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Woman by a bike eating ice cream

US Motorcycle Tour Reflections: Stoicism, Community, and Connection

This is the latest in my Stoic Rider series, reflecting on a journey across the US that took me from a reunion with the Hayabusa I once rode at Bonneville, to the redwoods of California and the camaraderie of women riders in Maine. Along the way I found community, laughter, and reminders of Stoic truths: that nature restores us, obstacles shape us, and connection gives life its meaning.
author in front of The Stoic Rider

Overland Event Roundup: A Big Hug on Two Wheels

After an inspiring weekend at The Overland Event, I reflect on community, conversation, and the Stoic practice of the Dichotomy of Control. I went away from the weekend feeling part of something much bigger than myself. It felt good.
Bear Grylls at Gone Wild in Devon

Gone Wild: Stoic Lessons from Mud, Fear, and Community

This is a standalone reflection inspired by my weekend at the Gone Wild festival in Devon. Supported by Bear Grylls and the Royal Marines Charity, the event was a wild mix of mud, fear, and community. It reminded me of some timeless Stoic truths: the value of nature, the strength of the body, the power of mind over fear, and the joy of belonging to something bigger than yourself.
Ninja ZX6r bike in museum

Stoic Lessons from my Book Launch

This is a special post in The Stoic Rider series, reflecting on the book launch at Pendine Sands. From a humble eBay bike to a museum display, the day was filled with Stoic lessons — courage to act without waiting for the perfect time, gratitude for community, and the reminder that all is fleeting. These moments become memories, and this one will be treasured forever.
Louisa on a white Hayabusa on I-80

The Road is the Teacher

This is the twelfth and final post in a 12-part series exploring the philosophy behind The Stoic Rider. In The Road is the Teacher, Louisa Swaden reflects on Rocky Balboa’s famous words about resilience, sharing how the road – both literal and metaphorical – rewards not appearances but endurance. Every 5 to 7 years, we change, shaped by the challenges and beauty we encounter. The road teaches us not to dominate, but to listen, adapt, and keep becoming.
Looking out over the Brecons

Answer the Call: Why Purpose Isn’t Found, It’s Felt

This is the eleventh in a 12-part series inspired by my book, The Stoic Rider: Philosophy in Motion. This chapter explores the idea of purpose – not as a plan, but as a pulse. A call to live a life that feels honest and expansive. The kind of life you can look back on and say: I showed up fully, even when it was hard.