A Nerve-racking 45km Cycling Adventure

I went on a 45km solo cycling adventure from Stoke Gifford towards Clevedon Beach—through dark tunnels, countryside roads, and fatigue, all captured with the DJI Pocket 3 and Action 4. This ride wasn’t just about the distance—it was about breaking out of a cycling slump, rediscovering adventure, and testing my limits.

With no maps, no prior route knowledge, and only my instincts, I faced unfamiliar roads, steep climbs, and a chilling tunnel that led straight into a cemetery. This was my first solo ride in the UK without a dedicated cycle path—and though I didn’t make it to the beach, the experience was more than worth it.

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This is crazy adventure. But no maps, no prior knowledge, just me, my bike, and a goal. Complete a 50 km journey to Cleveland and back in 4 hours. But as I entered this dark tunnel, doubts began to surface. Let me share a story with you about a cycling adventure that took me out of my comfort zone and reminded me of why it’s such a thrill to go out and explore. You see, after weeks of cycling the familiar Bristol to Bath Bath, I felt the need for something different. I wanted to challenge myself to feel that spark of adventure again. So I decided to embark on a solo ride from Stoke Gford to Cleon Beach. I’m not sure if I’m pronouncing that right, but Cledon. Cleon Beach. A place I’d never been before. I didn’t know what the roads would be like, whether there would be cycle paths or if I’d been navigating through countryside lanes. But that was the point, right? To embrace the unknown. So, I set out quietly to be honest around 6:00 p.m. because it was time of the year where, you know, the sun takes a long time to go down, you know what I mean? So, sometimes at 10:00 is still bright. So, I set out to equipped with my DJI PK 3 and Action 4 cameras ready to capture the journey. It was early July, so I had the advantage of longer daylight hours, but I knew I needed to cover as much ground as possible before darkness setting. As I pedal through various terrains, smooth tarmac, gravel paths, and winding country roads, I felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. I was excited about the journey, but at the same time, I was a bit nervous because I was going so far away from home on a path I’d never been to and it was late in the day. So, I kept going and then I encountered a long dark tunnel. The entrance was unassuming, but as I ventured inside, the darkness enveloped me. My bike lights barely pierced the darkness barely pierced the gloom and the echo of my tires on the damn floor was the only sound and my fast breathing too. I kept asking myself what had I gotten myself into wondering if I’d made a mistake and also a bit anxious that if I eventually got to Cleon Beach and it was getting dark, I’d have to still come back through this dark tunnel. wasn’t something that really excited me. As I messed from the toile, I found myself in a cemetery. It was eerie to say the least and reminded me of the loneliness and the solitude of my quest. So, I’m on an adventure ride. to Clifton Beach and I’m a little bit anxious because it looks so far away and some of the psychopaths seem so quiet and lonely and there’s still this part of me that feels like it’s late. It’s going to get dark and I can’t not sure how safe it is riding back on this lonely part. Uh you know, first time cycling all these kind of parts in in in the UK. So, I mean, ordinarily, I shouldn’t go alone, right? I should go with someone. Well, the good thing is that we’ve got internet, we’ve got maps, uh, we’ve got energy, got a good bike, good tires, everything looking good so far. So, just a quick word about preparation. Anytime you you plan to do something, preparation is so key. I think it’s the the best way to prepare for something or plan for something is to have a checklist cuz if you have a checklist, you can you will most likely not forget anything. So, one of the things I didn’t check was the space on my memory card cuz I brought out my DJI Pocket 3 to vlog with only for me to run out of memory card space. So, I can’t use it again to vlog. That’s why I’m using the DJ Action 4 now to vlog. And uh when I get to my location, if there’s time, I’ll try to delete some old files and create space so that I can do some more um talking head vlogs and talk about the trip. All right, I pushed on. I got closer and closer to Cleveland. I kept on crunching the miles, but I noticed that fatigue was setting [Music] in. My thighs were burning and I was moving slower and slower. [Music] And with about 5 miles left, the roads became steeper and narrower. There were no longer any dedicated psychopaths. And you know, I had to be more wary of cars coming behind me. My legs were tired and I started to worry about the return journey. What if I had a mechanical issue? I was alone, far from familiar territory and the sun was beginning to [Music] set. Weighing my options, I decided to turn back. It was a tough call, but safety comes [Music] first. The ride back was slower. Each pedal stroke a reminder of the challenge I’d [Music] undertaken. But despite not reaching the beach, I felt a sense of accomplishment. I had after all pushed myself. I had ventured into the unknown. I’d pushed myself out of my comfort zone. And it felt good again to feel the passion for cycling. [Music] So my friends, if you ever find yourself in a cycling slump or any kind of slump, consider taking a detour from the usual routes. Consider trying something new, something different. Embrace the unfamiliar. Challenge yourself. And you just might rediscover the joy of the ride or even in fact the joy of life. [Music] [Music] [Applause] Stay safe and keep pedling. Don’t forget to subscribe. More videos to come.