Crossing a Continent

Meet the 8-Year-Old Girl Who Cycled 4,400km Across Europe this Summer 

Young adventurer Eva crosses eight countries under her own power on an extraordinary 101-day family expedition this Summer. 

Eight-year-old Eva has completed an incredible 4,400km cycling expedition across Europe, riding from the Black Sea in Bulgaria to the Atlantic coast of France on her Early Rider Seeker 24. 

The 101-day Sea2Ocean adventure saw Eva and her family cross eight European countries, tackling steep climbs, gravel roads, relentless headwinds and temperatures approaching 40°C, all without the help of buses, trains or support vehicles. 

Eva rode her Early Rider Seeker 24 throughout the whole journey, carrying some of her own equipment in frame, front and handlebar bags. Its lightweight construction, wide gear range and geometry allowed the children's bike to be transformed into a fully loaded miniature touring machine. 

The family travelled through Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Switzerland and France as they made their way west, following some of Europe's great rivers and cycle routes (in sometimes difficult conditions) towards the Atlantic. 

After 101 days, Eva finally reached the Atlantic, having crossed a continent on her own two wheels. 

Her parents said: “At the beginning, she was an eight-year-old starting a very big journey. By the end, she was an experienced little touring cyclist who had crossed Europe under her own power.” 

They added: “Eva completely proved that children don't need to be limited to the backyard. With the right mindset, family determination and a reliable bike, they can explore the world.” 

“Our daughter provided the unstoppable willpower to cross Europe and Early Rider built a truly fantastic, solid child's bike that got her to the finish safely. For a long distance expedition, that’s probably one of the best things you can ask from a bicycle.” 

Andy Loveland, Founder of Early Rider, said: 

“Eva’s achievement is extraordinary. Riding 4,400 kilometres across eight countries at just eight years old takes a level of determination and resilience that would challenge most adults. 

This is exactly why we’ve always believed children are capable of so much more than we sometimes give them credit for. Give them the right tools, the confidence and the freedom to explore, it’s incredible to see where they can go. 

To know that Eva trusted her Seeker 24 to carry her all the way from the Black Sea to the Atlantic makes us incredibly proud. But the real story here isn’t the bike - it’s Eva. What an adventure, and what an incredible eight-year-old girl.”