Social Cycles Runs Cycling Adventures for Social Impact

Brett Seychell, Founder of Social Cycles, helps travelers scratch the surface of local culture and learn how to make a positive social impact via local experts.

Social Cycles hosts small group cycle adventures across Iran, Samoa, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. On every adventure, travelers get the opportunity to meet local NGO staff and learn about the challenges they face and the programs they engage in, and why. It is an interactive experience and opportunity to learn about being a responsible traveler. 

Brett is a part of our Travel Massive Melbourne chapter and we are excited to share a little bit about what it going on a Social Cycles and the positive changes they are making in the tourism industry.

Who is Social Cycles target market?

Social Cycles is for anybody who is looking for an adventure holiday with social impact. It is for people who want to explore the idea of international aid or volunteering but are not sure where to start. It is for people who are looking for more than just a holiday exploring monuments and museums, it’s about getting off the beaten track and learning from local people. It’s about pushing yourself physically through off-road cycling and opening up your mind to a whole new world, inspired by the people you will meet.

What inspired you to create this startup? 

Social Cycles is the result of an epic personal cycle adventure across the world. For over two years, I cycled from London to Melbourne, across 28 countries and more than 28,000 km in the saddle. Inspired, yet ignorant, about making positive social change, I started my own small charity to distribute funds along the way. To whom and why I would distribute these funds was a complete mystery prior to departure, but I was packed full of good intentions. 

With £12,000 in an account for social distribution, I soon learned two very valuable lessons: 

1. It’s easy to learn about NGOs, cultural challenges, social awareness and the amazing people behind these small organizations. You just have to ask the right questions. 
2. The empowerment and autonomy of financial distribution options is not a power that should be desired. It’s incredibly difficult to decide how much to give and who to give to. However, it does take your learnings and involvement to a whole new level.

How is your startup disrupting the travel scene today? 

What makes Social Cycles incredibly unique is the learning engagement with not just one, but at least 3 different NGOs throughout the course of the adventure. This gives a variety of perspective from local people about local issues. All riders are asked to offer a donation amount to the value of US$150. At the final dinner, we have an educated discussion with the group as to what to do with the collective donation. 

We believe we have two beneficiaries to our concept.

• One is that with every Social Cycles tour, there is a collective donation that assists the local community via an NGO.
• And the other is the impact this learning has on the riders themselves. What they do different back in their home country based on their new learnings and experiences. Previously, riders have quit their jobs and have found long-term skilled volunteer placements, others have begun community development courses in addition to their current job with a view to a career change and others have hosted fundraisers to further assist the small NGOs visited. Everybody comes back different. It is just the extent of change that varies.

Do you have any tips for new entrepreneurs who want to create a successful startup?

You have to do it because you love it. Be prepared to work for free and be prepared to work a lot. There is no better feeling than building something from nothing that makes the world a slightly better place.

Travel Start-Up is a monthly series that profiles unique online travel start-ups in the Travel Massive community around the world. You can connect with Brett and Social Cycles on Travel Massive, Facebook, and Twitter.