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Mike Coles
Australia
Приєднався 10 жов 2011
Like most people, I have been riding bikes since I was a child. When I was young, it gave me my first real taste of freedom and that feeling remains with me today. I like the way cycling takes me to places I would not see any other way. When I was a kid, I could get to the other side of the city, on my own. Now I can get to the other side of the world! It suits my personality; nothing comes for free and you have to work long and hard if you really want it.
Bikepacking Close to Home | From Summer Bay to Sydney Opera House
I wanted to show that you do not have to travel for miles and miles to have a great bikepacking adventure. This is a one day bikepacking trip close my home in Sydney. It starts up near Barrenjoey Lighthouse at Palm Beach which is used as the backdrop to Summer Bay in Neighbours. Then, via a series of trails, tracks, bridle ways and cycle paths, it winds its way through Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park across to Terry Hills, in to Garigal National Park. Across the Roseville Bridge, through the back of Chatswood and down to North Sydney where I go across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and around to the Sydney Opera House.
Переглядів: 676
Відео
Bike Touring for Beginners | Cycling in the Rain
Переглядів 3,5 тис.Місяць тому
It wasn't supposed to rain. The weather was supposed to be sunny and beautiful, but it turned out to be cold, grey and wet. Did it matter? No. This is a four day, credit-card-touring trip, staying in hotels and motels. 240km around the Barrington Coast riding from Dungog to Gloucester, on to Bulahdelah, across to Tea Gardens and back to Dungog. Some parts were spectacular, beautiful and deeply ...
My First Adventure Race
Переглядів 4662 місяці тому
An Adventure Race can cover a number of disciplines, generally including running, bush walking, kayaking, and cycling. I have never done an adventure race before so this was going to be a big test, particularly as I have no ability to run! This video documents my training program over five months and the day of the race (spoiler alert; we didn't finish first!) It was a load of fun to make the v...
Greek Odyssey | Cycling the Greek Islands | How hard can it be?
Переглядів 2594 місяці тому
The plan; fly to Greece, hire a bike when I arrived and shoot a cycling video. How hard can it be? Well, it turned out to be very hard! Bike hire in Greece was easy. The local hire companies were great, but shooting a video when you're a long way from home turned out to be very difficult.. Shot on the islands of Crete and Santorini.
I am back from up the country
Переглядів 2905 місяців тому
Australia 1892. There was a terrible drought ravaging country New South Wales. Henry Lawson, an Australian bush poet was commissioned by The Bulletin magazine, along with Andrew Barton (Banjo) Patterson to write a series of poetic versus, highlighting the plight of the people in the bush. Originally published under the title “Borderland”, this is the first of those poems. Published Saturday 9th...
After the rain. Winter cycling in Sydney
Переглядів 4326 місяців тому
Winter. Well, it's really the end of Autumn in Sydney, Australia. Either way, it has been raining and raining and raining. But that's a good thing if you have a passion for photography and like a bit of a mountain bike ride.
The Rabbit Trap Hotel & Why Go Tubeless?
Переглядів 6378 місяців тому
I have always avoided tubeless tyres. I like the safety, security and tangibility of tyres with tubes. However, the Cats Head Bindi, which is known as the Goats Head Bindi has made me change my mind. This Bindi is an invasive species to western parts of NSW. It's a pest that causes lots of issues with farmers, locals and especially to cyclists. This is a great part of NSW. Tullamore is a quiet ...
5 Bikepacking Questions I'm Always Asked
Переглядів 8 тис.9 місяців тому
When people hear that I'm going off to remote places bikepacking, on my own, there are five questions that I'm always asked. In this episode, I ride deep in to the Turon Valley, set up camp for the night and try on answer questions like "Is it safe?" "What do you eat?" and "What to do you carry on your bike?"
Making Memories | Learning to Dance in the Rain
Переглядів 1,1 тис.10 місяців тому
This was a trip through the Turon Valley and surrounding goldfields, with my eldest son. Things didn't go to plan. The first day was far harder than we expected with some brutal climbs and extremely rough terrain. On day 2 we were caught in a torrential downpour but we managed to pick ourselves up and make the best of the opportunities presented.
Bikepacking for beginners | The essential guide
Переглядів 15 тис.Рік тому
You've seen some videos of people going on multi-day off road bikepacking cycle trips and you think you might like to have an adventure like that! Where do you start? What bike do you need? What should you pack? Let's break it down and take a look. Over the course of a weekend, I will show you how I go about bikepacking, whilst visiting Shelly Beach in the Myall Lakes National Park on my brand ...
The Northern Rivers Rail Trail | A Short Video For A Short Ride
Переглядів 1,3 тис.Рік тому
The Northern Rivers Rail Trail currently runs from Murwillumbah through to Crabbes Creek (Aug 2023). A short but beautiful 24km in the top corner of New South Wales. I recently had the pleasure of riding the trail with my old friend James, who can turn a thumping pace in a high cog! If you're in the area, and especially if you are new to cycling, I would thoroughly recommend this trail. One day...
Bulahdelah Mountain and the Myall River
Переглядів 521Рік тому
I have driven past Bulahdelah many times, I have even stopped there for a coffee but I’ve never really explored the area. I was always intrigued by the hills behind the town to the South West and so I packed up the bike and headed there for a weekend! My initial foray was up Boolah-Dilah Mountain is an Aboriginal Place which recognises the cultural, spiritual and historical significance of the ...
Central West Cycle Trail. 240km bike packing loop over 4 days.
Переглядів 4,8 тис.Рік тому
Winter 2023. This was 240km loop around the Central West of NSW over four days. Staying in pubs and bed and breakfast places I travelled Gulgong to Dunedoo. Dunedoo to Mendooran. Mendooran to Ballimore. And then Ballimore back to Gulgong. If you’re after a GPX file or want to see a few of the extra images, etc., you can access it all here: mike-coles.com/central-west-cycle-trail/ I cycled the l...
3 Days Bikepacking | Dungog to Newcastle | Trains, Ferries & Bicycles
Переглядів 2,5 тис.Рік тому
Things never go quite the way they are planned when it comes to bikepacking, but it doesn't mean it isn't a really enjoyable experience in a beautiful part of the world. I travelled to the most northerly point of the Opal Network in NSW; Dungog. From their, I rode via Black Camp Creek across to Stroud and then via Branch Lane down to Kurauh. Finally, I cut across country, through the Meadowie S...
Cycling Port Macquarie and the Mid North Coast | 3 Day Cycle Tour
Переглядів 880Рік тому
This is a bike ride, I’m going to cycle from Kendall up to Wauchope, out to Port Macquarie then follow the coast down to Laurieton and back around to Kendall over three days. This mini bike tour will sample an area that I’ve always wanted to explore, but more than that, it will delve in to some of Australia’s early days of colonialism. First sighted by John Oxley in 1818, Port Macquarie was kno...
Food and Nutrition | Health and Fitness Over 50 | S1E4
Переглядів 235Рік тому
Food and Nutrition | Health and Fitness Over 50 | S1E4
Building Fitness | Health and Fitness Over 50 | S1E3
Переглядів 288Рік тому
Building Fitness | Health and Fitness Over 50 | S1E3
Motivation and Goals | Health and Fitness Over 50 | S1E2
Переглядів 253Рік тому
Motivation and Goals | Health and Fitness Over 50 | S1E2
Finding my Baseline | Health and Fitness Over 50 | S1E1
Переглядів 245Рік тому
Finding my Baseline | Health and Fitness Over 50 | S1E1
Taree to Newcastle | A 3 day bike ride| Cycle Touring
Переглядів 3,1 тис.2 роки тому
Taree to Newcastle | A 3 day bike ride| Cycle Touring
4 Days Bikepacking on the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail BVRT
Переглядів 13 тис.2 роки тому
4 Days Bikepacking on the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail BVRT
Fix squawking bikes brakes and improve performance
Переглядів 2942 роки тому
Fix squawking bikes brakes and improve performance
Solo Bikepacking Trip | Naturehike Cloud-up 2 | Thule Pack n Pedal
Переглядів 2 тис.2 роки тому
Solo Bikepacking Trip | Naturehike Cloud-up 2 | Thule Pack n Pedal
Cycle tour | Bulahdelah to Mungo Brush | The Wells Campground
Переглядів 7012 роки тому
Cycle tour | Bulahdelah to Mungo Brush | The Wells Campground
Soldiers Point and The Bairne Track | Mount Bike Ride
Переглядів 2732 роки тому
Soldiers Point and The Bairne Track | Mount Bike Ride
Cycling Thunderbolts Way | Three Day Cycle Tour | Kona Sutra 2021 touring bike
Переглядів 2,9 тис.3 роки тому
Cycling Thunderbolts Way | Three Day Cycle Tour | Kona Sutra 2021 touring bike
The Waratah Trail Mountain Bike Ride | Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park.
Переглядів 4373 роки тому
The Waratah Trail Mountain Bike Ride | Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park.
Centre Trail | Mountain Bike ride in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park | Aboriginal Rock Art
Переглядів 3303 роки тому
Centre Trail | Mountain Bike ride in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park | Aboriginal Rock Art
Duckhole Track | Mountain Bike Ride in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Переглядів 3563 роки тому
Duckhole Track | Mountain Bike Ride in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
The Cascades | Mountain biking in Garigal National Park | Sydney's Northern Beaches
Переглядів 1,4 тис.3 роки тому
The Cascades | Mountain biking in Garigal National Park | Sydney's Northern Beaches
Nearly 50 discovered bike packing in 2022. Completed 2 rides and i love it. Bike packing isnt easy but i do for the adventure and to clear my brain.
Hi there, thanks for showing us an interesting route. You have certainly given me an idea for a future tour. I love your Kona Sutra setup with those lovely handlebars and those 36-spoke wheels. Your advice to beginners is very sound. Your videos are well-shot and edited very professionally. I have a bike setup pretty similar to yours. Except that I run fat tyres. I'm guessing they would've been handy on Scotts Road. Hehe.
Thanks for the video! I'm considering doing a riding trip in that area, so it was very helpful. What was the suggested route to avoid the Buckets way rd?
Thanks for reminding me, I forgot to post my route which I have just added to the description, as well as the alternative/MYB version. The standard route is also on my Komoot page here: www.komoot.com/tour/1945194032?ref=itd
A sensible and realistic outlook and approach.
Would you not love front suspension???
I own 2 bikes; this Kona Sutra touring bike and a Canyon hardtail MTB. If I’d known the road out of Karuah was so rough, I might have chosen to ride the Canyon!
Your vids bring me joy and inspiration. Thank you.
Yet another great video Mike! I love them all. I'm vicariously living the cycling dream through you. Keep them coming!
Thanks. I’ll do my best!
If anyone would benefit from a set of mudguards (fenders), it’s you. You’ll wonder why you ever rode without them. I’m a touring cyclist myself, and enjoyed your video.
Ha ha! I have a set in my garage. Can you imagine how bogged-up mudguards would have been on Scott’s Road?
Awesome video, well done, loved it.
well done - great effort - I know the area well and its a tough one
Mike your smart phone should always have a GPS signal irrespective of whether you have a phone signal or not. You need a map app that can cache map sets for offline use. I use Russian Topo Maps. It has a lot map sets you can access. So I'm never off-line for mapping literally anywhere in the World. You also need a filter bottle so you can find a local water source in any puddle.😊
Come to sunny Australia they said (don't bring the British heritage weather with you though!) 😂. Great video Mike. I've just subscribed. I also live in Sydney so your videos are really great cycling intel for me. That's my style of cycle touring!
Amazing, watching from Nairobi Kenya
Have you tried a generator front hub, they are $200 to $300 , for your adventures, so you can charge your devices on the go
Sorry Mike, got the shows mixed up, it's 'Home and Away" in Summer Bay. lol. Yeah y'know, the tacky soap on 7. 😂
Ha ha ha! Shows how much of them I watch!
@@mike-coles Yeah can't help, my Mrs watches them....all they seem to do on the show is shag and eat takeaway pizza
Sydney has some great rides that I've been exploring. I rode from Windsor to Cronulla on cycleways. Old Windsor Rd cycleway, Parramatta River cycle way across Strathfield to the Georges River cycleway to the airport then the cycleway all around Botany Bay. Not many hills, about 80kms, then caught the train back to Windsor to get my car. Thanks for posting.
Hi Mike, great trip. When you landed at The Basin it reminded me of a trip I did with friends pre covid. We trained to Gordon, then rode up to The Basin, the track down to wharf was very knarly then🫣 Boarding the ferry to Palm Beach my friend dropped his fare into the water! Was very peeved he had to pay twice.
Great video again Mike. Your background music on this video is good.
Well done Mike. Another great video. Thanks for sharing.
Great work Mike, well done.
When will the powers to be do something about the "stairway to Heaven" access to the harbour bridge ? The last time I rode that was 50 years ago and it is still the same !!!
It was tough going up the “stairway to heaven” with both legs cramping..
If your term "stairway to heaven" is referring to the stairs at the North Sydney side of the bridge bike path, Transport for NSW approved a ridable ramp to be built, commencing in mid-2024 and taking 18 months. www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/sydney-harbour-bridge-cycleway-ramp
Work is underway right now to build a new cycle ramp on the northern approach to the Harbour Bridge. It will be finished in 2025 and when it’s done, no more stairs! There’s plenty of info on line, socials etc
Great ride and effort. Must have been a pleasure to ride a bike not loaded with bags of equipment and food. I could be missing something but I'd love Open Street Map to indicate actual fire trails as a specific type of track to make it easier to differentiate between bushwalking tracks, which can at times be almost impossible to ride, let alone walk in some instances. That could make planning a trip like this a bit easier.
Quando lavoravo al call center da casa avevo una gran voglia di uscire,la mia mbt mi aiutava in questo.. Saluti dall Italia
Bellissimo video
Hi Mike. Great video, especially once you quietened me down. Cheers.
Ah ha ha ha! Thanks Mat, much appreciated! Love your work!
Great video, liking your style very much and you’re a natural in front of the camera 👍 your channel was mentioned in the comments of Mat Ryders most recent video which lead me to you 👍 love that you were watching him on your TV ☺️
Glad I have just found you over here in the UK Mike. This will rattle a few of you, I thought you was in New Zealand & it was only when you mentioned Australia I thought I better check and found your in NSW OOPS ! 😉😂. I should of known when I saw all that mud as I follow Million Dollar Bogan on here and he's got stuck in that on his Harley. I have a few bikes and only this week I started to build a Gravel bike so I was interested to see you on the Moloko bars as I was looking at them over the week end. I nearly ordered some but I have some drops already and the Moloko aren't cheap are they. I was also worried how far back they came and the length of the stem I would need. Given how comfortable I might have to revisit that idea if idea if I struggle with the drops. Stay safe out there and you have a new Sub Ted
The Moloko bars put me more upright which is good for an old, sedentary spine! The downside of the bars is that they’re a bit heavy, but in comparison to bags, water and me, the extra weight is worth it. I love NZ and will cycle there one day, but NSW and Sydney is my home!
Love it, keep enjoying your trips mate :)
Good Mr Coles, I enjoy your videos so much. They are relaxed, I have started bikepacking myself. With love all the way from South Africa
Nice work on this tour, where do you get your route information?
All roads except day 4 I had ridden before. I then use Komoot and pay part attention to hills and road surfaces.
V. Nice! My back yard as a youth in the '70's! Left there in '77 and Australia in '87. Seems the condition of the roads remains about the same... but I can almost smell the rain and eucalypts from here in Japan. Thanks for the flashbacks!
What's the bike your riding please Mike
There’s a detailed description of the bike towards the end of day 3. It’s a modified Kona Sutra touring bike 👍
@mike-coles cheers mate I had to go out and just finished watching it
Nice little trip, thanks for sharing. Got two Konas, Olive and black, interestingly they went from 36 spokes to 32 a year later, I had to replace my 32 spoke rim with a swiss dtx as it started splitting. I'm with you on the drop bars but pretty impossible to get flat bar tourer. also the jacket you wore seemed to be heavy and not waterproof, interesting choice
Based on some of the roads you had to travel on, why did you choose the Kona over the Canyon? I've got a rigid Marin Nicasio+ with drops and I've pretty much decided on the Grand Canyon 8 as I think the suspension and wheels/tyres and ride position would give a better, and more comfortable, ride on some of those rougher surfaces. That said, the Kona looks very nice. There is something beautiful about a non-complicated bike.
Ha ha! As I cycled out of Dungog I thought the weather was going to clear up and I’d be riding paved roads for four days! However, apart from Scott’s Road, the Kona was the right choice.
@@mike-coles with such a fine selection of bikes to choose from, how do you determine which bike to take out of the rack for your trips? A trip with only sealed roads make the decision easy, but fire trails can be a real mixed bag and sometimes you won’t know what you’ll get until you’re faced with it.
If I’m on “roads” which can be sealed or unsealed (gravel) roads I lean towards the Kona. If I know it’s going to be rough or off-road, I go for the Canyon MTB. If I’m unsure, I go MTB. On this trip I had no idea the “road” was going to be so bad on the last day. I thought I was selecting sealed roads all the way!
mat Ryder doing his US ride follow him as well👍👍👍 good video mate!
Shoes on the table 😮
Inline with the aircon, so they dried out! I was going to microwave them, but thought the cleats might explode..
@@mike-colesyes, anything metal is not safe in microwave..., good you didn't do that.. 😊
Awesome little trip Mike, loved the video so I shared this video to our Facebook Group Bikepacking and Touring Sydney. We only started this group just over 2 Months ago and now have over 600 members so the group was warranted as there's no actual Bike Touring forum in Sydney. If you wish to join, you're more than welcome. Much of that area you covered in the video I've done numerous times but on a Motorcycle. So I hope it's all good to share your video and that it helps some of the new People begin their bike packing or touring and hope some subscribe to your YT Channel. Cheers Dave J.
Thanks for sharing. I joined your group a couple of days ago. It’s a good group 👍
Hi Mike, thanks another great video. FYI that whole area around Scott's Rd, can be wet most of the time. I think a low watertable
Ha ha! I wish I’d know that before I went down there! At least I didn’t loose a shoe in the mud..
Another great video Mike. Hard work but you made it. Looking forward to your next adventure.
So glad i stumbled upon your channel! In the 1990's and early 2000's we did lots of loaded bike touring here in America and loved it!! Now we can live vicariously through you! Safe adventures!!
Great little adventure there Mike! That road was super muddy! Didn't see you wearing a waterproof jacket. Do you not take one with you?
Believe it or not, I don’t own a waterproof jacket. Since I returned home, I have been looking for one!
Another great video. Thank you.
That looked pretty brutal, but you made it! I appreciate the advice to start with credit card touring and sensible daily distances.
Brutal? Yes. But it was deeply satisfying as well.
May be I am a cyclist, so I didn't find it that brutal as it can be here in some parts of India.. 😢
This is the best video I’ve seen on bike packing. Thank you so much for covering safety - something I hadn’t thought of in the same way. Thanks Mike
Great information for bike parkers, thanks for sharing ❤
Awesome video, i used to spend time in Myall Lakes / Lemon Tree Passage, i miss that life now
It’s a beautiful part of the world.
great video Mike, well done.
Great video, inspires me to give it a go one day!
Thanks! It’s a beautiful part of the world and we had a great time riding there trail.
Hi Mike, I have looked back at some of your older videos and see that you were once riding a dual suspension bike. What was the reason for the change? Wasn’t it suitable for the type of activities you are doing? It seemed to cope ok, as did you, for the 4 day ride out of Gulgong. I’ve been arguing with myself about whether a dual suspension or hardtail is the way to go. I’d like to do fire trails and single track and the occasional MTB park trail (but no crazy jumps). I was looking at BikesOnline but your Canyon got me thinking about other brands. As the Canyon bikes aren’t available in stores, how did you find the sizing process? Were the website numbers right for you? I’m normally an M but for Canyon an S. I was hoping for a 29er” but the S comes in 27.5. If I go the Canyon way I’d be hesitant to risk buying against their sizing guide. Anyway, I'm just after your thoughts about how you went from dually to hardtail and the whole Canyon thing. Enjoying your videos. Keep them coming.
Thanks for the kind words. That four day ride out of Gulgong is what convinced me to change from dual suspension to hard tail. Full squish is lovely on rowdy single track when you’re hurtling downhill, but it’s not so great as a touring bike with bags. You lack power on the hills, you have less places to strap stuff and it has a lot of extra weight. Don’t misunderstand me; I still own my Giant Trance, I just don’t use it for bikepacking (and bikepacking videos). The 29 inch wheels are lovely and smooth, but 27.5 will do just as well, especially if you’re buying a small frame bike. All bikes are a compromise, you can’t do everything easily on just one. For me? I’m like the gravel roads and firetrails, so I committed to a highly focused bike. Good luck with your choice! Maybe buy one of each? And a touring bike, and an e-bike, oh wait; that’s me!
How were you influenced to wear pink Mike!
Fuchsia! That colour is fuchsia. Actually, it was chosen because it stands out so well against the Australian bush.
Thanks for another great video. Keep up the fitness.