Thanks Andrew, I do love bikepacking, there is just something so special about travelling with a bike and carrying everything you need. I really appreciate your comment, I put a lot of time into making these videos and choosing the music, so it’s great to know it is noticed.

In my 20’s I did a 3 week cycle tour around the island of Tasmania and I still carry so many good memories of that trip. Then with marriage, work, kids life got busy… Looking forward to getting back to some touring/bike packing. Keep up the great work mate, it’s wonderful to see that your motivation for cycling has been truly resurrected!

Thanks Paul, Welcome!

I can’t say I’m an expert, as I’ve only been the once. But I would have thought anytime late May to September. We visited the 2nd week of July and the weather was perfect. Outside of that, the possibility of the passes being closed increases.

@@DarrenPhillips Thank you. I was thinking probobly May - June are the best

@mihajloprodanovic5512 Just be aware that the Tour of Switzerland is usually Early June as a warm up race for the TdF. So avoid or plan to be there whichever suits!

Thanks Steve, the jury is still out on the bonk! Mrs P reckons I had sunstroke, but whatever it was, it wasn’t nice. At least the cows and the snakes behaved themselves, which is more than can be said about the Rottweiler! I have heard it’s now chained up and barking aggressively at passers by!

It was far enough from home as it was! Took me ages to get home. Probably the worst I’ve ever experienced. It does hit your confidence a bit. Thank Lewis

That’d be nice, but I can understand why the farmers lock some of the gates, when they have livestock in the fields. It’s still a better downside to off-road, than traffic is to on road riding!

In my 54 years though Mum, I’ve never seen a sign warning of Adders, now I’ve seen two in two rides! I always thought they were in Charterhouse. Luckily I’ve never seen one.

Thanks Carlo, if only we were all as fit as Mark!! 😂

Thank you. The bike alarm was from my bikepacking series, I think it was day 7 when I talked about it. But just search Bike alarm on Amazon and loads will pop up. It was around £12 when I bought it.

Thanks Roger, I’ve never seen a sign for Adders in all the time I’ve lived here and ridden, walked and explored the Mendips. This is now twice in two rides! Not sure what I’d do if I seen an actual snake though. I can’t say I’m bothered by snakes, but I wouldn’t want to be bitten by one, that’s for sure. Lucky we didn’t see any, but it does focus your attention, on where your wheels are going and any wobble off line and into the grass, is a bit nervy! I did think I must have been ill with something to have felt that bad, but I seemed to recover quite quickly and throwing up when I got home. My wife thinks I had sunstroke, which is possible. But I have had that before and this felt much worse. That ride home was a massive struggle!

Not sure what it was, it felt worse than just bonking. I felt quite ill when I eventually got home. I could barely muster 12km/h on the flat on the way home. It has kind of knocked my confidence, in what I’m capable of, after I had surprised myself in France. Glad you liked the videos. Thank you Randell

Feel free Mark!! I don’t think I ever want to cycle up Hill Lane ever again. The off-road version of Draycott Steep! It was hell on gravel! I think you’d make some money selling lift passes at that point! 😂 The rest of it was beautiful though, so maybe when I’ve forgotten the pain and anguish and the jelly legs by the end.

I know John, but that’s the hardest I’ve ever bonked! Not sure if it was the after effects of the crash or just sunstroke, but I felt really ill at the end. I collapsed on the ground when I got home and couldn’t move, until I threw up again. It took a few hours before I had any energy at all. It was certainly odd! Thank you

😂 Not a penny! Although the jersey was heavily reduced in their sale, and I liked the design! Thank you Terry, it was lovely scenery, as ever, the camera never does it justice. As you could see right out to the coast and beyond, it was such a clear day. Mark’s group rides are always so much fun.

Thank you Jonathan. Yes, I plot everything on Komoot, I’m a huge fan of the app. It has the campsites in the search as well as all the Eurovelo routes. I’ve just figured out though, that I didn’t need to create the individual stages, as I could have just plotted Roscoff to Cherbourg and done it as a tour. It would have then split the days into how far you want to ride each day. Which I’ve just done plotting the EV1 route tour, I’d like to do next. I spend hours plotting rides and have over 100 saved. This was oddly one of the oldest I’d planned. As it was initially an idea pre Covid, so sat there for a few years. I think my next oldest is the NC500. So one day!!

Indeed you do! It certainly can raise the heart rate a bit!! 😂

@@SteveBrill Bear Gryls would have eaten the snakes 🐍 and taken out the cows with a pen knife! 😂

@@DarrenPhillips 🤣🤣🤣🤣

My list of rides to do, just keeps getting longer and longer! I’ll add that to the list. I think I’m going to do Eurovelo 1 next, although, I’m still trying to persuade my wife to venture into France on the tandem with me. There is nothing like exploring on a bike, I’m glad you enjoyed your ride. Thank you

Thanks Lewis, bikepacking opens up a world of possible trips! It’s such an enjoyable way to travel and enjoy riding your bike.

Thanks Bob, it’ll become a little easier, once Cooper goes to Guide Dog school in October. But I’ve made a couple of videos, which will be out shortly.

Thank you, it was an awesome week with the best company. I still can’t figure out how he got all his stuff in his bags though! Just when you think you’ve seen everything, he produces a pack of biscuits from nowhere!

Thanks Jon, you’re very welcome. We both thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t recommend it highly enough. Eurovelo 1 next!

@@DarrenPhillips I’ll look forward to seeing that one then.

Thanks Steve, I don’t know if you are aware, but Pete works for me in Royal Mail. We do get stick for our friendship at work, but I don’t care! As he is just one of the nicest blokes you’ll ever meet, and I’m proud to call him my friend. I have the first shirt I’ve ever made coming out on Wednesday morning, followed by my misadventures with a Rottweiler next Sunday. After that, I still have to figure out what the next one will be still. But there will be one!

😂 They are sweets, fish shaped jelly candy, covered in a fizzy sugar. They were cheaper in the shop than the Haribo! Thanks Wayne!

@@DarrenPhillips Ahh, I understand. Similar to the jelly bears people like for energy boosts.

Thanks Andy, a lot does go into making these videos, but I really enjoy the process and making something at the end I’m proud of. I’m glad you enjoyed the series. I really enjoyed the trip and it was good to be back on a bike after my struggles getting out this year.

Super videos really enjoyed watching both of you! Thank you and hopefully you’ll both go on another adventure soon. 😊

I’m already planning my next adventure, although I think Pete has already got plans for next year. But if we can, I’m sure we will. Thank you for watching!

Thank you David!

Thank you, I can only really speak for my Trek Domane. Which has pretty much featured in all my videos, since I bought it. I absolutely love it, it’s the most comfortable bike I’ve ever ridden and just so enjoyable to ride. Despite the varying terrain, it just handles it all really well, as it has built in Isospeed, which is a kind of suspension to help smooth out the roads. It handles really well, even with all the weight of the bags. I’m running Hunt Aero 35 carbon wheels and 30mm Conti GP5000 tyres. I think it’s the 2021 model of the Domane, so it’s a few years old now. I’ve asked Pete to comment on his bike, as I know he loves how comfortable it is, but the brakes need updating. I think he has cantilever brakes, or something similar. Also, Pete is just like that in real life. He really is the nicest person you’ll ever meet!

My local roads have seemed lacklustre for a while Steve!! 😂 it was an amazing week, I’d love to do more bikepacking. It just seems a great way of living. Thanks you Steve

I’m currently trying to persuade my wife to come with me on the tandem and do that stretch and go from Cherbourg to Saint Malo, taking a bit more time to explore. The highlights on Komoot look really good down the D-Day beaches coast, so it’s good to hear you think it’s worth it. Thanks

Thanks Chris, we both loved it. I’m hoping to do Eurovelo 1 next year and also trying to persuade Mrs P to do a shorter version of this on the tandem, but going from Cherbourg to Saint Malo. Plus I’ll be out on my bike filming whatever I get up to. I filmed a video yesterday, which was a story to tell!! Cooper goes on to train to be Guide Dog in October, so I will have some more freedom and time to get fitter and get back out cycling more often. I’m glad you enjoyed the series though.

Thanks Spike, I loved riding it and I loved revisiting it all in the editing. I’m glad you enjoyed the series, Pete’s a bit busy next year, but I’m hoping to do a couple of bikepacking trips in France again. I will have a bit more freedom and time, once Cooper goes on to Guide Dog School in October.

This weekend, I was introduced to Hill Lane, which runs parallel to Draycott Steep, but off-road! I think it’s fair to say, that it was twice as tough! Thanks Richard, I don’t blame you, it used to be an annual ritual to do the climb at least once. I no longer think I need to do it anymore!! 😂

@@MarkHiggins-cb3ll thanks Mark, they were amazing trails all week, the French really know how to cater for cyclists. I don’t see why not, I had 30mm Continental GP5000’s and I never had any issues at all. Pete had some Panaracer Gravel king 35mm’s I think. I do mention them in the next video, but if from memory, I’m pretty sure that’s what he had.

In bikepacking i have done along this type of course (voie vert / EV routes / small roads) in France i use a bike with 32mm Conti GP5000 and always feel i have plenty of grip - probably over do it. You might encounter the odd section that needs a bit of care depending on your route planning but 99% of it i would say you will be OK.

@Greg.Sutton I agree, those Conti GP5000’s are incredible tyres. I can’t rate them high enough, expensive, but you get what you pay for.

I think there is several throughout this one. The instrumental piece building up to Mont Saint Michel was called Monument. The French music I’ve used throughout was called Fashion by Dansez. There was one called I’m done- Au Revoir whilst riding away from the Mont, One was Viva la Vida at the end on the beach. Where do we go from here when we were stuck, and Les Figures The Devils Sway is the French counting song. I think the other French tune was called French connection. I get all my music from Epidemic Sound and it takes me ages to search through and find what I like and use in each video.

Thanks Steve, The monument itself is unbelievable, it has to be seen in person. But the cycling network around it, is also incredible and a credit to France. I’m already planning on taking Deb back there on the tandem, if I can persuade her to. Then next year, I want to explore Eurovelo 1 down the West coast of France into Spain. There are two episodes to go, next week is the last one in France, and then the last one is the trip home and out reflections on the week.

We did try, apparently you had to be French and female, who knew? 😂😂

Thanks Ian ☺️

Who said I turned them down!?? 😂😜 it was a great trip. I need to go back asap! I would love to do the whole West coast of France along Eurovelo 1. It’s a lot longer, so will probably take 10 days. So I’m already banking some brownie points with Mrs P!! Thanks Andrew

@@DarrenPhillips sounds wonderful! One day I'd love to join you!!

Anytime Andrew, anytime! I’d enjoy the company for sure!

@@DarrenPhillips one day my friend, one day for sure

It really is a bit of magic in a box! Sometimes, you have an idea of the shot you want to capture, and it works out perfect, but sometimes, it just gives you shots that look so good that you never could have imagined. I do really like it. I went to Annecy a few years ago, and I was going to start filming and making videos of the trip, but I chickened out and lost the courage. Otherwise, I’d have a couple of trips to the Alps and one into the Pyrenees on film too. So it’s never too late to treat yourself.

@@DarrenPhillips Maybe I will pick one up instead of upgrading my aging GoPro Hero 7 👍🏻

@CaptJazzmag The X3 and X4 both work as a standard camera, just like the Gopro. They both just have the 360 function as well. So you can use it for both types of shots.

I wish we’d have had a bit more time to have explored St Malo. But it’s a good excuse to go back!

Thanks Steve, Pete’s fall aside, there was nothing not to like. I mean, it was tough choosing from all those delectable Patisseries, just which three we’d try! You can’t beat a Boulangerie for breakfast! It was all the stunning bridges and viaducts we came across all week. The infrastructure is incredible! And stretches as far as the Ukraine. It’s 5000km long? Visits 7 countries and just a mere 21 Unesco sites. We barely scratched the surface of what the route had to offer. I had an idea of what I wanted the 360 footage to look like, but it wasn’t quite what I’d envisaged. But I was pleased with how the shot came out. Although I’m not sure if you can tell, the headwind was brutal at that point, and crossing over the wooden bridges over the moor, I nearly came off in the wind and lost the camera!

I’ve just turned 54, so I do remember “wish you were here” 🙄 I wouldn’t say fluent! 😂 I can read French very well, but when they speak quickly, I get lost translating the first three words, the rest I’m hoping I got right!! Although I can never quite remember all the words for everything I want to say. Working on it though. It was a great day, my 2nd favourite of the trip. But not much could beat Mont Saint Michel! Thanks Steve, I’m glad you liked it.

I can’t recommend it highly enough. I’m thinking of doing Eurovelo 1 next year, down to Bilbao. Even if it’s half as good as this, I’d be a very happy bikepacker! Pete and I both really actually like sleeping in tents. We have an Alpkit Numo air mattress, which folds down to nothing, weighs hardly anything, but is really comfortable to sleep on. We did see some of the cabins, but I think they’re a bit more expensive than a pitch and nearly what we paid for the Airbnb. If I can persuade the Wife to take the tandem at some point, I might be able to persuade her to use a cabin though, as she’s not a camper!

@@DarrenPhillips cabins have probably jumped in price since the days when I used to pop across to Roscoff on weekend cycling trips. I think a double cabin was only about 50 quid back in the 2010s - Ideal if you could drag someone else along to share the cost.

@CaptJazzmag if it saves you carrying the camping equipment up those hills, it’s probably not too bad. They were about £50 when I looked, so not gone up at all!

@@DarrenPhillips that’s a pleasant surprise. Wonder if my favourite cyclist-friendly hotel in Roscoff is still as reasonably priced 🤔😄

Thanks Andy, I’m glad you liked it, the whole trip was amazing and I cant wait to share the rest of the journey.

Thanks Terry, not even a bit of rain could dampen our spirits, as we were treated to stunning views around every corner! I can’t big up the Eurovelo 4 route enough. The infrastructure shows how you can have a proper segregated cycle network. Even when you cycle near the road, you have lanes and the respect of the drivers to give you space. It’s an unbelievable place to ride a bike. You can’t help but smile!

Thank you! I’ve ridden it a few times now and I’m very happy with it. Hopefully at some point I shall gain a bit more confidence on it and be able to go a bit faster on the descents.

Thanks Spike, I can’t agree more! I love France, it just has a special feeling whenever I’m there. This is one of the best things I’ve done, so I’m now thinking of doing Eurovelo 1 for Roscoff to Bilbao. I think it would be epic. I’ve edited up to Cherbourg currently, and I’ve lived reliving every minute of it. It was such a great week. The next video seemed to have all my best memories of the scenery that stuck in my head. It’s a bit longer a video, as there was so much to pack in!

The hills were as steep as the Mendips, but nowhere near as long. But there were lots of them! I think that might have been the longest I’ve ever gone without seeing a car on a road ride ever! The days and the scenery just kept getting better! Thanks Lewis

Thanks Steve, it was great, I’m enjoying reliving it through the editing. I’m glad you liked the music, as the French ditty makes a few appearances!!

Thanks Chris! I’m planning another one myself. I absolutely love cycling in France, there’s nothing like it. Where are you thinking of going?

Thinking of going to Dover then across to Dunkirk from there to Bruges and then continue up into Roterdam and then ferry back to Harwich !! That's the plan 😂 whether my legs want to do that is another story 😂

@chrismusgrove5259 that sounds really good. I’d love to cycle across a border, it must be pretty exciting. You’ll be fine! If I can do this on very little training, you’ll have no problem.

Cycling in France is wonderful, did Caen to Montpelier ( Manche to Med) a few years ago, best cycling trip I have ever done, wonderful roads 👍

I don’t know about you, but I find cycling on the other side of the road more natural! The only car that came anywhere near us had a German number plate. The French drivers are just so considerate and patient. Although it helps that the majority of roads have cycle lanes. I just love riding my bike there, it’s just special!