Beyond the Highways

ONCE UPON A BIKE
One woman. One motorcycle. One long look at America.

What happens when you cross the United States not behind a windshield, but out in the open—mile after mile, town after town, thought after thought—on a motorcycle?

In Once opon a Bike, a German rider ships her beloved machine across the Atlantic and sets off alone to traverse America from the inside out. From the steel canyons of New York to the endless plains of the Midwest, from forgotten industrial towns to remote Native reservations, from diners and truck stops to deserts and mountain passes, this is not a postcard journey. It is a slow, exposed, often uncomfortable encounter with a country that is vast, contradictory, generous, wounded, and endlessly surprising.

Once upon a Bike speaks the language of the road: the intimate bond with a bike, the daily rituals of riding, breakdowns and small triumphs, the physical fatigue and quiet euphoria that only long days in the saddle can bring. It offers a candid outsiders perspective on contemporary US society. Along the way, the author meets people living at the edges of the American dream: migrant workers, veterans, small-town families, and service staff. Eva listens, observes, questions—and reflects on what these encounters reveal about inequality, resilience, and belonging in modern America.

Eva Strehler writes with warmth and honesty about loneliness, fear, kindness from strangers, and the moments when a country reveals itself not through landmarks, but through conversations, silences, and shared coffee. Her journey is powered by the belief that the road still has stories to tell.

Readers on Once upon a Bike

»An inspirational and insightful read for anyone interested in adventure, motorcycling, or the idea of finding oneself through travel.« »This is not a postcard journey.« »A road trip full of lightness, depth, and subtle humour.« Witty and with depth, Eva Strehler recounts moments of freedom, challenges, and the courage to set off alone as a woman. A book for motorcycle enthusiasts, US enthusiasts, and travel aficionados—and everyone who dreams of their own solo adventure.