5 August 2025

I’m solo cycling from England to a wedding in Italy — and today, I hit a low point.
My bike weighs over 35kg fully loaded, and every hill feels like a mountain.
So I did what any desperate solo traveller would do… I cleaned the chain.

Stopped off in Bristol, grabbed some degreaser, gloves, and a toothbrush, and hoped that maybe, just maybe, this would make the ride a little smoother.
This is the kind of moment you don’t see in polished travel vlogs — just raw, unfiltered struggle and small wins that keep you going.

This journey isn’t about going fast. It’s about showing what it’s really like to live on the road — sleeping in a tent, fixing your gear in random corners of England, and pushing through even when your legs are screaming.
This ride is part of the Velo Route 5, and I’ll be following it (more or less) all the way to the bottom of Italy.

Thanks for following along — if you’ve ever cleaned your chain in a parking lot while tourists stare, this one’s for you.

#solobackpacker #traveltruths #bikecamping #cyclingvlog #cyclingEngland

My touring bike is so slow and really difficult to cycle. So, I’ve been cycling along the Ver Rof 5 and in the last few days, the hills have been absolutely killing me. Now, one thing I forgot to do before I left on this trip is give my bike a good clean. So, today I set out to give it a deep cleaning. Toothbrushes, the gloves, everything worked out perfectly. When you’re touring or traveling like this, it really is a long day. The key is to use your free time to make the journey easier.