Ardnamurchan cycling - the secret road 

Wonderful adventure video, Simon. If it makes you feel any better, I think I can beat your forgetfulness - driving 3 hrs down the road to Northumberland before realising my front wheel wasn't in the car! Had to turn around and go straight back home, so a 4-hr drive became 11 hrs. Preparing for a bike trip is a logistical headache - my neighbours joke when they see me heading out, "see you in 5 minutes!" They crack up when they see me cycling back up the driveway (usually because I forgot to put my heart rate monitor on).

I admire your ability to fall off into a bog without swearing!

Fantastic Simon, really enjoyed the programme 😁🇬🇧❤️👍

Beautiful scenery there in Ardnamurchan!

Spent many a childhood summer holiday on the Ardnamurchan peninsula. Fantastic location and another professional and informative video.

Great footage as ever Simon, and useful to about using the handlebars to help a controlled lowering of the bike.

Great video, love the Scottish scenery, I've walked up many mountain track, in the 80s, the Corrieyairack Pass I've seen on some videos looks greatly improved since the 80s,

Another great video , like the pics of Ockle Bay we have stayed there many times...

Stonking mix of trails and scenery looks a great ride, like the honesty, easy to forget to charge things. Also love the gate climbing we do a lot of this in the North.

Thanks for the video, loved it 👍

Have enjoyed the videos from down south but great to see you back up the road adventuring in Scotland. Very informative video and great scenery. Don’t think the ride will go into my to do list though.

Wow, I can just imagine the beautiful air quality, stunning scenery, amazing sound and pic quality from a one man band 👍🔊🙏🇬🇧😎 your thirty years experience with this new fangled technology 👌

Amazing place. Toured there with my dad about 20 years ago. I saw the most spectacular sunset there at its most westerly point. We also went to singing sands.

Great video again thank you. i think your bike is happy, it’s all the bikes that end up sitting in damp sheds and garages never turning a wheel I feel sorry for. ☺️

Funny. My Litespeed was hand built in the USA and I can't wait to get it over to Scotland and the rest of the E.U..

Great content man

Looks like a good fun route that! I've just ordered myself a cross country mountain bike for those rides that are just that wee step beyond a gravel bike, so might be a fun place to bring that when I get it. As for Altura sizing, I find it's a bit more consistent with "normal" sizing: my Endurance Bibs (great value shorts!) are a medium, where I'd be an XL in Castelli and others.

Thanks

I’ve watched a fair few of your videos, very enjoyable by the way 👍, could you do a segment on the various backpacks you use. The pack you’re using in this video looks a useful addition to the kit, but I’ve also noticed you use a blue lightweight sack that you use to carry camera gear for the video. Anyway keep up the good work 👍👍

Be careful with your back, Simon... I too am in my mid 60s, and nothing will disrupt your cycling plans more than back issues, which usually require lots of effort & patience to resolve. Meanwhile, I am vicariously cycling via your videos. Cheers!

I think you're right about the north-shore route in Ardnamurchan being the original. For example, Rev.Alexander MacDonald, (Maighstir Alasdair), father of the stellar Gaelic poet of the 18thC enlightenment Alasdair Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair), apparently regularly walked this route in the 1690s from his home at Dalilea to conduct Sunday services in W. Ardnamurchan, and walked back again! His son, the poet, was employed for a while as a schoolteacher/catechist in several Ardnamurchan townships and local references show it was a lively and populated community - debauchery in Faskadale, STDs associated with the mines in Strontian....

Another great video. Living in a townland that starts with 'Ard', I'm always struck by the similarity of place names there and those here in Ireland. Scottish Gaelic really is barely different.

nice ride :)

An irritation of garmin head units is that they power on when you plug and unplug the power lead. Why?

Nice video great to see the GPS trackers getting a mention too. The more people see trackers on RU-vid the more they will, I hope see the sense and take one along with them.

I think that route would be great for some remote bikepacking

That looked pretty tough. The scars of the Highland Clearances look more sad, the more I read and hear about them. You can’t help wondering what the Highlands would be like now if the clearances had never happened.

Realy joint with you Sir💯

Must have taken an age to film, worth it though, excellent video 👍

Looks a good route with some nice views etc too. Have to say Altura sizing has always been a bit hit or miss, as I have had several pieces of their clothing over the past 10 years. They actually asked for feedback on Instagram not that long ago and one of the key issues I mentioned was size spec compared to other cycling brands. Does look a nice jacket though and I like the short sleeve perfetto/gabba type top you got in London. 👍 Those style of tops are great for gravel as they can withstand a shower and dry quickly too and they keep the wind off your core as welll.

Enjoyed that Simon, thanks. I've been looking at The Rough Stuff Fellowship recently and this ride looks like the kind of thing that would fit in with them perfectly. Great so see some of the coastline, like you I've paddled round there a few times and have also sailed round there many times. By the way, my wife was wondering how small your new cage packs down to?

How i wish to be with you. It give me hope for better tomorrow

Simon great film as always stunning ride. Can I ask what watch you use and does it have GPS? Keep doing such a great job.

Surprised you haven’t invested in Mudhugger Gravel….top bit of kit 👍🏽

There is a company in Burnley called Lancashire Sports Repairs Ltd. They repair Gore-Tex, resole boots and shoes etc. They may be able to help.

It would be nice if you could put a map of the area up so people who don't live near there - such as my husband and I who live in Australia - could see the general location.

As a matter of interest (as you mention the time it takes), what would the route take to complete if you didn't have to set up for all the shots?

Bike. A very nice bike I wish I could afford it ( or rather willing to spend that amount ) as it’s North East England company. I DO ALWAYS think “ what does my kit think of me being its owner. I often think of some poor item bought by some people never to be used and sat in the garage/shed/loft. If you have kit. Say Yes More and use it.

Clothes - seems all cycling companies prefer to make clothes sized for Tour de France athletes and Olympians. The rest of us have to guess.