Heyyy all hope you are all having a nice weekend as always thank you very much for choosing to join me on another adventure. This one was a nice and muddy one. This week we will be heading all the way along Britain's longest road, the A1, Britain's longest road. Hope you enjoy the adventure. See you in the next one :D Also for those that might have missed it, there is now a keep smiling adventures' website where you can download all the GPX files to explore routes and see all the gear etc (still a work in progress) but head over to www.keepsmilingadventures.com to check it out. ✌
That's a helluva ride. In the mid 1980s I was a member of the North Road CC ( founded in 1885 to 'promote fast and long distance cycling on the Great North and other Roads.'), at the time almost all of the Great North Road could still be ridden. Early each season we had a Saturday clubrun, setting off at 3:00 am from Hadley Highstone, Barnet and riding mainly on the A1 and finishing with a sprint for the "City of York" sign at around 6:00 pm, in time for a shower before the meal we had pre-ordered for 7:30 pm. Some would take the train back, but we usually took a couple of leisurely days, with a night at Lincoln YHA before returning to London.
this is the first video of yours i’ve had the pleasure of watching, i celebrated with you, i beamed with pride, my heart broke at the flats and mud and i feel so inspired to get out. thank you for sharing this was incredible to come along with!
You have a charmed life Josh Parsons. I know you put a hell of a shift in every day, but mostly, you "keep smiling" on your "adventures". Hats off to you dude. New tent looks better for windy nights. That front light of yours could be a tad brighter, but I suppose it's the recharging issue. The train ride home must be a delight. Pleasure to watch your gravel trips. Hope you never stop. Thank you.
Best thing I've seen all week , Couldn't help thinking why didn't you take the Bombtrack & why didn't you get some more sealant when you knew you had a problem .Very inspiring though .
A lot of road on a route like this, Bombtrack would have been overkill. By the time I knew I had a problem, I already had a puncture. So I would have had to find somewhere to set the tyre up tubless again. Not just buy sealant.
Excellent video again👍 would have liked to have seen more of your route between Berwick and Edinburgh☹️ tubes, I have used slime tubes for many years or I put slime in the existing tubes I have found this much more reliable than tubes or tubeless down side is a little heavier in my experience they can last 3 years without changing.
My usual Commute goes from St Neots to either Huntingdon or Alconbury on those roads/tracks. You missed out on a little detour to Graffham water on some lovely gravel tracks
What a great project..I’ve driven, hitchhiked and raced 10, 25, and 50’s on the A1… but this is off the charts. And at this time of year? Looks like you should have taken wellies.. PS Its the Great North Road..not Northern. Keep on riding 👍
I’ve been running a tool bottle slung in an under-down-tube bottle cage, and after a similar sealant ‘error’ I added a small bottle of Stans to it. Saved my ride a few weeks ago, plugged the hole with a large Dyno-Plug.
Unbelievable achievement and can’t believe you rode past my house again and I didn’t see you! Really enjoyed watching this and look forward to your next adventure.
Kudos for keeping going thru that mud, that would be my nemesis I think! But you found some fab camp spots and stayed positive. I'm English but haven't lived/cycled there for a while, so this was a nice video for me! ❤
Great adventure. Consider me subbed. We will be on the old A1 shortly to travel up to Lake District. Not on bikes, sadly. Great to see there are plenty of trails up that way, bit moist though.
Enjoyed this video nice one! You were (rightly) complaining about the noise from the road -- have you tried earplugs? I got a pair of Loop ones and they're really good at dimming down that sort of noise.
One thing with garmin is it is accurate but unfortunately it doesn't yet know what a direct route is. It'll send you 50km to the east to go from one side of your home town to the other, but the distance based on the route will be fairly spot on
Surprised you thinking the A1 is noisy north of Newcastle. In my experience, traffic thins out dramatically north of Newcastle -should have no trouble sleeping in a tent.
@@KeepSmilingAdventures cheers I'll give it a watch I like the idea of using a hooped bivvy for adventures but think the tent is a better option after seeing a few other videos of yours 👍🏻😁
Hey Josh..what a lovely documentary! I admire your tenacity and love the way you film. I would have given up on the trails and used the roads near the start! Your choice of music is perfect. Just a little suggestion..carry a couple of Tyre liners with you if you have to go over to tubes in an emergency. They wont stop pinch punctures but will stop thorns. Cheap too. Subbed! :o) x
Very good effort josh, you are a machine, ill say it again, you need a pinnion gearbox and belt drive bike! I'm sure one of the manufacturers would sponser you?
Great as ever Josh 😁 Any chance of providing some more information sometimes on the areas your go through. Example you did a great shoot of a huge viaduct early on, but where is that, what's it called etc ...
Colossal effort on difficulty terrain. Kudos for not only riding it but documenting it in the manner you have! Can I ask how did you clean yourself and your kit during the adventure?
Love the vid. Can I ask about your Sonder Camino. I think you have a XL frame - can I ask how tall you are? I'm 6'1 and a bit so working out whether to go L or XL. Thank you.
I think while it's great to tick off the A1 sticking as close as you can to it, sometimes it doesn't provide the most interesting route. I know for a fact there are a lot of interesting places/routes just away from the A1. You will have to go it again but with a more interesting route ...😂😉
![BIKEPACKING THE GB DIVIDE - THE LENGTH OF BRITAIN OFF ROAD [FULL EXPERIENCE]](/img/1.gif)
Heyyy all hope you are all having a nice weekend as always thank you very much for choosing to join me on another adventure. This one was a nice and muddy one. This week we will be heading all the way along Britain's longest road, the A1, Britain's longest road. Hope you enjoy the adventure.
See you in the next one :D
Also for those that might have missed it, there is now a keep smiling adventures' website where you can download all the GPX files to explore routes and see all the gear etc (still a work in progress) but head over to www.keepsmilingadventures.com to check it out. ✌
You're a machine Josh, hardcore, especially at this time of year!
That's a helluva ride. In the mid 1980s I was a member of the North Road CC ( founded in 1885 to 'promote fast and long distance cycling on the Great North and other Roads.'), at the time almost all of the Great North Road could still be ridden. Early each season we had a Saturday clubrun, setting off at 3:00 am from Hadley Highstone, Barnet and riding mainly on the A1 and finishing with a sprint for the "City of York" sign at around 6:00 pm, in time for a shower before the meal we had pre-ordered for 7:30 pm. Some would take the train back, but we usually took a couple of leisurely days, with a night at Lincoln YHA before returning to London.
"Found a mascot" - AKA, pried it from the fingers of a crying child
this is the first video of yours i’ve had the pleasure of watching, i celebrated with you, i beamed with pride, my heart broke at the flats and mud and i feel so inspired to get out. thank you for sharing this was incredible to come along with!
Wilsonnnn!! 😅 Great video mate.
😂😂😂😂
Nothing but respect ✊ hats of man
You have a charmed life Josh Parsons. I know you put a hell of a shift in every day, but mostly, you "keep smiling" on your "adventures".
Hats off to you dude.
New tent looks better for windy nights.
That front light of yours could be a tad brighter, but I suppose it's the recharging issue.
The train ride home must be a delight.
Pleasure to watch your gravel trips.
Hope you never stop.
Thank you.
Well done Josh - fantastic, enjoyable watch, as ever.
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for the support 🙌
As always fantastic video, really enjoyable! Thanks !
I think i need an encourageing friend like your garmin always telling me im nearly there, one great ride out! Cheers.
Wonderful video well done. Some grit shown with a dollup of humility, top notch.
What a lovely film, never seen your content before, but I’ll definitely be watching more of it. A really inspiring story and route. Well done fella.
Unreal effort again Josh, you're truly inspiring. Thanks for another great video, honestly the best content for me on RUclips.
That was great! I've lived near the a1 most of my life. Nice one 👍 👍 👍
Totally awesome effort Josh! Thanks for riding, making and sharing. 🙏 You should call your new mascot Leo.
This was Superb, thanks for sharing your mission with us, my kind of viewing 👍..
Wow what a journey.. you did so well.. beautiful filming, music and editing great job dude.. subscribed 😊 Pete 🚴🏻👍
Really enjoyed this
Helping me recover from a knee replacement!
Thank you ❤❤
Thanks Josh
Very enjoyable video and your tenacity is incredible.
Love what you do. Love bikes.
This will be absolutely great to do, during the summer
Mud track or paved surface. Give me a paved track every time. 😅
Really enjoyed watching your adventure. Very impressive pace.
Great video, Josh. Up my end I see, Chesterfield and Worksop. Hope you enjoyed your stay 😊 👍
Neat ride and great watch! Thanks for sharing it
Loved that Josh… thank you, brilliant
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Well done...
Best thing I've seen all week , Couldn't help thinking why didn't you take the Bombtrack & why didn't you get some more sealant when you knew you had a problem .Very inspiring though .
A lot of road on a route like this, Bombtrack would have been overkill. By the time I knew I had a problem, I already had a puncture. So I would have had to find somewhere to set the tyre up tubless again. Not just buy sealant.
Excellent video again👍 would have liked to have seen more of your route between Berwick and Edinburgh☹️ tubes, I have used slime tubes for many years or I put slime in the existing tubes I have found this much more reliable than tubes or tubeless down side is a little heavier in my experience they can last 3 years without changing.
Superb effort and video as usual Josh, loved that “sneaking across the field” segment 😂
My usual Commute goes from St Neots to either Huntingdon or Alconbury on those roads/tracks. You missed out on a little detour to Graffham water on some lovely gravel tracks
What an amazing achievement, well done man! and great video!
Excellent ride Josh in the cold, mud and wet, standard weather here...
Thanks Josh Sorry about the Mud Brilliant Video as usual
good video Josh
Absolutely fantastic adventure as always Josh. Well done :)
great!! something I have always wanted to do as I have spent the last 30 years going up and down the A1 (son in Newcastle, in laws near London)
What a great project..I’ve driven, hitchhiked and raced 10, 25, and 50’s on the A1… but this is off the charts. And at this time of year? Looks like you should have taken wellies.. PS Its the Great North Road..not Northern. Keep on riding 👍
About 5 mins in you go right through my hometown I see the underpass. Buzzing bout that
Excellent, great video Josh
Great video! Really enjoyed that as I travel up and down the A1 regularly. 🚲
Nice one Josh. Loved the ‘silent movie’ sketch.
Another great video Josh keep up the good work👍
B
Beautiful video…cheers.
Tip top stuff, Josh. Thank you.
Lovely channel to have happened across.
great to see you again
Well done a fantastic ride
I’ve been running a tool bottle slung in an under-down-tube bottle cage, and after a similar sealant ‘error’ I added a small bottle of Stans to it.
Saved my ride a few weeks ago, plugged the hole with a large Dyno-Plug.
Great watch 👍🚴🚴💪💪
Unbelievable achievement and can’t believe you rode past my house again and I didn’t see you! Really enjoyed watching this and look forward to your next adventure.
Kudos for keeping going thru that mud, that would be my nemesis I think! But you found some fab camp spots and stayed positive. I'm English but haven't lived/cycled there for a while, so this was a nice video for me! ❤
Hi josh what an adventure ☺️
Great video as always. Consider a Rohloff and gates belt. Drivetrain problems are gone. Thnx.
So is my money 😂
Just brilliant Josh, this has to go on the list. But I do wonder why you don't get a bike with proper clearance. I'd love to help.
That spot you found the first night was lovely. Try to see the A1 as gentle white noise if you’re not too close. Very restful!
Well done, brilliant stuff
Wow- an LEL off road route!!!
Praying for some better weather for your next adventure !
Brilliant video thank you 😊
Creat video josh its so inspiring what you do so muddy out there in those conditions
LOL, sneaky does it! 😀😀😀
Do you think anyone spotted me? 😂
Great adventure. Consider me subbed. We will be on the old A1 shortly to travel up to Lake District. Not on bikes, sadly. Great to see there are plenty of trails up that way, bit moist though.
Well done!
Well done mate great video🍺🍺🍰🚴
Enjoyed this video nice one!
You were (rightly) complaining about the noise from the road -- have you tried earplugs? I got a pair of Loop ones and they're really good at dimming down that sort of noise.
👍👍nice videos!! ❤️🚲
Well done. 😊
New viewer here. Great video, great adventure. Have a sub. PS, when not looking at the screen, the voice reminds me of Conor from GCN.
You should do the Cape Epic.. Will be a walk in the park for you
Well done how about Britain's longest cycle route the Sustrans National Cycle Network Route 1 from Dover to the top of the Shetlands
Brilliant vid loved it but Inner tubes ??? Sorry but I love em
Good job u didn't go through Warwickshire as its always flooding badly here and has been for months!
I built a rigid 29er, 2x9, drop bar with mudguards and 40c tyres that would suit that. I just need to muster myself.
One thing with garmin is it is accurate but unfortunately it doesn't yet know what a direct route is. It'll send you 50km to the east to go from one side of your home town to the other, but the distance based on the route will be fairly spot on
Surprised you thinking the A1 is noisy north of Newcastle.
In my experience, traffic thins out dramatically north of Newcastle -should have no trouble sleeping in a tent.
i dreamed for a bike adventure like this all my life…still do
I'd call that lion Werberzerk Piffle. 👍👍
Yes you must be a machine,what,how and where did you eat ? Well done sir !
Great video love your recording style it's my preferred style for these kind of trips. What's the tent you are using I really like the look of it?
It's the alpkit tarpster one that I used on this trip. ruclips.net/video/RcQoBdZSAb8/видео.htmlsi=mDrZ1BOIEOvCLTsD
@@KeepSmilingAdventures cheers I'll give it a watch I like the idea of using a hooped bivvy for adventures but think the tent is a better option after seeing a few other videos of yours 👍🏻😁
It's got to be Floyd surely. If you know you know. Great content . See you soon ✌.
Hey Josh..what a lovely documentary! I admire your tenacity and love the way you film. I would have given up on the trails and used the roads near the start! Your choice of music is perfect. Just a little suggestion..carry a couple of Tyre liners with you if you have to go over to tubes in an emergency. They wont stop pinch punctures but will stop thorns. Cheap too. Subbed! :o) x
Very good effort josh, you are a machine, ill say it again, you need a pinnion gearbox and belt drive bike! I'm sure one of the manufacturers would sponser you?
Great video
I’m surprised there weren’t reports of an orange spiked orb 🤭 Enjoying the vid 👍🏼
Great as ever Josh 😁
Any chance of providing some more information sometimes on the areas your go through. Example you did a great shoot of a huge viaduct early on, but where is that, what's it called etc ...
@@martymartin2894 others do even if at the processing stage
The name for your lucky lion find. 😎
I was convinced this was Simon Reeve from the early narration.
Great video dude. The lion looks like a Nigel to me.
It's a hippo in disguise. Name of Swampy.
Colossal effort on difficulty terrain. Kudos for not only riding it but documenting it in the manner you have!
Can I ask how did you clean yourself and your kit during the adventure?
The mascotte is the Dutch orange lion soccer mascotte.
Love the vid. Can I ask about your Sonder Camino. I think you have a XL frame - can I ask how tall you are? I'm 6'1 and a bit so working out whether to go L or XL. Thank you.
Go xl 26 inch wheels 🤜🤛
Well done how did you power everything...dynamo?
I think while it's great to tick off the A1 sticking as close as you can to it, sometimes it doesn't provide the most interesting route.
I know for a fact there are a lot of interesting places/routes just away from the A1. You will have to go it again but with a more interesting route ...😂😉
Thanks
oh nice to see folk using mollie style bags on handle bars. I repurposed half my old paintball gear 10 years ago for bike pouches.
Great video. Loads of questions to ask, some from my wife, but that’s for another day…. What is the jacket you wear? Is it a waterproof shell?
I’m happy to get upto 10 miles at the moment but I’m just a beginner biker. Brilliant content though.
Ts was great! Do you have a kit list and bike specs available.
.
please?
Nice video, how much was off road please, do you have detailed link to the journey cheers
I love the A1