Backroads: Tom Hale. How a desk worker became a trailblazer in active travel

<p>In his 20’s, working an office job he hated, Tom woke up in the middle of the night with a wild idea: why not take people on bike trips? No playbook. No investors. Just a sense that he could make a living doing what he loved. His first trip? Four guests riding through Death Valley, pitching their own tents. From there, Backroads scaled to hotels, while weathering a bike burglary, a van rollover in the desert, 9/11, the Great Recession, and a pandemic that brought tourism to a halt.&nbsp;</p><p>Today, Backroads runs 5,000+ trips a year in 60+ countries.</p><p>This is a masterclass in savvy cash flow, scrupulous quality control, and dogged iteration. If you care about travel, brand, or building a services business at scale—listen to this.</p><p><strong>What you’ll learn:</strong></p><ul><li>How a 5,000 mile solo bike trip laid the groundwork for Backroads&nbsp;</li><li>The first guided trip in Death Valley: four people, high winds, 50 miles/day&nbsp;</li><li>How to get your stolen bik...