Claire Pomykala is a 26-year-old bike tourer and accidental influencer who walked away from a $115,000 tech job because it made her feel physically and mentally unwell—and replaced it with a loose mix of guiding, bikepacking trips, and independent projects. (livingbybike.com / @livingbybike)

Claire traces her path into cycling back to a campus bike co-op that offered an unexpected sense of belonging. Soon after graduating college, she skipped the traditional next steps and biked from Atlanta to Baltimore, then spent nearly six months riding solo across Europe. What began as an escape from jobs and expectations turned into a long-term way of life, including later tri ...