On July 29, 2018, our dear friends Jay Austin and Lauren Geoghegan, authors of Simply Cycling, were killed in a senseless act of violence as they biked with other travelers along the Pamir Highway in Tajikistan. Everyone who loved Lauren and Jay was devastated by this tragedy. While we continue to grieve the loss of our friends, we take comfort in the legacy of love, kindness, exploration, and adventure that they left behind.
More than two years after our friends were taken from us, Jay’s sister Jude finally received Jay’s cell phone from international law enforcement officials and was able to access this website. She found a series of unpublished blog posts on Jay’s phone -- some finished, some incomplete -- which are now being published posthumously here. We mourn that Jay and Lauren weren’t able to publish these posts themselves, but we are grateful to be able to share their words now.
Below is a tribute to Lauren and Jay written by some of their friends in the days after they died. This incredible couple gained followers and supporters all over the world as they documented their travels on this blog and their Instagram accounts. In the aftermath of their death, we hoped that this tribute would give a glimpse into the Lauren and Jay we knew, and share a bit about how special they were for those who weren’t lucky enough to know them in life. We are finally able to share this tribute with you here.
You can also find a lovely tribute here from two fellow cyclists, Nathan Beriot and Sophie Boyle of @a_bicyclette_, who spent time biking with Jay and Lauren in Central Asia. Their tribute, published in August 2020, shares their memories of the time they spent on the road with Jay and Lauren.
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July 31, 2018
This is a post that, as Lauren and Jay’s family and friends, we never thought we would have to write. Our hearts are broken that instead of reading a post from Jay chronicling their most recent adventures, you instead are learning of their tragic and untimely passing. We hope you’ll enjoy learning a bit more about Lauren and Jay from the point of view of just a few of the many people whose lives they touched with their kindness, friendship, and love.
Lauren approached her life with passion and boundless energy. She never did anything half-heartedly, and she invested her entire soul in her relationships. To say that she cared deeply about her family and friends would be an understatement. Lauren was a brilliant conversationalist -- not necessarily for her own sake, but because she genuinely empathized with the joys and sorrows of those around her. Lauren never met a stranger, and she had a gift for making each person she encountered feel like the most important thing in her world. Lauren was a true kindred spirit, and anyone who met her was lucky to have known her bright smile and warm, inviting personality. The outpouring of love from people who knew her from every season of her life is a testament to the many lives she touched and how brightly her light shone.
Jay was larger than life. He thrived on deep conversations about every topic under the sun. He had strong opinions, and he walked the walk. He was an excellent case study in a commitment to a mindful, sustainable lifestyle, adopting a vegan diet and eschewing most material possessions so he could fit his entire life into a tiny house -- one that he built himself, with the support of friends and DC’s tiny house community. Jay could be found riding throughout the city on his beloved bike, which would also transport him on his many adventures around the country and the world. He was passionate about his work, while at the same time cognizant of the need to maintain balance in his life, even if that meant taking a month or more of leave to cross the country via scooter or travel across India or Iceland on his bike. He was fearless, and that refusal to back down from a challenge enabled him to see the world in a way that many others don’t, one ripe with opportunity for exploration. He made many friends throughout his travels, with whom he bonded over their shared love of adventure.
Central to Lauren and Jay’s relationship was their ability to challenge each other. They encouraged each other to take the plunge and turn a passion (cycling) into a lifestyle, and reminded each other to ground themselves amid their adventures with meaningful and loving relationships. Both were intellectual powerhouses whose curiosity led them to take themselves outside of their comfort zones and explore new countries and cultures.
Their cycling adventure around the world, despite its indeterminate length, considerable risk, and geographic isolation from their family and friends, opened them up to the experiences that they so craved. They shared stories on this blog and on social media about the kindness shown to them by perfect strangers half a world away, some of them with very few material resources to their name. In a time as divisive as the one we now live in, it was refreshing to see the generosity of the human spirit through their eyes, and we can think of no better global citizens and ambassadors than Lauren and Jay.
Their tragic passing leaves an incredible void in the lives of those of us who were lucky to love and be loved by them, and the way in which they were killed was antithetical to the peaceful, loving, and respectful way in which they both lived their lives. We are heartbroken at their passing, but draw strength from the many memories we shared with the two of them and with the outpouring of support that has reaffirmed their impact on others. We also draw some comfort from the knowledge that they died doing the thing they loved, with the person they loved.
On behalf of their families and friends, we ask that you carry on their legacy by being kind, inquisitive, and adventurous. Pursue your passions fully, and let others in on those passions so that you can enjoy them side by side. If you were lucky enough to know Lauren and Jay personally, please continue to share their story and your memories of your time with them.