I watched this video a couple months ago and immediately booked my ticket from America to Scotland. I’m finishing up the route today and I gotta say it was for sure one of the most amazing times of my life. Thanks GCN 🤘
Nice! I want to do it next year. I'm not really into sleeping outside in the rain though. Did you stay at any B&Bs that you can recommend or did you go for the full outdoors experience?
GCN needs an entire backpacking series. Nothing educational, just the trip, their experiences and the locale. This has got to be my favorite type of riding and my favorite GCN show.
Not even sure these GCN videos can be classified as UA-cam videos anymore...the production quality has gotten so good they're more like short films. Keep up the awesome work!
Very true all GCN presenters are great and we kind of have an emotional attachment to them but out of all if Ollie ever leaves GCN I will forget GCN ever existed.
Shame that all that lovely scenery had to be condensed down to just 3 days. Stop - or go slowly - and smell the flowers guys! Not everything is about how quickly you can do it!
As someone who as toured quite a bit through Europe and across the United States I can tell you that any day over 100 miles with a fully loaded bike can be absolutely brutal. You really get to know yourself and how tough you are physically and mentally.
Si, you are one lucky guy getting paid to have such amazing experiences. What a bonus bumping into Jenny, you should get her on the show sometime soon.
I went to see Mark do a chat for Entrepreneurship week at Dundee Uni in Feb 2018, a great speaker, and very interesting. Great video, the guys made Applecross look doable 👍🙂
I think that's it hey. It's not let's see how many laps of a circuit we can do, it's let's see how wild a route we can do, and then do it in a completely bonkers time. Honestly this one is getting added to my list for routes I'd like to do in Europe next time I get a chance.
Can’t tell anymore if I’m watching GCN or a Sundance Film Festival winner! Sensational video, great content, beautifully edited and truly inspirational. Thanks guys
You don't even need to go cross country (meaning to Europe) to see such beautification sights, although you totally can if you want. Beautiful spots cycling the coast are fortunately easy to come by.
@@whoarewe7515 I've just got into the idea of bikepacking this year, by no means an experienced cyclist but did the Lon Las Cymru (route 8) last month. Completed it with some friends in a week and had the best time, I can't wait to do more, can't recommend it enough. I'm from Pembrokeshire and didn't realise how beautiful and diverse the Welsh landscape is. Really makes you appreciate your home :) Scotland is next on the list methinks, everyone says not to go this time of year cos of midges though
@@theo5928 your trip sounds brilliant. Yes I want to do Scotland aswell and heard the same thing about midges was looking at a head net for when sitting round trying to get a smokey fire lit. Hope you have a good time in Scotland if you can let's us know how you get on.
Pretty sure a GCN side channel just dedicated to Si bikepacking would be amazing! 5-10 day routes. Get some of the world's best to go along for the ride and hit up every corner of the globe. Do it!
I’m on day 4/7 in Durness youth hostel with my 14 year old daughter. God it’s tough: the last 2 days have been one hard climb followed by another, we are shattered! Also we’re having to carry quite a bit of kit from hostel to hostel, mainly food and wet/dry weather clothing. We’ve got 70 miles in drizzle to look forwards to tomorrow………….only attempt this trip if you're proper hardcore, like me and my daughter X
I thought your Iceland jaunt was breathtaking but something I could never afford to do. But this... I will have to do, at a slower pace, of course. Britain has amazing countryside and thank you for showing us this fact.
I roadtripped Iceland's ring road by car back in November, which was obviously gorgeous. But watching this, I don't know why I bothered to go so far, Scotland is only a day's drive North and the scenery looks just as good.
@@Munkenba though as someone who lives up in Scotland if I was coming up from England specifically for the North Coast by bike I'd skip the drive and get the train (preferably the newly refurbished Sleeper) up to Inverness to arrive nice and relaxed
Go for it Richard! I did a similar thing last September, but a bigger route (starting from Glasgow) and taking more time of course! Absolutely stunning, so few cars, and so easy to do - I just hopped on a train!
Every single downvote is either someone who does not ride a bike or is jealous of you. As a cycling addict for 14 years this video gives me chills. Excellent work guys! Cheers from Portugal.
What an amazing and inspiring ride. I have driven many of these roads for work and it is the most beautiful scenery in the country. As someone who is just getting back into cycling and 30 miles is a challenge I can't comprehend how you can do so much in a day. I doff my helmet to you both. Thanks for brightening my Sunday morning.
almost burn some onions, add water and boil potato's in that water, then add whatever you want (or have left over) as the recipe varies all over Scotland. My families recipe is simple, caramelised onions, add potatoes, boil boil boil, add corned beef, eat eat eat. Should be able to cook it yourself :)
I’m not a road biker and I moved away from Britain over 20 years ago, but damn, that makes me miss the UK and could make me a bike packer. I so want to do this.
Lucky enough to have been to 45 countries across the world and only went to the Hebrides for the first time last month and it blew everything else out of the water. Makes me even prouder than I already was.
I have been lucky enough to be born and being living in Italy, travelling to many places in the world. Scotland is by far my favourite place. What a beauty.
Having had the privilege of working globally in my lifetime by far the most amazing beautiful destination is Scotland, a microcosm of the world but I’m a tad biased.
My experience of cycling in Scotland is very small. But when I was cycling down from Edinburgh to York I actually hurt my neck from checking out the views as it was so incredible Like Si says, go visit Scotland it is a beautiful part of the world and the people are absolutely some of the most pleasant people you’ll ever meet!
What can I say ..🤔 back in the 60's four of us went from Epsom in Surrey all the way to Kingussie, Scotland via the Eastern track, ran out of time, so had to head back on the western side. The whole trip in 3 weeks youth hostelling with 2 bloody great panniers fitted over the rear wheels of my Claude Butler - a triple clanger at one end with a chain connecting to a 5 gear changer at the other end, and only being able to use 13 gears because the chain wouldn't expand/contract enough at the extremes! And I watch this excellent video film of yours while lying in bed from what is gloriously entitled a 'Spine Stroke!' and I'm loving every moment! I might add i must be slightly mental cause I'm thinking that when I'm fully recovered I might persuade my stepson to join me on that 200 mile endurance course you have video'd. This video has brought back the memories of the sheer joy of peddling along country roads, out of the way of the main roads when possible, and all this enjoyment done with maps! 🙂🙂🙂 I've just asked the wife of we could cycle this route, in 3 days with the addition of electrically assisted bikes. I've been told I'm hallucinating. Possibly so. Keep up the excellent videos. I envy you 🥴
Awesome video guys, I was the mad Yorkshire guy a day or so ahead of you wild camping NC500 for 4 nights! What weather we got 🌞Most epic, breathtaking, wild multi day riding I've ever done. Got to be seen to be believed up there 👌beautiful filming GCN
Really enjoyed watching this, brought back memories of my NC500 ride, which we did in a more relaxed 7 days. This ride needs to be on every cyclists bucket list.
These GCN adventure/travel videos are simply incredible. I am blown away by Si Richardson and the authentic way that he lives into the cycling life. It inspires me and makes me dream of bigger things. Thank you for the videography, the story telling, the cultural exploration, and the splendor of moving through the world on two wheels. Keep it up...
These type of Epic bikepacking videos are something else. Great scenery, great music.....fantabulous!! Have to say, you got lucky with the weather - I hate to imagine what it would have been like had it been wet, windy, etc
Although I am a cyclist, my Brother and I had the 500 penciled in for May on our motorbikes......sharing the disappointment Chuck, hope you do get to do it sometime soon.
Living in New Zealand now, But lived 9 years on the Isle of Mull West coast of Scotland. No car, just my bike. Glorious country to cycle. This reactivated my rides from back in the 1990's. Thank you.
I have to agree with the previous comment. I’m 63 and have got back into cycling and the GCN videos have been so educational, inspiring and fun to watch. Keep it up.
Best GCN video yet? Must be there or thereabouts! Echo the other comment about it being a shame it's condensed into half an hour, could easily have been an hour long special! Chapeau to Mark, Si and the crew, brilliant 👌
Did this June 2018 with my friend Raymond over a weekend. We had a support van following us with our food and shelter for the odd kip. Will never forget it. 😀😀😀
Really strange seeing my home city on GCN. Thank you for doing justice to the beauty of Scotland’s Highlands. It truly is the perfect place to live ( if the midges aren’t out anyway 😂)
I love Mark, not to take anything away from Si, but he has such a wonderful tone and with an educating manor, hes absolutely wonderful to watch doing these challenges. Wish there was more of him. Great vid GCN! One of the best.
Brings back memories - I bikepacked a large chunk of this route back in 1984, just after the Kylesku bridge opened (the Falcon Cotswold I used is currently on my turbo trainer, minus panniers). Met a golden eagle on the road near Achmelvich early in the morning, feeding on a carcass. Spectacular views in Torridon and of Stac Pollaidh and Suilven. Would be sweet to head back again while I'm still able.
Stunningly beautiful landscape and what a great ride. I tried to calculate how many days I would need and I ended up closer to two weeks. Just to have time for faffing, obviously. ;) But seriously, mad respect for this epic ride! Thanks for taking us along!
Seriously bonkers. Si, I commend you for doing this with that machine known as Mark. By the way, whoever does the music for these videos should get a raise, absolutely amazing, provides a fantastic ambience.
Thank you for inspiring me to do this amazing trip! I just returned from Scotland where I cycled the NC 500 with my daughter and THAT trip exceeded all my expectations. It was the best (and most demanding) route I have ever cycled. We took 8 days and enjoyed every minute.
Did that in a camper last year, and nearly burnt the clutch out going up to Applecross, so kudos to you for doing that on a bike, that's a hell of an accomplishment.
The photography, the editing, the musical accompaniment and the storytelling on these endurance special features of GCN bring tears to my eyes every damn time. Just sublime!
A huge thumbs up from me! Absolutely the best video on the channel. A fantastic part of the country with stunning scenery. I was fortunate to experience the Etape Loch Ness sportive a couple of days ago, having the opportunity to ride around Loch Ness was an experience in itself. Watching this video brings back the memories and fuels my desire to return for more epic riding. Keep up the great content.
Ah mate, great to see you setting out from Bristol airport, I live dead close by. Have just subscribed after watching that beautiful video, despite not myself being able to ride a bicycle. 😂😂😂 I only clicked the video since my partner and I decided to do a virtual North Coast 500 on foot, over the course of, oh, probably many months, 😅 and yeah I'm really glad I checked it out. Amazing stuff, guys, and yeah, greetings from the South-West. 😁💯
Epic. It just went on my bucket list....but not in three days😁. I've only visited Scotland once and loved it....great landscapes, great people, great whisky, and now I see great biking.......ohhh yeah!
Last summer (2018) I explored the NC500 for three weeks, with no expectations; now, my only expectation is that someday I return. I fancy myself as a road aficionado but nothing prepared me for the brutal beauty of The Highlands. I sat on those very chairs in Ullapool. Which reminds me, the only complaint I have is navigating the tsunami of tourists, which places me as part of the problem. However, avoiding the tourist “traps” along the NC500 reveals splendid places to find peace. Great video!
Just did my first bike tour this year - not 500miles but 550km through East Australia (Victoria and NSW) - over 2.5 days. Would love to conquer Scotland!
For more hill-friendly gearing when bike packing with a road bike, swap out the rear mech for a 9-speed MTB derailleur and a large cassette. Uses the same pull ratio. #gcntech
Just re-watched this after a couple of years. Awesome video. Fair play Simon, that was a great effort, NC 500 in 3 days, top stuff. Having said that though. Is it just me, or did Mark Beaumont look like he could've gone round again? That guy is just a beast!
This reminded me of the cycling tours of the highlands I've done in the past, especially the north west coast, I could almost smell the clean fresh air, wonderful.
I am looking to ride my own NC 500 this summer, from fort william to inverness over 8 days, this video has been brilliant insperation, PS after a rest day in inverness i am swapping a Mountain bike and coming back via the great glen way back to fort william.
Check out the full North Coast 500 route on Komoot here: gcn.eu/nc500kmoot
Global Cycling Network Omg Love It!!!!!!
Actually they have Scottish werewolves, good thing you missed em 😄
What gear did you use? What brand of tires etc?
Guys, you have terrible accents! Speak with full pronunciation of GB English please! Foreign viewers need that
Yeah, what size, type (tubeless, clinchers, folding bead) tires were on that 3T? Especially tire width?
When are the best months to do a ride like this? I don't want to go in the super windy season. Or Scotland is a hit or miss in regard weather?
I watched this video a couple months ago and immediately booked my ticket from America to Scotland. I’m finishing up the route today and I gotta say it was for sure one of the most amazing times of my life. Thanks GCN 🤘
Good for you pal spontaneous best way to be
Nice! I want to do it next year. I'm not really into sleeping outside in the rain though. Did you stay at any B&Bs that you can recommend or did you go for the full outdoors experience?
@@4WCmOozpni I went full outdoor experience! I'm sure there are a ton of good B&B's but unfortunately I won't be able to recommend any
Hey MArk D do you want to go again ? I would love to do it but I would also like to go with someone :D
We're doing the same route in April. There are bunkhouses along the whole route which are around £20pp per night.
GCN needs an entire backpacking series. Nothing educational, just the trip, their experiences and the locale. This has got to be my favorite type of riding and my favorite GCN show.
Absolutely! And now I want to prep my bike for bikepacking :D
Maybe even a backpacking channel?
mazeltov11, do you mean ‘bikepacking’, it is a cycle show after all.
@@johnnunn8688 YES. so. much. yes.
Here here, there's no better way to travel!
Not even sure these GCN videos can be classified as UA-cam videos anymore...the production quality has gotten so good they're more like short films. Keep up the awesome work!
Nathan Keller there are thousands of channels that post high quality proper film material.
American Flag please name a few. So hard to find quality content on UA-cam
Actually very good commercials.
Fucking right
@@nl3712 ua-cam.com/channels/qiYX6cqxQI9CqhH_kvHeOw.html Iohan Gueorguiev
I was sad when Matt left, if Si ever leaves I will cry! Great video
Yeah I loved watching the Matt on GCN.
That will be a sad day indeed.
If Both Dan and Si leaves, i won’t be watching GCN anymore
Very true all GCN presenters are great and we kind of have an emotional attachment to them but out of all if Ollie ever leaves GCN I will forget GCN ever existed.
@@robinseeberg3715 and Ollie
Utterly brilliant video, hope the film crew got some cake after that. Shame it all that lovely scenery had to be condensed down to just 35 mins.
Agreed that could be an hour plus long...
Shame that all that lovely scenery had to be condensed down to just 3 days. Stop - or go slowly - and smell the flowers guys! Not everything is about how quickly you can do it!
At least they got to sleep in a hotel :)
ggm02 agree! I could’ve watched more. Wish they actually went for 5 days.
Someone said to do it in three days...😙
As someone who as toured quite a bit through Europe and across the United States I can tell you that any day over 100 miles with a fully loaded bike can be absolutely brutal. You really get to know yourself and how tough you are physically and mentally.
Si, you are one lucky guy getting paid to have such amazing experiences. What a bonus bumping into Jenny, you should get her on the show sometime soon.
Yeah Jenny was just the coolest. Will be trying to rope her into a video soon for sure!
Malesoun yes. Get Jenny and more female riders.
Thank you Jenny for restoring legitimacy to the world record. You rock!
Si's a good down-to-earth dude. He deserves that bit of luck and you can see he doesn't take it for granted. Suited to this kind of work.
Jenny was my guide on a ride through the Outer Hebrides 3 years ago. She is awesome, fun, clever and tough. Great human, I am so lucky to have met.
While I like GCN a lot, I particularly like the videos with Mark Beaumont. He really strikes a chord in my cycling for a sense of adventure.
Funny,Thanks
I recommend your read his book then. I thoroughly enjoyed the spark for adventures
I went to see Mark do a chat for Entrepreneurship week at Dundee Uni in Feb 2018, a great speaker, and very interesting. Great video, the guys made Applecross look doable 👍🙂
I think that's it hey. It's not let's see how many laps of a circuit we can do, it's let's see how wild a route we can do, and then do it in a completely bonkers time.
Honestly this one is getting added to my list for routes I'd like to do in Europe next time I get a chance.
Can’t tell anymore if I’m watching GCN or a Sundance Film Festival winner! Sensational video, great content, beautifully edited and truly inspirational. Thanks guys
Is anyone else a new(er) cyclist watching this over and over all summer dreaming of the day you get to do something like this?
Yes this year me and a trailer for the dog. Have you got out yet? Are from Wales? Thinking we're going to do wales this year.
I am fairly new to cycling, would love to get to do this, would like to put a training plan together for it, maybe do it in 5 days, 100 mile a day
You don't even need to go cross country (meaning to Europe) to see such beautification sights, although you totally can if you want. Beautiful spots cycling the coast are fortunately easy to come by.
@@whoarewe7515 I've just got into the idea of bikepacking this year, by no means an experienced cyclist but did the Lon Las Cymru (route 8) last month.
Completed it with some friends in a week and had the best time, I can't wait to do more, can't recommend it enough. I'm from Pembrokeshire and didn't realise how beautiful and diverse the Welsh landscape is. Really makes you appreciate your home :)
Scotland is next on the list methinks, everyone says not to go this time of year cos of midges though
@@theo5928 your trip sounds brilliant. Yes I want to do Scotland aswell and heard the same thing about midges was looking at a head net for when sitting round trying to get a smokey fire lit. Hope you have a good time in Scotland if you can let's us know how you get on.
THIS IS MY FAVOURITE GCN VIDEO EVER!!!!! This is honestly so inspiring! Love it!!
Pretty sure a GCN side channel just dedicated to Si bikepacking would be amazing! 5-10 day routes. Get some of the world's best to go along for the ride and hit up every corner of the globe. Do it!
Funny,Thanks
That might just be the best cycling video I’ve ever watched! Great effort guys.
I’m on day 4/7 in Durness youth hostel with my 14 year old daughter. God it’s tough: the last 2 days have been one hard climb followed by another, we are shattered! Also we’re having to carry quite a bit of kit from hostel to hostel, mainly food and wet/dry weather clothing. We’ve got 70 miles in drizzle to look forwards to tomorrow………….only attempt this trip if you're proper hardcore, like me and my daughter X
I thought your Iceland jaunt was breathtaking but something I could never afford to do. But this... I will have to do, at a slower pace, of course. Britain has amazing countryside and thank you for showing us this fact.
I roadtripped Iceland's ring road by car back in November, which was obviously gorgeous. But watching this, I don't know why I bothered to go so far, Scotland is only a day's drive North and the scenery looks just as good.
@@Munkenba though as someone who lives up in Scotland if I was coming up from England specifically for the North Coast by bike I'd skip the drive and get the train (preferably the newly refurbished Sleeper) up to Inverness to arrive nice and relaxed
@@kevinfox5594 I took a sleeper to Edinburgh two or three years ago, it was wonderful. Never been further north than that, but damn do I want to.
Go for it Richard! I did a similar thing last September, but a bigger route (starting from Glasgow) and taking more time of course! Absolutely stunning, so few cars, and so easy to do - I just hopped on a train!
Britain is totally underated. You have the lake District, the dales and Scotland! Don't know why people sometimes bother going abroad!
Every single downvote is either someone who does not ride a bike or is jealous of you.
As a cycling addict for 14 years this video gives me chills. Excellent work guys!
Cheers from Portugal.
What an amazing and inspiring ride. I have driven many of these roads for work and it is the most beautiful scenery in the country. As someone who is just getting back into cycling and 30 miles is a challenge I can't comprehend how you can do so much in a day. I doff my helmet to you both. Thanks for brightening my Sunday morning.
I love the ease in which they talk about miles and kilometers in the same sentence, but sometimes it distorts how big of an effort it really is.
10 years in Australia without being homesick for Scotland once until you mentioned Stovies. Great video.
😂😂
almost burn some onions, add water and boil potato's in that water, then add whatever you want (or have left over) as the recipe varies all over Scotland. My families recipe is simple, caramelised onions, add potatoes, boil boil boil, add corned beef, eat eat eat. Should be able to cook it yourself :)
I’m not a road biker and I moved away from Britain over 20 years ago, but damn, that makes me miss the UK and could make me a bike packer. I so want to do this.
This makes me proud to be Scottish. Most beautiful place on earth
Scotland is amazing. I prefer to go there on holiday rather than canary islands, mallorca etc.
Me too. I agree!
Lucky enough to have been to 45 countries across the world and only went to the Hebrides for the first time last month and it blew everything else out of the water. Makes me even prouder than I already was.
I have been lucky enough to be born and being living in Italy, travelling to many places in the world. Scotland is by far my favourite place. What a beauty.
Having had the privilege of working globally in my lifetime by far the most amazing beautiful destination is Scotland, a microcosm of the world but I’m a tad biased.
So proud this is my beautiful country. Proud to be Scottish.
Oh Flower of Scotland! 🏴
I haven’t been to Scotland for ages. Definitely time to change that.... awesome country and landscape, extraordinary people
I am English and visit Scotland pretty regularly. You have every right to be proud, such a beautiful country.
My experience of cycling in Scotland is very small. But when I was cycling down from Edinburgh to York I actually hurt my neck from checking out the views as it was so incredible
Like Si says, go visit Scotland it is a beautiful part of the world and the people are absolutely some of the most pleasant people you’ll ever meet!
This is one of the best films shot in Scotland that I have ever seen. It is on a par with Highlander and Local Hero! Pure Inspiration!
Thanks Steve
You know when Mark says it’s a hard day you’ve put in some serious Klms
What can I say ..🤔 back in the 60's four of us went from Epsom in Surrey all the way to Kingussie, Scotland via the Eastern track, ran out of time, so had to head back on the western side. The whole trip in 3 weeks youth hostelling with 2 bloody great panniers fitted over the rear wheels of my Claude Butler - a triple clanger at one end with a chain connecting to a 5 gear changer at the other end, and only being able to use 13 gears because the chain wouldn't expand/contract enough at the extremes!
And I watch this excellent video film of yours while lying in bed from what is gloriously entitled a 'Spine Stroke!' and I'm loving every moment! I might add i must be slightly mental cause I'm thinking that when I'm fully recovered I might persuade my stepson to join me on that 200 mile endurance course you have video'd.
This video has brought back the memories of the sheer joy of peddling along country roads, out of the way of the main roads when possible, and all this enjoyment done with maps! 🙂🙂🙂
I've just asked the wife of we could cycle this route, in 3 days with the addition of electrically assisted bikes. I've been told I'm hallucinating. Possibly so. Keep up the excellent videos. I envy you 🥴
Awesome video guys, I was the mad Yorkshire guy a day or so ahead of you wild camping NC500 for 4 nights! What weather we got 🌞Most epic, breathtaking, wild multi day riding I've ever done. Got to be seen to be believed up there 👌beautiful filming GCN
Really enjoyed watching this, brought back memories of my NC500 ride, which we did in a more relaxed 7 days. This ride needs to be on every cyclists bucket list.
These GCN adventure/travel videos are simply incredible. I am blown away by Si Richardson and the authentic way that he lives into the cycling life. It inspires me and makes me dream of bigger things. Thank you for the videography, the story telling, the cultural exploration, and the splendor of moving through the world on two wheels. Keep it up...
Kudos to the crew too, I can’t imagine the amount of time and effort it takes to set up some of these shots 🙌🙌
'Worsened weather today, with a gentle breeze and blazing sunshine."
First time in the Scottish Highlands?
Lovely vid!
These type of Epic bikepacking videos are something else. Great scenery, great music.....fantabulous!! Have to say, you got lucky with the weather - I hate to imagine what it would have been like had it been wet, windy, etc
Just booked our tickets to Scotland. Doing this May 2020!
maybe not ..😰😷😷
Yuppp. This got canceled
Although I am a cyclist, my Brother and I had the 500 penciled in for May on our motorbikes......sharing the disappointment Chuck, hope you do get to do it sometime soon.
We’ll be ready to welcome you back, Chuck. Until then. Stay safe and Haste ye back!
oh man, I feel for you. I can almost hear the collective sigh from all the cancelled bike trips in the world.
Well done to the team who filmed this, some breathtaking shots, kudos! Very enjoyable watch!
I struggled to do the NC500 in 3 days on my motorbike! Hats off to you guys. I'm a budding cyclist now and am inspired by these videos - thank you!
One of the best GCN videos do far 👏🏻👏🏻 Love it!
The beautiful scenery had my eye balls glued to the screen.
It is absolutely stunning!
Yes another amazing bike packing video :D getting me motivated for my 400 mile bike packing ride.
Living in New Zealand now, But lived 9 years on the Isle of Mull West coast of Scotland. No car, just my bike. Glorious country to cycle. This reactivated my rides from back in the 1990's. Thank you.
What a fantastic showcase of Scottish cycling, the NC500, should be on everyone’s bucket list.
Now imagine jogging it 😄
Agreed. Already pinged a mate to see if he’s keen...
I have to agree with the previous comment. I’m 63 and have got back into cycling and the GCN videos have been so educational, inspiring and fun to watch. Keep it up.
Best GCN video yet? Must be there or thereabouts! Echo the other comment about it being a shame it's condensed into half an hour, could easily have been an hour long special! Chapeau to Mark, Si and the crew, brilliant 👌
Did this June 2018 with my friend Raymond over a weekend. We had a support van following us with our food and shelter for the odd kip. Will never forget it. 😀😀😀
Really strange seeing my home city on GCN. Thank you for doing justice to the beauty of Scotland’s Highlands. It truly is the perfect place to live ( if the midges aren’t out anyway 😂)
I love Mark, not to take anything away from Si, but he has such a wonderful tone and with an educating manor, hes absolutely wonderful to watch doing these challenges. Wish there was more of him. Great vid GCN! One of the best.
Glad you enjoyed the video! We're looking forward to making more content with Mark when we can!
I like a lot when you do this kind of videos... I know it is hard to do it... but it on my favorites
I love how everytime they get on their bikes and start riding again, they're like "oof"
I did half that ride in 5 days in 1978 wearing trackie bottoms and trainers! Wonderful video and congratulations to your camera crew
Brings back memories - I bikepacked a large chunk of this route back in 1984, just after the Kylesku bridge opened (the Falcon Cotswold I used is currently on my turbo trainer, minus panniers). Met a golden eagle on the road near Achmelvich early in the morning, feeding on a carcass. Spectacular views in Torridon and of Stac Pollaidh and Suilven. Would be sweet to head back again while I'm still able.
Stunningly beautiful landscape and what a great ride. I tried to calculate how many days I would need and I ended up closer to two weeks. Just to have time for faffing, obviously. ;) But seriously, mad respect for this epic ride! Thanks for taking us along!
Seriously bonkers. Si, I commend you for doing this with that machine known as Mark.
By the way, whoever does the music for these videos should get a raise, absolutely amazing, provides a fantastic ambience.
I think youve just won this weeks #gcninspiration - Enjoy your vouchers guys!
2 minutes into the video - added northern Scotland onto my cycling dream list.
Wow absolutely amazing, who doesn’t want to go to Scotland after watching this. Cracking video lads well done 👍🏼
Long time CGN fan and I've spent all day watching the GCN content regarding bike packing. This one made a grown man weep.
Yet another great bike packing video 👍. Si seems to be the bike packing presenter among gcn presenters
He is doing a great job with it. I won't complain.
HJ Shoon I agree. Love seeing his adventures
Katherine would do well, too, I suspect.
We're loving it HJ, stay tuned for more!
Doesn't get much better than this... In fact it can't. That was simply stunning. Well done to everyone involved
This is one of my favourite video here right now
Thank you for inspiring me to do this amazing trip! I just returned from Scotland where I cycled the NC 500 with my daughter and THAT trip exceeded all my expectations. It was the best (and most demanding) route I have ever cycled. We took 8 days and enjoyed every minute.
Fabulous! On my official bucket list. Thank you for taking me on your adventue.
We were up on the NC500 last year, wow what a route. Doing it at a more leisurely pace of seven days though. Spectacular.
This is by FAR the best video GCN has ever produced. Absolutely stunning and entertaining to boot. Thank you so much.
One if not the best of your videos so far, so glad I finally found it!
This looks amazing! What a dream. Scotland is beautiful.
This remains my favourite GCN video, and still gets watched rather frequently. Can't wait for more epic ride videos when Covid allows.
I agree - this has become a go to video for me, just to soak in the gorgeous scenery and friendly chatter, allowing me to mentally escape.
@@jeremynelson8926 Bingo!
That runners is an absolute next level human he looks quite old but still he is doing the impossible
Did that in a camper last year, and nearly burnt the clutch out going up to Applecross, so kudos to you for doing that on a bike, that's a hell of an accomplishment.
phenomenal in every aspect imaginable. One of the most impressive and enjoyable things GCN has ever done. Chapeaus all round.
Relax
I've watched this a couple of times now - awesome adventure! PS: I don't go anywhere without 'the dangle mug!'. 🙂
This video have opened my eyes to the epic world of bike packing, truely breathtaking and inspiring! Chapeau!
The photography, the editing, the musical accompaniment and the storytelling on these endurance special features of GCN bring tears to my eyes every damn time. Just sublime!
A huge thumbs up from me! Absolutely the best video on the channel. A fantastic part of the country with stunning scenery. I was fortunate to experience the Etape Loch Ness sportive a couple of days ago, having the opportunity to ride around Loch Ness was an experience in itself. Watching this video brings back the memories and fuels my desire to return for more epic riding. Keep up the great content.
Thanks so much for taking us along for the ride. Thanks Si, Mark and all of the crew.
This has to be THE BEST GCN video yet.. awesome, great job guys!!
Si just won all of this weeks GCN inspiration vouchers. This video just inspires you to ride.
Great video, quite nostalgic for me did this in late May 2018 when we had those two weeks of blistering weather. Was like 25 to 30 degrees most days!
Brilliant...seen it before, but still enjoyes it. THANKS very much for your effort.
Love the YES graffiti on the fence at 6 mins 57 secs. Independence, freedom and cycling - what grouping!
amazing video, but i would specially like to highlight the cinematography of this. Great job guys
Ooh that was good, very inspiring! Looks like you really lucked out with the weather.
And don't worry Si, your freehub will scare off any predators!
Awesome stuff, well done 👏👏. I’m attempting a 1014km ride in October but only 5000m of elevation.
How did it go?!
Absolutely amazing, I know where my next cycling holiday is....
If this doesn’t win the #gcninspiration 1st prize there’s no justice!
This was brilliant. I've lived in Australia for 15 years and it's not often that I feel homesick. What an epic ride and film.
Thanks Lesley, Scotland is an incredible country and we were really fortunate to scratch to surface of what is has to offer
The best video I've seen on GCN, well done both
What a dream. Epic. Amazing. Thanks Si for letting us tag along with you on this journey!
Sold: I'm going to do this. I don't know when yet (and will take some convincing of my wife), but I'm going to do it.
@Julius Caesar no need for a gravel bike. Just a pair of 28 gatorskin.
Ah mate, great to see you setting out from Bristol airport, I live dead close by. Have just subscribed after watching that beautiful video, despite not myself being able to ride a bicycle. 😂😂😂 I only clicked the video since my partner and I decided to do a virtual North Coast 500 on foot, over the course of, oh, probably many months, 😅 and yeah I'm really glad I checked it out. Amazing stuff, guys, and yeah, greetings from the South-West. 😁💯
This two's-up series is excellent.
Scotland is beautiful.
Epic. It just went on my bucket list....but not in three days😁. I've only visited Scotland once and loved it....great landscapes, great people, great whisky, and now I see great biking.......ohhh yeah!
So what was your total system weight bike+gear+water? Is wild camping legal in Scotland?
Exhausted Si reverts to KMs, but Mark stays on message and remembers we're doing this one in miles. Epic vid.
Last summer (2018) I explored the NC500 for three weeks, with no expectations; now, my only expectation is that someday I return. I fancy myself as a road aficionado but nothing prepared me for the brutal beauty of The Highlands. I sat on those very chairs in Ullapool. Which reminds me, the only complaint I have is navigating the tsunami of tourists, which places me as part of the problem. However, avoiding the tourist “traps” along the NC500 reveals splendid places to find peace. Great video!
Super episode. Wow, great ride, great coverage by the crew and two chance encounters with epic endurance athletes. Thanks GCN.
Fantastic film. Really enjoyed it. What an incredible ride.
Incredible stuff. It's on my list so will checking your route... May be take slightly longer to do it, definitely going to factor in some faff time.
Just did my first bike tour this year - not 500miles but 550km through East Australia (Victoria and NSW) - over 2.5 days. Would love to conquer Scotland!
For more hill-friendly gearing when bike packing with a road bike, swap out the rear mech for a 9-speed MTB derailleur and a large cassette. Uses the same pull ratio. #gcntech
Does that work if you've had 10sp road cassette? What about the chain? Thx.
Just re-watched this after a couple of years. Awesome video.
Fair play Simon, that was a great effort, NC 500 in 3 days, top stuff.
Having said that though. Is it just me, or did Mark Beaumont look like he could've gone round again?
That guy is just a beast!
This reminded me of the cycling tours of the highlands I've done in the past, especially the north west coast, I could almost smell the clean fresh air, wonderful.
What a cracking video, congratulations on the third place and a big thank you to Shimano for making it happen!
I am looking to ride my own NC 500 this summer, from fort william to inverness over 8 days, this video has been brilliant insperation,
PS after a rest day in inverness i am swapping a Mountain bike and coming back via the great glen way back to fort william.
Andrew hunt I’ve hiked that route back to FW. Great route, nice flat for last 30miles. Enjoy.