Work in Progress

A professional freerider and influencer for Specialized Bicycles, Joel Anderson loves the van life, but what’s his weapon of choice?

“I bought my Transit at the worst time to buy a van, at a mid-pandemic price, but I’d already been in the market for a few months, this ticked the boxes and I wasn’t about to miss the opportunity. I immediately spoke to Goodyear, who sorted me their Wrangler tyres for those wet UK fields, and then used it for a whole year. I transported bicycles and motocross bikes in it until I started planning a six-week trip to the Alps with a mate.

“I approached my brother Isaac, a mechanical engineer, with my difficult idea – a camper that can also be used as a standard van most the time. He tutted and didn’t say much. Fast-forward a few days and, out of the blue, he sends me a link to all the metalwork I’d need to buy and some bits to bolt them together. Brackets made and van filled with wood, we created a bed that slides from floor to ceiling, with LED lights in every corner meaning there’s no shadowy spaces inside, and loads of room. The ‘camper’ part of the van was built in about a week, with some effort from myself, but mainly done by my brother, who made the big decisions and sent me off to gather materials. Then an old college mate fitted my vinyl floor – the icing on the cake.

“My future plan for the van is... to finish it! I stayed in it in the Alps for three weeks and it was comfy and perfectly liveable. However, the fridge runs the battery flat in five hours and, in winter, the lack of insulation is a problem. Nothing that can’t be sorted! The van took me 4,000 miles across mainland Europe to some spots where you have to pinch yourself. Incredible views, great riding and rad friends. The #vanlife tag might be pretty overused these days, but I really would recommend trying it – why not drive a studio flat around and live wherever you park? If you want to keep up with what I do with the van and see some cool riding, follow me @joel_anderson!”