Love the 360 videography. Great episode. I plan to do Legog when I retire but I want to cycle between towns and have a hotel stay and a day off cycling between riding days. The plan in my head is my wife will join me by car each night and we explore each town. Maybe have a nice meal. Possibly see a movie. Go to a theatre to watch a stage show. Just chill in a cafe reading a book with a coffee. After the day off do another hundred miles and chill again the following day soaking up the opportunities. That's my bucket list first 3 weeks of retirement……. I'd better tell her of my plans at some stage 😂
Thanks Ian, it was really bright, and having lost my sunglasses on day 2, I just had an idea to look in the charity shop for a cheap pair. It turned out to be the one thing that lifted my morale and put a smile on my face and help finish what I started. Thank you very much! 🎸 🎤 🕺🏻
Thank you! I’d love to go bikepacking through Europe, through France, Switzerland and down into Italy, possibly ending up in Croatia. I think they would be my dream trip right now. So envious you got to bikepack through Switzerland. I was there last year for a week, staying in Andermatt, and I fell in love with the country. The Furka Pass was amazing!
Darren, Your doing something that's not easy and doing it on your own is also a challenge. Besides the obvious advantages of cycling in company your going through a bit of loneliness..I was thinking it must be possible to do that ride and stay in cheap accommodation lugging a tent up hill drains a bit of the fun out of it , and sleeping in an actual bed .. but its better to do it the hard way anyone could do it the easy way .. enjoy🤟🤟👍👍
Thanks Tony, I actually really enjoyed the camping element of the trip, it was one of the highlights for me. I just had a very low moment, when the first few hills I did, all looked the same. It felt like I was going nowhere fast and stuck in some steep hill vortex. It only took a pair of stupid sunglasses to lift my mood and I was all set for completing the ride. Stopping at accommodation adds a whole new time stress of them wanting to know when you’ll get there. So the camping had a bit more freedom, especially as I didn’t think I’d still be riding after 7pm!!
Thank you! It was amazing how just on the off chance idea, whilst sat eating an Ice cream, as I saw a charity shop and wondered if they might have a pair of cheap sunglasses. Then I find these! It just lifted my mood and made me forget about the pain and pushed me too the finish. It’s the little things in life that just make you smile! I’m glad you’re enjoying the series, just two to go now. By this time next week, they will be all up. Which is scary, as I still don’t know what I’m doing next!!
Super solid effort Darren. Those hills looked horrible and your determination should be applauded. The Elvis impressions were funny, but maybe don’t give up the day job just yet? Well done mate. 👏💪
Thanks Steve, I can’t explain how over climbing hills I was at that point. But I’ve got to thank you and the few others who’d commented that morning on the previous days ride. When I stopped to take a time out, those messages meant so much to me, it really spurred me on and gave me the motivation I needed at the point. So for that, I can’t thank you enough. Well, that and a £2.50 purchase in Sue Ryder in Oxted! When I saw them for sale, I laughed my head off, and knew they were the ones! Elvis really lifted me up the next few climbs!
Yes sir, I did miss this one. As always, perfect music choice & timing. It’s funny that you made a few references to Elvis - I thought I was on to something 😝
Omg the drivers! i love how you were feeling sad then bang ice cream and new sunglasses and all your mojo comes back, the view were stunning again. Maybe next time be wise to slot in a rest day. Love your music choices not sure about Elvis tho never been a fan 🤣
It was just what I needed to get me going again! Amazing what you can find for £2.50 in a Sue Ryder charity shop! It’s fair to say, love learned a lot of lessons from the trip, of what will be best. So now I’m planning the next one, for which I have loads of ideas! Thank you Michelle!
You can take the boy from Glastonbury, but not Glastonbury from the boy Great adventure Darren, but there's just too many people in too small a space You'll love seeing the Tor on your way back, take it easy
Thanks, I’m glad you’re enjoying the series. I honestly wished I could have kept going at not come back. As I absolutely bloody loved the whole aspect of bikepacking. If I hadn’t have tried collecting all the hills, my Achilles might have been fine. At least that’s what I’m telling myself, as I sit and plan my future adventures, which I’m looking at a three week tour! 🤔
I’m glad you liked it, when I came up with the plan to do this, I don’t think I really thought through how tough it would be. But after reading some motivational comments on my Strava, it really pushed to achieve my goal for the trip. Now I’m sat at home weeks later, that tough moment helped make the trip special, knowing that mentally and physically, I could achieve it and overcome whatever obstacles were put in front of me, really drives me on to embark on my next adventure. Thanks
I can imagine! Whenever I’ve been down that way, it’s either up or down steep hills. I’m still yet to do a proper ride around Cornwall, but I definitely will one day. Thank you
The next one is prime Surrey Hills, it was beautiful! Met some nice cyclists too. Apart from Birling Gap to Beachy head, it was my favourite day I think!
Hi Darren, I just binged the Bikepacking series and boy what an awesome week's riding! Congratulations on an epic adventure! I love where your curiosity takes you and your determination to get there. Looking forward to seeing the final video's. One question: Do you have a certain cadence that you try and stick to? If so do you find that helps for longer rides?
Thanks Andrew, I really had a great week and I can’t wait to go again. My cadence is generally 70 to 80 rpm, it gets a bit quicker when I’m fitter. On longer endurance rides, I always try to find a gear that doesn’t require to much pressure on the pedals. Obviously I can’t really avoid that going up the hills. With some of the hills on this trip, I dread to think what my cadence was! But it wasn’t very high!! 😂
Thanks Gary, I haven’t really looked at a Checkpoint. I know Pete was very keen for one a year or so back. So all I really know is that it has loads of mounting points and is more of a touring/gravel bike. I went for the Domane initially, as I was looking for an all road bike, which the Domane falls into that category. As I can use it for gravel. If the Checkpoint has wider tyre clearance than the 38mm tyres I can get on my Domane, then it would be a serious option, but I think last time I looked, the Domane is still cheaper. As I still have my Canyon for pure road, it would be something I would consider, for my bikepacking and gravel riding.
Love the 360 videography. Great episode.
I plan to do Legog when I retire but I want to cycle between towns and have a hotel stay and a day off cycling between riding days. The plan in my head is my wife will join me by car each night and we explore each town. Maybe have a nice meal. Possibly see a movie. Go to a theatre to watch a stage show. Just chill in a cafe reading a book with a coffee. After the day off do another hundred miles and chill again the following day soaking up the opportunities.
That's my bucket list first 3 weeks of retirement……. I'd better tell her of my plans at some stage 😂
Tell her after you’ve booked it all!! 😂 Thanks Scott, now that sounds like an epic adventure! Glad you liked the video too!
Love the Elvis glasses 😂 keep going, inspiring ride over so many days !👏
Thanks Ian, it was really bright, and having lost my sunglasses on day 2, I just had an idea to look in the charity shop for a cheap pair. It turned out to be the one thing that lifted my morale and put a smile on my face and help finish what I started. Thank you very much! 🎸 🎤 🕺🏻
Clearly the new glasses and the Elvis impersonations lifted the spirits 😂 good on yer
Thanks Bob, it was amazing how such a small thing changed my mood!! That and reading the amazing comments on Strava, for the previous days ride.
I returned from my bikepacking tour de suisse a month ago. Your vids really bring back the memories.
Thank you! I’d love to go bikepacking through Europe, through France, Switzerland and down into Italy, possibly ending up in Croatia. I think they would be my dream trip right now. So envious you got to bikepack through Switzerland. I was there last year for a week, staying in Andermatt, and I fell in love with the country. The Furka Pass was amazing!
Darren,
Your doing something that's not easy and doing it on your own is also a challenge.
Besides the obvious advantages of cycling in company your going through a bit of loneliness..I was thinking it must be possible to do that ride and stay in cheap accommodation lugging a tent up hill drains a bit of the fun out of it , and sleeping in an actual bed .. but its better to do it the hard way anyone could do it the easy way .. enjoy🤟🤟👍👍
Thanks Tony, I actually really enjoyed the camping element of the trip, it was one of the highlights for me. I just had a very low moment, when the first few hills I did, all looked the same. It felt like I was going nowhere fast and stuck in some steep hill vortex. It only took a pair of stupid sunglasses to lift my mood and I was all set for completing the ride. Stopping at accommodation adds a whole new time stress of them wanting to know when you’ll get there. So the camping had a bit more freedom, especially as I didn’t think I’d still be riding after 7pm!!
Those shades really brought out your inner Elvis. 😃 Great video series, congrats for mastering the herculean effort, was fun to watch.
Thank you! It was amazing how just on the off chance idea, whilst sat eating an Ice cream, as I saw a charity shop and wondered if they might have a pair of cheap sunglasses. Then I find these! It just lifted my mood and made me forget about the pain and pushed me too the finish. It’s the little things in life that just make you smile! I’m glad you’re enjoying the series, just two to go now. By this time next week, they will be all up. Which is scary, as I still don’t know what I’m doing next!!
Super solid effort Darren. Those hills looked horrible and your determination should be applauded. The Elvis impressions were funny, but maybe don’t give up the day job just yet?
Well done mate. 👏💪
Thanks Steve, I can’t explain how over climbing hills I was at that point. But I’ve got to thank you and the few others who’d commented that morning on the previous days ride. When I stopped to take a time out, those messages meant so much to me, it really spurred me on and gave me the motivation I needed at the point. So for that, I can’t thank you enough. Well, that and a £2.50 purchase in Sue Ryder in Oxted! When I saw them for sale, I laughed my head off, and knew they were the ones! Elvis really lifted me up the next few climbs!
Yes sir, I did miss this one. As always, perfect music choice & timing. It’s funny that you made a few references to Elvis - I thought I was on to something 😝
Thanks Wayne, hopefully it all makes sense now!
Drivers are the same everywhere, cant work out if they are poor or just ignorant, either way, not cyclist friendly. Great work Darren!! 👏🏽
Thanks Lewis, it was distinctly worse than anything I’ve experienced. I’m pleased to say though. It did get better the further west I headed.
I want thoses glasses!! Love Elvis & your glasses and singing - not so much ha ha! Keep Going enjoying the vlogs 😅😂
Thank you, it was amazing how something so silly completely helped turned my motivation around!
6.40 - The Honey Pot made me smile 😉 ps - don't give up your day job and go into singing
Too late! I’ve already filled out my application for the Cycling Elvis on next years Britains Got Talent!! 😂😜
Omg the drivers! i love how you were feeling sad then bang ice cream and new sunglasses and all your mojo comes back, the view were stunning again. Maybe next time be wise to slot in a rest day. Love your music choices not sure about Elvis tho never been a fan 🤣
It was just what I needed to get me going again! Amazing what you can find for £2.50 in a Sue Ryder charity shop! It’s fair to say, love learned a lot of lessons from the trip, of what will be best. So now I’m planning the next one, for which I have loads of ideas! Thank you Michelle!
You can take the boy from Glastonbury, but not Glastonbury from the boy
Great adventure Darren, but there's just too many people in too small a space
You'll love seeing the Tor on your way back, take it easy
Thanks, I’m glad you’re enjoying the series. I honestly wished I could have kept going at not come back. As I absolutely bloody loved the whole aspect of bikepacking. If I hadn’t have tried collecting all the hills, my Achilles might have been fine. At least that’s what I’m telling myself, as I sit and plan my future adventures, which I’m looking at a three week tour! 🤔
@@DarrenPhillips sounds great, take some Mendip buddies along as well , would-be good to watch
Well done, great watching you battle through, very motivating videos 👍
I’m glad you liked it, when I came up with the plan to do this, I don’t think I really thought through how tough it would be. But after reading some motivational comments on my Strava, it really pushed to achieve my goal for the trip. Now I’m sat at home weeks later, that tough moment helped make the trip special, knowing that mentally and physically, I could achieve it and overcome whatever obstacles were put in front of me, really drives me on to embark on my next adventure. Thanks
Great videos, good editing, good music , well done 👍
Thank you, I really appreciate it 😊
Well done, great ride. You should try living in Cornwall. You can regularly do a 50km route with 800 plus meters of climbing 🥵
I can imagine! Whenever I’ve been down that way, it’s either up or down steep hills. I’m still yet to do a proper ride around Cornwall, but I definitely will one day. Thank you
@@DarrenPhillips you will love it and even love the hills by the end! It's a beautiful place to ride. Can't wait to see the next video :-)
The next one is prime Surrey Hills, it was beautiful! Met some nice cyclists too. Apart from Birling Gap to Beachy head, it was my favourite day I think!
Hi Darren, I just binged the Bikepacking series and boy what an awesome week's riding! Congratulations on an epic adventure! I love where your curiosity takes you and your determination to get there. Looking forward to seeing the final video's. One question: Do you have a certain cadence that you try and stick to? If so do you find that helps for longer rides?
Thanks Andrew, I really had a great week and I can’t wait to go again. My cadence is generally 70 to 80 rpm, it gets a bit quicker when I’m fitter. On longer endurance rides, I always try to find a gear that doesn’t require to much pressure on the pedals. Obviously I can’t really avoid that going up the hills. With some of the hills on this trip, I dread to think what my cadence was! But it wasn’t very high!! 😂
keep going Mate you are doing great
Love your vids, just wondering, if you were to get a new bike would you stick with a domane or go for a checkpoint?
Thanks Gary, I haven’t really looked at a Checkpoint. I know Pete was very keen for one a year or so back. So all I really know is that it has loads of mounting points and is more of a touring/gravel bike. I went for the Domane initially, as I was looking for an all road bike, which the Domane falls into that category. As I can use it for gravel. If the Checkpoint has wider tyre clearance than the 38mm tyres I can get on my Domane, then it would be a serious option, but I think last time I looked, the Domane is still cheaper. As I still have my Canyon for pure road, it would be something I would consider, for my bikepacking and gravel riding.