It would be difficult to find a couple that embodies the spirit of staying active more than Brian and Jane Smith, with a shared passion for adventure that has taken them around the globe—on two wheels. What began in 1986 with a pair of secondhand bikes quickly turned into a lifelong journey that has spanned six continents and almost four decades.
The couple’s love for cycling truly blossomed after their first organized tour in 1989, when they pedaled through the Loire Valley in France. What attracted them to the cycling tours was how they were able to experience the world in a way few people do—offering an unfiltered view of each destination.
“You’re not stopping for the shops during these tours,” Jane says. “You are traveling the back roads, and the roads less traveled.”
A memorable moment came while resting on a park bench in Cairo, Egypt. Two children approached them, curious about the foreign couple. When the children discovered Brian and Jane could speak English, they eagerly pulled out their homework and asked for help. Jane, a former English teacher, was happy to oblige.
“They took off their backpacks and handed us what they had written that day,” Brian recalls. “Jane went through with a red pen and began marking their papers. The kids were so excited to have somebody to help, and we enjoyed chatting with them.”
A special moment occurred when their outdoor biking group stopped at an irrigation farm. The farmer warmly invited them to stay for lunch, but due to time constraints, the group had to decline. Curious about the generous offer, Jane asked the guide how the farmer could have managed to feed the entire group on such short notice.
“The guide told us that the farmer would have called on everyone in the village to supply food,” Jane explains. “But the villagers wouldn’t have eaten the rest of the day. They had what they had, and they were willing to share it with us.”
Over the years, Brian and Jane estimate they have participated in 20 to 30 cycling tours. With more than 30 years of experience, they have witnessed firsthand the evolution of these trips. What once involved navigating with paper directions stapled to their bike bags eventually grew into GPS-guided tours.
“You didn’t get lost as much with the GPS!” Jane jokes.
Since moving to Bethesda Barclay House in 2020, Brian and Jane have not slowed down. For Brian, he picked up a tennis racket for the first time in years. Now, he plays three times a week.
“I love the social aspect of tennis,” Brian says. “We’re out there making mistakes, but we’re laughing and having fun.”
While Brian enjoys his time on the tennis courts, Jane has found comfort in the water. Swimming laps has become one of her favorite forms of exercise, along with outdoor biking and walking.
“The water is therapeutic, and I love the endorphins I get afterward,” Jane says. “It’s gentle on my body, but it still gets my heart rate up.”
For Brian and Jane, life has been a cycle of discovery, connection and movement. As they continue to pedal forward, their journey reminds us all that the cycle of life is best enjoyed in motion—one ride, one step, one lap at a time.
