The ‘Death Road’ I took in this film is reportedly no longer passable with large sections missing and no warning at the top - probably best not to attempt it!
Thanks very much Sam - greatly appreciated. I’d love to make more, although like all big trips they take lots of time to plan and ride. Oh, and fit in with life, given my family want to see me occasionally. Shorter day and multi-day rides are easier to do and shoot/edit. You’ll find quite a few in the Adventure Cycling playlist ru-vid.com/group/PLi_RyC9IgDU2iF7REQH2sFb6Rh5Z3qXEj
Simon...That was an excellent video and a very enjoyable way to spend 40 minutes of this Wednesday evening. Your presenting style is easy going and very informative. Lovely film and thank you for taking the time to share your adventure with us. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who felt they were right along with you on every mile & pedal stroke. All the best from another bike riding Simon🚴
Been looking forward to this documentary since you took part in the event and it did not disappoint. Well filmed, well recorded & well executed. Reminded me of trekking in the Dolomites a number of years ago. Thank you for making/sharing.
Inspiring. I watched all the other videos, including the lead up (equipment selection and so on) so this has been a great refresher and ties it all together.
@@alwaysanotheradventure no, but I found your Komoot Collection in the Description and saved it. Coincidentally I started my last longer bikepacking trip on the same day Last September in Germany and I planned to go to Nice. I ended up in Girona (same distance), but I‘d decided mid trip not to cycle cross the Alpes. I slept in hostels tho and took my Roadbike. I wanna do a camping trip tho in the future.
@@Michaelsmith21588 How about that for coincidence. I'm thinking of Spain this September. I've done a lot of camping in my time, so perhaps some f these articles might help. I think there are 5 starting here simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/09/torino-nice-rally-1-what-you-need-to.html Other folk have also written helpful blog posts too.
@@alwaysanotheradventure Thank you! I will check your blog. I try to travel as much as possible by train when I‘m with my bike. I want to try Flixbus back from Venice or Nice if I redo my trip. I‘ve done a few shorter bikepacking trips (3-4 days each) in NL and Belgium recently. Usually good infrastracture and easy to get there. NL has good spots for Gravel tours and Lots of events as well.
Dear, sir, I hope you are all well, and hopefully you will read this message someday, because, I truly love your way of communicating on your excellently made YT-videos, and appreciate so much your accurate use of the English language, and the way you express yourself, and very finding and clearly in your pronunciation of the English words, and this is so important for me, as a Swedish/Finnish language speaker! Anyhow, I would address one question about how you prevent theft of your valuables and your bike packing items and of course, your fine gravel bike, when you need to go shopping for groceries or when you stay overnights in hotels/hostels etc during your longer many day duration tours? I am sorry to find out that there are a few "bad eggs" among the people so we need to take caution, don´t we? Thank you, dear, sir, so very very much in advance! (I am a 65+ senior cyclist so your channel makes real changes to support and keep me going!) God bless you and your whole family as well! Best regards from Sweden! 💯❤👍🚲🥇🏆
Hi Carl - thanks for getting in touch. There's no easy answer to this sort of security as it largely depends on where you are and how long you're leaving the bike. If you're leaving it for a long time in a busy city, it won't be there when you return. So I plan to never have to do that unless I am carrying a massive motorbike type lock. Which I wouldn't take on a tour. For the tour in this video I took two Z-loks (Amazon amzn.to/3Odk2Xq). Just simple, light deterrents to an opportunist thief seeing my bike outside a supermarket and wheeling it away. (Here's a video of how I use them ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bLRk6bB6a3s.html) This subject comes up on the ridefar.info/ website. The rider there likes the Ottolok and I'm thinking of buying one for a trip later this year amzn.to/41E4LSH The only big supermarket I used was in Briancon and it had a long entrance ramp, so I wheeled the bike almost into the store, left it just outside the glass window and said to the security guard "seulement dix minutes", and he nodded. I used some hotels and always asked at booking for a safe place to leave the bike - again I used these and removed the bags for overnights. Bags are also vulnerable to an opportunist thief and there's little you can do against this. I never leave valuables on the bike. The Rapha shirt I'm wearing was chosen because it has a large rear zip pocket into which I kept my passport and money. I'd remove my GPS too. If you're leaving the bike for a medium length of time and feel the bags themselves could be vulnerable, I have previously, when using panniers, threaded a cable lock through their sewn straps. I left it permanently in place, and just pulled it out to lock the bike to a lampost or something fixed. So... no easy answers. Planning - to avoid having to stop or overnight in bad areas or accommodation. Judgement - assessing a location and situation to work out what's best at that moment. Luck - 😁
I have to say this is a great insight into this event, fantastic countryside. I have one slight issue though, this is not bikepacking, hotel to hotel is cycle touring. I'm not sure why people bothered with carrying tents haha.Its seem very common on a lot of so called bikepacking events. But yes as I said great video and well done for capturing it Simon. You can tell you have a presenters background, very professional. Looking forward to the next video.
@@alwaysanotheradventure Hi Simon, yes I know what you are saying. I sort of feel slightly bad saying it now but its a very common topic amongst serious bikepackers. I have friends who have taken part in "Bikepacking" events and have prepared and carried what they need only to be passed by riders with very little kit as they hoteled it all the way. I guess it's down to the event organisers to state what type of event it is. I know I'm not picking so I apologise for the negative comment. I'm a frustrated bikepacker at the moment as grounded with a temporary illness so keep up the videos and it keeps me motivated. I have my own youtube channel as I have my own bike brand catering for bikepacking. Hope to meet up one day maybe. All the best Graham
I appreciate you putting it in such measured terms, and now I do see what you mean. I recently made a podcast series about our 2002 Pacific Crest Trail Hike (pctpodcast.com) and learnt quite a few people who claimed to be "thru-hiking" from Mexico to Canada were hitching car rides much of the way! I can see how 'bikepackers' and 'backpackers' felt similarly offended. The thing about the TNR is you can do whatever you like. I don't think it claims to be a Bikepacking event (despite my video title), but without a tent you'd miss the great early mornings in the mountains and a big safety blanket. Separately, I've also been nursing an injury and I'm to head off on my first ride of over 90mins this year. I'm seeing a consultant tomorrow and I need to test how bad things are. Sadly, full-on adventures might have to wait a little while. It'll give me time to check out your channel and more. (ps Nice dog!)
@@alwaysanotheradventure Thanks Simon. I trust you are fixed and in full fettle asap. I'm sort of a similar boat, developed Polymyalgia 2 years ago and have been treating since then, thought it had left the scene but unfortunately it's back, consequently I've not ridden for a few months. Again, hope you well enough again soon for some more great videos. All the best. (Woof Woof)
I have always wanted to do this what advice would you give someone I’ve been cycling a number of years now and cycled the Alps on numerous occasions but there’s definitely something about the TNR . This was a fascinating video which I enjoyed thoroughly giving a brilliant insight into the ride. I have heard that they aren’t doing it this year is that true . I have subscribed so look forward to watching some more thank you 🙏
Hey Ian - glad you liked the video. It’s a great route and while I believe there is no ‘formal’ TNR this year due to insurance issues there will be something informal - and that might well be better. Details on the website here torino-nice.weebly.com/updates-and-news.html As for advice, I’ve written it all down in a series of blog posts, linked from this video description. Oh, and don’t just take my advice - glean what you can from others who have cycled it and written about it. My year was very lucky with the weather - it has been below freezing, wet and cloudy on other years so you have to be prepared.
Danke schön! Sehen Sie sich die Videos mit den orangefarbenen Kästchen im Thumbnail an - das ist die Adventure Cycling Playlist. Hoffentlich finden Sie mehr Freude. Es braucht Zeit, um große Reisen wie die TNR zu organisieren und anzugehen/zu drehen/zu bearbeiten! ru-vid.com/group/PLi_RyC9IgDU2iF7REQH2sFb6Rh5Z3qXEj
Great Video and you look very happy at the high mountains 👍❤ Will follow your channel for more of your stories. P.S. I can't find the cream for saddle sore(anti bacterial ) that you were mention, pls give some clues?
Glad you enjoyed it! The chamois cream I had with me is Slipstream Slipstream (amzn.to/3O4Skfy) and the one I bought on recommendation is Cicalafate skin-repair cream (amzn.to/41wNxXo) Both of those are Amazon affiliate links.
stunning trip and would love to do it myself one day. How do you travel with the bike? Do you have a dedicated box or use cardboard bike boxes? Have you got anything big planed for this year
I’m pleased you enjoyed it. Still planning for this year, but I have a niggling injury to sort first. I use a plastic bike box and leave it at a hotel. I did the same thing in this trip to France earlier last year. Flying with a bike. Ultimate guide. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-T4eGAeyo-6A.html
really am intrigued how ppl did that 15-20% climb over longer stretches. do they all have mountainbike gearing? what kind of gearing would you recommend now that you have done the whole thing ? regards!
The short answer is 'yes' really low gearing. Before I cycled it, I was told "you can't be geared low enough because you're either climbing up or freewheeling down". That's pretty much spot on. As for my ratios - I put all this in a series of blog posts linked from the video description, but this is the one you'll probabyl find most helpful: simon-willis.blogspot.com/2022/09/torino-nice-rally-3-kit-list-what.html
Is it common to leave a bike box at a hotel? I have never asked, but never really thought to ask. Are hotels usually ok with storing it for a week or so? I've asked a bike shop one time, and they said no which surprised me. Thank you so much.
Hi John - I’ve done it three times; once in Morocco and twice in France at airport hotels. Some are set up for used to storing luggage, some are not. I find an email in advance, using Google Translate, saying I’ll stay with them at the start and end of my trip, is enough. Some hotels say “sorry, no”. Others say “fine”. I print the emails to have with me just in case. My friends in France were touring and actually posted their bike boxes to the finish hotel (having agreed in advance)! They put address stickers on the side, wheeled them to the town post office, and left them there.
Maybe the best tour you did but there's not such thing as the "best" bikepacking tour, bike, bag, saddle, waterbottle cage etc... Everything is relative. Why are the so much " the best" videos on RU-vid?
Excellent video! As someone who's done both the Camino and the TMB I can attest that snorers are the worst part about the huts and hostels. I always bring earplugs for those reasons.
Really stunning video and great to see how the route affected you at different points along the way. Very inspiring but no doubt a tough challenge. Thanks…
Absolutely fantastic - thank you for all the work that went into bringing this experience to us. Especially great to watch from snowy Chicago looking forward to outdoor rides this spring. Great stuff!
Wonderful account of your adventure, those views were spectacular and you could tell they were hard won, all your new friends looked very young you must have been one of the elder statesmen on that trip.
I traveled along almost the same route on Komoot, but I'm 20 years younger... Congratulations! Now i'm on a world tour from Iceland to New Zealand, currently in Albania...
Great to join you, subscribed. I used to motorbike Europe. Great videography. I aim to do something this year on my homebuilt EMTB. Does that count as cycling nowadays?
In my view, if you pedal it, it's a bike 😁! True, some folk are sniffy about eBikes and say they're 'cheating'. But then, people say the same about wetsuits for swimming. I'm not interested in highlighting divisions - we should be breaking them down. I'm delighted you've subscribed, thank you.
Lovely route and thanks for the video.Stunning scenery, but shame about all the traffic (and the snorer) .Everyone seemed to take so much kit, which would spoil it for me as I'm only small and weigh 50 k.On my E.W.E trip I only took a bivvy bag, sleeping bag and no sleeping mat. I slept fine(probably because I was so tired ) . Did you weigh your stuff before you set out? I'm always interested to know what other people take, A friend took a pair of crocs, For the eveings I suppose🤣
I didn’t weigh it Lydia and it also changed as I regularly dumped stuff where I could! Bivi was a real option and used by many riders (probably most). Laurence - in the video - forgot his mat and I gave him my emergency foil bivi - one of the things I would have ditched. But we were hugely lucky with the weather. Previous rides have had days of hard cold rain (why I had mudguards) and thick cold mist at night. -2c in the valley was common in the past so much colder at 2000m. Soaked to the skin, freezing cold, unable to get changed (as it was raining) I decided I couldn’t rely on a bivi bag on consecutive nights. The tent was 400g more (I think) and the pad another 400g. The correct figures are in the article on my blog. These allowed me to use a lighter 200g sleeping bag paired with a down jacket. Oh and amazing number of people carried sliders or crocs for the huts!
I forgot a sleeping mat on the south downs way (took me 3.5 days) slow riding and it nearly ruined it for me, I guess I'm quite bony and the hard ground was pretty unforgiving = little sleep.
question what saddle (s) do you use? … I’ve just done a 12 day off road ride 740 in Australian bush and all of us had sore behinds, all different saddles (brooks, sql , and a bog standard ) .. Brilliant video, thanks …
Hey Tim - Saddles are AWFUL to try to get right! For this ride I used an ancient Specialized and when I rang them to find the latest version (to replace it after it was nibbled by mice or something on this trip) I was told "we don't make anything like that any longer". I have a fairly short nose Speclialized on my lightweight gravel bike, but for this Camino and my road bike I use this (www.merlincycles.com/sdg-bel-air-rl-cro-mo-rail-saddle-47579.html - no affiliate link, that's direct from my order email). I'm still not certain it's right for me. However... I've just read Jenny Graham's book about her record breaking ride around the world (which is excellent) and she had similar problems picking the right saddle for her. Apparently, she discovered there are Bike Saddle Libraries in the UK. I've just Googled that and found two. So that might be a good place to start. Glad you enjoyed the video though...
@@alwaysanotheradventure thanks for that, it’s seems the perennial vexing question for us all … btw we ran in to an ultra racer ( ie 300 klms a day & no sleep only stop when hallucinating..type 2 fun) and they had the same issue … “ I just ignore it “ was the answer … oh dear
@@alwaysanotheradventure I really enjoyed it! For a cycling trip would you advice to bring a lock? I wanted to avoid to make my bicycle heavier. Any other suggestion?
@@anthonyajube6142 EDIT - MESSED UP THIS LINKS, SORRY... That's great to hear, thank you! Locks... very personal and depends a lot where you'll ride. Years ago in Spain, on a ride linking through cities, I left a cable lock wrapped through my panniers and just pulled it out and threaded it through the wheels and to a fixed object as that felt safer. For this trip, and most in Scotland, I don't use a full lock, just something to act as a deterrent, so I carried two of these ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bLRk6bB6a3s.html (product is here: amzn.to/3NpV9HM) and used them when I had to go into supermarkets. I haven't tried it, but I hear very good things about this lock: amzn.to/3NnCPyU
Thanks Simon for a great video and belated congratulations on completing it. I've cycled from Briancon up to the Izourd and that was enough for me. I've climbed a few others but I could never do what you do. Just hope at 72 I am older than yourself 😉😂 Stay safe out there Ted
Excellent video as per normal, the full trip shown as one fantastic 😀 Brilliant for me to watch after coming home from a late shift a real Joy, looking forward to the next one. What an Adventure 👌😀
This actually is the best "movie" in its genre I've seen ( and I've seen a lot). Great pictures, great comments and a very pleasant voice to listen to. Well done!
Forgive me replying like this, but there’s a detailed video here: What Worked, What Didn't | Torino Nice Rally | Part 5 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-THkEHtTTpHA.html Also in the video description there’s a link to a similar even more detailed written piece on my blog.
You weren't with the team shooting some video on this were you Tom? I know they started a few days late too. I bumped into them at the end of that 'Death road' section. Quite a ride!
@@alwaysanotheradventure Hi Simon, sorry for the late answer 🙈 but no, we weren't. Though we might have seen them later, I'm not sure. We did bump into Cyril (Diabolo) on our day 5 in rifugio Gardetta and had a nice chat! ;-) Keep up the great content, Simon! Huge fan!
