Mixed bag of emotions here. Sad to see this great journey come to an end. Positive that you seem to have developed a fondness for desolate Scandinavian roads. So there might be a way we can lure you back to Sweden and hopefully the (almost) car free roads of Lapland? You're welcome here anytime. Cheers!
It was great. I had a fantastic time and feel like I barely scratched the surface of Sweden. So much more exploring to do there. The only thing I won't miss is the mosquitoes! Next time I would love to venture further north though so will keep you posted for sure!
Mikael, the desolate roads and paths of Scandinavia, or almost anywhere else, would be my favorite places to cycle tour with the possible exception of where Darren stealth-camped and was fearful throughout the night of being attacked by a bear or other wild animals - a little too nerve-racking for my taste. But, that level of desolation also strikes some nerves in me should I have a significant accident or another health emergency - this is why my wife gives me a terrible time about solo cycling, even along the coast of Southern California where you are amongst motorists, fellow cyclists, joggers, or pedestrians almost constantly. Mikael and Jethro, have your families ever expressed such concerns to you and, if so, how do you allay them? Do either of you use tracking apps so that your loved ones know your whereabouts during your tours? I believe that a few of them can send an emergency alert/signal to them (or the authorities?) should you find yourself in such situations.
@@bruin4937 I had one moment this summer while riding the Rallarvegen in Norway when I suddenly became very aware of being alone, miles from anywhere or anyone, no one knowing where I was, no phone signal and in conditions I hadn't really been expecting. After that I promised I would get a Spot Tracker or similar for future solo trips into wilderness. Having said that I genuinely think I have regularly been in more danger sharing roads with cars and lorries than I have ever been out in the wilderness. I don't know what the numbers are but if bet a shiny sixpence that more cyclists are hurt in a month by traffic accidents than in a year by wildlife or misadventure in the wild.
@@JethroJessop Each context comes with its own share of inherent risks and dangers: cars and lorries vs. bears and mountain lions, but there's also a difference in access to human help if needed. Those of us whose health at times has challenged our delusion of invincibility can appreciate the sense of vulnerability one might experience being so alone in the wild without human assistance. I also think that one's life situation may influence these concerns to an extent. I am married, have 2 adult children attending private universities, and a significant mortgage. Nobody in my family wants me eaten by a mountain lion; at least, not for a few more years. :-)
@@bruin4937 Concerning the bears, I just made a video about what it is like bike touring, and by far the most common question i get asked is "Arent't you afraid sleeping in the forest with all those bears?". And to tell you the truth, before I started getting those questions the thought had never entered my mind. There are very few bears in Sweden, at least where I live (up north). Concerning family being worried about you, my mother is always concerned each time I go on a bike tour. "Do you really have to do this?" she always asks. My wife on the contrary couldn't care less. I think it's because she's been with me on several trip and is an avid cyclist herself. So I think she understands that the biggest chance of getting hurt on a tour is by cars rather than wildlife. We are fortunate in Sweden to have a pretty awesome cell phone network (Thank you Ericsson!) so I've actually never experienced being without a cell phone signal. But I guess that day will come someday as I discover more isolated places up in the mountains. And no, I don't have a tracking device.
Thanks for taking us along on this, your latest, journey, Jethro. I've enjoyed the vistas you've shared with us, listening to your reflections on life, and of course your humorous comments (your latest reference to that miserable tree tent for good measure). I hope that you continue cycle touring to your heart's content and for as many years as you wish/can because it certainly seems that it holds a great deal of special meaning, purpose, and/or passion for you. Cheers.
Thank you. I enjoyed sharing my trip and it's always cool when people say they have enjoyed it. Cycle touring is definitely the lifestyle for me and there will be more in the future for sure. For now my upload rate might slow a little as I'm back at work but there is a new bike coming soon I hope and new adventures to have with it so look out for them
Sad to see the end of your trip, i have watched all your videos on this summer trip of yours and have enjoyed every minute, its been funny and really interesting seeing all the countries you have been through,.looking forward to more videos and the next big adventure, take care ..
Thank you! The trip was amazing and I really enjoyed making the vids. There will be more soon and more trips in the future but I'm back at work for the time being so they might not be quite as frequent. Cheers for the support!
Further into North Wales route 5 improves especially the spectacular coastal ramparts clinging to the rocky cliffs around he quarry workings of Penmaenmawr.
N.Wales is somewhere I'd love to cycle more. I've been there a little but not for a long time and not as a cyclist. It is on my list.... my looooong list ;) I need to retire so I can spend more time on the bike
I've got the biggest smile on my face right now. What a rollercoast of emotions put in a single video. Both sad and happy for you at the same time. Might even have tiny bit glimmer in a corner of me eye, but it must be an insect flown there.
It did feel like the end came around very suddenly but I'm already starting to think about other rides I could do. I'll try to keep posting videos as often as I can think of vaguely interesting things to talk about and I hope they will continue to illicit such a broad array of emotions!
@@JethroJessop That ending scene view was just as I imagine the far end of the world looking like. Went to search for it in northern Norway few years back, but because of the schedule changes I never reached the upmost shoreline. Some day...
Im not 100% sure but Chris Boardmans mother was killed on her bike in Conahs Key , was she on Route 5 ? I cycled this some years ago and the path along the Dee was scary. Should have done what just used komoot and gone inland instead.
It's a great pity that this is the truth of things. I've ridden on some terrifying roads that were labelled as "cycle route". It's one of my pet peeves that I can rant about for ages. Don't get me started 😉
I did look at sustrans routes and to be fair they do tell you the percentage of the route that is traffic free (as I read it the other day I don't know how long it has been there of course). I was surprised at the low percentage (less than 30 for some) where it was trwffix free. Good luck!
My complaint is more that many of the sections that are shared with traffic have nothing to differentiate them from any other roads. They are designated as part of the cycle network but have no traffic separation, no additional infrastructure and are often not even the quietest option. They seem to be added simply to complete the network. I don't think a road should be labelled as part of the network if it doesn't have anything to pick it out as more bike friendly than other roads. It just makes me not trust any of them as routes which makes the network as a whole kind of pointless
I liked your point about the national cycle routes. I concluded sometime ago that I should just plan my own routes along various country lanes. Sometimes I stick to the official route; sometimes I veer off when I see a better alternative. Google maps is great for planning as you can use street view to get an idea. I am wondering if part of the problem is that if the bureaucrats tried to send the route down certain roads there would be all kinds of objections from the well-off people who objected to the 'wrong sort of people'' cycling down their road. Consequently they just route it over a motorway footbridge and through an industrial estate to avoid the hassle.
I'm sure the politics and arguments behind the exact details of a cycle route are deeper and more complex than I will ever understand. It is a subject that I can rant endlessly about to anyone who wants to listen. I think it will get better, it is just a slow process which is sad.
Wish I'd found your videos a couple of years ago. Still its never too late to renew my interest in cycle touring/camping/bike packing/just riding the local lanes and tracks.
Absolutely. Never too late. I'll be doing this until my legs will no longer turn the pedal, hopefully a couple of decades off still. It doesn't matter how far you go or how fast you ride, its all about just getting out there and enjoying the world. Cheers for watching :)
Loved the music in that video. You mentioned ‘disposable income’. I’d be interested to know how you fund all these amazing trips. I only just discovered your channel but really enjoy your philosophical approach to life.
Thank you. Glad you are enjoying the channel. Until recently I was a freelance web developer, a job that payed fairly well. I have very few vices, no debts and generally a pretty cheap lifestyle so was able to build up saving pretty quick and then go off wandering for months in the fairly certain knowledge that I could pick up more work when I got back. Recently though, due to covid and other factors I've foolishly gone and got myself a 'proper job'. I should be grateful of that in these hard times when so many are out of work - and I am - but I find it hard to admit that summer is coming and I won't be able to spend it all cycling to nowhere in particular. There will be more rides coming soon for sure but until my ad revenue increases by a couple of orders of magnitude and I can retire the beautiful freedom of this ride will not be experienced again. Sad but true.
@@JethroJessop Thanks for taking the time to explain that. 30 years ago I saved and took off on my bike with my friend for 6 months, lived on £5 a day or less, all wild camping except 1 night a week on a camp site to clean up. I got fired up again to do it again in this of all years so as soon as lockdown ends I’m doing Los Lan Cymru. I want to wild camp it but my friend wants camp sites. I want the freedom of stopping where I feel like it rather than be governed by what I pre-booked. I feel less confident about winging it and pushing for that though. Hardly anyone did it then. UA-cam makes it feel like everyone is out doing it now. Loving your videos and will watch more.
@@frogslips Its a great lifestyle though it does mean that I have never really settled down and collected the trappings of a 'normal' life. I'm lucky to own a house but I gave very few possessions to put in it as for the last many years I've always been eyeing the next trip so didn't see the point of buying a new sofa :) I dunno what the deal will be post-corona but I've always done a split of wild and site camping and when going to sites I have never booked in advance. If you turn up on a bike with a small tent they will always find a space for you. So in parts of the world were campsites are plentiful you can still freestyle it to a certain extent. Good luck with the ride plans, I hope it all comes together for you. Make sure to report back :)
Well done Jethro. Always an enjoyable vid. Right now, I’m just leaving the house on a Sunday morning in rainy Wales, heading off to the gym for an hour or two. A bit of training and catch up with pals. Pleased that I managed to change a tubeless tyre and re inflate, at home. I know I can do it again next time. Thanks for your time and effort. If I can figure it out, there’s a coffee on me coming your way. Diolch!
Sounds good. The tubeless thing is daunting at first but actually isn't that tricky usually. Though I've yet to have to deal with it in dark, in the rain, with cold fingers. That will be the real test. Glad you are enjoying so many of the vids, thanks for watching
Thank you.. it is a simple enough task on the face if it. The only fly in the ointment is re fitting the new tyre and seating it properly. Especially if it’s a known ‘difficult’ tyre to fit. The Continental 5000 TL is the most difficult I’ve ever encountered. I usually get it done, but it is frustratingly difficult to fit. To inflate is simple enough and to re install some sealant, it’s just getting the damn tyre on! Practise is the key. It’ll keep at it. By the way, my PayPal account won’t send you a coffee. Any ideas why? If not, I’ll fix it my end. Thank you.
@@jimbojet8728 I think I'm lucky, my Chronicles seem to seat without too much of a fight but I've heard that some others are a lot harder! Can't help with the PayPal thing I'm afraid. Most likely a setting on your account I'd guess. Don't worry too much, its good to know that you're enjoying the channel, that's the important thing :)
Firstly, thanks for the vids. Well made and generally interesting. On the cycle route question .... I’d have been amazed to find what you did as a national route. It begs the question “what constitutes a cycle route” I now live in SW France and there are certain standards for Voie Vertes (motor free paths) which are used by cyclists, pedestrians, skaters etc. They don’t all meet them but there are some baseline measures at least. Further, the tourism offices publish local cycle routes which pretty much exclusively make use of small roads rather than the sort of thing you showed. Again, not always perfect but pretty good and certainly better than that. These are also not professing to be a national route. Some while back, I did some work over in the U.K. and wanted to cycle into the city rather than drive or spend cash and a lot of time on park and rides. I found that there were sections of roads with cycle ways however some of these were about 50m long and didn’t have any real cohesion thus real benefit. I asked people I worked with why. It appears that the basic reason was that by painting up multiple 50m “bits”, that would allow the authority to claim to have introduced the sum of these bits as cycle route and gain subsequent grants etc despite the basic fact they were of no use at all Eh ? Where is the point in that Till there is a cohesive will to address the issue then this idiocy will continue I’d guess.
My friend, I am in total agreement. I rant like an expert but in actual fact I don't know all the ins and outs of the issue. To the best of my knowledge the national cycle network is run by Sustrans who are a charity. I am not sure exactly how they mesh with government but I'm pretty sure they are an independent organisation. The regional routes I'm even less sure about - they may be Sustrans as well, or local authorities, or both. Generally routes are split by trafficked or traffic free but this is fairly vague. Traffic free can be a beautiful green sweep along an old railway line or it can be a strip painted on the pavement alongside a dual-carriageway. Equally, trafficked routes just mean anywhere that you could potentially meet a car and range from quiet country lanes to pretty busy (and in my opinion unsuitable) roads. If I was being cynical I'd agree with you that at least some of the network is put in place purely to be able to say that there is an unbroken route from A to B which, as I have ranted about on a couple of occasions is pretty counter-productive. I think there should absolutely be a minimum standard for cycle paths and also a better way of distinguishing between them. As well as the un/trafficked differentiation I'd like to be able to easily identify routes that are actually off road rather than simply car free and the type of road involved if it is a trafficked route. I don't like to be too critical as the situation is improving but I've seen what cycle networks can be if they are really taken seriously (Hello the Netherlands) and it makes me sad that we don't place more importance on the issue. I could write an essay on the subject but I'm at work so I'd better calm myself down and get on with the day. I'm sure this will resurface in a future video though.
What do you use to plan your route ? I recommend komoot. You can plan your cycling adventures from the app & it only puts you on B roads when it has no other choice. Plus you can set you're journey from A to B and add POI on you're journey. It's loaded with poi from other cyclists , It's an absolutely awesome app ! You can obviously use it on your phone or use it on a bike computer.
I'll be honest - I tried Komoot and maps.ME and a few others but always just ended up back with Viewranger. This is mainly because I genuinely love going over maps by eye, searching out routes, planning rides, building a GPX file mile by mile. All I need after that is something that will let me load that file and then cache the relevant OpenCycleMap tiles and Viewranger does this for free :) I am interested in how you use Komoot though. I have a certain mistrust of an app that claims to be able to plan a route for me. I tested a few by getting them to plan rides in places I know really well and they would route me on roads when I know there are better paths or in some cases not even list certain trails. When you use Komoot to plan a ride do you just give a start and end? Do you go over the route and tweak it and add waypoints before you set off? Do you use the paid version?
@@JethroJessop Yes i paid £20 for a one off payment as this gives you access to maps all over the world. I used komoot to plan my journey from Cherbourg France to Santander Spain this year. I set my route from A to B , then I added red dots ( POI ) that are scattered all over the different regions of France and Spain on the komoot planner map. If you click on them they give a brief description of what it is and a load of pictures from cyclists. Who've added their own photos and thumbs up. When i originally planned this route it was only 800 miles but adding loads of POI as i wanted to see so much on the way , it became 1300 miles. But it was totally worth it. As for using the route i plan it then download it to my phone as a GPX file then uploaded it to my Karoo Hammerhead bike computer which i recommend. I've used Google maps to plan bike routes before too but found komoot to be the best as it makes your journey so much more interesting.
@@ExploringHabit Sounds like an amazing trip. I really want to some more riding in France as I've only done the odd couple of weeks there before. But then I really want to do more riding everywhere :) Maybe I'll have another look at Komoot - it's been a while and I don't like to get set in my ways
We're spoiled for choice when it comes to route planning tools these days. I'm a big fan of OpenCycleMap - I just wish all the cycle routes it lists could be assumed to be of a certain shared standard.
Thank you very much, I appreciate that. Not much opportunity to make videos at the moment (though I might do a couple of gear reviews from home). I'm hoping for the swiftest end to this whole Corona crisis so I can hopefully get a few rides in before summer ends. Keep healthy
@@JethroJessop sorry i almost forget that all around the globe are in quarantine. Im from the phillipines by the way😀 i ride bike too and its almost a month that we have no ride anyway. Keep safe and healthy too and godbless! More power on our yt channel.
@@bundokerongmaniniyot indeed we are all in this one together. Right across the world. Hopefully we come the other side and can learn something from it
I did this as the last leg of a much longer ride so I started in a campsite north of the town where I'd spent the previous night but you'd be as good to start from the town center, get the train in or something
That bit of route 5 you showed looked terrible. I'd feel terrified to use it either, as on foot, bike or by car. That must not be considered as a sidewalk by any standards? I drive a lot and have to admit that I curse every time I encounter cyclists on roads blocking the traffic. Of course it's not on them since it's illegal to use sidewalk as a cyclist if it's not also branded as a bicycle version. Aaaand after I've passed them I usually feel guilty for such petty and selfish emotions and make mental note NOT to do it again ever! You're doing great work on calling these out and advocating cycling. Perhaps some day you could put your experiences in a form of pocket-size guide book. "Jethro's guide to lorry-free cycling: Europe" And why am I writing this 3 am? One of my cats took over most of the bed and almost forced me on floor. Bloody cats...think they own the world... Bah
Cyclists and cars will never and should never mix. The Dutch have the right idea, cycling in the Netherlands is just a joy. Not that we could replicate that in England without completely remodeling or towns but we could do a lot better for sure. Hope you managed to get some sleep in the end 😀
The UK is full of misrepresentations. They say Manchester is a cool, exciting city(only if you class being mugged as exciting!), that Cheshire is a friendly place, and the best: we have a safe cycle network in England!
Yeah, its all relative I guess. Depends where you are looking at it from, but I'd say England is way down the list of countries I've visited (not many to be fair) when it comes to friendly and good for cycling.
I have to agree rhe UK is more car friendly and cycling on the road is nightmare. I for one cannot cycle on the toads as I was knock off my Bike it just knock the confidence out in off me . I just can't do roads car drivers are nasty and bullies in the UK they think they have the right to Drive on the..I take cycle route and avoiding the roads all togethers
I absolutely avoid traffic at every opportunity. I ride my bike to enjoy myself and I can't enjoy cycling amongst cars. I like to be able to look around and take in the views, not be constantly on high alert. I've never had an accident yet - touch wood - and i hope to keep it that way by staying on the bike paths
Another video from you that makes me want to go cycling !
Another trip out of Prague along the river then!
Mixed bag of emotions here. Sad to see this great journey come to an end. Positive that you seem to have developed a fondness for desolate Scandinavian roads. So there might be a way we can lure you back to Sweden and hopefully the (almost) car free roads of Lapland? You're welcome here anytime. Cheers!
It was great. I had a fantastic time and feel like I barely scratched the surface of Sweden. So much more exploring to do there. The only thing I won't miss is the mosquitoes!
Next time I would love to venture further north though so will keep you posted for sure!
Mikael, the desolate roads and paths of Scandinavia, or almost anywhere else, would be my favorite places to cycle tour with the possible exception of where Darren stealth-camped and was fearful throughout the night of being attacked by a bear or other wild animals - a little too nerve-racking for my taste. But, that level of desolation also strikes some nerves in me should I have a significant accident or another health emergency - this is why my wife gives me a terrible time about solo cycling, even along the coast of Southern California where you are amongst motorists, fellow cyclists, joggers, or pedestrians almost constantly. Mikael and Jethro, have your families ever expressed such concerns to you and, if so, how do you allay them? Do either of you use tracking apps so that your loved ones know your whereabouts during your tours? I believe that a few of them can send an emergency alert/signal to them (or the authorities?) should you find yourself in such situations.
@@bruin4937 I had one moment this summer while riding the Rallarvegen in Norway when I suddenly became very aware of being alone, miles from anywhere or anyone, no one knowing where I was, no phone signal and in conditions I hadn't really been expecting. After that I promised I would get a Spot Tracker or similar for future solo trips into wilderness.
Having said that I genuinely think I have regularly been in more danger sharing roads with cars and lorries than I have ever been out in the wilderness. I don't know what the numbers are but if bet a shiny sixpence that more cyclists are hurt in a month by traffic accidents than in a year by wildlife or misadventure in the wild.
@@JethroJessop Each context comes with its own share of inherent risks and dangers: cars and lorries vs. bears and mountain lions, but there's also a difference in access to human help if needed. Those of us whose health at times has challenged our delusion of invincibility can appreciate the sense of vulnerability one might experience being so alone in the wild without human assistance. I also think that one's life situation may influence these concerns to an extent. I am married, have 2 adult children attending private universities, and a significant mortgage. Nobody in my family wants me eaten by a mountain lion; at least, not for a few more years. :-)
@@bruin4937 Concerning the bears, I just made a video about what it is like bike touring, and by far the most common question i get asked is "Arent't you afraid sleeping in the forest with all those bears?". And to tell you the truth, before I started getting those questions the thought had never entered my mind. There are very few bears in Sweden, at least where I live (up north).
Concerning family being worried about you, my mother is always concerned each time I go on a bike tour. "Do you really have to do this?" she always asks. My wife on the contrary couldn't care less. I think it's because she's been with me on several trip and is an avid cyclist herself. So I think she understands that the biggest chance of getting hurt on a tour is by cars rather than wildlife.
We are fortunate in Sweden to have a pretty awesome cell phone network (Thank you Ericsson!) so I've actually never experienced being without a cell phone signal. But I guess that day will come someday as I discover more isolated places up in the mountains. And no, I don't have a tracking device.
U the man keep rolling.
Thank you. I will try my very best to do exactly that ;)
Thanks for taking us along on this, your latest, journey, Jethro. I've enjoyed the vistas you've shared with us, listening to your reflections on life, and of course your humorous comments (your latest reference to that miserable tree tent for good measure). I hope that you continue cycle touring to your heart's content and for as many years as you wish/can because it certainly seems that it holds a great deal of special meaning, purpose, and/or passion for you. Cheers.
Thank you. I enjoyed sharing my trip and it's always cool when people say they have enjoyed it.
Cycle touring is definitely the lifestyle for me and there will be more in the future for sure. For now my upload rate might slow a little as I'm back at work but there is a new bike coming soon I hope and new adventures to have with it so look out for them
Sad to see the end of your trip, i have watched all your videos on this summer trip of yours and have enjoyed every minute, its been funny and really interesting seeing all the countries you have been through,.looking forward to more videos and the next big adventure, take care ..
Thank you! The trip was amazing and I really enjoyed making the vids. There will be more soon and more trips in the future but I'm back at work for the time being so they might not be quite as frequent. Cheers for the support!
Further into North Wales route 5 improves especially the spectacular coastal ramparts clinging to the rocky cliffs around he quarry workings of Penmaenmawr.
N.Wales is somewhere I'd love to cycle more. I've been there a little but not for a long time and not as a cyclist.
It is on my list.... my looooong list ;)
I need to retire so I can spend more time on the bike
I've got the biggest smile on my face right now. What a rollercoast of emotions put in a single video. Both sad and happy for you at the same time. Might even have tiny bit glimmer in a corner of me eye, but it must be an insect flown there.
It did feel like the end came around very suddenly but I'm already starting to think about other rides I could do. I'll try to keep posting videos as often as I can think of vaguely interesting things to talk about and I hope they will continue to illicit such a broad array of emotions!
@@JethroJessop That ending scene view was just as I imagine the far end of the world looking like. Went to search for it in northern Norway few years back, but because of the schedule changes I never reached the upmost shoreline. Some day...
Im not 100% sure but Chris Boardmans mother was killed on her bike in Conahs Key , was she on Route 5 ? I cycled this some years ago and the path along the Dee was scary. Should have done what just used komoot and gone inland instead.
It's a great pity that this is the truth of things. I've ridden on some terrifying roads that were labelled as "cycle route". It's one of my pet peeves that I can rant about for ages.
Don't get me started 😉
I did look at sustrans routes and to be fair they do tell you the percentage of the route that is traffic free (as I read it the other day I don't know how long it has been there of course). I was surprised at the low percentage (less than 30 for some) where it was trwffix free. Good luck!
My complaint is more that many of the sections that are shared with traffic have nothing to differentiate them from any other roads. They are designated as part of the cycle network but have no traffic separation, no additional infrastructure and are often not even the quietest option. They seem to be added simply to complete the network.
I don't think a road should be labelled as part of the network if it doesn't have anything to pick it out as more bike friendly than other roads. It just makes me not trust any of them as routes which makes the network as a whole kind of pointless
I liked your point about the national cycle routes. I concluded sometime ago that I should just plan my own routes along various country lanes. Sometimes I stick to the official route; sometimes I veer off when I see a better alternative. Google maps is great for planning as you can use street view to get an idea. I am wondering if part of the problem is that if the bureaucrats tried to send the route down certain roads there would be all kinds of objections from the well-off people who objected to the 'wrong sort of people'' cycling down their road. Consequently they just route it over a motorway footbridge and through an industrial estate to avoid the hassle.
I'm sure the politics and arguments behind the exact details of a cycle route are deeper and more complex than I will ever understand.
It is a subject that I can rant endlessly about to anyone who wants to listen.
I think it will get better, it is just a slow process which is sad.
Wish I'd found your videos a couple of years ago. Still its never too late to renew my interest in cycle touring/camping/bike packing/just riding the local lanes and tracks.
Absolutely. Never too late. I'll be doing this until my legs will no longer turn the pedal, hopefully a couple of decades off still.
It doesn't matter how far you go or how fast you ride, its all about just getting out there and enjoying the world.
Cheers for watching :)
Loved the music in that video. You mentioned ‘disposable income’. I’d be interested to know how you fund all these amazing trips. I only just discovered your channel but really enjoy your philosophical approach to life.
Thank you. Glad you are enjoying the channel.
Until recently I was a freelance web developer, a job that payed fairly well. I have very few vices, no debts and generally a pretty cheap lifestyle so was able to build up saving pretty quick and then go off wandering for months in the fairly certain knowledge that I could pick up more work when I got back.
Recently though, due to covid and other factors I've foolishly gone and got myself a 'proper job'. I should be grateful of that in these hard times when so many are out of work - and I am - but I find it hard to admit that summer is coming and I won't be able to spend it all cycling to nowhere in particular.
There will be more rides coming soon for sure but until my ad revenue increases by a couple of orders of magnitude and I can retire the beautiful freedom of this ride will not be experienced again. Sad but true.
@@JethroJessop Thanks for taking the time to explain that. 30 years ago I saved and took off on my bike with my friend for 6 months, lived on £5 a day or less, all wild camping except 1 night a week on a camp site to clean up. I got fired up again to do it again in this of all years so as soon as lockdown ends I’m doing Los Lan Cymru. I want to wild camp it but my friend wants camp sites. I want the freedom of stopping where I feel like it rather than be governed by what I pre-booked. I feel less confident about winging it and pushing for that though. Hardly anyone did it then. UA-cam makes it feel like everyone is out doing it now. Loving your videos and will watch more.
@@frogslips Its a great lifestyle though it does mean that I have never really settled down and collected the trappings of a 'normal' life. I'm lucky to own a house but I gave very few possessions to put in it as for the last many years I've always been eyeing the next trip so didn't see the point of buying a new sofa :)
I dunno what the deal will be post-corona but I've always done a split of wild and site camping and when going to sites I have never booked in advance. If you turn up on a bike with a small tent they will always find a space for you. So in parts of the world were campsites are plentiful you can still freestyle it to a certain extent.
Good luck with the ride plans, I hope it all comes together for you. Make sure to report back :)
A Great observation by you (301) on your assumption of a "Cycle Rout" Well Said !.
It is a point I keep coming back to the more time I spend cycling on the network.
I could rant about it for hours 😉
100% the cycle route critique!
It is a critique oft delivered by me. To the point that I have to restrain myself from bringing it up in every video 😉
Well done Jethro. Always an enjoyable vid. Right now, I’m just leaving the house on a Sunday morning in rainy Wales, heading off to the gym for an hour or two. A bit of training and catch up with pals. Pleased that I managed to change a tubeless tyre and re inflate, at home. I know I can do it again next time.
Thanks for your time and effort. If I can figure it out, there’s a coffee on me coming your way. Diolch!
Sounds good.
The tubeless thing is daunting at first but actually isn't that tricky usually. Though I've yet to have to deal with it in dark, in the rain, with cold fingers. That will be the real test.
Glad you are enjoying so many of the vids, thanks for watching
Thank you.. it is a simple enough task on the face if it. The only fly in the ointment is re fitting the new tyre and seating it properly. Especially if it’s a known ‘difficult’ tyre to fit. The Continental 5000 TL is the most difficult I’ve ever encountered. I usually get it done, but it is frustratingly difficult to fit. To inflate is simple enough and to re install some sealant, it’s just getting the damn tyre on! Practise is the key. It’ll keep at it.
By the way, my PayPal account won’t send you a coffee. Any ideas why? If not, I’ll fix it my end. Thank you.
@@jimbojet8728 I think I'm lucky, my Chronicles seem to seat without too much of a fight but I've heard that some others are a lot harder!
Can't help with the PayPal thing I'm afraid. Most likely a setting on your account I'd guess.
Don't worry too much, its good to know that you're enjoying the channel, that's the important thing :)
Firstly, thanks for the vids. Well made and generally interesting.
On the cycle route question ....
I’d have been amazed to find what you did as a national route. It begs the question “what constitutes a cycle route”
I now live in SW France and there are certain standards for Voie Vertes (motor free paths) which are used by cyclists, pedestrians, skaters etc. They don’t all meet them but there are some baseline measures at least. Further, the tourism offices publish local cycle routes which pretty much exclusively make use of small roads rather than the sort of thing you showed.
Again, not always perfect but pretty good and certainly better than that. These are also not professing to be a national route.
Some while back, I did some work over in the U.K. and wanted to cycle into the city rather than drive or spend cash and a lot of time on park and rides. I found that there were sections of roads with cycle ways however some of these were about 50m long and didn’t have any real cohesion thus real benefit. I asked people I worked with why. It appears that the basic reason was that by painting up multiple 50m “bits”, that would allow the authority to claim to have introduced the sum of these bits as cycle route and gain subsequent grants etc despite the basic fact they were of no use at all
Eh ? Where is the point in that
Till there is a cohesive will to address the issue then this idiocy will continue I’d guess.
My friend, I am in total agreement.
I rant like an expert but in actual fact I don't know all the ins and outs of the issue. To the best of my knowledge the national cycle network is run by Sustrans who are a charity. I am not sure exactly how they mesh with government but I'm pretty sure they are an independent organisation.
The regional routes I'm even less sure about - they may be Sustrans as well, or local authorities, or both.
Generally routes are split by trafficked or traffic free but this is fairly vague. Traffic free can be a beautiful green sweep along an old railway line or it can be a strip painted on the pavement alongside a dual-carriageway.
Equally, trafficked routes just mean anywhere that you could potentially meet a car and range from quiet country lanes to pretty busy (and in my opinion unsuitable) roads.
If I was being cynical I'd agree with you that at least some of the network is put in place purely to be able to say that there is an unbroken route from A to B which, as I have ranted about on a couple of occasions is pretty counter-productive.
I think there should absolutely be a minimum standard for cycle paths and also a better way of distinguishing between them. As well as the un/trafficked differentiation I'd like to be able to easily identify routes that are actually off road rather than simply car free and the type of road involved if it is a trafficked route.
I don't like to be too critical as the situation is improving but I've seen what cycle networks can be if they are really taken seriously (Hello the Netherlands) and it makes me sad that we don't place more importance on the issue.
I could write an essay on the subject but I'm at work so I'd better calm myself down and get on with the day. I'm sure this will resurface in a future video though.
What do you use to plan your route ? I recommend komoot. You can plan your cycling adventures from the app & it only puts you on B roads when it has no other choice. Plus you can set you're journey from A to B and add POI on you're journey. It's loaded with poi from other cyclists , It's an absolutely awesome app ! You can obviously use it on your phone or use it on a bike computer.
I'll be honest - I tried Komoot and maps.ME and a few others but always just ended up back with Viewranger.
This is mainly because I genuinely love going over maps by eye, searching out routes, planning rides, building a GPX file mile by mile. All I need after that is something that will let me load that file and then cache the relevant OpenCycleMap tiles and Viewranger does this for free :)
I am interested in how you use Komoot though.
I have a certain mistrust of an app that claims to be able to plan a route for me. I tested a few by getting them to plan rides in places I know really well and they would route me on roads when I know there are better paths or in some cases not even list certain trails.
When you use Komoot to plan a ride do you just give a start and end?
Do you go over the route and tweak it and add waypoints before you set off?
Do you use the paid version?
@@JethroJessop Yes i paid £20 for a one off payment as this gives you access to maps all over the world. I used komoot to plan my journey from Cherbourg France to Santander Spain this year. I set my route from A to B , then I added red dots ( POI ) that are scattered all over the different regions of France and Spain on the komoot planner map. If you click on them they give a brief description of what it is and a load of pictures from cyclists. Who've added their own photos and thumbs up.
When i originally planned this route it was only 800 miles but adding loads of POI as i wanted to see so much on the way , it became 1300 miles. But it was totally worth it. As for using the route i plan it then download it to my phone as a GPX file then uploaded it to my Karoo Hammerhead bike computer which i recommend. I've used Google maps to plan bike routes before too but found komoot to be the best as it makes your journey so much more interesting.
@@ExploringHabit Sounds like an amazing trip. I really want to some more riding in France as I've only done the odd couple of weeks there before.
But then I really want to do more riding everywhere :)
Maybe I'll have another look at Komoot - it's been a while and I don't like to get set in my ways
I think you nailed it re cycle routes... These days you can plan your own routes with Google maps and even look at the road itself
We're spoiled for choice when it comes to route planning tools these days. I'm a big fan of OpenCycleMap - I just wish all the cycle routes it lists could be assumed to be of a certain shared standard.
I like your vids its very relaxing and the views are amazing. Nice vids! Deserve more subscribers.
Thank you very much, I appreciate that. Not much opportunity to make videos at the moment (though I might do a couple of gear reviews from home). I'm hoping for the swiftest end to this whole Corona crisis so I can hopefully get a few rides in before summer ends.
Keep healthy
@@JethroJessop sorry i almost forget that all around the globe are in quarantine. Im from the phillipines by the way😀 i ride bike too and its almost a month that we have no ride anyway. Keep safe and healthy too and godbless! More power on our yt channel.
@@bundokerongmaniniyot indeed we are all in this one together. Right across the world. Hopefully we come the other side and can learn something from it
I have wanted to take this particular route ... where did you start at Chester (I'm from Liverpool?)
I did this as the last leg of a much longer ride so I started in a campsite north of the town where I'd spent the previous night but you'd be as good to start from the town center, get the train in or something
If you find me on Strava and go back through my history you can see the exact route I took but you need to spin back to Aug '19
That bit of route 5 you showed looked terrible. I'd feel terrified to use it either, as on foot, bike or by car. That must not be considered as a sidewalk by any standards?
I drive a lot and have to admit that I curse every time I encounter cyclists on roads blocking the traffic. Of course it's not on them since it's illegal to use sidewalk as a cyclist if it's not also branded as a bicycle version. Aaaand after I've passed them I usually feel guilty for such petty and selfish emotions and make mental note NOT to do it again ever!
You're doing great work on calling these out and advocating cycling. Perhaps some day you could put your experiences in a form of pocket-size guide book. "Jethro's guide to lorry-free cycling: Europe"
And why am I writing this 3 am? One of my cats took over most of the bed and almost forced me on floor. Bloody cats...think they own the world... Bah
Cyclists and cars will never and should never mix. The Dutch have the right idea, cycling in the Netherlands is just a joy.
Not that we could replicate that in England without completely remodeling or towns but we could do a lot better for sure.
Hope you managed to get some sleep in the end 😀
I avoid UK National Cycle Routes unless their signs have happened to appear on roads/routes I ride anyway, but not intentionally.
I think the network is generally good and with checking out - especially the traffic free sections. It's just a pity that it can't be trusted 100%
"Like the people who win the lottery and carry on working ..... euh!" Great script. Classic.
It's there any crime more terrible? 😜
The UK is full of misrepresentations. They say Manchester is a cool, exciting city(only if you class being mugged as exciting!), that Cheshire is a friendly place, and the best: we have a safe cycle network in England!
Yeah, its all relative I guess. Depends where you are looking at it from, but I'd say England is way down the list of countries I've visited (not many to be fair) when it comes to friendly and good for cycling.
I have to agree rhe UK is more car friendly and cycling on the road is nightmare. I for one cannot cycle on the toads as I was knock off my Bike it just knock the confidence out in off me . I just can't do roads car drivers are nasty and bullies in the UK they think they have the right to Drive on the..I take cycle route and avoiding the roads all togethers
I absolutely avoid traffic at every opportunity. I ride my bike to enjoy myself and I can't enjoy cycling amongst cars.
I like to be able to look around and take in the views, not be constantly on high alert.
I've never had an accident yet - touch wood - and i hope to keep it that way by staying on the bike paths