Broken camera. Broken bike. Broken plans... Wish I could have made the film I wanted here, but hopefully I have something entertaining for you nonetheless. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below 👇and PLEASE SUBSCRIBE! Thanks! 🙏
If that's failure god help the rest of us. This was great and with limited camera equipment, you still made a video better than 90% of others on YT. Top man 👍🏼
If you hadn't said your camera broke I'd never have guessed from the video you've shared. Kudos to you for producing such a fine video, and for continuing to ride when most people would have given up.
Dude, I've watched on and off your channel for a few years and this was the best video yet. Your camera breaking was possibly the best thing that could have happened. We got to see and feel your experience so much more with you talking to us during the video. It was relatable, emotional and watchers will have had more empathy and gained more because of it. The drone shots where ace, but I think holding a small GoPro in hand made it feel more permissible for you to talk through it to us on the other side. Holding up a mirror less and vlogging is far more conspicuous. More of this please. Sorry it wasn't the adventure you hoped for but I think it might have forced your hand in the way you produced the content and it's only my humble opinion, but I think this was a pivotal moment
Cheers Keith. Appreciate the feedback, but unfortunately, this video is one of the worst performing of recent months though, so can’t say it’s made much difference in terms of views and engagement… cheers though!
Really early days yet. This is a good piece of work. I'll be interested to see how it's done after a month. Your existing viewer base is used to the traditional format, RUclips will need a little time to bring in people who prefer the interactive format, maybe try a title A/B test removing the "Fail" something dead short like, Iceland Broke Me: Solo Bikepacking Disaster.
no such thing as failure : its the trip did not go as planed. think now much stronger/wiser you'll be on your next trip :) great film -the beauty of Iceland never ceases to amaze me.
Wow…asl spectacular failure but as you say, it gives you a reason to go back and try again. But that weather in that environment can kill very quickly.!
Still a beautiful video in spite of the problems! In general maybe cable operated brakes are a better choice for this kind of trip, because you can easily just bring a spare cable and fit it with basic tools.
Excellent! It's about adapting...pretty rarely, and things go exactly to plan. Sometimes for the better sometimes not so! Great film and good use of what was working!
Hindsight is a wonderful thing but would mechanical brakes be a better option in remote locations? Easier to repair/bodge. Chapeau and thanks for sharing, warts and all👍
Potentially! I try not to overthink stuff as it’s very rare stuff like this happens. So I tend to go for the best equipment rather than the easiest to repair but good point!
Really good video, doubly so given the camera limitations you were working around. Can only admire your courage in seeking out such a challenging and dangerous location to ride. Especially on your own. That wasn't an Artic Fail, that was an artic adventure that tested you on many fronts. I reckon you passed that test. Well done!
At least thats got all your bad luck out of the way for the next couple of years 😂 Still a great video and hopefully Iceland part 3 will be the best weather ever seen.
not what you wanted but thank you for sharing I really enjoyed it. I went to Iceland in 2015 and always promised to return someday, maybe I should give it a go in 2025.
Adversity usually makes for far better stories than a plain sailing trip. As was the case here. A top tripod trip - As you well know, the heavier a tripod, the better. However for camping/bikepacking the heavier the tripod, the less likely you are to want to take it. So take the light tripod and hang a sling inside the legs and place some heavy stuff on it. Could be local rocks or just some of your other kit. If walking and using a camera backpack, hang backpack on tripod. This is the second bikepacking video I've seen this week with a Sony camera hitting deck and break because of wind. Oh and re the bungee hack for your rear brake hose. I buy 15cm + 30cm velcro straps from Amazon in packs of 50 because I find them so very, very useful for all sorts of reasons. I always have some wrapped around base of seat post on each bike and in tool bag. They are perfect for attaching so much stuff. I used them to attach a friend's snapped dropper post lever to the bars recently. I also carry various sized cable ties for similar reasons. I used cable ties for a similarly flappy gear cable or brake hose ages back.
Hey bud, met you outside your lical Co-op on our way down to Derby. Glad I subscribed to your channel. This video is life in a nutshell. You made the most of what was thrown at you. Well done! My hands and feet get really cold cycling in Scotland. What were you wearing on this trip? Cheers, Lee
Hey! I remember, hope things are good with you! Thanks for watching. I’m doing a winter kit video to come out in a week or so so stay tuned! It’ll all be in there
Everything happens for a reason, next time you will enjoy it even more. In Summer the wind is ruthless, i can imagine when low tempt is on top of that. i hope i can see your next video of the second attempt.
If you get fresh snow then you're likely to be screwed for a couple of days. And that's exactly what you got. Even if there's no freeze thaw happening you need a couple of days for vehicles of all kinds to pack down the snow. I went all the way to Sweden to ride out to a cabin on an island last March because conditions were perfect. Then it snowed 2 days before the planned trip and it became totally unrideable on the sea. The following weekend it was perfect again. Sod's law. Also, heated goggles are great !
How do you find riding on roads in various places you visit? I live west of Fort William in the Highlands and wont ride on any main road due to the vast number of foreign drivers in hire cars and folk on phones etc. Do you have a lot of near misses? Love the videos and 10 out of 10 for this one.
I find it varies depending which country you cycle. In UK seems that people in cars don't care. In France & Belgium (well rural) it seems the cars would rather risk a head-on collision with another vehicle than close pass a cyclist
Thank you! No I don’t have many near misses at all. I usually command the road on busy stretches to discourage overtaking, but usually I ride on the quiet b roads or gravel tracks
Man that’s the same thing that happen to my camera canon g7x iii 2 years ago so it got me thinking. If that happens to me on a world tour i be screwed so decided too buy 2 camera same models one for a roll one for b roll and great for muilt cam but better yet if one fails i can still document the adventure ..only down side was the cost
Looks like it might have been an enjoyable video but over 10 minutes of un-skippable advertising before the halfway point! Literally more advertising than video. I'm out of here.
Broken camera. Broken bike. Broken plans... Wish I could have made the film I wanted here, but hopefully I have something entertaining for you nonetheless. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below 👇and PLEASE SUBSCRIBE! Thanks! 🙏
If that's failure god help the rest of us. This was great and with limited camera equipment, you still made a video better than 90% of others on YT. Top man 👍🏼
Ahh thanks! Very kind words
True lol
Mate, tremendous film against all odds. Great resilience shown in horrible conditions. You should be very proud of this. Ain’t no fail at all.
Thank you very much for the kind words
If you hadn't said your camera broke I'd never have guessed from the video you've shared. Kudos to you for producing such a fine video, and for continuing to ride when most people would have given up.
Thank you David! I’m sure many people won’t notice but I do! 😂 got to work with what I had though
Failure could have been frostbite or worse; you had an adventure.
Yeah true! Thanks for watching :)
Great trip ,would love to do that but have not got the courage to , superb vidio.
Thank you! You just gotta give it a go and have a backup if it doesn’t go to plan! Thanks for watching
Epic... despite the unfortunate accident with the lens.
Thanks Marc! Glad you enjoyed it
Dude, I've watched on and off your channel for a few years and this was the best video yet. Your camera breaking was possibly the best thing that could have happened. We got to see and feel your experience so much more with you talking to us during the video. It was relatable, emotional and watchers will have had more empathy and gained more because of it. The drone shots where ace, but I think holding a small GoPro in hand made it feel more permissible for you to talk through it to us on the other side. Holding up a mirror less and vlogging is far more conspicuous. More of this please. Sorry it wasn't the adventure you hoped for but I think it might have forced your hand in the way you produced the content and it's only my humble opinion, but I think this was a pivotal moment
Cheers Keith. Appreciate the feedback, but unfortunately, this video is one of the worst performing of recent months though, so can’t say it’s made much difference in terms of views and engagement… cheers though!
Really early days yet. This is a good piece of work. I'll be interested to see how it's done after a month. Your existing viewer base is used to the traditional format, RUclips will need a little time to bring in people who prefer the interactive format, maybe try a title A/B test removing the "Fail" something dead short like, Iceland Broke Me: Solo Bikepacking Disaster.
Fantastic video none the less!!
Appreciate it!
no such thing as failure : its the trip did not go as planed. think now much stronger/wiser you'll be on your next trip :)
great film -the beauty of Iceland never ceases to amaze me.
Definitely! Got to make the most of what you have. Thanks for watching!
Epic. One you’ll remember for years
Thank you! That I will! :)
Wow…asl spectacular failure but as you say, it gives you a reason to go back and try again. But that weather in that environment can kill very quickly.!
Thank you! Definitely will be back one day!
Hugely entertaining as always. I can see why you’d be frustrated but it made for a good tale nonetheless. Loved it.
Thank you!
Still a beautiful video in spite of the problems! In general maybe cable operated brakes are a better choice for this kind of trip, because you can easily just bring a spare cable and fit it with basic tools.
Thank you! Yeah potentially one to think about for the more isolated places
From one Yorkshire Bikepacking Lad to another. Wonderful wonderful little adventure, keep it up.
Thanks very much!!
I still thought it was a great video, keep it up Tom. Unfortunate luck in very tough conditions. Merry Christmas and keep the videos coming in 2025.
Thank you! Same to you! More films on the way :)
Great video! Nothing like a kit-faff to spice things up a bit. Looking forward to the next instalment.
Indeed!
Excellent! It's about adapting...pretty rarely, and things go exactly to plan. Sometimes for the better sometimes not so! Great film and good use of what was working!
Thank you 🙏
Well done for making the best of a difficult situation and good luck with your future videos 👍😀
Thanks Martin! Appreciate you taking the time to comment 🙏
The footage is fine, I would question the need for lugging a larger camera. Well done 👍
Thank you! It’s definitely fine, but not great, which is what I’m going for :D
Hindsight is a wonderful thing but would mechanical brakes be a better option in remote locations? Easier to repair/bodge. Chapeau and thanks for sharing, warts and all👍
Potentially! I try not to overthink stuff as it’s very rare stuff like this happens. So I tend to go for the best equipment rather than the easiest to repair but good point!
The problem with mechanical brakes is the potential for water/snow getting into the cable housings and freezing - especially with mechanical disks
Really good video, doubly so given the camera limitations you were working around. Can only admire your courage in seeking out such a challenging and dangerous location to ride. Especially on your own. That wasn't an Artic Fail, that was an artic adventure that tested you on many fronts. I reckon you passed that test. Well done!
Thank you very much! Hoping to get some more remote locations under my belt next year 💪
Great video with gopro and drone, shame about the camera and your plans, but as you said, it's a great reason to come back 💯💪💪💪
Thank you! Yeah definitely!
At least thats got all your bad luck out of the way for the next couple of years 😂 Still a great video and hopefully Iceland part 3 will be the best weather ever seen.
Haha I hope so!
Well done, mate! You gained a lot of experience and got few lessons. Sometimes you need to do a step back before you go ahead. Respect!
Thank you very much
Outstanding as usual
Thank you very much
not what you wanted but thank you for sharing I really enjoyed it. I went to Iceland in 2015 and always promised to return someday, maybe I should give it a go in 2025.
Thank you! Appreciate the comment, definitely worth a revisit!
Adversity usually makes for far better stories than a plain sailing trip. As was the case here.
A top tripod trip - As you well know, the heavier a tripod, the better. However for camping/bikepacking the heavier the tripod, the less likely you are to want to take it. So take the light tripod and hang a sling inside the legs and place some heavy stuff on it. Could be local rocks or just some of your other kit. If walking and using a camera backpack, hang backpack on tripod.
This is the second bikepacking video I've seen this week with a Sony camera hitting deck and break because of wind.
Oh and re the bungee hack for your rear brake hose. I buy 15cm + 30cm velcro straps from Amazon in packs of 50 because I find them so very, very useful for all sorts of reasons. I always have some wrapped around base of seat post on each bike and in tool bag. They are perfect for attaching so much stuff. I used them to attach a friend's snapped dropper post lever to the bars recently. I also carry various sized cable ties for similar reasons. I used cable ties for a similarly flappy gear cable or brake hose ages back.
Cheers Jeremy! Yeah the tripod is actually new and much heavier than before but still wasn’t enough! Good tips re the Velcro
Don’t forget the saying 2 is 1, 1 is none!
That’s for sure!
It’s hilarious how bad things went
Very hilarious
Completely authentic, excellent video. But Iceland in winter? You must be mad 😂
Thank you! Mad = fun 😂
Not Giving in 'getting on with it ' that's the spirit. . Well done you 👏
Thank you
Hey bud, met you outside your lical Co-op on our way down to Derby. Glad I subscribed to your channel. This video is life in a nutshell. You made the most of what was thrown at you. Well done! My hands and feet get really cold cycling in Scotland. What were you wearing on this trip? Cheers, Lee
Hey! I remember, hope things are good with you! Thanks for watching. I’m doing a winter kit video to come out in a week or so so stay tuned! It’ll all be in there
Great film though…..😊
Cheers Andy!
Everything happens for a reason, next time you will enjoy it even more. In Summer the wind is ruthless, i can imagine when low tempt is on top of that. i hope i can see your next video of the second attempt.
Thank you! I’ll be back again soon
If you get fresh snow then you're likely to be screwed for a couple of days. And that's exactly what you got. Even if there's no freeze thaw happening you need a couple of days for vehicles of all kinds to pack down the snow. I went all the way to Sweden to ride out to a cabin on an island last March because conditions were perfect. Then it snowed 2 days before the planned trip and it became totally unrideable on the sea. The following weekend it was perfect again. Sod's law.
Also, heated goggles are great !
Yeah! They do a decent job of ploughing the b roads, but the f roads are just left 😂 Sweden sounds great for this sort of thing. Maybe next year!
How do you find riding on roads in various places you visit? I live west of Fort William in the Highlands and wont ride on any main road due to the vast number of foreign drivers in hire cars and folk on phones etc. Do you have a lot of near misses? Love the videos and 10 out of 10 for this one.
I find it varies depending which country you cycle. In UK seems that people in cars don't care. In France & Belgium (well rural) it seems the cars would rather risk a head-on collision with another vehicle than close pass a cyclist
Thank you! No I don’t have many near misses at all. I usually command the road on busy stretches to discourage overtaking, but usually I ride on the quiet b roads or gravel tracks
Very true!
🥶🥶
That’s for sure
Man that’s the same thing that happen to my camera canon g7x iii 2 years ago so it got me thinking. If that happens to me on a world tour i be screwed so decided too buy 2 camera same models one for a roll one for b roll and great for muilt cam but better yet if one fails i can still document the adventure ..only down side was the cost
Unlucky! Camera is fine thankfully! just the lens
Don’t you carry spare zip ties
Agreed, I don’t even ride in my local woods without zip ties!
Nope!
Looks like it might have been an enjoyable video but over 10 minutes of un-skippable advertising before the halfway point! Literally more advertising than video. I'm out of here.
🐂 💩