A long, 12-hour slog from Great Shelford to Bicester that proved to be one of the most physically demanding days of the tour. Navigating a mix of dual carriageways, mountain bike trails, and steep 15% inclines in the Chiltern Hills, I was eventually forced into a Travelodge after local campsites and hotels were either full or inaccessible.
The DCM Journey: Why this tour mattered. Today pushed my DCM symptoms to the limit. The combination of “crevice-like” English potholes and relentless hills left my legs feeling like lead—my left leg struggling to cycle while my right leg struggled to walk. Despite the exhaustion and the “wobbles” on the steep gradients, reaching the top of those hills served as a reminder that I still have my “cycling legs,” even if they need a bit more coaxing these days. The stress of navigation and the digital hurdles of booking a room while exhausted are exactly why this trip to the Salisbury specialist is so vital.
Watch my full DCM story: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1RViitJ4TjRocgeUTjOlMSuJ9CM8hcpa
Learn more at: https://myelopathy.org/
Today’s Highlights
The A10 Poppy Field: A rare moment of roadside beauty amidst a sea of overgrown cycle lanes and roadworks.
15% Gradients: Facing the brutal reality of English hills, forcing me off the bike and into a slow, uphill push.
Mountain Bike Detour: Attempting to avoid the A505 only to end up on the “Cowslip Trail,” a bumpy gravel path more suited for suspension than a loaded touring bike.
HS2 Disruption: Encountering the massive construction detours near Aylesbury, where entire roads have been replaced by building sites.
Stoke Mandeville: Passing through the birthplace of the Paralympics and my own birthplace, Aylesbury, brings back memories of cycling these roads 50 years ago.
Travelodge Haven: Finally securing a room in Bicester after a stressful search, celebrating with a rare find of 5% Kronenbourg.
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I’m Garry McGivern (Travelsonabike2), and I’ve been travelling the world by bike since 2008. Solo self-supported bicycle touring on my trusty bike, Passepartout. My vlogs are unscripted, down-to-earth and honest—sharing the highs, the lows, and everything in between of a long-distance cyclist. I’ve now cycled more than 60,000 miles around the world 🌏 and I’m still going.
My video 📹 blogs complement my written blogs, which I publish daily on my website, https://www.garrymcgivern.com/, each time I head off on a bicycle tour. Bear in mind when watching. The video 📹 is unscripted and recorded as I cycle along 🚲, and might not be of the highest quality. The footage is then cobbled together when I get home. It’s certainly no Hollywood 🎬 production. But it might just make you smile and inspire you to get on your bike and head off on your own bicycle tour.
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Video Chapters:
00:00 – Early Start: Leaving Cambridge on European time
03:20 – English Roads: Potholes, poppies, and the A10
04:30 – The A505: Coned-off dual carriageways and morning breaks
06:10 – 15% Incline: The first brutal hill of the Chilterns
08:15 – Route Change: Opting for “Bicycle Touring” over “Road Cycling” mode
09:50 – Cowslip Trail: A gravel nightmare on the way to Gable
15:30 – Supermarket Score: Finding the proper 5% Kronenbourg
17:10 – Stoke Mandeville: Birthday memories and birthplaces
20:40 – HS2 Detours: Navigating the chaos of rail construction
22:30 – Bicester Arrival: A 12-hour day ends at the Travelodge
24:00 – Room Struggles: The stress of digital check-ins and heavy panniers
#garrymcgivern #travelsonabike2 #biketouring #dcm #myelopathyawareness #chilterns #stokemandeville #aylesbury #hs2 #bicycletouring #travelodge #cyclingengland
5 Comments
Garry, Where was that busway you rode along and then old railway line? I live near Cambridge and want to ride down to the start of the Ridgeway at Ivinghoe Beacon and thought maybe I could make use of it as I am terrified of riding on roads with traffic. Been knocked down too many times.
Just an observation, please don't be annoyed but I am concerned for you, sometimes I've noticed your breathing seems excessively heavy even riding on the flat and you are a fit guy, maybe you need to be eating a lot less processed foods which cause a lot of inflammation joint pain, asthma, instead eat more protein, whole foods eg steaks and eggs. Cut out ultra processed foods which contain deadly seed oils such as palm, canola and other vegetable oils, wheats and grains which are really bad for inflammation. Extra virgin olive oil and butter are both good fats.
I'm a tiny bit younger than you around 60 but I cut all UPF, wheat, grains, starchy foods, bread, potatoes, pizzaz, all that sort of rubbish and eat mainly meat, beef, ground, roast and steaks, lamb, pork, turkey, occasionally chicken, lots of eggs (onion omelettes), sardines, occasionally avocados and olives. I feel absolutely bloody marvellous like 19 years old again. If I do eat UPF say cake within a few hours I feel inflammation in my hands and fingers and also feet. My skin becomes itchy and I get a rash if I eat too much. It's the carbs and sugar, but without them, I have no such symptoms and seemingly boundless energy. I try an always have an omelette and sardines for lunch, I skip breakfast, then meat for tea around 5pm. I eat it until I feel full. I no longer have any sugar or carb cravings even when riding.
I know you won't like this but try to limit your alcohol intake as it can't be doing your liver any favours especially in your current state causing again more inflammation from all the sugar a lot of it fructose which is what causes non alcoholic fatty liver disease NAFLD.
Just really concerned about your health. I'm thinking you can help yourself a lot by modifying your diet. I realise and know that riding a loaded touring bike requires a lot of energy and stamina and that you have to fuel yourself to do so, but you cannot exercise your way out of a bad diet.
Also you might need to take electrolytes if you don't already so as not to become deficient when sweating. Decathlon do some good cheap tubes of tablets which I use when on long rides or on tour.
End of sermon.
I did enjoy your video. I am a Buckinghamshire lad as well. Went to school in Aylesbury, grew up in the Chiltern hills around Great Missenden which have now been largely destroyed by HS2. Heartbreaking. Just for corporate greed. The corruption is shocking.
ATB.
Hi Garry , have you ever cycled LEJOG and if so what route did you take and how do you find campsites if your not wild camping.
Thanks.
treat yourself to a ebike you will not regret it i am talking though vast experience bike touring on a ebike they is no going back
You're a trouper. How do you suss out your routes?
Hi Garry , if fancy going next year some time, give me a chance to get a bit fitter . I’m retired now so quite flexible , need to get in another adventure.
Thanks Robert