Agree, I cannot do hiking (due to my weird ankle at brith), but cycling is the way to go for me too. John is a funny dude and wouldn't be bore with him on the trip.
I can only hope to meet and ride with such a quality group of humans as I see here. Safety in numbers only if the numbers work. Bravo and Thank You! (Now go get some nutrition!)
Thanks. I definitely need to improve my diet, especially on the TransAm which I'll.staet at the end of July. I was lucky to find such amazing riding companions. Cheers 👍
Finished watching your series on the GDMBR. Really appreciate your modesty and sense of humor. The views especially the ones with your drone were amazing. I was already planning a US coast to coast road tour next summer but your videos have convinced me to do the GDMBR first.
What a great series of videos. We've really enjoyed watching them. I got a few of my bikepacking mates, including another ex Rumney High bloke who lives here, onto it and everyone says it's been a great experience. We'll done mate
Mat, I have totally enjoyed your videos. I don’t know if anyone has asked this yet but I am curious as to your age. I myself am closing in on 65 in February of 2024 and would love to ride the GDMBR. Your videos are very inspiring. Thank you SO much for sharing them.
Well done sir! I just binge watched this, what a beauty, so well filmed, so candid, and hilarious commentary to boot! I am planning on doing the route in 2 years time for my retirement present to myself, I think I am going to back off on my current expectation I have of distance to be done each day based on your experiences!
Thanks. I'm glad you liked these videos. You're definitely going to love it. I would definitely take a bit longer if I did it again. With no time constraints then it makes more sense. There's so much to see so why not take your time..
Congratulations Mat! Wonderful adventure! A true pleasure to following along. Really enjoyed the footage and dialog. Looking forward to your next adventure!
Thanks for being a regular contributor. I've definitely been motivated by the support I've had from everyone. I'm already planning the next trip. Cheers 👍
Thank you Mat for taking us on this journey with you. I enjoyed every minute of your videos, your commentary, your wry self-deprecating humour, and your child-like enjoyment of ice cream and root beer. Congratulations on a job well done!
Excellent. You'll love it. If you have any questions about the route mail me at matryder2@gmail.com. Thanks for being a regular commenter. It's appreciated 👍👍
Hi Mat, just managed to catch up on the final two instalments, wow what an amazing adventure, I’m still jealous!! I will miss these great mini docs, however I can watch them all over again !! Well done !! How did the bike stand up ?? Brilliant !! You’re a cyclist for sure now Mat 😂
Thanks. It was incredible out there. I miss it already. The bike was perfect. No problems at all. The belt coming off was my fault. I didn't have it tensioned correctly. I should have used the app..I've learned my lesson. I hope you have your next trip planned?
Oh boy, what a journey, what a video series, WTF are we goig to do now? Fantastic achievement Mat. Bet you're going to be hankering for another challenge now. As I said before and many thers are saying, you have a great way of getting things across. Really looking forward to meeting up sometime soon. Now to watch this episode. Yes not watched it yet. Lights - Camera - Action...
Hi Graham. Thanks for all the kind comments. It's really helped keep me motivated. I'll definitely be out again for more bikepacking trips and I'm sure we'll get to meet up. Cheers 👍
Loved all the commentary and am motivated to hit the road myself. Curious about the timepiece you wore throughout the series; it looks like a terrific field watch of some sort.
That's good to hear. I'd urge anyone to give bikepacking a go. I have an Archimede Outdoor. It's been great. I've had it for about ten years. I bought it partly because it has a hardened steel case. I'd recommend it. Cheers.
What an amazing trip, well done Matt. Ive loved waiting to watch the next installment. I dont know what am I going to watch now? Could you turn around and do it again 😂
Excellent. I can honestly say that knowing I've been a small part of encouraging people to do this ride makes me happy. Good luck and if you have any questions fire away. Cheers 👍
Congratulations Mat and the rest of the guys too. What a massive achievement. I’ve loved every video and will miss watching your journey, but Caroline needs you home now!! She’s getting cabin fever 😂safe flight home 😊
Thanks for an excellent series on the Great Divide, loved your sense of humor. Your videos showed the reality of how tough this route is both mentally and physically. Happy trails into the future.
Thanks for sharing your amazing journey! Great to see a realistic (for me) approach to an epic journey. It's pretty hard to watch elite rides do 150 miles/day! Planning to do this in 2025 as a retirement project. 50 miles/day sounds doable although all that climbing is insane! I'd love to see a post-ride gear review: what would you leave at home, what worked well, what did you do that you would change as far as planning. Thanks again.
Hi. Thanks for commenting. The racers are crazy and inhuman!!! I believe 50 miles per day is manageable for most people, even with the climbing. I could have made it easier by taking more breaks throughout the day as there is plenty of daylight. I have a few videos lined up discussing planning, equipment etc. If you have any questions which aren't covered in these videos mail me at matryder2@gmail.com . I'll be more than happy to answer them. I hope you make it out there in 2025. You'll love it.
Thoroughly enjoyed every video. Congratulations on completing your epic adventure. I can't believe how much it rains in New Mexico! I always thought of it as a dry, dessert like environment.
It's been one of the driest periods for a number of years so I'm told. It seemed to rain a lot but all of the creeks and lakes were dry. It's confusing. Maybe the rain events are just too short. Long enough to turn the trails to mud still.....
Thanks for all the great impressions Mat. How quickly time has gone by, I can well remember you driving out of Banff saying The Adventure Begins. It was certainly a wonderful adventure and also quite a challenge. Biking 2,742 miles on 90% dirt roads with over with over 165,000 feet of elevation gain is not as easy as it looks! Have a good trip home and enjoy your fond memories of the GDMBR.
Thanks for following along. I just looked up King Alfred's Way. It's now on my list. Thanks. I will definitely be doing more UK trails in between bigger trips. Cheers 👍👍
Congratulations Mat, such a fantastic achievement!! I've thoroughly enjoyed watching the adventure while recovering from shoulder surgery and am genuinely sad it's finished 😂 Would be awesome to have a ride with you and hear your stories if you're ever trundling through Essex. Safe journey back to the UK and thanks again 👍
Watched it all for the second time. 😁Did you need any permits for this ride? Like permits to camp or enter national parks? If there are? Can you buy like a package for the entire trip? Or no permits needed?
Just watched a video from this years race and it had quite a bit of seriously gnarly terrain that I don’t recall in your videos. Am I assuming you bypassed the likes of Koko Claims and a few other of the super gnarly bits? Still trying to understand the various route options.
The GDMBR is distinct from the Tour Divide. They share most of the route but differ slightly. 'Koko claims' and 'The Wall' are not on the GDMBR. Later in the route I believe the Tour Divide follows more paved roads than the GDMBR. It causes quite a bit of confusion. You can find the GDMBR official route on the ACA website. Most people who are not racing follow the GDMBR.
Matt , Thank you ! Thank you for stepping out of your comfort zone , filming a d sharing your prep and this incredible journey! Thank you for being such an inspiration! Thank you for just being you and having such a wonderful attitude and great sense of humor. Congratulations on reaching Antelope Wells. I look forward to a recap video or two, and look forward to your next adventure. Till then , see you down the trail.
Hello! I’m genuinely sad that your ride is over! My friend and I cycled the Banff to Whitefish section and I’d guess we were about 2+ weeks behind you. I’m so jealous you got to finish the entire route. It was so hard coming back to reality. The pull to get back out there is big. Anyway congrats on your completion it’s been great following you. Your early GDMBR vids were helpful with mapping out our days. Thanks my friend!
Hi. That was a great section. I loved Canada. You definitely got to see some amazing places. Do you think you'll get out at some point and do another section?
@@matryderadventures I absolutely want / need to do the rest, it has to happen even if I have to wait until retirement (another 10 years). This was THE question my friend and I asked ourselves when we finished. Those 2 weeks were such a tease!
It was so great to meet you three at Lake Roberts! We had such a fun visit and I'm happy to see you made it to the southern end of the trail. We wish you safe travels home and if you are in our part of New Mexico again, please find us! Tracy&Pam
Hi both. It was amazing spending time with you. It was a highlight of our whole trip. The Paloma was exceptional!!!! Thanks again for the kindness you showed us. I'll definitely be in touch if I make it back to New Mexico. Cheers 👍
congratulations...looking forward to your next adventure....please let us know the ages of your white-bearded cohorts at the end...I'm 66 and I need some inspiration
Sorry Mat but i think you have just shot yourself in the foot i don`t think you will be able to make another video as good as that again it was the best bikepacking video i have seen on youtube well done 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you "our friend Mat" (that is how my husband and I refer to you when we talk about your videos). We thoroughly enjoyed your videos and found them helpful as we plan our 2024 Great Divide trip to celebrate being unencumbered by employment. Congratulations and hope to cross bike paths with you someday!
Hi. 'our friend Mat' brought a smile to my face. Maybe we will cross paths one day. I'm riding the Trans Am this year and it intersects the GDMBR. You never know..I hope so. You're going to love the GDMBR. It was an incredible experience and I miss being out there. If you have any questions just ask. I could talk about the GDMBR all day. Now we've had this chat we are officially friends!!!! Cheers 👍
Well done!!! Can’t wait to watch the other videos next! Thank you for sharing this! I’d be super interested in getting in touch with Ross the editor if he’s open to discussing a similar edit process from me, I’d love to commission him. 😊
Congrats to all of you! One more knee to replace and I'll be back. Can't wait. Good luck with the transfers and thanks for all the humor and great visuals.
Really loved your series of videos covering your trip. I saw Ryan Van Duzer had entered himself for the race and thought I'd search for videos other than his on the route to watch. You popped up and I'm glad you did. Really love the unique style of your videos and nice to listen to a non-American voice describing the trip and bringing a more laid back British perspective on the challenges. Thanks again.
That's good to hear. It's amazing. You'll love it. I'm more than happy to answer any questions you have. You can leave them here or mail me at matryder2@gmail.com Thanks for watching 👍
Terrific video series, Mat. I would really love to do this route, and you gave me the feeling I could make it. At 72 I'm still cycle touring every year, but only on trips of 3 to 5 weeks in length. I don't feel it's too fair to leave my wife for a three month trip, and with the arthritis in her hands cycling is pretty much out of the question. Cycling off road would be awful for her. --- That said, on my trips in Europe my favourite stretches are those I make on unpaved farm roads and bike paths. In Scandinavia, the opportunities for long tours on dirt roads are enormous. --- This summer I'll be taking a train to Vienna and cycling. back to my home in Aachen, Germany. Mostly along EuroVelo routes. I think I'll be taking some of your advice and slowing down a bit. I.e., not pushing 100 km per day, but targeting more the 65-80 km range with at least one rest / sightseeing day per week. -- Now to watch your GDMBR follow.-up video.
3 to 5 week tours sound good to me. I hope I'm still able to do that at 72. I would love to do some bike touring in Scandinavia. I'll have to look into some of the trails there. Your upcoming tour from Vienna to Aachen sounds great. Good luck and thanks for watching 👍
Thanks Mat. Great videos. I watched them all while pedaling away on my static bike which I'm using for training. I'm looking forward to seeing more! Keep up the phenomenal work
Mat, thank you so much for taking us along with you. I just finished binge watching them all, I wish I would have found your channel sooner. Such a priveledge to be able to follow along with you on your ride. Your videos are so entertaining and really enjoyable to watch. I look forward to your future adventures. I wll be watching along with many others.
Well…I finished all 19 videos. Glad you made it all the way. Congratulations! It was quite the journey. I actually had to get up early this morning and do a 20 mile bike ride to prepare for the last 5 videos of you GDMBR. Thanks for sharing your adventure. 🤙
Woo, he did it! Now you have the option of Northbound lol, Route 66, Pacific Coast Highway, the TRANSAM, next time you have the hankerin for some N. American long distance! Really fun series to follow along with. Appreciate you sharing it. Can't wait to see what your next plans are, you know, after some well-deserved rest.
I'll put northbound on the list but it may be a while....I have some ideas in the pipeline. I can't wait for the next trip. Thanks for following along 👍
Wow loved every minute,we had a mat finishing party here in Sweden🎉🎉My bonus daughter loved the views and the commentary but kept saying,why does he never smile!! Made me laugh every time .I do a lot of bike packing here in Sweden and I recommend looking at bikepacking the length of Sweden it's beautiful.Good luck with future adventures,Welsh man in Sweden.
Another Welsh man..we get around!!! You had a 'Mat finishing party'!!! I'll come to the next one!!! I'll also try to smile more. I'll look at the Sweden ride. I think it's part of the Europe Divide Trail. Cheers 👍👍👍
Just finished the series. Again. Tremendously inspirational stuff. Idk what it's like for you but I'm always a bit saddened when an adventure comes to a an end. Don't matter if it's a longer travel or if it's only a few hours. The best thing in the world is just being out there. But everything comes to an end, and we need that too so that we can gather our strength for new epics. I hope I get to do this trip at some point. In the meantime I'll be looking forward to more of your trips here on the tube. Thank you :-)
Thanks for watching, again! I get the same feeling. Particularly on the longer trips. It's difficult coming back from something so epic and getting back into a normal routine. As you said, it's necessary for recovery and planning new adventures. Thanks again 👍
I’ve binged watched your vids over the last 2 days! Epic adventure and nicely put together. I came across the series by accident after watching a clip of you going through Hadleigh, and it’s surrounds first, which was of interest sine that’s my neck of the woods. See you on the trails sometime?
Thanks for watching them all!! It was an amazing trip. I enjoyed that ride where I stopped in Hadleigh. We are lucky to live somewhere so interesting. Maybe I will see you out there some time. Cheers 👍
Hi. I loved watching your voyage on the gdmbr. Can I ask you how much do you think you spent on the trip excluding flights? I have been thinking about doing this trip for a while now and being as you have done it recently it would be helpful to know a rough budget. Again thanks for the videos. Cheers Matt
Hi Matt, thanks for commenting. Funnily enough I am working on a video right now that will give advice for anyone thinking about trying this ride themselves. I will go into all my expenses, as well as what I think is the lowest cost way of completing it. The video should be out on Monday so hopefully it will answer your questions and be helpful for you 👍
Well done, really enjoyed the videos. I’d be interested to know what you think about what kind of bike is required for these kind of trips. Do you have to spend several thousand pounds on a bike? Anyway thanks for taking us along.
Thanks. You definitely don't need to too much on the bike. I don't think going cheap works either. Maybe around 2000 (dollars or pounds). Also, you have to factor in the cost of the other equipment, racks, panniers etc. It's hard to be precise. Maybe others in the chat have an opinion too. Cheers 👍
I rode the Tour Divide a month or so before your ride . It was fantastic to revisit the ride through your videos and see some of the places I may have passed in the dark. You did a fantastic job of recording an epic adventure, I have really enjoyed following along . Congrats on finishing !
Fantastic, what a wonderful video to wrap up your adventure. It was nice to slowly get to know your supporting cast a little more as the ride progressed, and it appears you found some genial people to share this experience with. Enjoy some much needed down time, and I look forward to your next adventure.
Thanks. It was a nice way to end. They were an amazing bunch and I was lucky to meet them. I've been off the trail for about a week and I'm missing it already so there will be a new adventure soon. Cheers 👍
Mat , it was a real pleasure to watch all your videos.... i was travelling with you. you convicted me int he idea to do the same trip... i will follow your advise "if you plan to do it, so do it !" thanks very much. see you soon in your next adventure !
Great adventure hope there be a lot more … Here’s Bikepacking bucket list over the next 7 years Australia - Bicentennial National Trail 5300km Peru - Nazca Lines 1280km Vietnam - The Ho Chi Minh Trail 3000 km Russia - Road of Bones 2031 km Iceland - The Divide North - South. 1554Km Norway - Bright Midnight 1000 Km Europe - European Divide Trail 7565 km Namibia - Open Space 1200 Km Alaska The Iditarod 1609 Km Mexico - Baja Divide 2690 Km The Trans-Mexico Bikepacking 3500-Km Canada - The Great Trail 2400 Km North America - The Great Divide 4339 Km Just realized if you do the great divide from south to the north you save $60 on beer spray might be worth it lol
Excellent. Thanks. I can use your bucket list to work out my own future trips. Thanks for being a regular commenter and for all the advice 👍. Good point about saving on bear spray by heading north. Only problem is starting in New Mexico!!!! I needed to build up to it!
@@matryderadventures been thinking if your looking for short trips you could do parts of the European divide it 7800 km over 10 trips ,beening in the uk flights would be cheap ride for a week or 2 week fly home come back and continue that be a good achievement both divides
I'm glad you liked it. I didn't really train much beforehand. It seemed to come around so quick. I hoped I'd improve my fitness while on the trail and that's exactly what happened. Good luck with it. You'll love it out there. Cheers.
Amazing! Congratulations. I'm toasting you all with a glass of red wine from the vineyards of Mont Ventoux.(How appropriate.) You have come across as a proper bloke and have undertaken this journey in the most perfect way in my opinion. My dream is to complete LEJOG in a similar manner. Ymdrech ffantastig!
Sounds good. I could do with a glass of red right about now. LEJOG is on my list too. I think there's an off road version which I may look into. I hope you manage to get out and do it soon. Diolch 👍👍
Awesome series, Mat! Thanks for your efforts to document this for us all to enjoy. By far one of the best GDMBR series on TH-cam. I am curious…what are the ages of all the guys that were in the group?
Hi. I'm glad you liked it. I'm 50, Bill was about 54 (I think), and John was 67. I've no idea how old Paul was. Are you thinking of getting out there yourself?
Good to know guys in their 50s are able to make the trip. I’ll be there in a few years so maybe there’s time. I’ve done a couple 500+ mile week long trips, but never one that long. Between work and family I can’t take that much time away to ride the whole route. Will have to wait and see what kind of shape I’m in when I retire. For now I’ll just live vicariously. Thanks for the reply. I’m looking forward to the series about your trip across the US this summer. Good luck!
Absolutely fantastic - what an achievement and so much pleasure watching your progress. Not sure what I can look forwards to now on TH-cam but I look forwards to your follow up videos. I have watched some others and read some accounts (Crazy Guy on a Bike) - I’m very tempted but keep waking up in the night thinking about Grizzly Bears…are they really an issue? All the best 👍
Thanks. There will be a few follow up videos soon. I'll also be looking to get out for another trip soon. I don't think Grizzlys are a big problem provided you take precautions, especially with food storage. I wouldn't let it stop me if I were you. You can always adjust your overnight stays to be in towns or official campsites which helps. Both of my encounters were very positive and I feel lucky to have seen them. Saying that, I was glad to get out of Grizzly country.
Thanks. I'm glad you've enjoyed these videos. I'm glad to have finished but it is a bit sad to be leaving the trail. I'll be out again soon enough. Cheers 👍
Congrats, well done, New mexico, Burritos and hummingbirds, perfect. That's a lot of weight loss. i bet you'll enjoy putting it back on with all the treats available in England. i just saw a video on here about the new Trans Snowdonia route, that will be a nice cool down ride for you while your fit and light. i've been on a bikepacking trip for the last couple of weeks and was chomping at the bit to see your finale. cheers mate
Hi. I've already put on 6 pounds so If better check out the trans Snowdonia route. I hadn't heard of it. I'll find that video and take a look. Where was your bikepacking trip?
i went across the BC trail and the Granby valley loop. There were no mosquitoes at all which was a bonus. Traws Eryri is the new route, Guy kes has videos of it.@@matryderadventures
Agree, I cannot do hiking (due to my weird ankle at brith), but cycling is the way to go for me too. John is a funny dude and wouldn't be bore with him on the trip.
I can only hope to meet and ride with such a quality group of humans as I see here. Safety in numbers only if the numbers work. Bravo and Thank You! (Now go get some nutrition!)
Thanks. I definitely need to improve my diet, especially on the TransAm which I'll.staet at the end of July. I was lucky to find such amazing riding companions. Cheers 👍
👍 A much better pace than hiking it.
Without a doubt. I'm a definite convert to bikepacking. Thanks 👍
just finished the series - excellent job! well done and certainly one to remember for the rest of your life
Thanks. I'll never forget the GDMBR. It was an awesome trail.
Finished watching your series on the GDMBR. Really appreciate your modesty and sense of humor. The views especially the ones with your drone were amazing. I was already planning a US coast to coast road tour next summer but your videos have convinced me to do the GDMBR first.
Excellent. It's an amazing route. I'll be interested to hear how you get on with it. I'm sure you'll love it. Cheers 👍
Matt thanks for sharing your epic trip with us. We really enjoyed going along for the ride.
Thanks. It was an amazing trail..thanks for following along 👍
Shared on my Facebook page...
Excellent. Thanks 👍👍
Congratulations!
Cheers 👍
What a great series of videos. We've really enjoyed watching them. I got a few of my bikepacking mates, including another ex Rumney High bloke who lives here, onto it and everyone says it's been a great experience. We'll done mate
Thanks Zerky!!! It's been an awesome trip and thanks for finding me new subscribers. We'll keep in touch 👍
@matryderadventures sounds good mate. Have a great trip home and the offers there if you want to come out and do some more exploring out here.
Best GDMBR videos on you tube
Good to hear. I'm glad you enjoyed them. Cheers 👍
Mat, I have totally enjoyed your videos. I don’t know if anyone has asked this yet but I am curious as to your age. I myself am closing in on 65 in February of 2024 and would love to ride the GDMBR. Your videos are very inspiring. Thank you SO much for sharing them.
I'm just about 50. I'm sure you'd love this trail. I think with the kind of pace I went with anyone could do it. Cheers 👍
Well done sir! I just binge watched this, what a beauty, so well filmed, so candid, and hilarious commentary to boot! I am planning on doing the route in 2 years time for my retirement present to myself, I think I am going to back off on my current expectation I have of distance to be done each day based on your experiences!
Thanks. I'm glad you liked these videos. You're definitely going to love it. I would definitely take a bit longer if I did it again. With no time constraints then it makes more sense. There's so much to see so why not take your time..
Wow, what a ride! 😄
Congrats on completing such a huge undertaking! 🥳👏🎉
Thanks. It was an amazing trip 👍
Congratulations Mat! Wonderful adventure! A true pleasure to following along. Really enjoyed the footage and dialog. Looking forward to your next adventure!
Thanks for being a regular contributor. I've definitely been motivated by the support I've had from everyone. I'm already planning the next trip. Cheers 👍
@@matryderadventures I'm jealous you lost 30lbs! I lost 7lbs the first time and gained 1lb the next time I raced it. Bad luck! Lol
Thank you Mat for taking us on this journey with you. I enjoyed every minute of your videos, your commentary, your wry self-deprecating humour, and your child-like enjoyment of ice cream and root beer.
Congratulations on a job well done!
🤣 I think you've summed me up well!! I'm glad you enjoyed these videos. Cheers 👍
Thank you from Aotearoa New Zealand. You have entertained and inspired us. We look forward to watching your next adventure. Kia kaha x
Thanks. I'll be planning another trip soon. I must visit New Zealand at some point. Cheers 👍👍
Thank you so much for documenting your journey. Epic landscapes and lovely people all the way.
I'm glad you liked it. I had an amazing time. Cheers 👍
CHAPEAU got to be the best video series on the GDMBR ,my turn 2024 cant wait.
Excellent. You'll love it. If you have any questions about the route mail me at matryder2@gmail.com. Thanks for being a regular commenter. It's appreciated 👍👍
Thank you Mat. I'm 73 and is the final push to mke it happen, Thanks to you. Wish you all the best, to you and your friends.
Thanks. That's great to hear. I'm sure you'll love it out here. It's an amazing trail. Thanks for following along 👍🙂
Brilliant video series. Well done Mr Ryder.
I look forward to a post ride review of the equipment you used and how it performed.
Thanks. I have a couple of videos lined up where I discuss some of the equipment. They should've out soon. Thanks for commenting 👍
Great work!
Thanks 👍
Hi Mat, just managed to catch up on the final two instalments, wow what an amazing adventure, I’m still jealous!! I will miss these great mini docs, however I can watch them all over again !! Well done !! How did the bike stand up ?? Brilliant !! You’re a cyclist for sure now Mat 😂
Thanks. It was incredible out there. I miss it already. The bike was perfect. No problems at all. The belt coming off was my fault. I didn't have it tensioned correctly. I should have used the app..I've learned my lesson. I hope you have your next trip planned?
Oh boy, what a journey, what a video series, WTF are we goig to do now? Fantastic achievement Mat. Bet you're going to be hankering for another challenge now. As I said before and many thers are saying, you have a great way of getting things across.
Really looking forward to meeting up sometime soon. Now to watch this episode. Yes not watched it yet. Lights - Camera - Action...
Hi Graham. Thanks for all the kind comments. It's really helped keep me motivated. I'll definitely be out again for more bikepacking trips and I'm sure we'll get to meet up. Cheers 👍
Loved all the commentary and am motivated to hit the road myself. Curious about the timepiece you wore throughout the series; it looks like a terrific field watch of some sort.
That's good to hear. I'd urge anyone to give bikepacking a go. I have an Archimede Outdoor. It's been great. I've had it for about ten years. I bought it partly because it has a hardened steel case. I'd recommend it. Cheers.
What an amazing trip, well done Matt. Ive loved waiting to watch the next installment. I dont know what am I going to watch now? Could you turn around and do it again 😂
🤣🤣 I think that could get me into trouble. I'll be planning another trip soon. Thanks for following along 👍
Well done Matt, I have loved coming along on your journey. What an achievement. 🙏
Thanks. The support from subscribers has been incredible. Thanks 👍👍
You have convinced me to do it. Thanks for taking the time and making the effort to put together such a thoughtful and detailed series.
Excellent. I can honestly say that knowing I've been a small part of encouraging people to do this ride makes me happy. Good luck and if you have any questions fire away. Cheers 👍
Thank you for sharing your incredible journey with us!
It's been my pleasure. The support I've had has been incredible. Thanks 👍👍
Very well done Mat. Brlliant. Very happy for you
👍 Thanks. It's been amazing.
Congratulations Mat and the rest of the guys too. What a massive achievement. I’ve loved every video and will miss watching your journey, but Caroline needs you home now!! She’s getting cabin fever 😂safe flight home 😊
I really have 😂 I’ll let him have a couple of days rest first maybe 🙄😂 xx
Thanks Jodie. It's been a lot of fun but I'll be back home soon. I hear you had fun in the canoe!!! See you soon.
Two days!!!! Maybe three?? Xx
@@matryderadventures I loved the canoe trip. So much fun and and just idyllic. It was a perfect day 😊
Well done!! Thank you for sharing your journey with us and inspiring us to get out there, however short or long our journeys might be.
It's nice to hear that people have been inspired by these videos. How amazing!!! Cheers 👍
Thanks for an excellent series on the Great Divide, loved your sense of humor. Your videos showed the reality of how tough this route is both mentally and physically. Happy trails into the future.
That's good to hear. I've tried not to hide the truth about this route. It's hard but very rewarding. Cheers
Thanks for sharing your amazing journey! Great to see a realistic (for me) approach to an epic journey. It's pretty hard to watch elite rides do 150 miles/day! Planning to do this in 2025 as a retirement project. 50 miles/day sounds doable although all that climbing is insane! I'd love to see a post-ride gear review: what would you leave at home, what worked well, what did you do that you would change as far as planning. Thanks again.
Hi. Thanks for commenting. The racers are crazy and inhuman!!! I believe 50 miles per day is manageable for most people, even with the climbing. I could have made it easier by taking more breaks throughout the day as there is plenty of daylight. I have a few videos lined up discussing planning, equipment etc. If you have any questions which aren't covered in these videos mail me at matryder2@gmail.com . I'll be more than happy to answer them. I hope you make it out there in 2025. You'll love it.
Thanks for the offer and the reply!
GDMBR has been on my list for sometime now. I've watched a number of VLOGS of the route. Yours has been the most entertaining, IMO. Thanks.
That's good to hear. I'm glad you enjoyed these videos. Thanks for following along. Cheers 👍👍
Going to the wrong bike in the morning🤣 - must have been the tequila cocktail!
🤣 That cocktail was strong!! Very nice though. I found the bike eventually!!
What an amazing achievement, thank you for taking us along for the ride
It's been amazing and I've loved filming this trip. Thanks for following along👍
Absolutely amazing!! Thanks so much for sharing your adventure. Looking forward to your next.
Cheers. I'll be planning the next trip soon. 👍👍
What a achievement, excellent really enjoyed it. Thanks for all your hard work. 🚴🚴🚴
No problem. I enjoyed the whole filming process. Thanks for following along 🙂
Thoroughly enjoyed every video. Congratulations on completing your epic adventure. I can't believe how much it rains in New Mexico! I always thought of it as a dry, dessert like environment.
It's been one of the driest periods for a number of years so I'm told. It seemed to rain a lot but all of the creeks and lakes were dry. It's confusing. Maybe the rain events are just too short. Long enough to turn the trails to mud still.....
Thanks for all the great impressions Mat. How quickly time has gone by, I can well remember you driving out of Banff saying The Adventure Begins. It was certainly a wonderful adventure and also quite a challenge. Biking 2,742 miles on 90% dirt roads with over with over 165,000 feet of elevation gain is not as easy as it looks! Have a good trip home and enjoy your fond memories of the GDMBR.
Thanks. It was hard at times but so rewarding. I'm already planning the next trip. Thanks for all the support and comments. Cheers 👍
Well done chap! Excellent achievement and thank you for sharing it with us.
Have you considered King Alfred's Way for the future?
Thanks for following along. I just looked up King Alfred's Way. It's now on my list. Thanks. I will definitely be doing more UK trails in between bigger trips. Cheers 👍👍
Congratulations Mat, such a fantastic achievement!! I've thoroughly enjoyed watching the adventure while recovering from shoulder surgery and am genuinely sad it's finished 😂 Would be awesome to have a ride with you and hear your stories if you're ever trundling through Essex. Safe journey back to the UK and thanks again 👍
Thanks. I hope the shoulder is healing well. I'll keep your offer of a ride in mind. Cheers 👍👍
Massive well done Mat to you and the guys been a great trip 👍🏻🚴
Cheers. Thanks for following along and thanks for being a regular commenter 👍👍
@@matryderadventures looking forward to the next adventure ..have you done any long distance stuff in Uk LeJog Nc500 etc 👍🏻🚴
Watched it all for the second time. 😁Did you need any permits for this ride? Like permits to camp or enter national parks? If there are? Can you buy like a package for the entire trip? Or no permits needed?
As far as I'm aware, there are no permits required for the entire route. I'm 99% certain none are required. Thanks for watching (twice) 👍👍
@@matryderadventures Ah ok. All these other trails like PCT do require permits. But that is hiking and not biking. Maybe a difference. 😀
Just watched a video from this years race and it had quite a bit of seriously gnarly terrain that I don’t recall in your videos. Am I assuming you bypassed the likes of Koko Claims and a few other of the super gnarly bits? Still trying to understand the various route options.
The GDMBR is distinct from the Tour Divide. They share most of the route but differ slightly. 'Koko claims' and 'The Wall' are not on the GDMBR. Later in the route I believe the Tour Divide follows more paved roads than the GDMBR. It causes quite a bit of confusion. You can find the GDMBR official route on the ACA website. Most people who are not racing follow the GDMBR.
Matt , Thank you ! Thank you for stepping out of your comfort zone , filming a d sharing your prep and this incredible journey! Thank you for being such an inspiration! Thank you for just being you and having such a wonderful attitude and great sense of humor. Congratulations on reaching Antelope Wells. I look forward to a recap video or two, and look forward to your next adventure. Till then , see you down the trail.
What a great comment. Cheers. Thanks for being a regular contributor to the channel. I really appreciate it. Cheers 👍👍
Congrats! Best down to earth video series on this ride I have seen. Very fun to watch.
Thanks..that's good to hear. Cheers 👍👍
Hello! I’m genuinely sad that your ride is over! My friend and I cycled the Banff to Whitefish section and I’d guess we were about 2+ weeks behind you. I’m so jealous you got to finish the entire route. It was so hard coming back to reality. The pull to get back out there is big. Anyway congrats on your completion it’s been great following you. Your early GDMBR vids were helpful with mapping out our days. Thanks my friend!
Hi. That was a great section. I loved Canada. You definitely got to see some amazing places. Do you think you'll get out at some point and do another section?
@@matryderadventures I absolutely want / need to do the rest, it has to happen even if I have to wait until retirement (another 10 years). This was THE question my friend and I asked ourselves when we finished. Those 2 weeks were such a tease!
It was so great to meet you three at Lake Roberts! We had such a fun visit and I'm happy to see you made it to the southern end of the trail. We wish you safe travels home and if you are in our part of New Mexico again, please find us! Tracy&Pam
Hi both. It was amazing spending time with you. It was a highlight of our whole trip. The Paloma was exceptional!!!! Thanks again for the kindness you showed us. I'll definitely be in touch if I make it back to New Mexico. Cheers 👍
the most realistic bike packing videos ever
Thanks. Always nice to hear. Cheers 👍
Watched this twice now, enjoyed it even more the second time.
Twice! That's hard core. Cheers👍
Such a wonderful series! Bravo! 👏
Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed it 👍👍
congratulations...looking forward to your next adventure....please let us know the ages of your white-bearded cohorts at the end...I'm 66 and I need some inspiration
Bill is about my age, 50 and John is very close to yours. I hope that helps. I'm certain you'd really love it out here. Cheers 👍
Sorry Mat but i think you have just shot yourself in the foot i don`t think you will be able to make another video as good as that again it was the best bikepacking video i have seen on youtube well done 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Oh no.. I've peaked!!🤣. Thanks for commenting. I can't believe how nice my subscribers are... awesome 👍
Thank you "our friend Mat" (that is how my husband and I refer to you when we talk about your videos). We thoroughly enjoyed your videos and found them helpful as we plan our 2024 Great Divide trip to celebrate being unencumbered by employment. Congratulations and hope to cross bike paths with you someday!
Hi. 'our friend Mat' brought a smile to my face. Maybe we will cross paths one day. I'm riding the Trans Am this year and it intersects the GDMBR. You never know..I hope so. You're going to love the GDMBR. It was an incredible experience and I miss being out there. If you have any questions just ask. I could talk about the GDMBR all day. Now we've had this chat we are officially friends!!!! Cheers 👍
Congratulations to you Mat and your group! Amazing achievement. Loved watching your journey! Have a safe journey back to the UK!
Cheers. Thanks for all the comments. The support has been amazing. 👍👍
That is without a doubt, the best video series that I have ever watched. CONGRATULATIONS to you, John, Bill and Paul!!!
That's good to hear. High praise. Cheers. Thanks for the support.
Well done!!! Can’t wait to watch the other videos next! Thank you for sharing this! I’d be super interested in getting in touch with Ross the editor if he’s open to discussing a similar edit process from me, I’d love to commission him. 😊
Thanks. I'm glad you liked them. I'll make sure Ross sees your comment. Cheers and thanks for watching 👍👍
Thank you!@@matryderadventures
Congrats to all of you! One more knee to replace and I'll be back. Can't wait. Good luck with the transfers and thanks for all the humor and great visuals.
Thanks. Hopefully the knee will be done soon. Cheers 👍
Really loved your series of videos covering your trip. I saw Ryan Van Duzer had entered himself for the race and thought I'd search for videos other than his on the route to watch. You popped up and I'm glad you did. Really love the unique style of your videos and nice to listen to a non-American voice describing the trip and bringing a more laid back British perspective on the challenges. Thanks again.
Thanks. I'm glad you liked it. I'll definitely be following Ryan on his Tour Divide. It should be interesting.
Im preparing for next year. This video is very informative. Thanks..
That's good to hear. It's amazing. You'll love it. I'm more than happy to answer any questions you have. You can leave them here or mail me at matryder2@gmail.com
Thanks for watching 👍
^An epic ride, truly epic!!!" Sums it up perfectly, Cant tell you enough, Mat, how fun its been!!! Thanks and best wishes...pops
Thanks Pops. I've enjoyed reading all of your comments. Cheers 👍
Terrific video series, Mat. I would really love to do this route, and you gave me the feeling I could make it. At 72 I'm still cycle touring every year, but only on trips of 3 to 5 weeks in length. I don't feel it's too fair to leave my wife for a three month trip, and with the arthritis in her hands cycling is pretty much out of the question. Cycling off road would be awful for her. --- That said, on my trips in Europe my favourite stretches are those I make on unpaved farm roads and bike paths. In Scandinavia, the opportunities for long tours on dirt roads are enormous. --- This summer I'll be taking a train to Vienna and cycling. back to my home in Aachen, Germany. Mostly along EuroVelo routes. I think I'll be taking some of your advice and slowing down a bit. I.e., not pushing 100 km per day, but targeting more the 65-80 km range with at least one rest / sightseeing day per week. -- Now to watch your GDMBR follow.-up video.
3 to 5 week tours sound good to me. I hope I'm still able to do that at 72. I would love to do some bike touring in Scandinavia. I'll have to look into some of the trails there. Your upcoming tour from Vienna to Aachen sounds great. Good luck and thanks for watching 👍
Really really fantastic !!! Congrats, I follow for more adventures!
Great. Thanks for the support 👍
Thanks Mat. Great videos. I watched them all while pedaling away on my static bike which I'm using for training. I'm looking forward to seeing more! Keep up the phenomenal work
Thanks. I'll do my best. Cheers 👍
Mat, thank you so much for taking us along with you. I just finished binge watching them all, I wish I would have found your channel sooner. Such a priveledge to be able to follow along with you on your ride. Your videos are so entertaining and really enjoyable to watch. I look forward to your future adventures. I wll be watching along with many others.
Thanks for watching them all. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Cheers 👍👍
Well…I finished all 19 videos. Glad you made it all the way. Congratulations! It was quite the journey. I actually had to get up early this morning and do a 20 mile bike ride to prepare for the last 5 videos of you GDMBR. Thanks for sharing your adventure. 🤙
Good work!!! Thanks for watching them all. This is the kind of dedication I expect from all of my subscribers from now on. Cheers 👍
Woo, he did it! Now you have the option of Northbound lol, Route 66, Pacific Coast Highway, the TRANSAM, next time you have the hankerin for some N. American long distance! Really fun series to follow along with. Appreciate you sharing it. Can't wait to see what your next plans are, you know, after some well-deserved rest.
I'll put northbound on the list but it may be a while....I have some ideas in the pipeline. I can't wait for the next trip. Thanks for following along 👍
Sorry Matt just caught up today .Thanks mat for sharing this amazing journey with us i have enjoyed every episode keep on pedaling buddy.
Cheers. I've planned the next trip already. Thanks for commenting 👍
Wow loved every minute,we had a mat finishing party here in Sweden🎉🎉My bonus daughter loved the views and the commentary but kept saying,why does he never smile!! Made me laugh every time .I do a lot of bike packing here in Sweden and I recommend looking at bikepacking the length of Sweden it's beautiful.Good luck with future adventures,Welsh man in Sweden.
Another Welsh man..we get around!!! You had a 'Mat finishing party'!!! I'll come to the next one!!! I'll also try to smile more. I'll look at the Sweden ride. I think it's part of the Europe Divide Trail. Cheers 👍👍👍
Damn, now I’m going have to go and read a book or, wait, I can watch a hockey game! Thanks for these videos, excellent job!
Or maybe read a book about hockey??? Thanks for making to the end!! Cheers 👍
Just finished the series. Again. Tremendously inspirational stuff. Idk what it's like for you but I'm always a bit saddened when an adventure comes to a an end. Don't matter if it's a longer travel or if it's only a few hours. The best thing in the world is just being out there. But everything comes to an end, and we need that too so that we can gather our strength for new epics. I hope I get to do this trip at some point. In the meantime I'll be looking forward to more of your trips here on the tube. Thank you :-)
Thanks for watching, again! I get the same feeling. Particularly on the longer trips. It's difficult coming back from something so epic and getting back into a normal routine. As you said, it's necessary for recovery and planning new adventures. Thanks again 👍
Yay
🤣 thanks 👍
I’ve binged watched your vids over the last 2 days! Epic adventure and nicely put together. I came across the series by accident after watching a clip of you going through Hadleigh, and it’s surrounds first, which was of interest sine that’s my neck of the woods. See you on the trails sometime?
Thanks for watching them all!! It was an amazing trip. I enjoyed that ride where I stopped in Hadleigh. We are lucky to live somewhere so interesting. Maybe I will see you out there some time. Cheers 👍
Hi. I loved watching your voyage on the gdmbr. Can I ask you how much do you think you spent on the trip excluding flights? I have been thinking about doing this trip for a while now and being as you have done it recently it would be helpful to know a rough budget. Again thanks for the videos.
Cheers
Matt
Hi Matt, thanks for commenting. Funnily enough I am working on a video right now that will give advice for anyone thinking about trying this ride themselves. I will go into all my expenses, as well as what I think is the lowest cost way of completing it. The video should be out on Monday so hopefully it will answer your questions and be helpful for you 👍
Well done, really enjoyed the videos. I’d be interested to know what you think about what kind of bike is required for these kind of trips. Do you have to spend several thousand pounds on a bike? Anyway thanks for taking us along.
Thanks. You definitely don't need to too much on the bike. I don't think going cheap works either. Maybe around 2000 (dollars or pounds). Also, you have to factor in the cost of the other equipment, racks, panniers etc. It's hard to be precise. Maybe others in the chat have an opinion too. Cheers 👍
I rode the Tour Divide a month or so before your ride . It was fantastic to revisit the ride through your videos and see some of the places I may have passed in the dark. You did a fantastic job of recording an epic adventure, I have really enjoyed following along . Congrats on finishing !
Thanks. I'm guessing you were on a much faster pace than me if you were passing through places in the dark. Cheers 👍
Kudos. An epic ride and beautifully documented. Thank you so much for bringing me along on the adventure.
It's been a pleasure making these videos and the support I've had from subscribers has been incredible. I'm very grateful. Cheers 👍
Fantastic, what a wonderful video to wrap up your adventure. It was nice to slowly get to know your supporting cast a little more as the ride progressed, and it appears you found some genial people to share this experience with. Enjoy some much needed down time, and I look forward to your next adventure.
Thanks. It was a nice way to end. They were an amazing bunch and I was lucky to meet them. I've been off the trail for about a week and I'm missing it already so there will be a new adventure soon. Cheers 👍
Mat , it was a real pleasure to watch all your videos.... i was travelling with you. you convicted me int he idea to do the same trip... i will follow your advise "if you plan to do it, so do it !" thanks very much. see you soon in your next adventure !
Hi. I'm glad you liked the videos. It's good to hear you'll be doing it too. It's amazing. You'll love it. Good luck 👍👍
Easily one of the best GDMBR series out there. What shuttle service picked you up at the end?
Thanks. I'm glad you liked it. We were picked up from Antelope Wells by Jeffrey Sharp. Highly recommended. Cheers 👍
I really enjoyed your bicycle adventure on the great divide great job.
Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed watching these videos. Cheers 👍
That looked liked a great trip, well done to you and all. enjoyed watching the full series. 👍
Excellent. Thanks for watching. It was an amazing trip 👍
Great adventure hope there be a lot more … Here’s Bikepacking bucket list over the next 7 years
Australia - Bicentennial National Trail 5300km
Peru - Nazca Lines 1280km
Vietnam - The Ho Chi Minh Trail 3000 km
Russia - Road of Bones 2031 km
Iceland - The Divide North - South. 1554Km
Norway - Bright Midnight 1000 Km
Europe - European Divide Trail 7565 km
Namibia - Open Space 1200 Km
Alaska The Iditarod 1609 Km
Mexico - Baja Divide 2690 Km
The Trans-Mexico Bikepacking 3500-Km
Canada - The Great Trail 2400 Km
North America - The Great Divide 4339 Km
Just realized if you do the great divide from south to the north you save $60 on beer spray might be worth it lol
Excellent. Thanks. I can use your bucket list to work out my own future trips. Thanks for being a regular commenter and for all the advice 👍. Good point about saving on bear spray by heading north. Only problem is starting in New Mexico!!!! I needed to build up to it!
@@matryderadventures been thinking if your looking for short trips you could do parts of the European divide it 7800 km over 10 trips ,beening in the uk flights would be cheap ride for a week or 2 week fly home come back and continue that be a good achievement both divides
Great series Matt, it was great to watch and have a true prospective of the adventure.
Thanks. It's always good to see comments like this. We definitely tried to show exactly what it was like.Cheers 👍
Loved your series Mat. Looking at doing it this season. Did you have much of a training plan prior? Cheers!
I'm glad you liked it. I didn't really train much beforehand. It seemed to come around so quick. I hoped I'd improve my fitness while on the trail and that's exactly what happened. Good luck with it. You'll love it out there. Cheers.
many thanks! I took that approach with JOGLE last October and it seemed to work out fine!
@@matryderadventures
Amazing! Congratulations.
I'm toasting you all with a glass of red wine from the vineyards of Mont Ventoux.(How appropriate.)
You have come across as a proper bloke and have undertaken this journey in the most perfect way in my opinion.
My dream is to complete LEJOG in a similar manner.
Ymdrech ffantastig!
Sounds good. I could do with a glass of red right about now. LEJOG is on my list too. I think there's an off road version which I may look into. I hope you manage to get out and do it soon. Diolch 👍👍
Awesome series, Mat! Thanks for your efforts to document this for us all to enjoy. By far one of the best GDMBR series on TH-cam. I am curious…what are the ages of all the guys that were in the group?
Hi. I'm glad you liked it. I'm 50, Bill was about 54 (I think), and John was 67. I've no idea how old Paul was. Are you thinking of getting out there yourself?
Good to know guys in their 50s are able to make the trip. I’ll be there in a few years so maybe there’s time.
I’ve done a couple 500+ mile week long trips, but never one that long. Between work and family I can’t take that much time away to ride the whole route. Will have to wait and see what kind of shape I’m in when I retire. For now I’ll just live vicariously.
Thanks for the reply. I’m looking forward to the series about your trip across the US this summer. Good luck!
Well done. great series. Inspired!
Cheers. I'm glad you liked it 👍
Absolutely fantastic - what an achievement and so much pleasure watching your progress. Not sure what I can look forwards to now on TH-cam but I look forwards to your follow up videos. I have watched some others and read some accounts (Crazy Guy on a Bike) - I’m very tempted but keep waking up in the night thinking about Grizzly Bears…are they really an issue? All the best 👍
Thanks. There will be a few follow up videos soon. I'll also be looking to get out for another trip soon. I don't think Grizzlys are a big problem provided you take precautions, especially with food storage. I wouldn't let it stop me if I were you. You can always adjust your overnight stays to be in towns or official campsites which helps. Both of my encounters were very positive and I feel lucky to have seen them. Saying that, I was glad to get out of Grizzly country.
Thanks - i get the feeling that once you start the ‘bear’ situation is put into a more realistic/balanced perspective. Cheers once again…
Well done! It's a great achievement. I'm watching the Trans America videos now. Come ride in Japan one day.
What an absolutely brilliant series of adventure, fun, and scenery.
It's nice to hear that you enjoyed it. The whole trip was incredible. Thanks for watching 👍
Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉
Cheers. Thanks for being a regular commenter. It's really helped to keep me motivated 👍
Congratulations 🎊 ❤
Cheers 👍👍
Absolutely brilliant well done. Honestly I've really really enjoyed watching. I was quite sad when you finished but I bet you weren't 😊
Thanks. I'm glad you've enjoyed these videos. I'm glad to have finished but it is a bit sad to be leaving the trail. I'll be out again soon enough. Cheers 👍
thanks Mat and friends, that was an awesome adventure, loved every minute, great stuff
Congrats, well done, New mexico, Burritos and hummingbirds, perfect. That's a lot of weight loss. i bet you'll enjoy putting it back on with all the treats available in England. i just saw a video on here about the new Trans Snowdonia route, that will be a nice cool down ride for you while your fit and light. i've been on a bikepacking trip for the last couple of weeks and was chomping at the bit to see your finale. cheers mate
Hi. I've already put on 6 pounds so If better check out the trans Snowdonia route. I hadn't heard of it. I'll find that video and take a look. Where was your bikepacking trip?
i went across the BC trail and the Granby valley loop. There were no mosquitoes at all which was a bonus. Traws Eryri is the new route, Guy kes has videos of it.@@matryderadventures
@chromebook2724 sounds good. I'll take a look at that video. Nice that there were no mosquitos.
Love the series and especially your laconic humor 😂
I’ve really enjoyed following your journey and all the characters you’ve met along the way. Great work!
Great. Thanks for following along 👍🙂
Well done, will be a shock to the system riding back in the UK! Great achievement sir and looking forward to seeing what you get up to next.
Cheers. I'll be looking to get out for a ride soon. I have to remember to ride on the right side of the road!! Thanks for following along 👍