Hi all and as always, thanks for coming back. If you’re new, then welcome. This is a special episode, one I’m a bit proud of. It’s the first bike-packing trip of the year, `nd the first on this channel. I also really enjoyed editing this one, so I hope you enjoy it. I’ll premiere this one and be online for the chat, so if you have any questions or just want to chat then get on board 🙂
This was an epic journey, a fairly typical bike packing trip and buy that I mean a dream come true. It did not go perfectly, but that makes it more interesting right!?
The ride – https://www.strava.com/activities/11182510473
0:00 Intro
3:29 The Route
6:00 Cranborne Chase
8:04 The Cotswolds
8:32 The Tunnel
10:10 The Old Railway
10:53 The Unwelcome Passenger
14:21 The Severn Bridge
15:22 WALES
16:48 The Wye Valley
17:26 The Brecon Beacons
19:47 The Gospel Pass
25:11 The Summit
27:50 Into The Night
28:52 The Bivvi
32 Comments
I rode up out of Hay on Saturday but took the easier pass. That new road surface near the top has been done this year as you needed a mountain bike to ride it before 😊
A really great video Andy, thanks for setting up the live premiere! I am looking forward to part 2!
love the first video Andy, hope the stomach bug clears, looking forward to the ride home, and always have faith in the British public, :).
Hi Andy, i have been watching and subscibed a couple weeks ago absolutely love your content 👍🏼 keep up the great work!! and look fwd to more content from you 🙏🏼 thanks!!
Fantastic video and great effort. Wales is awesome..!!
Wow what an awesome ride
300km with the shits, you absolute animal! I do not know how you do it man. Looking forward to part 2, I like the saying ride long enough and the road will provide – I bet that gives hope when you feel a bit down! Well done on this huge effort Andy.
Hi Andy, Great to follow you along. Re the Two Tunnel Greenway closure, according to their website the Devonshire tunnel's water level was rising to a point where Sustrans closed it for safety reasons. They have put a suggested diversion on the site which looked a bit convoluted but it would get past it plus a further suggestion for cyclists. Posted for info of anyone else going that way for the foreseeable.
That was absolutely awesome to watch Andy. Brecons is a beautiful place and there’s nothing better than views after some tough climbs. And Simeone, what a top guy 👍👍. Inspirational video, can’t wait for the 2nd part to this. ( Hope the bug has now “bug”ered off 😉).
Don’t drink blue stuff!
Top work again – getting really interesting with longer rides and overnights. Not that your other videos weren't interesting they were all really good, you know what I mean, it's the adventure 🙂 You were one of my inspirations for making a video of on of my (far less impressive) rides. looking forward to part 2. And could you turn those flashing coloured lights off for the night!!?
enjoy following tour adventures, great ride, absolute beast doing 300km with a stomach bug 💪👍
Well done
Impressive Andy !….especially with stomach issues !!
If you buy the Fizik R4 Arctic [fleece lined] shoes you won't need overshoes again 😃
Rode 104 miles last Sunday [6968 feet elevation] – doing another 100 this Sunday…..not at your level though 😉
I'm enjoying your adventures! Inspirational for my Panceltic training.Look forward to part 2😎
Amazing ride and thanks for going to the trouble of filming it! I find long rides (so far 100 miles max) tough enough without worrying about filming them as well. I enjoyed the wise words about the obstacles and how the road will provide, that's probably a decent metaphor for life, you've just got to be brave enough to put yourself out there, something I need to work to be honest. On the other hand your parting shot made me laugh, was that by accident or were you trying to say something?!
Impressive. Great effort. 👍 I have great sympathy around bad guts. I had them in Mallorca a few weeks ago. Wrecked my week. 😩
Keeping it epic! That was great Andy; I think probably your best video yet.
I liked the way you integrated the to-camera on-bike shots with some voiceover, and the map – on such a long ride the map was really useful for understanding where you were and where you were going. Great choice of music – really enhanced the video. And that one passing shot on the bridge – I understand you probably want to keep those to an absolute minimum and just crack on, but they do add another interesting perspective to the video.
Overcoming all the difficulties (stomach, long climbs, wind, night time…) I guess pretty essential training for the Transcontinental.
Looking forward to part 2!
"At least I'm here"
You’re a beast sir. Great video
Amazing ride! Looking forward to part 2. I may have to redefine myself as a short distance endurance rider too 😂
Great video Andy, can't wait for the second one. 🚴🚴🚴
Impressive ride Andy. Looks great
It really makes you appreciate how amazing the uk is. Stunning views, Magnificent mountains and valleys and a cyclist who likes to share his journeys. Love it.
Amazing ride well done
Amazing, i wondered how the wind would be for you at the start of the video because here in Bournemouth it's been insane and great for kom hunting. The best part of ultra cycling for me is just riding in random places you've never been, that was the best part of my 400km to York last month from Bournemouth
What mega ride, really enjoyed the video. Really looking forward to the next one. Nice one. 💪🏻😎👍🏻
Incredible ride, one of my favourite rides was through Wales, From Shrewsbury across to Llanidloes and then down to Cardiff. Sadly that was a fair few years and kg ago, been back cycling again recently though and aiming to do a 200km this year, managed my first ride over 100km a few weeks ago so hopefully will be able to manage a 200km when the weather is all nice. These videos help remind me what I want to get back to being able to do.
what a legend the chap who offered you somewhere to eat your head.
great film. – cant wait for part 2.
mate what an awesome ride from Pompey out to that road! great sunset descent and what a top bloke sorting you out at night – stuck through to the end, great vlog and ride, nice one!
When you mentioned headwind and then Gospel Pass I thought oh F, because I've done it in a full on gale and because it's so exposed you literally have to fight your way up there. The initial steep ramp is ridiculous, I remember paperboying my way up that and then just putting my head down and fighting to the top. But boy oh boy what a view you have, on a clear day it is a sensational view across Herefordshire and Powys. Well done, must have been even tougher will your ailments. Looking forward to Part Deux.
Good saying that, 'The road will provide'.
Looks attritional. Kudos for keeping filming.
Andy, what an amazing performance again, and even though it doesn`t feel like, the spring is coming;- We can see it, these awesome landscapes changed from grey to green! Great effort to climb that hill after 250km, impressing af. Thanks for sharing, thanks for delivering exactly what I expected after two weeks of travelling and working hard,- my weekend starts now, tomorrow goin`for an easy 100km, no time for more, Monday is already ahead!