MTB rider Payson McElveen aims to bring a different philosophy, one unbound by a racing mindset, to his latest expedition ride - crossing Australia's least populated state: the island of Tasmania.
Thank you for sharing this experience. Great job! This last year I started bike packing and didn't think I could love riding bikes anymore than I do. Slowing down, riding for the experience, and not having some external goal of achievement is very liberating. I look forward to your next one, Payson.
I’ve been looking forward to this for so long Payson thank you so much! I bikepacked for 2 weeks around Tasmania last December and had the best time I’ve ever had, so happy you’ve showcased it in this light. Exceptional film 🤘
Great documentary. I love your description and consideration of time. The competition isn't always with the clock. There are many other challenges. I find the story more entertaining when these other challenges are addressed, along with experiencing the place, culture, and environment. Cycling as the muse brings it all together. Great story, and it is inspirational to know I can craft my own without being the uber-athlete Payson is.
Awesome ride and phenomenal scenery!! What you state about the race mentality and to "just enjoy the ride" is such a struggle. Bikepacking seems to level set the playing field and keeps us grounded for better or worse. Keep the videos coming, they're inspirational.
Congratulations on crossing such an amazing state of Australia. The harsh beauty of this island is something else and a crossing you will no doubt never forget. Just real wilderness and adventure to keep you driven. Thanks for sharing your journey and your support team with Pete and Gareth were on point😉👍🏼
Beautiful country, beautiful journey! Being able to "just enjoy the ride" is not easy for a competitor, but we need more of this in an age obsessed with Everesting and FKTs.
Glad to get to see this adventure at long last. You probably saw phantom joeys in your peripheral sight for days after. Poor Nichole, hoarse but happy to see you at the terminus.
@@slickster3211 I guess I should have said my preferred format. This was a video talking about an adventure. I prefer a video showing an adventure. I guess I was disappointed because I've heard Payson's podcast talking about this adventure and I was hoping to see the adventure.
This project wouldn't have been close to the same without her. Collaborating and working with local riders is one of the best parts of these adventures.
Yeah I love the fact you Strava stalked someone to chat to about it. I’ve made some good Strava friends doing that because they are interested in the same crazy adventures. Top work on the ride and the production
Yep, keep these videos coming. Great for amateurs to see close up the micro tactics. Must remember “race head” as an excuse for not being the most sympathetic cycling partner on a group ride
The part about your Australian race - flying in, doing your thing, flying out - is exactly why I choose bike travel. Bikepacking and Bike Touring let you actually experience a place. Spending a month or two months or more cycling from one end of a country to the other really allows you to get deep into that place, rather than just experiencing the surface. When I rode around Tasmania, I couldn't do it without taking a day off at Derby to ride the singletrack there - so glad I did. What a beautifully shot video.
Dude WOW. This is amazing, Random coincidence - my wife and I (Americans) were riding in Wellington when you were there. Also, saw you in SBT today...I was so wrecked all I could say was "YES!!!" when you blew past lol. Hope the rest of your season goes well!
Didn't understand how the philosophy was different from a racing mindset, still charged across an amazing landscape in a day. Not saying it wasn't an epic ride and each to their own. Having said that I still enjoyed the vid.
This ride was right at the edge of what I could do physically, so I needed to ride efficiently to actually get it done in one go. I do enjoy going for multiday bike tours now and then as well, but there is something really special for me about marrying a test of my athletic capabilities with exploring a new place. Plus, the difference between "going hard" and taking it easy is probably just ~4mph... definitely not enough to miss the scenery!
@@PaysonMcElveen Fair enough, I'm more a tortoise than a rabbit, but what matters is that we enjoy the experience and it certainly looks like you had an awesome adventure. I rode the Tassie Trail last year, what an amazing place to cycle. I look forward to seeing your next ride.
Great watch guys your so lucky having a gf and team to make this possible. I know this area well and did think yeah thats pretty easy but the single track sections really kill your average spd. Had to laugh at wooolies staying open for you if it were an aussie they would just close. I look forward to you crossing the mainland from the east coast right thru the centre to the west coast that will really freak you out riding thru the desert in the dark and dodging around 50 snakes per kilometre . Well done again guys . 😁👍✌
Good stuff. Jack Thompson looks like attempting a FTK on the Biddi, but in Nov when things are pretty toasty here. Plenty of dugites and tigers out then. What was the crappy Aust ride prior?
amazing. i did the last 40km into the bay of fires and it's brutal, i just don't know how you did that. Hope you went back later to do the blue tier down into Weldborough - its a great ride.
To be honest, if felt like that section would never end! Ha! I did descend Blue Tier down to Weldborough as one of my first rides when we arrived. Totally underestimated the climb up Blue Tier and finished in the dark. Called Emma and was like "dude, wtf is this terrain." Haha. But also riding through the peaceful Tassie countryside at night showed me just how awesome all aspects of the big ride would be.
The consistency of the audio quality between video dialog and narration is impressive. Do you keep a lav mic hidden on you or is it just captured with a shotgun mic or...? Kudos on the sick ride and great job to all involved in the video production.
I loved this, but you don't hug your team for outside assistance, but accepted them arranging to keep a supermarket open late? Supermarkets never do that in oz.
I agree that having them keep the Deloraine store open for me would have been super lame! That's definitely not the experience I'm looking for on these rides. I was prepared to miss that store, so had enough supplies to get to Derby. However, when the crew stopped to get dinner there an hour before I came through, the store clerks were very curious what they were up to. When they heard by my ride, they insisted on being part of the effort. I actually decided to keep rolling, but then saw how disappointed the employees looked when I made that decision. One literally said "this is the most interesting thing that's happened in our town in years!" Ultimately, I do these rides to immerse myself in the place, including interaction with the people that live there, so decided to turn around and head back into the store and share that moment with the employees. I'm so glad I did, as it clearly lit up their evening as much as it did mine.
Shouldnt have to justify your own journey and experience to other people. Who cares about outside assistance, you rode your bike across the state and enjoyed the local culture and embraced other peoples joy for your ride.
She sent you down Black bluff and said it was easy. Massive stitch up. I've seen her on the socials bit of an attention seeker so she would of loved it
