Hook EXT and began planning my first long-distance journey — a bikepacking trip across the Americas.”
Which countries have you cycled through?
“I have cycled across 61 countries. Here is the full list in chronological order. USA, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Andorra, Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Oman, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syra, and Lebanon.”
Which country has left the strongest impression on you so far?
“It’s hard to pick just one, but China really left its mark on me. It was unlike anywhere I’ve ever been — unbelievable food, next-level infrastructure, and such a mix of landscapes. I crossed the lush valleys of Sichuan, the windswept grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau, and the vast emptiness of the Gobi Desert — and so much more.
What stood out most, though, were the people: incredibly friendly, curious, and welcoming. I can’t wait to go back and explore more.”
What’s the longest distance you’ve ever ridden in a day?
“Nothing crazy…265 km in South Africa (which is probably less than Sofiane's average daily distance on his most recent trip lol)”
What’s on your current bucket list for the near future?
“Big projects: "Cape to Cape" (via east Europe and east Africa this time). Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro. Boston to Prudoe Bay Alaska
Other countries I'd like to tour one day: Mongolia, Japan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Iceland, Brazil”
What languages do you speak?
“English, French, Arabic, Spanish”
Samer
Year of birth: 1994
Where do you live: When I am not traveling with my bicycle, you will find me either in Boston, Massachusetts (USA) or with family in Beirut, Lebanon.
What are your bikes: Hook EXT
What is your favourite music: I listen to a pretty wide range of music when I’m riding. My playlist jumps from Mumford & Sons and Mac Miller to Creedence Clearwater Revival, Edith Piaf, Dirtwire, Ed Sheeran, and Bob Marley. I also love diving into local music wherever I am — it gives each journey a soundtrack of its own. I especially enjoyed Colombian reggaeton, Moroccan rhythms, and the sounds of West Africa, with artists from Senegal, The Gambia, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria.
When I’m off the bike and just relaxing, it’s usually reggae playing in the background — nothing matches that feeling.
Favourite place/moment
“This was a climb I’d done many times while living in Lebanon, which made it extra special to arrive there again on my touring bike after such a long journey. It was the final big climb before reaching Beirut — a moment I had visualized for so long. To actually be there felt like an out-of-body experience.”
