Liz Ryen shares her story of cycling around the globe

    Every month, a group of Leavenworth women gather to indulge in lunch and an educational lecture - the Leavenworth Women's Exchange is the non-profit that hosts the monthly luncheon. For the month of January, a local personal trainer, Liz Ryen, was chosen to speak at Visconti's on January 9.
    "We try to make all of our talks geared toward education. She's (Ryen) is experienced in health," said Leavenworth Women's Exchange member, Rosemary Knapp.
    Ryen is a Leavenworth based personal trainer who conducts exercise classes. She has her degree in Exercise Science and has been a fitness instructor since 2006. However, Ryen didn't come to share ab circuits or the latest HIIT trend, but rather to share her experiences cycling on her own around the world. Ryen has zig zagged her way across the map, traveling by herself and her two wheels. She's taken her bicycle as far as Japan, India, Turkey and Norway among other distant spots.
    "I'm really interested in hearing just how she does it. To go on a week or two week long trip to places like Japan and other areas. I'm interested in what made her start, how she picks the place and how she really gets into the culture," said Knapp.
    The non-profit doesn't attempt to sell anything to the ladies that buy tickets to the luncheon, for members $16 and for non-members $18. Rather, the narrative is always to solely inform and educate those who chose to tune in over a plate of Visconti's comfort food. This month the ladies got to take in the theme that Ryen decided to share.
    "(The message was) when you travel alone, you give yourself a different experience," said Ryen. "It gives you  abetter connection with the culture and people you're visting."