Hi everyone, thanks for tuning in, this video has been a long old process and has taken ages to make so do me a little favour and press the like button, so TH-cam gives it a little boost. I'm not sure the future of Keep smiling adventures for the year 2025, but if it ends here, then I wanted to thank everyone who has showed their support by tuning in week after week. Thank you, the last few years have been a blast, all because you watched these videos. But if it is the end, then I wanted to make this ultimate guide to UK bikepacking before I go. Thanks again. And yes, I'm aware of a couple spelling mistakes. Keep smiling Adventures. Here are the timestamps Time stamps 00:00 intro 00:58 What is bikepacking 05:14 Preparation and fitness 10:52 bike handling skills 15:30 bike setup 23:43 shake down ride 25:45 Route planning 44:29 Routes to begin with 49:56 How/what to pack 01:03:47 Safety 01:07:47 Accommodation & camping 01:18:39 Nutrition
Great video guide Josh. You put a load of effort into that and it shows. Keep riding and growing the channel. You can do it and it will be worth it. There are some great bikepacking you tubers out there but as a UK rider I enjoy yours above the others.
Thank you for all your work making these videos over the years, I think I've watched all of them from at least the last 2 years. you've certainly inspired me to give bike packing a go, I'm planning a trip to cycle around Anglesey early next year as a shakedown test before perhaps sometime longer and in more wild conditions
Hi Josh, and excellent bikepacking guide. Well done! I have watched most of your videos and have copied a lot of your routes. I first came across you when you did the Great North Trail which was epic and very inspiring as are many of your videos. Being a fellow bikepacker I know how much effort goes into each ride. I even did the Lakekand 200 thanks to you lol aged 56. Absolutely brutal but amazing too. I put it on TH-cam too but your videos are just the best. I can not think of another bikepacker from the UK has contributed more to the field of bikepacking on TH-cam. I really hope you are able to continue but I understand your reasons if you can't. Fingers crossed this video makes a difference. Good luck whatever you decide. You will be sadly missed. Thank you for putting in the time and inspiring the rest of us. Your channel is epic👌💯
Great guide mate. We'll still be here whatever you decide to do. It's just a shame it's been a rough year for you. It must be hard to stay motivated all the time. Take care mate, and I hope you continue. 👊😊
Wow, what an amazing video. I did my first bike packing journey 2 days ago, and could have really used this video before I started. Ended up on a lot of muddy lanes and bogs haha!
This is a great guide Josh thanks for making it (still watching it!) been following yours and Jethro Jessop's channel for inspiration for a few years. One bit of kit I would really recommend that I discovered on my 1st shakedown ride 5 years ago is to get an inexpensive rear bag stability thing if you are not using a rack and have a larger rear bag ... google Rhinowalk or Rockbros - these stop it swaying and affecting your balance. Also other essential bits of kit in my bag - a few spare bolts, bits of old inner tube rubber and tape to stop things working loose with vibrations eg bottle cages and mount brackets, also a pair of tiny cheap foldable pliers ... just in case you manage to unscrew a valve core with your pump hose like I did in remote Scotland 😂!
Thank you Josh for this detailed and comprehensive video guide. Really helpful and useful video. Many thanks too for all the hard work you've put into doing all the rides and making all your wonderful videos over these last few years. I've watched most of them and I really enjoyed them, and they've motivated me to getting back on the bike (if only for small rides) after not riding for several + years. Whatever you decide to do, thank you and just do what you want to do! All the best from the land of Oz.
Here in US New England Region ticks are particularly bad, I treat my shoes, socks and pants/shorts/trousers with Permetherin made by Sawyer, it kills ticks that get on you pretty quickly. Articles that are treated are effective for 6 months or about 6 washes. I've found ticks on me even in the winter months so i dont take any chances.
Thanks Josh, really useful info here - I definitely learned a lot about rights-of-way and route planning from this video so thanks very much. Hopefully I'll see more videos from you in the future but I can understand sometimes making your hobby/passion in to your job can be challenging on multiple levels.
Look up emergency spokes and how to make them. You can usually replace a broken spoke with an emergency spoke and without removing the wheel. Jim Langley explains how to do this on his channel.
I like this idea, but not much harder to carry appropriate length spokes. Straight pull, you'd have no choice but to do this. The Stein tool might not work with centerlock brake rotors. 6 bolt disks are a better bet. I cringe at the thought trying the Stein tool on a carbon fork or frame.
Hi everyone, thanks for tuning in, this video has been a long old process and has taken ages to make so do me a little favour and press the like button, so TH-cam gives it a little boost. I'm not sure the future of Keep smiling adventures for the year 2025, but if it ends here, then I wanted to thank everyone who has showed their support by tuning in week after week. Thank you, the last few years have been a blast, all because you watched these videos. But if it is the end, then I wanted to make this ultimate guide to UK bikepacking before I go. Thanks again. And yes, I'm aware of a couple spelling mistakes.
Keep smiling Adventures.
Here are the timestamps
Time stamps
00:00 intro
00:58 What is bikepacking
05:14 Preparation and fitness
10:52 bike handling skills
15:30 bike setup
23:43 shake down ride
25:45 Route planning
44:29 Routes to begin with
49:56 How/what to pack
01:03:47 Safety
01:07:47 Accommodation & camping
01:18:39 Nutrition
Great video guide Josh. You put a load of effort into that and it shows. Keep riding and growing the channel. You can do it and it will be worth it. There are some great bikepacking you tubers out there but as a UK rider I enjoy yours above the others.
Thanks josh that was briliant, realy well put together, i apreciate all the hard work that went into making these great videos.
Thanks for all the videos. Invaluable info for us UK bikepackers.
Legend. Thank you for your advice 😀💚
Thank you for all your work making these videos over the years, I think I've watched all of them from at least the last 2 years. you've certainly inspired me to give bike packing a go, I'm planning a trip to cycle around Anglesey early next year as a shakedown test before perhaps sometime longer and in more wild conditions
Hi Josh, and excellent bikepacking guide. Well done! I have watched most of your videos and have copied a lot of your routes. I first came across you when you did the Great North Trail which was epic and very inspiring as are many of your videos. Being a fellow bikepacker I know how much effort goes into each ride. I even did the Lakekand 200 thanks to you lol aged 56. Absolutely brutal but amazing too. I put it on TH-cam too but your videos are just the best. I can not think of another bikepacker from the UK has contributed more to the field of bikepacking on TH-cam. I really hope you are able to continue but I understand your reasons if you can't. Fingers crossed this video makes a difference. Good luck whatever you decide. You will be sadly missed. Thank you for putting in the time and inspiring the rest of us. Your channel is epic👌💯
Great guide mate. We'll still be here whatever you decide to do. It's just a shame it's been a rough year for you. It must be hard to stay motivated all the time.
Take care mate, and I hope you continue. 👊😊
Wow, what an amazing video. I did my first bike packing journey 2 days ago, and could have really used this video before I started. Ended up on a lot of muddy lanes and bogs haha!
This is a great guide Josh thanks for making it (still watching it!) been following yours and Jethro Jessop's channel for inspiration for a few years.
One bit of kit I would really recommend that I discovered on my 1st shakedown ride 5 years ago is to get an inexpensive rear bag stability thing if you are not using a rack and have a larger rear bag ... google Rhinowalk or Rockbros - these stop it swaying and affecting your balance. Also other essential bits of kit in my bag - a few spare bolts, bits of old inner tube rubber and tape to stop things working loose with vibrations eg bottle cages and mount brackets, also a pair of tiny cheap foldable pliers ... just in case you manage to unscrew a valve core with your pump hose like I did in remote Scotland 😂!
Thank you Josh for this detailed and comprehensive video guide. Really helpful and useful video. Many thanks too for all the hard work you've put into doing all the rides and making all your wonderful videos over these last few years. I've watched most of them and I really enjoyed them, and they've motivated me to getting back on the bike (if only for small rides) after not riding for several + years. Whatever you decide to do, thank you and just do what you want to do! All the best from the land of Oz.
Here in US New England Region ticks are particularly bad, I treat my shoes, socks and pants/shorts/trousers with Permetherin made by Sawyer, it kills ticks that get on you pretty quickly. Articles that are treated are effective for 6 months or about 6 washes. I've found ticks on me even in the winter months so i dont take any chances.
Thanks Josh, really useful info here - I definitely learned a lot about rights-of-way and route planning from this video so thanks very much. Hopefully I'll see more videos from you in the future but I can understand sometimes making your hobby/passion in to your job can be challenging on multiple levels.
Hi. What a great video. What kind of rigid fork are you using?
Look up emergency spokes and how to make them. You can usually replace a broken spoke with an emergency spoke and without removing the wheel. Jim Langley explains how to do this on his channel.
I like this idea, but not much harder to carry appropriate length spokes. Straight pull, you'd have no choice but to do this. The Stein tool might not work with centerlock brake rotors. 6 bolt disks are a better bet. I cringe at the thought trying the Stein tool on a carbon fork or frame.
I'll never ride with a backpack.
Traps sweat and puts stress on the lower back.
In most countries camp is illigal, depens of type of law
this a UK guide
@@KeepSmilingAdventuresTrue, but know the laws. USA has a well earned reputation for locking up as many as possible!