I Rode My BMX to Wales Just to Give It Away

One last adventure on the BMX that carried me almost across the UK — this time, to donate it. I rode 120 miles overnight from Bournemouth to Newport, South Wales, to hand it over to Mike at FreeBikes4Kids — someone who’s doing incredible work getting bikes to kids who need them.

The Ride – https://www.strava.com/activities/14649139930
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Check out Mike’s YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/@UCmUVg3G5iUqHOKRV22DHDmQ

FreeBikes4kids website – https://www.freebikes4kids.co.uk/

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Kingston lacy health ride – https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/w/activate-cycle-rides-in-east-dorset
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Find all the routes and gear here – https://www.keepsmilingadventures.com/

Make a route suggestion here – https://www.keepsmilingadventures.com/route-sugestions

Support the channel by becoming a member
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If you enjoy the content on this channel and would like to help the adventures continue then head over to my buymeacoffee page where you can buy me a pasty if you like 😀 https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KSmileadventure

The gear i am currently using

The tent – https://youtu.be/n9GKHSf805E
Framebag – https://youtu.be/6LM3UJKDOEk
Seatpost bag – https://youtu.be/W1E_iWY6Ajo
Jones Handlebars – https://youtu.be/dhPBSdRros8
Gravel bike – https://youtu.be/Gnd_4LgTyrg
plus bike mtb – https://youtu.be/COTUOzLPbGk
gps device – https://youtu.be/BWeMmx62A9M
mtb shoes – https://youtu.be/OYVEnfXwT0k
All the gear from GNT – https://youtu.be/e5oKSoPoMk0
Vest bag – https://youtu.be/01nzgd-t550
Ortleib bar roll https://youtu.be/Uk9fLgS1ioo
Dynamo setup – https://youtu.be/SL7MhjB6Lp0
Questions answered – https://youtu.be/u1q9AEs9flE
Gb divide bike/gear- https://youtu.be/epcZ81wqFCo
Sonder looped bar – https://youtu.be/BqWGTxd2VaQ
Tarpstar tent – https://youtu.be/RcQoBdZSAb8

This right here is my GT slammer BMX the one that 
took me almost all the way across the UK, but now it is time to same goodbye and find it a new home. 
So one last adventure on the BMX from Bournemouth to Newport south wales, what’s another 120 miles 
on a bike that’s just done 955 miles aye. Over in Newport I know just the person to get this bike 
too someone deserving, Mike from Freebikes4kids. Setting off from Bournemouth this 
morning I would make my way out of Bournemouth using the secret back trails, 
today seemed like a good as day as any, however it today was a little on the 
windy side, and it is still fresh in my memory how riding the BMX in the wind 
is. It’s not that fun let me tell you that. Well I have done my good deed for the day, so 
hopefully that will bring me some good fortune for the remainder of this ride across to wales, 
and in some ways it did as I made my way along the trails I was mostly sheltered for that 
good awful headwind. I’d make my way onto the North Dorset railway towards Blandford forum. 
The Trailway is largely made up of sections of the old Somerset and Dorset Railway which 
linked Bristol and Bournemouth until the 1960s. Continuing along the old railway 
line I was leaving the cloudy grey skies that I had started with this 
morning behind, The sun was now out, but the wind on the other hand was still howling. 
Eventually I rolled into Shillingstone — a quiet little station that’s been brought 
back to life by a group of volunteers. It used to be part of the old Somerset and 
Dorset Railway, and now it’s home to the North Dorset Railway project. With an old train 
now used as a café. It’s a pretty little place. It’s been a long time since I have been 
stung by a wasp luckily I didn’t have much time to think about that as I 
would now need to start heading up hill back over the Cranbourne chase. Even 
though the wind was still pretty strong, it had seemed to moved out of my face for 
the most part, the challenge right now wasn’t the wind or riding the BMX up hill 
but the sun. I’m not made for the heat… Now that I was descending out of the Cranbourne 
Chase, most of the climbing was behind me. I cruised down the long drive towards Longleat 
House Built between 1568 and 1580 with 128 rooms, over 40 times bigger than the average 
home, built with 36,000 tonnes of Bath stone. It took only 12 years to 
build which feels quite fast really, 112 workers and Cost just over £8,000 
(equivalent to about £31 million today). But all I was interested in was getting past 
this big rain cloud and finding ice lollies. After the ice lollie break i had to get over a 
couple of the short steep climbs which the BMX doesn’t like and today neither did I. The 
trails’ ID head onto next were probably a little too optimistic for the small wheeled bike, 
but it’s all fun and games at the end of the day. Today was the final day I’d get to ride 
this little awesome bike the last time I’d get to sit on the saddle and feel 
like a little kid riding his bike, so I made the most of the cooler air this 
morning and just enjoyed my pedal towards bath I’d find myself once more on the old railway 
lines and speaking of feeling like a kid again riding this bike I’d be able to have some 
childish fun as I would be heading into the longest cycling and walking tunnel in the 
UK Combe Down Tunnel just over one mile long. After arriving in Bath, I’d be continuing along 
the same route once taken by the old trains — now known as the Bristol and Bath Railway Path. It’s 
one of the most popular cycle routes in the UK, and for good reason. Built between 1979 
and 1986, it was Sustrans’ first ever project and became the starting point 
for the entire National Cycle Network. The route runs for 13 miles through peaceful 
countryside, old station platforms, and beautiful countryside along the way. And it looked 
liked today was going to be another sunny one. With the bridge now in sight and only about 
30 miles to go until I’d be saying goodbye to the bike, the sun seemed to disappear, and 
the grey sky appeared I was half expecting it to rain to really have the Welsh welcome. 
Luckily no rain that wouldn’t be my issue. Mike who runs the Freebike4kids has been 
providing free recycled bikes to deserving kids in need now for over 5 years, over 3000 
Bikes have been fixed and rehomed. Bikes are now in 25 South Wales Schools, and dozens of 
local Charities and clubs. Mike does this all from his back garden in the shedquaters. From 
old retro bikes to kids bikes to funky bikes and everything in between mike will reuse revive 
and get the bikes back out there. Because every kid should get the chance to have their own 
two wheels. So there is definitely no better person to get the BMX in the hands of someone who 
needs it. And can go on their very own adventures. If you haven’t heard of mike or Freebikes4kids 
then check the pinned comment, or I will leave a link in the description. Also go show him 
some love over on his own YouTube channel where you can get an inside look at what he 
is working on. What he is doing is amazing so if you can help in any way whether 
that’s donating some unused parts or bikes to making a donation on his gofund me 
or just sharing what he is doing it all helps.