Bike Talk

What happens when a milestone birthday becomes a mission to change lives?

In this inspiring episode of the Lifting Leaders Podcast, we sit down with P.L. and Kristen, founders of Cycle 5 To Survive (C5TS), an extraordinary initiative powered by purpose, courage, resilience, and a commitment to helping communities thrive.

They’re raising $2.5 million for charity by bikepacking across five continents, and somehow the toughest climbs aren’t always the ones on the route. PL and Kristen are a long-married couple who trade a comfortable, successful routine for dirt roads, uncertainty, and the kind of fatigue that makes every conversation feel louder.

Welcome back to the Cycling Hokkaido podcast. Today I’m joined by PL and Kristen from Cycle 5 to Survive, a project that’s taken them across continents on long-distance cycling adventures with a bigger purpose behind every ride: raising support and awareness for multiple causes over a five-year journey spanning 5 continents.