“The first guy that I picked up was a British tourist taking pictures at Cape Reinga at the very Northern tip of New Zealand. The youngest was 5 and the oldest was 84”. “140 people jumped on the bicycle and pedalled with me.

He did end up with around 36 broken spokes during the ride but fortunately had far more guests on the journey. “I had no plans at all! I bought a cheap tandem that was certainly not meant for long-distance adventures, but everything worked out amazing”. He nicknamed the project Freedom Seat, and began his ride in early 2017. It seemed like a great way to raise awareness for human trafficking, but in a fun and adventurous way”. “The feeling of letting a total stranger take control makes a big impact on you. Naresh returned to New Zealand, ready to travel the length of the country once again, but this time on a new method of transport: a tandem bicycle. When he tried riding the tandem, he found a metaphor between the feeling of relinquished control and with those who are victims in this trade. While undertaking the mammoth unsupported journey, Naresh took the opportunity to raise awareness and funds to combat human trafficking, a cause that he has campaigned for over recent years. In 2015, Naresh ran/hiked the Te Araroa trail – a 3,000km route the length of New Zealand in sandals which h e completed in 87 days. “That was a pretty scary experience as you can’t see anything in front! I was trying to steer from the back, but quickly realised that you have no say over direction or when to stop.”

A couple had completed the brevet on a tandem and Naresh asked if he could join as a passenger for a quick jaunt around the block. A few months later, while taking part in a Tennessee brevet, he had the chance to try one himself. He’d pick up strangers, like the local milkman or baker, and he’d ask them: ‘So, what’s your story? Who are you?’ He’d record this and compile the meetings into short video segments”.Īfter hearing about the enthusiasm with which total strangers jumped on the tandem, and how they’d open up while riding with someone they’d only just met, Naresh’s imagination was captured. “He would take his tandem bicycle and rig it up with GoPros in various positions. On the day, he struck up a conversation with Brian Wall, uncle of the bride, who had a project called The Empty Seat.

Many of the most significant experiences in Naresh’s life have come by chance.Ī few years ago, Naresh was invited to be the best man at a friend’s wedding in Alaska.

Naresh second wife