A fairly 'normal' guy's adventures by bike, aiming to provide inspiration and tips so you too can do the same.
As a fairly average cyclist and athlete (did I just call myself an athlete?), I don’t sport any super genes but through dedication, hard work and developing my mental fortitude, I’ve done more than I’d ever envisaged when I first climbed aboard a bike. But I’ve still got more I want to accomplish!
From gravel to road and everything in between, it's all about getting outdoors, exploring and enjoying the adventures bikes can provide. Of course, it’s also the mental and physical benefits this brings.
I've raced on the road, time trials, mountain bikes and triathlons but ultra racing and long distance cycling has really taken a hold of me. If anything it's reminded me of why I started cycling in the first place, a way to unwind and explore the world around us.
Yeah it can be hard but this was made a little easier by feeling ill as opposed to a little niggle in the knee or something. Hopefully get back, if not there are many more!
The good thing about this one is you can do it between Thursday evening and Sunday evening so you can do it at a much nicer pace with sleep and time to enjoy the scenery! A great intro if you ever fancy one.
@@CycleXplorer Mighty well do. Once I've built my fitness up. I'm making up a 100km loop from my house with a chunk off road, although it's old railway so flat 🤭. Once I can knock out 2 flaps in a day I'll start looking at some rides like this. What's you average speed on a trip like this?
@@Cobwobbler nice, sensible approach to build up. I reckon if you could do 200km you could do this over a few days. I think my average was just under 11mph. With these type of events it's more about stopping less if you want to do it quick. Be hard to go too much faster without burning some major matches. A gravel bike would be quicker in bits but not in others. I like my mtb as it's more comfortable which means I can keep going.
Thank you. Well the funny thing is the saddle is the cheapest Fabric Scoop saddle. I've tried all sorts and on this bike this is the one I find most comfortable. It's not the lightest or most exotic but it seems to work! Other than that some good cycling shorts help too. Have you got a long ride planned?
@@CycleXplorer ah ah. I've recently purchased 3 of them, all different versions. I've got the shallow and radius left to try out. In relation to a long ride, no, nothing major planned. I ride full sus MTB and try to get at least a couple of rides a week around 40-60 miles each, but have a few planned out to 100+. I just need a saddle that's comfy. Padded under shorts work well, but after 30 miles or so I can feel it on the backside!
@@lmulli nice! Can take a while to find the right thing. For me the fabric seems to work well on the mtb but less so on the road bike 🤷♂️ probably the position. Good luck with your search!
Thank you. I didn't find it all that bad. I was pretty tired for a good few days after! As long as I kept going it was okay. If the event was longer I would have had to sleep. But from doing it before I had an idea of how long it would take with no major dramas. I wouldn't do the pan Celtic on no sleep 😂
Thank you. Luckily I finished at 1am so it was okay, I think the worst time for me is around 3/4am 🧟♂️ slept in a cupboard in the village hall when I finished for a while 😂
Can't believe i missed the race, (been cycling in Mallorca) forgot it was on. Hope you've made a vid of it! Reckon you could have saved weight by cutting off your toothbrush handle🤣 Thanks for mentioning your weighing device. I was wondering where i could get one. I'm weight obsessed and going to try and stay light for the Panceltic. But I am taking good waterproofs and gloves as I am useless in cold wet weather. I even took a windproof for the descent off the climb from Soller! It was 38 d at the bottom and 18 at the top with a headwind!
Sounds like you had some nice warm (hot) weather, getting a bit fed up with what our summer has comprised so far! What date does the panCeltic start? With regards to the video, it's uploading now! Probably take a while tho...
@@CycleXplorer Panceltic starts on 6 July with a night TT on the IOM, then a ferry the next morning to Heysham, from where we head to the Lake district and Hardnot pass (hoping not to have to ride it in the dark!)
I do enjoy electronic shifting, but as you say it's a lot easier to manage an issue with a mechanical rear mech than and electronic one. Plus it's a lot cheaper if you destroy or wear it out!
Good video. Thanks for making. I ride a road bike and have the same tailfin setup as you, but fully loaded was around 17.5kg - incl. tent, mat, sleeping bag, some food, etc. I was horrified at that at the time! When I heard you say you have some 20kg that makes me feel a bit better lol. Good luck on your ride :0)
Thank you. To be honest you kind of get used to the weight and doesn't seem to have as big an impact as you'd think. Probably draw a line if it reached 30kg tho 🤣
@@CycleXplorer Was true. When I first got on the bike it felt top heavy. But after a day's riding I hardly noticed the extra weight. I was concerned what effect it had riding steeper hills, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. Thanks again.
Failed on the Headstock200 with a 37kg bike. Honestly don't know where it all was - I do ride an XL frame and that's 16kg straight off according to my scales.
@@sing_cycle_referee that is hefty! It is a bit of a game about working out what you may get away with. I'm probably still on the cautious side. Looking back I could have taken much less but if something went wrong it would have been a dnf. Hard to get the balance but I'd probably take a little more to get round. However 37kg does seem apocalyptic prep 😂
Thanks for checking in on us Tom! This was my first proper multi-day and I'd watched your video from last year a number of times. Thanks for the inspiration and the support! 👊
That was brilliant Tom, thanks so much for getting out there and talking with them. I know it really lifts riders spirits to find dotwatchers out there following them.
Loved this video, Thanks! I’ve been avidly Dotwatching this race So it’s nice to see the”Dots” in reality. I know much of the route and will be entering next years event, if the Panceltic doesn’t completely break me😊
Amazing to see how you’ve inspired real people to try the cycles you have done ! Real inspiration. What a lovely person to go out and support riders on things you have achieved ! Where’s the next report ? Atlas ?? Xx
It's probably about 40% off road and a real mix. Hilly down in Devon! I did make a video of when I rode it in 2023 which may give some idea of the terrain. Are you tempted?
Just a cost of doing an organised event, which included various bits like the tracker, ferry, checkpoints, checked route etc. You can of course ride anywhere for free, which is most of my riding, but the feeling of being in an event, doing it with others makes it a different experience.
