I was born on the 29.of November 1969, and grew up on a dairy farm in Oberbussnang Switzerland. Together with my two sisters Kati (one years older) and Delia (twelve years younger) and of course my parents Vreni and Hans Schmid that ran the place. Early on I learned the use of hammer and nail & bolts and nuts. Soon I began to build all kind of vehicles. My bicycles and later my mopeds where always styled according the going fashion trends. Then the “Two wheel virus” really got me. The first savings I made, came from the sale of my rabbits I was breeding at the time, and I invested it in a Kreidler Florett 50ccm. Back then it was, when my workshop became my second homestead. As the time called for deciding and finding a job, the decision was against the farm life. I was very lucky and realized my hobby becoming my profession.
 

Motocross was my passion since the very beginning. 1988, during the time of me becoming a motorcycle mechanic it became possible to compete in the Swiss championship category Junior licensed. Despite some problems with my wrist I was able to celebrate some victories. 1989 I advanced to the category National250 and 1990 even to the Inter250.


To compete among the best I would have had to invest and put in at least some couple of years of trainings and so on. Instead I decided to sale all of my stuff and follow the up cheering thought of my sister Kati to travel across South America.

After five months I replaced the backpack with a 600 Yamaha Tenere. Together with Werner, a Guy from Bayern, I did not just get the taste of beer drinking, but much more the fascination and the freedom on two wheels. We were going along narrow gravel paths between Argentina and Chile that brought us north ways up to the high lands of Bolivia and Peru. In Cusco I met Giselle in 1993, the beginning of a long term relationship Together we drove to Lima, where I stored the motorcycle

We returned to Switzerland to make some money and after just one year we “saddled” the Tenere in Lima again. And went for Ecuador, Columbia, Amazon and back to Peru. Being together for 18 month day and night so we got married in Cusco. We this time parted from the Tenere and went back again to the farm in Switzerland for a new start but like the first time wouldn’t work for us there.

 
A Honda 600 Dominator, completely rebuild, modified and shipped to Chile and the ridden from Argentinia, Uruguay, Brasilia, to Paraguay, Bolivia and then to Peru. After that five month journey I sold it and went back to Switzerland. I worked for about a year, and again, bought a motorcycle fixed it up and returned to Chile.

I spend eight wonderful years with Giselle, between South America and Switzerland; working and bike tours. Then I found just the right Space and turned that backstreet facility room in “Downtown” Weinfelden (Town of just about 10K) in to my mechanic shop.

Unfortunately a flip over crash at a amateurs motocross race ruined my plans and put me in intensive care for a week and three month on crutches instead. Finally in spring 2001 I officially opened my long awaited bicycle and motorcycle business. “2Rad Service”. 

I worked only afternoons in my own shop thru out the first two years. The other time I worked in a large motorcycle mechanic place. Soon my Business picked up and as opportunity knocks… I meet Bruno thru an ad in one of these motorcycle magazine in witch he was looking for an “back up tour guide” for the tour’s he provides around Peru.
After a test tour in January 2003 with five participants he decided to give me the job.

Back to Switzerland my business was running just great I was gaining a lot of new customers. Everything was in full gear for the business with no time to focus on anything else but the business. The years went by and everything became more of a routine and one day the everyday life caught up to me. There was just about no more time for to just “be” and enjoy the beauty of life. Everything had its name and its purpose.

The first time the thought and the considerations of going around the globe with a motorcycle struck me was with fourteen, returning from a trip to the Tessin on my moped and it never left me. Giselle began to miss her home and people and like me dident wand to continue the life we were living and decided to go back to Peru. Because she couldent imagine to ride for such a long way on the back of  my bike she incuraged me to take the trip by my self.
The idea to take on the adveture became concrete. Summer 2005 was the set time to leave, even though I had no one for the business and I began to modify a XL600 Honda Transalp to a “Transworld”. Just that June I signet the business over to Adrian Berger. With some four day good bye party there was no going back…

The bike is all set, the visas valid; the adventure can begin. The rainbow in the east leads my way…