Setting your own pace and stopping for your own snacks is a big bonus as well. It makes a simple life all the more simple when you can ride your own ride and not have to plan around anyone else
I’ve always been predominantly a solo cyclist but after losing my wife 18 months ago, I decided to go for a ride with the local ctc group for company and to see what it’s like! What a nice bunch they turned out to be..like minded souls, lots of good conversation and funny...and I’m now off to France with them next May, doing the Paris-Brest canal and other greenways. I still go off on my own for good adventures, but for me anyway, I think it’s healthy to mix it up.
I'm sorry for your loss my friend, i hope you're doing ok. And absolutely, you are right, there is room for a mix of all good things in life. If you find a good crew to ride with, all at the same pace and all with the same attitude then you are on to a winner. Solo is great, riding with mates is great. Its all good adventure. Hope the France ride comes together smoothly and turns out amazing. As do all the others in between
Your differentiation between solitude and loneliness definitely resonates. In the times in my life when I thought I felt "lonely", when I've broken it down, it's just a slightly more dramatic version of boredom. I think if you find yourself alone, it's up to you whether or not you're lonely and I would even say that loneliness has nothing to do with whether or not there are other people around. It's entirely possible to feel lonely in a room full of other people. Suffice to say that not only do I never see myself as lonely anymore, one of the big reasons I love cycling, and mountain biking particularly is that solitude - being able to focus on something other than global warming, identity politics or whatever the angst of the day happens to be, is an incredibly welcome cognitive quiet.
Dead right. Loneliness is a symptom of something else, solitude is a tool to be used as you see fit (IMO). Take it, embrace it, use it, and hopefully contrast it against the rest of your life as someone no longer lonely!
I agree fully with every word written and commented on this thread. The first of you bike philosophers to come up with a book, give a shout and I'll happily buy it!
Ive always been thoroughlly antisocial when walking, biking and now scooting. For me its all about the communion with nature thing, and that doesnt really happen when Ive the internal chatter about whether I should be talking to X, who seems a bit down, or if I said too much already, or how am I going to stop myself twatting Tony who is constantly on his phone etc etc. When you get the chance, enjoy wild things while you - and they - are still here.
Hi Jethro, I have just completed my first solo bike packing trip: Swindon to Salisbury, sort of following The Great Stones Way. I had put this off for so many reasons that are too numerous to mention but I finally planned it and set off. Why the sudden impetus? I am retired but others in my life still work and I had become lonely. I set off because I really enjoy my own company with my thoughts and daydreams but I also really enjoy meeting people and having conversations. I felt a solo bike trip would deliver. I met people from Holland, the USA, Canada and many parts of the UK and arrived home refreshed and looking forward to the next trip. I mention this because I have only recently discovered your videos and this one in particular resonated with me: the difference between loneliness & solitude. If you are lonely a solution is to set out on a solo bike packing trip. As Dr Seuss said in “Oh, the places you’ll go” You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.
This is pure gold, thank you! It sounds like you got everything possible out of that trip and came at it with exactly the right mindset. I'm really pleased that it delivered and I hope it will be the first such trip of many. What are your plans for the next one? I also love that Dr. Seuss quote. I've not heard that one before despite being a fan and having a fair old collection of his books when I was a kid. In fact, one of the first things that I ever remember being afraid of was "a pair of pale green pants, with nobody inside them" ;)
@@JethroJessop I’m thinking North Yorkshire, basing a ride on the great but ruined Abbeys. Fountains, Bolton and so forth. Also some big rivers to swim. I really enjoy your soliloquy’s, very inspiring.
@@timisherwood2887 That sounds like. really good idea. I'm also a big fan of building rides around lots of stops along the way rather than just riding from A to B. Abbeys, waterfalls, breweries, it doesn't really matter what but it gives the ride an interesting additional focus. Good luck with the planning, let me know how it all goes!
Nice video. I'm glad you respect others opinions, a fairly rare attribute. Probably 95% of my cycling is solo and I enjoy almost every trip. I enjoy the solitude and my senses become attuned to my surroundings, this is particularly so at night when cycling in the pitch black, something primeval about it. Occasionally I cycle with my son and that's great, we cycled LEJOG last year. I carry out all bike maintenance myself and am self reliant. Mind you, I always offer to help other cyclists if they appear to be in trouble. I use a satnav gps to record where I've been, and only follow a route if on an audax ride. Can't say I get lonely, just alone enjoying solitude and the natural world, I feel I'm blessed.
Opinions are strange things. I do listen to all of them and I try to always approach an argument with the understanding that it might be me who is wrong but in reality I'm probably just as selective and biased as everyone else. I try, but I'm only human ;) Absolutely agree about riding in the dark! Such a weird experience. I always feel as though I can ride faster in the dark though I've never really tested this to see if its an illusion or not. I don love the feeling of stopping in the dark though, when everything suddenly goes silent and you can hear the creatures in the undergrowth and see the stars as your eyes adjust. It's all about these little pleasures :)
To go outside my comfort zone taught me I was able to create a zone where I felt comfortable too. To be not as much destracted but completely fine with only my inner self and thoughts.
Another truly madly deeply video! ⛰😀I truly appreciates your honesty and your thoughts. It seems like we are quite similar to each other. Keep up your good work. Hugs! 🚴
A big plus is going at your own pace, in a direction you want, stopping where you will to drink in life’s beauty… and fixing punctures the way YOU like to fix them WITHOUT sarcastic input and obviously unnecessary advice Brian! Anyway now I’ve got that off my chest thank you for sharing your thoughts. Ride long and comfy.
I agree. Setting your own pace and agenda and not having to consider the group when choosing to take the questionable "short cut" is very liberating. Bloody Brian and his puncture fascism!
I'm a lone cyclist too. Everyone I know is too lazy to cycle. Either that or they want to go too fast and I don't enjoy it. I like to look at the scenery, not court disaster or a broken collar or shoulder. I now just want to be as far from other people as I can. Things are simple out in the wild. There's no one trying to control my speech or convert me to their religion. Just peace. When you go with others, you are constantly waiting on them to just get going. I can go when and where I want without an argument. I enjoy being alone and rarely get any alone time. I don't want to see or hear anyone.
The freedom to ride your own ride is a huge benefit of riding solo. Not having to wait for, or keep up with, a group is a great feeling. It really does feel like you are alone in the world which is not a common occurrence in modern life and one that many people could perhaps benefit from experiencing.
Hiking naked in the highlands sounds fine until one factors in the parasites.... Speaking as a man who has been beset by midges and pulled a tick off a plum I'd be very wary ;)
I mainly ride on my own, really because the people I once rode with have all given up or moved away............. I'm fine with that and don't mind riding on my own (even like it! ) but like you I like the encounters with "random" people I meet/ride with for a while. Some of the best memories/stories from my trips are to do with the people encountered on the way. 🙂
Absolutely. The kindness of strangers to a traveller is a truly beautiful thing. So many good memories of it from past rides and hopefully more to look forward too in the future!
Lovely, Jethro. I'm very happy with my solitude and approachability but it's the self reliance that will challenge me on a solo trip. I feel the truth in your words.
Its something that probably seems harder than it really is. From outside people often assume I'm some kind of rugged adventurer, risking life and limb in a constant quest for excitement but that is waaaaaay off. I don't take any risks, I don't go out when the weather is bad, I don't push myself in any way. I put myself in a situation where life is simple, the problems that arise are simple and so a simpleton like me can deal with them 😉
Thank you for a delightful video. My first big trip was 40 odd years ago across the USA. Before I left I had no idea that America was in fact "the land of the free" but I must have been told it at least a 1000 times during my 5-month journey. I can more or less guarantee I wouldn't have had a single one of those conversations if I hadn't gone alone. I suspect they don't say that anymore. It gave me a fantastic opportunity to reflect on the concepts of "freedom" and "the American Dream".
Sounds like you ticked all the boxes then and got some quality philosophising in at the same time - freedom alone is topic that could be mulled for a very long time. My kind of ride 😀 I'm really glad you liked the video, thanks for watching!
Thanks Jethro, another good one. While I enjoy the companionship of cycling with others at times, I often find myself up and out of the house just after dawn, solo with my thoughts, absorbing the beauty of the new day. I always look forward to your videos-thanks.
I wish I was better at getting out for dawn rides. I've done a few and they are always amazing but I am just terrible at getting my arse in gear for early ones. Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for watching 😀
@@JethroJessop I’m an early riser-first light around here somewhere between 4:30 and 5. Lately I’ve been out on my trail bike, it’s new for one and we were in Maine up in the forest with lots of trails and backcountry roads leading to the ocean. So, as soon as the there was light I grabbed my stuff and headed out. The end of the day-count me out. I’m usually asleep by 10, pretty sad. :)
@@rustybrockmann2344 Sounds bloody great to me. The times I've done really early rides were mostly while on long trips. Some days I just fall asleep early so rise early or I get woken up by some forest sound outside the tent and can't get back to sleep. These are the times that I get up in the half dark and set off in the first light, times when the trail is literally there under the wheels from the first moment. I do love it but in real life it just never seems to happen.
I have never come across a video quite like this before. Thank you so much for sharing your informative thoughts with us. I cycle with groups and with a friend, but mostly on my own. I find there is a place for each type of ride. I have friends who would never cycle on their own, and some who do but only when there is no one else around. Freedom of mind is the main reason I like to ride solo. A bit like being in the countryside at night, and looking up at the stars, I see the universe in all it's splendour with only the sounds or nature as a background.
Thank you. That is some really high praise indeed when you consider the multiverse of videos out there! I do try to make my videos touch on the philosophy and the poetry of cycling because these are things that really make me love it. I'm not a gear head or an expert in... anything really, but I do love the ride and the simple way it presents the world. I absolutely agree that there is room for all kinds of riding - solo, with friends, with strangers - and a broad experience of all is usually best, as with all things. It pleases me a great deal that there seems to be so many other people out there who are not so fussed about riding far or riding fast but who are passionate about just riding. Thank you for watching.
I am really flattered to get such a comment and really glad that you find something of value in my videos. I hope I can continue to entertain in 2023. I've got a few ideas for videos and hopefully some good long rides. We shall. Thanks again 🙏
Apologies is advance for what be a bit of a ramble .... I think this is the first time I have clicked "like" on a RUclips video. I am an introvert, not just happy with my own company but actually prefer it (apologies to my wife, but she's quite similar in that respect so apologies not really required). Over 99% of my riding is solo, whether the daily commute or for example a trip earlier this year from Bedfordshire to Edinburgh (Pennine Cycleway for the majority of the ride). I have ridden with others, occasionally people I know, other times on an unplanned basis through simply being on the same route at the same time where a hello stranger turns into more of a chat. As you say, on your own on a trip people see you as approachable; as an introvert I won't seek out interaction but on your own people will say hello, ask about your trip etc ..... perhaps surprisingly to me this is actually quite pleasant in small doses. A lot of people don't understand the concept of solitude .... a frequent comment is "won't you be lonely on your week long trip on your own", the answer to me is a simple "no" because riding solo is my happy place. I rode my first group ride in probably 47 years a couple of weeks ago, to say this made me anxious is an understatement but I considered this an essential part of training for a 3 day charity group ride next week, others might be nervous about 3 days on the bike but I was (and still am) nervous about riding at someone else's pace, riding with others, not just simply doing my thing etc, whereas I am ready for putting in the miles day after day (so much so that riding to and from the event will see me double duration to 6 days and distance to over 500 miles) If you got this far, apologies for going on and on
Good rambling! I am with you all the way and I'm very pleased to be the recipient of your first ever 'like' ;) In my case I think I am quite a different person when I have these unexpected encounters with strangers and I navigate them very differently to other social interactions. When you set off to ride with others, be it a group of strangers or a single friend, you have a contract of sorts that you part of something and that the will of the group should have a bearing on the ride. When you fall in with someone by chance, especially if they approach you, this contract does not exist or is very different. These encounters are disposable effectively. And I don't mean that in a bad way, just that there is no pressure of expectation from either side. If you assume that an encounter will be brief and will then have no ongoing influence on your life at all then it doesn't matter if you like the other person or if they like you, you dip a toe in and if its nice you continue otherwise you part ways in the knowledge that you will almost certainly never encounter this person again. Add to this the fact that you will likely be in a fantastic mood and be ready for some conversation after so much time alone and will have stories to tell and questions to ask. I replied to a ramble with a ramble ;) I could go on for ever on the subject but thats for another video maybe! Good luck on the upcoming ride. Whats the event/charity?
Excellent points. I also find it easier to discover / achieve a flow state when riding solo. I think it’s because you are better able to connect with the rhythm of your body as it moves through and within your surroundings. I often think that the synchronicity of the two, and the edges between them, is where time can take on a different meter and you can find yourself in a more present and immerse state.
Totally agree. Even if you are absolutely in tune with your riding buddy and oth at the same level of fitness there will always be some drag between you. I don't mean negative feelings or even anything emotional, just that you pull on each other like a binary system. Riding alone is a feeling of freedom that you can't get any other way.
@@JethroJessop a great illustration of figuring the “other” into the equation. Well observed! It’s the distraction created by accomodating the needs of others (not necessarily as a negative but as a very human need to ensure the welfare of your companions) that often breaks this very connection. At best, the campfire chat is a handy way to validate your observations, but is never a replacement for - nor does it ever really augment - the actual experience. And it is that actual experience that congeals into memory. Also, back to my original offering, it is only through our presence during the actual experience that we can achieve that flow state. I admit I’ve only experienced flow state on too few occasions but it is enough to drive me to seek it out. I have found solitary and very off-the-road riding a great facilitator. Meanwhile, thank you for your channel. Even when focused on the “mundane” it never fails to be thought provoking….which is its essential power!
@@stillshunter well, thank you. I'm really pleased you like the channel. I think there's a lot to be gained from the mundane, it doesn't get explored enough 😉 I always think it's a bit hit and miss when I go off on these subjects but they always seem to land with at least a few folk so I appreciate the kind feedback
For the second time, I have to tell you that I like your thinking. I was never much of a cyclist. But I enjoyed many years as a backpacker on short and long (trail) trips, always solo. I once planned a circular walk in Torridon, walking south the first day to the foot of the pass to Applecross, over the pass the following day and back to Torridon the third. The rain poured down on the third day. The wind blew in my face most of the day, my early Goretex waterproofs leaked and I was soaked through. I came off the fell into the Main Street - just a row of houses really - at Kenmore. Standing there in the road, wondering if there was a cave or old garden shed where I could take shelter for while, I was startled by a sharp rapping on a nearby window. I looked around to locate the rapper and there she was: waving and gesturing to me to make my way down the side of the house to the front door. “Come away in”, she encouraged, “you look soaked and lost”. Lost I was not. But she was right on the first point. She pointed to a chair in the kitchen, brought me a towel, enquired if I had dry clothes to change into and gave me a mug of tea and a plate of sandwiches and cake. It turned out she was the local post mistress - the PO was in her front room. And she was on crutches, carrying a plaster on a broken ankle. We had quite a chat. I think I was only some four or five miles from the hotel at Torridon where I left my car and cosy room in the bunkhouse three days earlier. When I thought it was time to leave and finish the walk she said “if you wait a few minutes, Davy from the fish farm will be passing on his way home. He can take you as far as the hotel”. So, I graciously accepted. I went back a few days later with a thank you card and a box of chocolates. We had another long chat. Like you say, the memories of encounters made as a solo traveller endure. Simple acts of kindness, help or encouragement.
I love those kind of stories. Acts of kindness from strangers, small gestures that etch themselves into your memory forever more strongly than they have any right to. It's a big part of what makes traveling and adventure so great. I'm glad you are enjoying the videos and they are triggering some happy memories.
Yeah, I've not been keeping up the pace recently. Sorry about that. Still, quality over quantity I hope! I am editing one at the moment that will hopefully go up in the next few days. It will be an odd one as the thing I set out to do failed completely so I dunno what kind of video it will make. Still, we shall see ;)
No better way to meet folk than by cycling. If you want to meet folk that is. I've done a few organised rides in the past but I didn't really enjoy riding with strangers, especially blokes. It always turns into a race
My internal dialogues keep me company, after about 20km of chit chat( normally negative, hyper-critical bs) I finally get the solitude and quiet that I seek. I would like company sometimes , but most say “I’m too old/not interested/missus won’t let me” Solo it is then
All terrible excuses and they are missing out. It isn't always an easy passion to share. I also do a lot of internal dialog. And singing... I often end up singing while I ride
@@JethroJessop several years ago I was saying to myself out loud " If you weren't so fing fat this hill wouldn't be so hard" completely unaware of a cycling group coming up behind me, at least it made them laugh.
@@kevindean9613 haha, yeah a lot of people must catch cyclists talking to themselves and wonder what the hell is wrong with us! Or maybe not. Perhaps it's just you and me
@@janine-theeternalwannabe They wouldn't be that entertaining. I tend to loop endlessly over a verse or two. You remember that song they sing in Jaws... Show me the way to go home... I once sang that on a loop to myself for almost an entire day. Not great video content ;)
There's another situation, that is both solo and not solo - Your situation! You ride solo with a camera, and you share your opinions and experience with the people who will watch the video you're making. I'm sure, you feel you're not alone, you feel you have friends with you, but you're solo.
That is very true, there is an element of connection through the camera but it's only in the last couple of years that I've been riding that way. My first trip was 6 weeks long and none of that was filmed - I hardly even took any pictures which I deeply regret now. Even my last big trip to Scandinavia in 2019 I wasn't filming even every other day. Now it would be different probably and the videos would be a constant distraction but up till only a couple of years ago it was a side hustle as best. So I feel ok standing by these points.
A fine subject for a video. I much prefer to ride solo. I can ride where & as long as I choose. Change the route, extend the route without major discussion. Not to mention the ability to soul search & mull over life decisions knowing that even if the world is coming to end suddenly, I won't be getting back home for at least an hour..! 👍
That is pretty much what I should have said in this video 😉 You got all three key points in far fewer words! I totally agree. There is something so free and simple about riding alone. It's a great feeling .
I ride alone (apart from work) mainly because i have nobody to ride with. I have ridden with all sorts of people over the years but, and here is a point you missed, people fall by the wayside in life. Due to family, health, financial problems etc. Also, the person you ride with on a Sunday might not like the more thoughtful pace of a tour or where you want to go or be more or less planned than you are. I've done more touring on a motorcycle than a bicycle but the same is true for both. So I tend to fall into riding alone but one big plus is, I've finally learned to enjoy my own company - it's taken 58 years but there you go. Now if somebody wants to tag along, thats just what thy do - it's my ride, they can come along if they want. Another great video.
This is all true. Being able to ride alone is important if you want to always be guaranteed a ride. It would horrible to feel the trail calling and not be able to answer because you didn't want to go solo.
@@JethroJessop yeah we love Alan 😁🙌 , talking about rocking up with a few mates, in the golden age of mountain biking (1980’s) we used to rock up with 300+ riders to a sleepy pub in the middle of nowhere. It was like a scene from “The Wild One” 😜
I've mainly ridden solo but after completing LEJOG with my friend I'd have to say I like both. It was nice to have company, particularly when things got difficult. In the future, I'll be happy to mix it up a bit more if I get the chance.
There is room for both. As long as you mesh with your riding buddy then it is all good. I do many rides with Alan and we always have a great time but I'll always be happy riding alone i think
Hey, Jethro! I am viewing this video as I enjoy my pre-ride breakfast. I've not been riding consistenly due to weekend work and family responsibilities, but fortunately found a break in those today. I, too, prefer solo rides but understand how they are unnerving to my wife because of my significant history of health problems (lymphoma, coronary artery disease, etc.) plus my age (I'll officially be a senior citizen in less than 1/2 year). But, I have to remind her that every ride is a positive and healthful act that contributes to my health and longevity, and I *very* rarely ever have an accident -- riding on a beach path or a river trail places me at very low risk of that, but touring is another story. :-) Anyway, please enjoy a coffee, cappuccino, cake, or beer on me today -- hopefully my pittance of a "thank you" affords you this pleasure. Cheers!
Thank you very much, you are very kind! I do see how disappearing on your own for days at a time could be concerning for those left at home and historic health concerns would definitely add to that. I've never used one but I know a lot of people use satellite trackers to mitigate this. It gives people a real time (ish) view of where you are, if you are still moving, and where to send the chopper should you need it. Not the cheapest option but if you have a desire to ride solo and to ease the worry of loved ones then it's something to consider. Thanks again, and happy riding 😉
More solid good sense, Jethro. 3rd point good - folk see a lone traveler and often warm to them. They see a group and might regard them as a 'marauding horde'. The solo traveler wins. Thanks for the sound, reflective advice. Another benefit of solo riding is pace, most important for the enjoyment of the journey. Not all groups ride to the pace of the slowest member. On a long ride, I declined to ride with two friends I made along the way. They were over 10yrs younger, fitter, and carried absolutely no load. I opted for starting earlier, finishing later with no long lunch breaks and invariably got to the same place as them at the end of the day. My pace was slower but i still had to wait for them at the approach to John o'Groats to keep our pledge to arrive together. Ride safe, bro'
Yeah, keeping my own pace is very important. As is being to stop when I feel the urge for as long as seems good or to detour from the planned route if an option presents itself. I actually prefer your approach and its always fun when you are on the same route as others, not riding 'together' but crossing paths regularly at camp spots etc. This always makes for the best sharing of stories from the day as you have usually experienced the same route but in vastly different ways
Thanks for this! I needed to hear this. I''m starting to bikepack and have been learning from your videos lately, amongst others. I really appreciate everything said! I'm a lone-ranger myself and prefer solitude and being alone. I love my friends and family but also cherish my alone time and traveling.
If I was helpful in any way, I'm very pleased. I could have made more points in this video as I'm honestly a big fan of solo riding. If you are already OK with solitude then have a huge amount to gain from it. I hope your future rides are spectacular and you have many fine adventures 😁
Having cycled as part of a group and then cycled solo, I much preferred being by myself, setting my own pace, stopping where ever I chose and not being dictated by other people's pace.
I agree. That is a huge freedom, to be in absolute control of your entire ride, beholden to no-one. It's fun riding with chums but there is something in the solitude which I've never tasted anywhere else.
ANOTHER great video Jethro! I love your heart. I love you philosophy. I totally enjoy your stories....I think I'd enjoy listening to you read the phone book. I've just spent the past 4 1/2 years behind a mask for 12 hour shifts during Covid (which is NOT gone, we've had 3 cases this morning alone, in Urgent Care) and I'm ready to do some things that bring me solitude. I'm in the Southern US and currently researching trails to find the one that will be "doable" for me as a solo female for my first bike tour. Please keep making content and we'll keep watching and smiling.
Sounds like we all owe you some thanks as well then. You've earned an adventure by the sound of it Will covid ever be "gone"? I imagine it is here for the long term now isn't it in one form or another ☹️ I can't help with route recommendations in your neck of the woods but I can give definitely offer encouragement and be excited for you trip. I can't really imagine how heading out as a solo female impacts the experience but I can say that any route is doable as long as you do the prep and the research. It all depends on the kind of ride you want to ride - muscle burning 100mile days through the wilderness or leisurely hops between beauty spots and local cafes. Most people who i speak to who have negative experiences of their trips seem to blame the fact that they weren't prepared for bad weather or they went to hard too early and burned themselves out. It's only a race if you want it to be 😉 Which routes that are tickling your interest at this stage?
I'm kinda new to BIKEpacking, a couple of Rails-to-Trails. For years did mostly BACKpacking. Some trips with a friend, some solo. Both are enjoyable, but my strong preference is solo... for all the reasons you give. Thanks for articulating it so well. And BTW, I just subscribed to your channel. I like the way you talk.
Thank you :) The support is very much appreciated and I'm pleased you are enjoying the channel. I don't mind riding with others but I do agree that solo is something very different and offers a lot that you don't get when part of a group.
....in recent years, suddenly become the owner of a little more time. I have travelled on my own, on my bike, with all the gear. I have also discovering the inquisitive, yet friendly nature of some of our fellow people. Thanks for the chat as always enjoyed it....I loved the "B" roll of the pine cone, if ever I become brave enough to make a film. That will be the shot I use. Take care Sir.
Haha, i was also rather taken with that shot. I love pine cones, they appeal to me as both a lover of nature and of maths 😉 Get the shots, make the film, I'll watch it 😀
So happy I stumbled upon your content. I can relate to everything you are saying. At 49 years of age I finally can start my adventure on my bike. Kids all grown up. Starting there own adventures. Me planning my first major tour outside the borders of Sweden this summer. All alone. The way I enjoy doing things. Thank you.
So pleased you are enjoying the videos, and more than a little envious of you planning a great adventure. Where are you planning to ride on your first big tour?
@@JethroJessop First stint with a friend. The Kattegattleden on the Swedish west coast. Then by myself through Denmark, Germany, Poland and up to Finland. So 7 new countries to explore by bike. Really looking forward to this summer. I used this winter to build a bike component by component. Very nice project and a great way to learn the ins and outs of the bike.
@@alexhofvander that sounds like my dream tour to be honest. I did the stretch from Halmstad to Helsingborg a few years back then down through Denmark to Hamburg. That was the end of my past big tour so there are videos on the channel if you want a sneaky preview 😉 Have you found udinaturen.dk for the Denmark part? It has map of all the free camp shelters and is a fantastic resource. Great way to save money on campsites and to meet other travellers along the way. I hope the planning goes well and the ride itself even better, i am deeply, deeply envious of your plans 🙂
@@JethroJessop you sir have a very good way with words. Hope I said that right and you understand what I mean. I am watching your “Are you a better person when you’re cycle touring” video and feel I can show this video to my few friends and they would understand me better. You are expressing who I am as a person exactly. Swedish version of you😊. I have been mostly watching these kinds of videos so far. Just discovered you today so I will get around to watch the travel videos as well. Two introverts loving cycling and touring. Thanks for the link. I looked it up and it will be most helpful in Denmark for sure. Really good info there. Thanks again. Eventually I will quit my job. I have until the summer of 2025 to save up. Then is when my current job assignment ends. Big subway project in Stockholm. After that I will take three years off and go around the world on my own. Sell off everything I own and pay off my debts. Just the bike and me and a Revolute Mastercard. I’ll be 51 by then but my father is still touring at 70 so I am confident I’ll be fine too😅 Thinking of the name Velo vagabond for my RUclips channel. Or just my name. Future concerns. Going to open up a beer now and binge Jethro Jessop videos now 👍
@@alexhofvander sounds like you have a very solid plan there. What and adventure it will be! When you get the channel set up let me know, I'll subscribe for sure, I wanna see that trip 🙂
Jethro. Great video. I'm currently building up the courage to head off on my first bike packing trip on my own. So this not only gave food for thought but its very encouraging and inspiring. Great video mate. Thank you.
Thank you I'm really pleased you enjoyed it and if I helped encourage you to that first solo ride then that's even better! It really can be an incredible experience. Where are you thinking of heading to for your trip?
I love those times when you rock up into town and the locals descend, yes being a solo tourer with bags strapped to your bike peaks people's interest........ Lovely, well thought out video as always Jethro. Gonna be a solo one next then?
Next one will like be with Alan actually (Contii Way is being discussed) but unless I can swing some more time off work I'll be stuck with these philosophy and day ride videos for the near future 😟
There he is, wise words my friend, totally agree. I love my solo Bikepacking trips, i do it to be alone, isolated and at one with the world. Great video dude!
Thank you. I need to catch up on your recent videos as well, I've been slack these past weeks. Glad you enjoyed though, tha ks for the kind words as always
@@welshbikepackingadventures on the contrary! I always rather enjoy them. I am well, all the weller for it being Friday. Hope you have a cracking weekend lined up!
Good subject matter. I prefer travelling alone. Its seems more of an adventure!I I just got back from doing the KAW. Loved it, but I could only blame myself when it got painful! One title I would add is "Spontaneity" . I would argue that it is impossible to make a spontaneous change of plan if you have to consult.
That is a good point actually. That could absolutely have been another section. The freedom to adjust your route, to do a long day or a short day or sack off the day completely and sleep in a shed is a fantastic bonus to riding solo.
Amazing! I love the sound of this trip - minimal planning, just go and follow the road. I hope you have an great time and find all kinds of things that you weren't even looking for along the way. Good luck, report back and let me know how it goes.
Very interesting. It's important that we're all different and have different views/ideas etc. It's then up to the individual to validate their claims. You in the other hand seem to make perfect sense and stand by your convictions. I always ride alone, for very similar reasons to those you've stated.
Its not for everyone but it's great for those who enjoy it. I definitely like riding with friends but going solo adds an extra dimension. It makes me feel different and I think it makes people see me differently too.
I absolutely see the point of doing it solo for all the reasons you've mentioned. That said and having heard you talk about all those issues… I'm certain I would really appreciate a ride with you :D Great video!
I'm probably a nightmare to ride with to be honest. Too slow and always stopping to film stuff. One day I'll plan a monster tour that visits everyone who comments on my videos so watch out, it could happen ;)
@@MarcinPetruszka Poland is a place I've never visited but have heard good things about from other cyclists. Also pretty accessible from southern sweden if/when I finally get my residency there sorted out, so you never know :)
@@JethroJessop Yes, the ferries are frequent and get you to an amazing part of Poland cycling wise - you get to choose if you want to ride on flatter terrain or you can go for some really steep hills, all along the coast line. Also quite a bit cheaper than Sweden I imagine ;)
love riding solo. if i see a trail i want to try "off piste" i can and i can explore more. when you are with someone you are tied to a route with them. i also love the solitude :)
Being able to change plans and adjust routes as you go is a massive bonus. Logistics and planning in general is so much easier when you are alone. I probably could have given over a section of the video to this point
Cool to see/hear some more musings from the road. I live in Moscow a city of 12 million people, I am always lonely, hardly ever alone though. Language or a lack there of is the obvious reason.
Yeah, I can imagine big cities become extra hard when the language is a strange one. I hope you're doing ok. I remember your last comment was a fairly bleak one.
@@JethroJessop thanks Jethro nice of you to remember me, yeah been on chemotherapy for 6 months now and wish things were different but it is what it is, we will all die some day, some of us earlier than others. I am still strong and hopefully by May this year I will be able to do a week or so away with my dogs to the forests around Moscow.
@@solsouth I'm glad to hear you have something planned to look forward to and I hope you stay strong for a long while yet. Springtime in the forest is always worth working towards so keep those plans in sight and keep looking forward. I wish you the best possible 2023 and hope you'll be here commenting on videos into the next one as well :)
It takes all sorts. The real key is that people are out riding but I find there is a kind of unreality that sets in after a few days riding solo which I rather like. Everything takes on a sort of dream like quality as if it already a memory as it happens. Sounds daft but I can't describe it any better
I bikepack alone quite a bit, not always by choice, that’s just the way it works out most times. I enjoy the solitude but also meeting people on the adventure ride. I don’t mind that sometimes I find the oddly left wing 😮 person now and then. We usually find we have more in common and that we are more than our political differences. I certainly hope that you’re not implying that people whose politics lean right are homophobic racists. I just found your channel and I would hate to lose you so quickly. I am right wing, not racist, nor homophobic, I do not prejudge anyone. I love nature and riding bikes. I will continue to watch and hope you are who you seem to be and not secretly judging those who think differently than you. Blessings
I try my hardest not to judge people on any single point because, as you say, there is always more to someone than that single view. I know for a fact that there are people watching this channel whose views clash with my own on many points but who also share many passions and interests. In fact I have friends who do not share all my points of view. I think there is a greater need all the time to see people as being more complex than a single view on politics, religion etc You are very welcome here regardless which wing you are flapping 😉. I hope you continue to enjoy the content and to comment as you see fit. Thanks for watching!
It’s an odd one for me. I almost always (99%+). Ride short and long rides and Bikepacking on my own so I’m maybe accustomed. I do wilderness expeds in canoes and am not afraid of the risks, I have mitigations for those. I’m used to that stuff. I can fix stuff on the bike or boat, I don’t care really, I’ll figure it out I recently did around 300km on the Lot Valley route and also the Deux mers here In France which is not remote at all and stayed in camp sites with people all over the place. It wasn’t forever, but I admit that I spent day after day only having superficial conversation and it was that that I found isolating, nothing to do with risk. I actually just missed a mate a bit. Unusual for me. I do agree that the solitude part is needed though … I start from those thoughts and go out. Nicely put but hard for most to do Goon shows summed up the spectator nature of solo with … breakfast was served at the xxxx manor …..sausage, eggs, bacon …. I was standing at the window looking in. That’s how it feels to me
There are definitely times when one misses company and there is no way to predict when those times will arrive in my experience. Its similar to another video I did on fear of the dark. Most of the time it's fine but sometimes it creeps in. I'm good on my own 99% of the time and when I'm not it only lasts a short time. Even loneliness is not so bad when you know it's only temporary.
It's far easier to plan trips if you don't have to dance around other people's schedules for one. Also, if you own one of those 'difficult' personalities, it's nigh impossible to find the right riding partners; difficulty is much akin to finding good roommates or partners..! Lastly, speaking for myself, rolling solo gets you away from the 'noise' of the asphalt jungle you live in and you can focus on dialing down the volume of the thoughts in your own head that all of the sudden, seem so Loud away from the hoi polloi.
Absolutely agree. The simplicity of solo travel is something very special. Being able to tailor your pace and your route on a whim gives you a freedom rarely experienced in other walks of life
Thank you :) I have enjoyed writing in the past but always fiction - fantasy/sci-fi stuff, completely unrelated to this channel or any of the stuff I talk about here. I do also have a folder full of notes relating to something more linked to the videos and what I do here. Whether these notes will ever become anything solid is anyones guess and exactly what form it would take if it did is even more up in the air but the idea is there for sure and if I make any progress on it I will absolutely be shouting about it here until you are sick of the sound of my voice :) I appreciate the kind words though and they will be another gentle push to get me back into that folder and trying to make something of those notes.
Always rode alone on multiday trips. Terrible at planning and generally very whimsical and irratic. Hard to imagine anyone would want to ride with me as well..
That is basically my reasoning as well! If I ride solo i can plan the absolute bare minimum and no one will kick off if we get lost or end up sleeping in a shed 😉
Do it! It doesn't need as much planning as you think and it isn't as hard as you fear. Take whatever time you can and whatever gear you have and give it it go. You won't regret it!
I've done a few group rides and found them lacking. Too many wannabe alphas who force their will on others, despite no one being wrong about they want to go about their trip. Riding solo, motorcycle or bicycle - I've done both, is the only way to go. Remember, it's your vacation, do not be beholden to someone else's schedule. The best bike trip I had, in a group, was we rode our own rides, meeting up at the end of the day. Sometimes we rode together and other times we split up, meeting at the end of the day for dinner and camp. I did ride with a group, for a time, that was more like family than friends, but ultimately they did trips I was uninterested in so we eventually stopped riding together. Agreed, there is no right or wrong, but there is harder and easier and it is easier to do these things solo, or with a dog.
I've never done a proper group ride, it doesn't appeal to me at all. I do enjoy riding with a few mates but there is something special about a solo trip that is hard to beat.
This is often the case. I guess if you want to ride with others you have to either convince old friends or make new ones. Either way, I still think solo has benefits and to be able to do both as you fancy is the ideal.
I love riding Solo , I can go at my own pace & be more spontaneous, I do enjoy bumping into fellow riders though . By the way I've just ordered surly Ogre with a Rohloff & that's partly your fault ;).
@@JethroJessop Yes , Going around The New Forest ( nice & easy ) Then King Alfred's way , Then up through Wales NCN8 , The Hadrian's Wall , & everything possible .
@@kevindean9613 that sounds like you have your priorities right to me 😉 New Forest is great, as is KAW, as is... cycling 😀 It's nice to have a long list of rides planned. I seem to add to mine faster than I tick them off!
@@kevindean9613 i often regret not getting into long distance cycling sooner. I was in my 30s when I got the bug. But then again, the years prior got me the career that earns the money that buys the kit and more importantly the career that, for a long time, allowed me the time to ride for multiple months in a row. I can't complain really 😉
I prefer solo until I get a bit lonely and could use a mate to share some jokes or philosophy with. But the safety aspect of having just 1 other person does weigh on me.
I guess the safety thing is an issue but it depends where you ride and what you pack. I don't take many risks when I'm out riding and I'm probably safer alone on a forest trail than riding though town. Definitely an issue though.
@@JethroJessop precisely. It’s a shame really. I could be doing many more important things.. like working… or queuing for a train in the morning rush hour. But nooo, I’m stuck with you, cycling through wild forests and embarking on exhausting, multi-day adventures.. it’s sad really.
@@Alan_s_Channel I know! We are both eating so much of our potential. Imagine how productive we could be of we dedicated all that time to becoming experts at spreadsheet manipulation instead of going off on adventures??
Well thanks, definitely interesting. As for the examples of opposite opinions that you gave at the end, the strangest opinions in my travels that I have met, mostly gays in a strange way, and left wing in an extreme and strange way, and maybe it is because I am the opposite of them. Maybe we notice things especially when they are very unusual for us. On a daily basis, and especially in 'social media' you don't meet the different, and when you do, it's in a very indirect way. That's why getting out of your comfort zone to a place where you don't control who you'll meet is important from time to time.
I was wondering if all of the wonders of riding solo were also as easily available for women. I mean, you're probably exactly as safe or unsafe as a male adventurer wildcamping in the middle of nowhere, but the encounters with random people...? For example, how to detect potential filth amongst those honest offers of help from strangers? Any female solo bikepackers out there to comment?
Based on my interactions with the few solo, female travellers that I've crossed paths with on my trips, the same benefits are there to be had. Sadly there is that added level of worry about scumbags but it seems from my limited conversations that you are very unlikely to find yourself in dangerous situations but fairly likely to experience a few that are awkward and a little creepy. Its something that so far from my experience of life as white male that I can't really offer any insight though. I know there are a few women who watch these videos - though the male/female split is sadly unbalance - and it would be great to get some real comments on the subjects. I hate the thought that there is a whole broad group of people who can't enjoy travelling in the same way that I do because of gender (or anything else).
Until you meet those who have a different liking than you and then as an 'adversary' make comments in the intent to try to discourage you from your desires or dreams of what you would like to do in LIFE. Those are very disheartening. :( With your gain of wisdoms and personal perspective about humanity and LIFE if you have not done so already, pick up an early edition of a King James Bible or the Apocrypha and read those. God's perspective about humanity and LIFE. The most excellent words anyone could ever listen to.
Best thing to do when faced with people like that is to walk away with a smile on your face. I've had the odd comment on this very channel from people who don't like what I say or think or how I look or whatever but the truth is, if they want to think like that then they only hurt themselves so I just let it slide. Peace and love to all says I 😁
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As an adult I’ve never cycled with anyone else. I can cycle at my own pace and get off and push up any hill I want to
Setting your own pace and stopping for your own snacks is a big bonus as well.
It makes a simple life all the more simple when you can ride your own ride and not have to plan around anyone else
I’ve always been predominantly a solo cyclist but after losing my wife 18 months ago, I decided to go for a ride with the local ctc group for company and to see what it’s like! What a nice bunch they turned out to be..like minded souls, lots of good conversation and funny...and I’m now off to France with them next May, doing the Paris-Brest canal and other greenways. I still go off on my own for good adventures, but for me anyway, I think it’s healthy to mix it up.
I'm sorry for your loss my friend, i hope you're doing ok.
And absolutely, you are right, there is room for a mix of all good things in life.
If you find a good crew to ride with, all at the same pace and all with the same attitude then you are on to a winner. Solo is great, riding with mates is great. Its all good adventure.
Hope the France ride comes together smoothly and turns out amazing. As do all the others in between
Your differentiation between solitude and loneliness definitely resonates. In the times in my life when I thought I felt "lonely", when I've broken it down, it's just a slightly more dramatic version of boredom. I think if you find yourself alone, it's up to you whether or not you're lonely and I would even say that loneliness has nothing to do with whether or not there are other people around. It's entirely possible to feel lonely in a room full of other people.
Suffice to say that not only do I never see myself as lonely anymore, one of the big reasons I love cycling, and mountain biking particularly is that solitude - being able to focus on something other than global warming, identity politics or whatever the angst of the day happens to be, is an incredibly welcome cognitive quiet.
Dead right. Loneliness is a symptom of something else, solitude is a tool to be used as you see fit (IMO).
Take it, embrace it, use it, and hopefully contrast it against the rest of your life as someone no longer lonely!
You should probably think about writing some day. If that ever peaked your interest. Brilliant pointer.
This is as close to an opus for, "slow travel" as I have ever heard. Brilliantly said.
I agree fully with every word written and commented on this thread. The first of you bike philosophers to come up with a book, give a shout and I'll happily buy it!
Never lonely alone EVER
Me neither. I dunno how long it would take for me to start feeling lonely but I've not crossed that line yet
Well, you've now turned my solo rides (which count for 99% of them) into poetry. :)
Glad to hear it 😉
One makes the most of what one has. If that is solitude then so be it. There is always something good to be found in a situation.
Ive always been thoroughlly antisocial when walking, biking and now scooting. For me its all about the communion with nature thing, and that doesnt really happen when Ive the internal chatter about whether I should be talking to X, who seems a bit down, or if I said too much already, or how am I going to stop myself twatting Tony who is constantly on his phone etc etc. When you get the chance, enjoy wild things while you - and they - are still here.
Exactly. You need it all and each seems sweeter when contrasted with the other
Hi Jethro, I have just completed my first solo bike packing trip: Swindon to Salisbury, sort of following The Great Stones Way. I had put this off for so many reasons that are too numerous to mention but I finally planned it and set off. Why the sudden impetus? I am retired but others in my life still work and I had become lonely. I set off because I really enjoy my own company with my thoughts and daydreams but I also really enjoy meeting people and having conversations. I felt a solo bike trip would deliver. I met people from Holland, the USA, Canada and many parts of the UK and arrived home refreshed and looking forward to the next trip. I mention this because I have only recently discovered your videos and this one in particular resonated with me: the difference between loneliness & solitude. If you are lonely a solution is to set out on a solo bike packing trip. As Dr Seuss said in “Oh, the places you’ll go”
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.
This is pure gold, thank you! It sounds like you got everything possible out of that trip and came at it with exactly the right mindset. I'm really pleased that it delivered and I hope it will be the first such trip of many. What are your plans for the next one?
I also love that Dr. Seuss quote. I've not heard that one before despite being a fan and having a fair old collection of his books when I was a kid. In fact, one of the first things that I ever remember being afraid of was "a pair of pale green pants, with nobody inside them" ;)
@@JethroJessop I’m thinking North Yorkshire, basing a ride on the great but ruined Abbeys. Fountains, Bolton and so forth. Also some big rivers to swim. I really enjoy your soliloquy’s, very inspiring.
@@timisherwood2887 That sounds like. really good idea. I'm also a big fan of building rides around lots of stops along the way rather than just riding from A to B.
Abbeys, waterfalls, breweries, it doesn't really matter what but it gives the ride an interesting additional focus.
Good luck with the planning, let me know how it all goes!
Nice video. I'm glad you respect others opinions, a fairly rare attribute. Probably 95% of my cycling is solo and I enjoy almost every trip. I enjoy the solitude and my senses become attuned to my surroundings, this is particularly so at night when cycling in the pitch black, something primeval about it. Occasionally I cycle with my son and that's great, we cycled LEJOG last year. I carry out all bike maintenance myself and am self reliant. Mind you, I always offer to help other cyclists if they appear to be in trouble.
I use a satnav gps to record where I've been, and only follow a route if on an audax ride.
Can't say I get lonely, just alone enjoying solitude and the natural world, I feel I'm blessed.
Opinions are strange things. I do listen to all of them and I try to always approach an argument with the understanding that it might be me who is wrong but in reality I'm probably just as selective and biased as everyone else. I try, but I'm only human ;)
Absolutely agree about riding in the dark! Such a weird experience.
I always feel as though I can ride faster in the dark though I've never really tested this to see if its an illusion or not. I don love the feeling of stopping in the dark though, when everything suddenly goes silent and you can hear the creatures in the undergrowth and see the stars as your eyes adjust.
It's all about these little pleasures :)
To go outside my comfort zone taught me I was able to create a zone where I felt comfortable too. To be not as much destracted but completely fine with only my inner self and thoughts.
Its a valuable skill, to be able to spend time in your own company. As you say, it gives you time to focus and learn a bit about yourself.
Another truly madly deeply video! ⛰😀I truly appreciates your honesty and your thoughts. It seems like we are quite similar to each other. Keep up your good work. Hugs! 🚴
There are more of its out there than yours think, we just avoid each other most of the time 😉
Glad you enjoyed the video though!
A big plus is going at your own pace, in a direction you want, stopping where you will to drink in life’s beauty… and fixing punctures the way YOU like to fix them WITHOUT sarcastic input and obviously unnecessary advice Brian!
Anyway now I’ve got that off my chest thank you for sharing your thoughts. Ride long and comfy.
I agree. Setting your own pace and agenda and not having to consider the group when choosing to take the questionable "short cut" is very liberating.
Bloody Brian and his puncture fascism!
I'm a lone cyclist too. Everyone I know is too lazy to cycle. Either that or they want to go too fast and I don't enjoy it. I like to look at the scenery, not court disaster or a broken collar or shoulder. I now just want to be as far from other people as I can. Things are simple out in the wild. There's no one trying to control my speech or convert me to their religion. Just peace. When you go with others, you are constantly waiting on them to just get going. I can go when and where I want without an argument. I enjoy being alone and rarely get any alone time. I don't want to see or hear anyone.
The freedom to ride your own ride is a huge benefit of riding solo. Not having to wait for, or keep up with, a group is a great feeling.
It really does feel like you are alone in the world which is not a common occurrence in modern life and one that many people could perhaps benefit from experiencing.
I cycled in the Scottish Highlands this year to feel totally alone ,and thats what i got .apart from seeing two naked hiker's...
Hiking naked in the highlands sounds fine until one factors in the parasites....
Speaking as a man who has been beset by midges and pulled a tick off a plum I'd be very wary ;)
I mainly ride on my own, really because the people I once rode with have all given up or moved away............. I'm fine with that and don't mind riding on my own (even like it! ) but like you I like the encounters with "random" people I meet/ride with for a while.
Some of the best memories/stories from my trips are to do with the people encountered on the way. 🙂
Absolutely. The kindness of strangers to a traveller is a truly beautiful thing.
So many good memories of it from past rides and hopefully more to look forward too in the future!
As with all your videos, Jethro, the impact of this one is immeasurable, beyond words, intangible. And that's truly invaluable. Thank you, sir. 👏
We'll, thank you. Both for watching and for the kind words.
I'm really pleased you found something of value in my ramblings.
Lovely, Jethro. I'm very happy with my solitude and approachability but it's the self reliance that will challenge me on a solo trip. I feel the truth in your words.
Its something that probably seems harder than it really is.
From outside people often assume I'm some kind of rugged adventurer, risking life and limb in a constant quest for excitement but that is waaaaaay off.
I don't take any risks, I don't go out when the weather is bad, I don't push myself in any way.
I put myself in a situation where life is simple, the problems that arise are simple and so a simpleton like me can deal with them 😉
Thank you for a delightful video. My first big trip was 40 odd years ago across the USA. Before I left I had no idea that America was in fact "the land of the free" but I must have been told it at least a 1000 times during my 5-month journey. I can more or less guarantee I wouldn't have had a single one of those conversations if I hadn't gone alone. I suspect they don't say that anymore. It gave me a fantastic opportunity to reflect on the concepts of "freedom" and "the American Dream".
Sounds like you ticked all the boxes then and got some quality philosophising in at the same time - freedom alone is topic that could be mulled for a very long time. My kind of ride 😀
I'm really glad you liked the video, thanks for watching!
Thanks Jethro, another good one. While I enjoy the companionship of cycling with others at times, I often find myself up and out of the house just after dawn, solo with my thoughts, absorbing the beauty of the new day. I always look forward to your videos-thanks.
I wish I was better at getting out for dawn rides. I've done a few and they are always amazing but I am just terrible at getting my arse in gear for early ones.
Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for watching 😀
@@JethroJessop I’m an early riser-first light around here somewhere between 4:30 and 5. Lately I’ve been out on my trail bike, it’s new for one and we were in Maine up in the forest with lots of trails and backcountry roads leading to the ocean. So, as soon as the there was light I grabbed my stuff and headed out. The end of the day-count me out. I’m usually asleep by 10, pretty sad. :)
@@rustybrockmann2344 Sounds bloody great to me.
The times I've done really early rides were mostly while on long trips. Some days I just fall asleep early so rise early or I get woken up by some forest sound outside the tent and can't get back to sleep.
These are the times that I get up in the half dark and set off in the first light, times when the trail is literally there under the wheels from the first moment. I do love it but in real life it just never seems to happen.
Great video again Jethro, I love the way you put things together in a simple way, very interesting thoughts. Thanks for sharing
Simple is my only setting 😉
I'm a simple chap really. I just like to talk a lot of talk and pretend I'm an intellectual!
I have never come across a video quite like this before. Thank you so much for sharing your informative thoughts with us. I cycle with groups and with a friend, but mostly on my own. I find there is a place for each type of ride. I have friends who would never cycle on their own, and some who do but only when there is no one else around. Freedom of mind is the main reason I like to ride solo. A bit like being in the countryside at night, and looking up at the stars, I see the universe in all it's splendour with only the sounds or nature as a background.
Thank you. That is some really high praise indeed when you consider the multiverse of videos out there!
I do try to make my videos touch on the philosophy and the poetry of cycling because these are things that really make me love it. I'm not a gear head or an expert in... anything really, but I do love the ride and the simple way it presents the world.
I absolutely agree that there is room for all kinds of riding - solo, with friends, with strangers - and a broad experience of all is usually best, as with all things.
It pleases me a great deal that there seems to be so many other people out there who are not so fussed about riding far or riding fast but who are passionate about just riding.
Thank you for watching.
Thank you, it’s amazing how these videos speak to my exact feelings. Thank you for being so mindful of situations and emotions.
I am really flattered to get such a comment and really glad that you find something of value in my videos.
I hope I can continue to entertain in 2023. I've got a few ideas for videos and hopefully some good long rides. We shall.
Thanks again 🙏
You pretty well nailed it on all counts.
Glad you agree 😉
Apologies is advance for what be a bit of a ramble ....
I think this is the first time I have clicked "like" on a RUclips video.
I am an introvert, not just happy with my own company but actually prefer it (apologies to my wife, but she's quite similar in that respect so apologies not really required). Over 99% of my riding is solo, whether the daily commute or for example a trip earlier this year from Bedfordshire to Edinburgh (Pennine Cycleway for the majority of the ride). I have ridden with others, occasionally people I know, other times on an unplanned basis through simply being on the same route at the same time where a hello stranger turns into more of a chat. As you say, on your own on a trip people see you as approachable; as an introvert I won't seek out interaction but on your own people will say hello, ask about your trip etc ..... perhaps surprisingly to me this is actually quite pleasant in small doses. A lot of people don't understand the concept of solitude .... a frequent comment is "won't you be lonely on your week long trip on your own", the answer to me is a simple "no" because riding solo is my happy place. I rode my first group ride in probably 47 years a couple of weeks ago, to say this made me anxious is an understatement but I considered this an essential part of training for a 3 day charity group ride next week, others might be nervous about 3 days on the bike but I was (and still am) nervous about riding at someone else's pace, riding with others, not just simply doing my thing etc, whereas I am ready for putting in the miles day after day (so much so that riding to and from the event will see me double duration to 6 days and distance to over 500 miles)
If you got this far, apologies for going on and on
Good rambling! I am with you all the way and I'm very pleased to be the recipient of your first ever 'like' ;)
In my case I think I am quite a different person when I have these unexpected encounters with strangers and I navigate them very differently to other social interactions.
When you set off to ride with others, be it a group of strangers or a single friend, you have a contract of sorts that you part of something and that the will of the group should have a bearing on the ride.
When you fall in with someone by chance, especially if they approach you, this contract does not exist or is very different. These encounters are disposable effectively. And I don't mean that in a bad way, just that there is no pressure of expectation from either side. If you assume that an encounter will be brief and will then have no ongoing influence on your life at all then it doesn't matter if you like the other person or if they like you, you dip a toe in and if its nice you continue otherwise you part ways in the knowledge that you will almost certainly never encounter this person again.
Add to this the fact that you will likely be in a fantastic mood and be ready for some conversation after so much time alone and will have stories to tell and questions to ask.
I replied to a ramble with a ramble ;) I could go on for ever on the subject but thats for another video maybe!
Good luck on the upcoming ride. Whats the event/charity?
Excellent points.
I also find it easier to discover / achieve a flow state when riding solo. I think it’s because you are better able to connect with the rhythm of your body as it moves through and within your surroundings. I often think that the synchronicity of the two, and the edges between them, is where time can take on a different meter and you can find yourself in a more present and immerse state.
Totally agree. Even if you are absolutely in tune with your riding buddy and oth at the same level of fitness there will always be some drag between you. I don't mean negative feelings or even anything emotional, just that you pull on each other like a binary system.
Riding alone is a feeling of freedom that you can't get any other way.
@@JethroJessop a great illustration of figuring the “other” into the equation. Well observed!
It’s the distraction created by accomodating the needs of others (not necessarily as a negative but as a very human need to ensure the welfare of your companions) that often breaks this very connection. At best, the campfire chat is a handy way to validate your observations, but is never a replacement for - nor does it ever really augment - the actual experience. And it is that actual experience that congeals into memory. Also, back to my original offering, it is only through our presence during the actual experience that we can achieve that flow state. I admit I’ve only experienced flow state on too few occasions but it is enough to drive me to seek it out. I have found solitary and very off-the-road riding a great facilitator.
Meanwhile, thank you for your channel. Even when focused on the “mundane” it never fails to be thought provoking….which is its essential power!
@@stillshunter well, thank you. I'm really pleased you like the channel.
I think there's a lot to be gained from the mundane, it doesn't get explored enough 😉
I always think it's a bit hit and miss when I go off on these subjects but they always seem to land with at least a few folk so I appreciate the kind feedback
For the second time, I have to tell you that I like your thinking. I was never much of a cyclist. But I enjoyed many years as a backpacker on short and long (trail) trips, always solo.
I once planned a circular walk in Torridon, walking south the first day to the foot of the pass to Applecross, over the pass the following day and back to Torridon the third. The rain poured down on the third day. The wind blew in my face most of the day, my early Goretex waterproofs leaked and I was soaked through. I came off the fell into the Main Street - just a row of houses really - at Kenmore. Standing there in the road, wondering if there was a cave or old garden shed where I could take shelter for while, I was startled by a sharp rapping on a nearby window. I looked around to locate the rapper and there she was: waving and gesturing to me to make my way down the side of the house to the front door. “Come away in”, she encouraged, “you look soaked and lost”. Lost I was not. But she was right on the first point. She pointed to a chair in the kitchen, brought me a towel, enquired if I had dry clothes to change into and gave me a mug of tea and a plate of sandwiches and cake. It turned out she was the local post mistress - the PO was in her front room. And she was on crutches, carrying a plaster on a broken ankle. We had quite a chat.
I think I was only some four or five miles from the hotel at Torridon where I left my car and cosy room in the bunkhouse three days earlier. When I thought it was time to leave and finish the walk she said “if you wait a few minutes, Davy from the fish farm will be passing on his way home. He can take you as far as the hotel”. So, I graciously accepted. I went back a few days later with a thank you card and a box of chocolates. We had another long chat.
Like you say, the memories of encounters made as a solo traveller endure. Simple acts of kindness, help or encouragement.
I love those kind of stories. Acts of kindness from strangers, small gestures that etch themselves into your memory forever more strongly than they have any right to.
It's a big part of what makes traveling and adventure so great.
I'm glad you are enjoying the videos and they are triggering some happy memories.
it has been almost 2 weeks without a Jethro video.... we the people need more jethro!
Yeah, I've not been keeping up the pace recently. Sorry about that. Still, quality over quantity I hope!
I am editing one at the moment that will hopefully go up in the next few days.
It will be an odd one as the thing I set out to do failed completely so I dunno what kind of video it will make. Still, we shall see ;)
Solo - is the only option I have
No friends 😓😥😰
No better way to meet folk than by cycling. If you want to meet folk that is.
I've done a few organised rides in the past but I didn't really enjoy riding with strangers, especially blokes. It always turns into a race
My internal dialogues keep me company, after about 20km of chit chat( normally negative, hyper-critical bs) I finally get the solitude and quiet that I seek. I would like company sometimes , but most say “I’m too old/not interested/missus won’t let me”
Solo it is then
All terrible excuses and they are missing out.
It isn't always an easy passion to share. I also do a lot of internal dialog. And singing... I often end up singing while I ride
@@JethroJessop several years ago I was saying to myself out loud " If you weren't so fing fat this hill wouldn't be so hard" completely unaware of a cycling group coming up behind me, at least it made them laugh.
@@kevindean9613 haha, yeah a lot of people must catch cyclists talking to themselves and wonder what the hell is wrong with us!
Or maybe not. Perhaps it's just you and me
@@JethroJessop
Please include some of your singing to one of your videos! If it can be done without swallowing insects that is 😀
@@janine-theeternalwannabe They wouldn't be that entertaining. I tend to loop endlessly over a verse or two.
You remember that song they sing in Jaws... Show me the way to go home...
I once sang that on a loop to myself for almost an entire day. Not great video content ;)
There's another situation, that is both solo and not solo - Your situation! You ride solo with a camera, and you share your opinions and experience with the people who will watch the video you're making. I'm sure, you feel you're not alone, you feel you have friends with you, but you're solo.
True
That is very true, there is an element of connection through the camera but it's only in the last couple of years that I've been riding that way. My first trip was 6 weeks long and none of that was filmed - I hardly even took any pictures which I deeply regret now.
Even my last big trip to Scandinavia in 2019 I wasn't filming even every other day. Now it would be different probably and the videos would be a constant distraction but up till only a couple of years ago it was a side hustle as best. So I feel ok standing by these points.
A fine subject for a video. I much prefer to ride solo. I can ride where & as long as I choose. Change the route, extend the route without major discussion. Not to mention the ability to soul search & mull over life decisions knowing that even if the world is coming to end suddenly, I won't be getting back home for at least an hour..! 👍
That is pretty much what I should have said in this video 😉
You got all three key points in far fewer words!
I totally agree. There is something so free and simple about riding alone. It's a great feeling .
I ride alone (apart from work) mainly because i have nobody to ride with. I have ridden with all sorts of people over the years but, and here is a point you missed, people fall by the wayside in life. Due to family, health, financial problems etc. Also, the person you ride with on a Sunday might not like the more thoughtful pace of a tour or where you want to go or be more or less planned than you are. I've done more touring on a motorcycle than a bicycle but the same is true for both. So I tend to fall into riding alone but one big plus is, I've finally learned to enjoy my own company - it's taken 58 years but there you go. Now if somebody wants to tag along, thats just what thy do - it's my ride, they can come along if they want. Another great video.
This is all true. Being able to ride alone is important if you want to always be guaranteed a ride. It would horrible to feel the trail calling and not be able to answer because you didn't want to go solo.
Is this your way of telling Alan you don’t want him to come with you anymore?
He won't get the message. I think I'm stuck with him 😉
Hopefully be seeing us on another multi day trip in Oct. Depending on a few things...
Ha ha, nice one
@@JethroJessop yeah we love Alan 😁🙌 , talking about rocking up with a few mates, in the golden age of mountain biking (1980’s) we used to rock up with 300+ riders to a sleepy pub in the middle of nowhere. It was like a scene from “The Wild One” 😜
@@DIY-DaddyO i don't think I've met that many people in my life let alone on a bike trip 😉
Ah, "the Iocal flavor of certain death" or the "boogy man". Your skill in the use language is admirable. Thank you.
I try my best 😉
Glad you enjoyed it
I've mainly ridden solo but after completing LEJOG with my friend I'd have to say I like both. It was nice to have company, particularly when things got difficult. In the future, I'll be happy to mix it up a bit more if I get the chance.
There is room for both. As long as you mesh with your riding buddy then it is all good.
I do many rides with Alan and we always have a great time but I'll always be happy riding alone i think
Hey, Jethro! I am viewing this video as I enjoy my pre-ride breakfast. I've not been riding consistenly due to weekend work and family responsibilities, but fortunately found a break in those today. I, too, prefer solo rides but understand how they are unnerving to my wife because of my significant history of health problems (lymphoma, coronary artery disease, etc.) plus my age (I'll officially be a senior citizen in less than 1/2 year). But, I have to remind her that every ride is a positive and healthful act that contributes to my health and longevity, and I *very* rarely ever have an accident -- riding on a beach path or a river trail places me at very low risk of that, but touring is another story. :-) Anyway, please enjoy a coffee, cappuccino, cake, or beer on me today -- hopefully my pittance of a "thank you" affords you this pleasure. Cheers!
Thank you very much, you are very kind!
I do see how disappearing on your own for days at a time could be concerning for those left at home and historic health concerns would definitely add to that.
I've never used one but I know a lot of people use satellite trackers to mitigate this. It gives people a real time (ish) view of where you are, if you are still moving, and where to send the chopper should you need it.
Not the cheapest option but if you have a desire to ride solo and to ease the worry of loved ones then it's something to consider.
Thanks again, and happy riding 😉
@@JethroJessop Thank you! I'll look into this further! Cheers!
More solid good sense, Jethro. 3rd point good - folk see a lone traveler and often warm to them. They see a group and might regard them as a 'marauding horde'. The solo traveler wins. Thanks for the sound, reflective advice.
Another benefit of solo riding is pace, most important for the enjoyment of the journey. Not all groups ride to the pace of the slowest member. On a long ride, I declined to ride with two friends I made along the way. They were over 10yrs younger, fitter, and carried absolutely no load. I opted for starting earlier, finishing later with no long lunch breaks and invariably got to the same place as them at the end of the day. My pace was slower but i still had to wait for them at the approach to John o'Groats to keep our pledge to arrive together.
Ride safe, bro'
Yeah, keeping my own pace is very important. As is being to stop when I feel the urge for as long as seems good or to detour from the planned route if an option presents itself.
I actually prefer your approach and its always fun when you are on the same route as others, not riding 'together' but crossing paths regularly at camp spots etc.
This always makes for the best sharing of stories from the day as you have usually experienced the same route but in vastly different ways
Just rewatched this...
Thats you at your very best, loved it again...
Thanks again...
Ah thank you :)
I was really pleased with this one I have to say so I'm glad you enjoyed it so much!
Thanks for (re)watching
Another few minutes of well constructed wisdom.....many thx
I am very glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching 😊
Thanks for this! I needed to hear this. I''m starting to bikepack and have been learning from your videos lately, amongst others. I really appreciate everything said! I'm a lone-ranger myself and prefer solitude and being alone. I love my friends and family but also cherish my alone time and traveling.
If I was helpful in any way, I'm very pleased.
I could have made more points in this video as I'm honestly a big fan of solo riding.
If you are already OK with solitude then have a huge amount to gain from it.
I hope your future rides are spectacular and you have many fine adventures 😁
Having cycled as part of a group and then cycled solo, I much preferred being by myself, setting my own pace, stopping where ever I chose and not being dictated by other people's pace.
I agree. That is a huge freedom, to be in absolute control of your entire ride, beholden to no-one.
It's fun riding with chums but there is something in the solitude which I've never tasted anywhere else.
ANOTHER great video Jethro! I love your heart. I love you philosophy. I totally enjoy your stories....I think I'd enjoy listening to you read the phone book. I've just spent the past 4 1/2 years behind a mask for 12 hour shifts during Covid (which is NOT gone, we've had 3 cases this morning alone, in Urgent Care) and I'm ready to do some things that bring me solitude. I'm in the Southern US and currently researching trails to find the one that will be "doable" for me as a solo female for my first bike tour. Please keep making content and we'll keep watching and smiling.
Sounds like we all owe you some thanks as well then. You've earned an adventure by the sound of it
Will covid ever be "gone"? I imagine it is here for the long term now isn't it in one form or another ☹️
I can't help with route recommendations in your neck of the woods but I can give definitely offer encouragement and be excited for you trip.
I can't really imagine how heading out as a solo female impacts the experience but I can say that any route is doable as long as you do the prep and the research. It all depends on the kind of ride you want to ride - muscle burning 100mile days through the wilderness or leisurely hops between beauty spots and local cafes.
Most people who i speak to who have negative experiences of their trips seem to blame the fact that they weren't prepared for bad weather or they went to hard too early and burned themselves out.
It's only a race if you want it to be 😉
Which routes that are tickling your interest at this stage?
I always say this, but this is the best so far. So right about the work outside the echo chamber to hone your values.
I'm glad you enjoyed it. Does this mean I have to keep trying to outdo my previous videos?
I dunno how long I can keep that up!
I'm kinda new to BIKEpacking, a couple of Rails-to-Trails. For years did mostly BACKpacking. Some trips with a friend, some solo. Both are enjoyable, but my strong preference is solo... for all the reasons you give. Thanks for articulating it so well. And BTW, I just subscribed to your channel. I like the way you talk.
Thank you :) The support is very much appreciated and I'm pleased you are enjoying the channel.
I don't mind riding with others but I do agree that solo is something very different and offers a lot that you don't get when part of a group.
....in recent years, suddenly become the owner of a little more time. I have travelled on my own, on my bike, with all the gear. I have also discovering the inquisitive, yet friendly nature of some of our fellow people. Thanks for the chat as always enjoyed it....I loved the "B" roll of the pine cone, if ever I become brave enough to make a film. That will be the shot I use. Take care Sir.
Haha, i was also rather taken with that shot. I love pine cones, they appeal to me as both a lover of nature and of maths 😉
Get the shots, make the film, I'll watch it 😀
So happy I stumbled upon your content. I can relate to everything you are saying. At 49 years of age I finally can start my adventure on my bike. Kids all grown up. Starting there own adventures. Me planning my first major tour outside the borders of Sweden this summer. All alone. The way I enjoy doing things. Thank you.
So pleased you are enjoying the videos, and more than a little envious of you planning a great adventure.
Where are you planning to ride on your first big tour?
@@JethroJessop First stint with a friend. The Kattegattleden on the Swedish west coast. Then by myself through Denmark, Germany, Poland and up to Finland. So 7 new countries to explore by bike. Really looking forward to this summer. I used this winter to build a bike component by component. Very nice project and a great way to learn the ins and outs of the bike.
@@alexhofvander that sounds like my dream tour to be honest. I did the stretch from Halmstad to Helsingborg a few years back then down through Denmark to Hamburg. That was the end of my past big tour so there are videos on the channel if you want a sneaky preview 😉
Have you found udinaturen.dk for the Denmark part? It has map of all the free camp shelters and is a fantastic resource. Great way to save money on campsites and to meet other travellers along the way.
I hope the planning goes well and the ride itself even better, i am deeply, deeply envious of your plans 🙂
@@JethroJessop you sir have a very good way with words. Hope I said that right and you understand what I mean. I am watching your “Are you a better person when you’re cycle touring” video and feel I can show this video to my few friends and they would understand me better. You are expressing who I am as a person exactly. Swedish version of you😊. I have been mostly watching these kinds of videos so far. Just discovered you today so I will get around to watch the travel videos as well.
Two introverts loving cycling and touring.
Thanks for the link. I looked it up and it will be most helpful in Denmark for sure. Really good info there. Thanks again.
Eventually I will quit my job. I have until the summer of 2025 to save up. Then is when my current job assignment ends. Big subway project in Stockholm. After that I will take three years off and go around the world on my own. Sell off everything I own and pay off my debts. Just the bike and me and a Revolute Mastercard. I’ll be 51 by then but my father is still touring at 70 so I am confident I’ll be fine too😅
Thinking of the name Velo vagabond for my RUclips channel. Or just my name. Future concerns.
Going to open up a beer now and binge Jethro Jessop videos now 👍
@@alexhofvander sounds like you have a very solid plan there. What and adventure it will be!
When you get the channel set up let me know, I'll subscribe for sure, I wanna see that trip 🙂
Jethro. Great video. I'm currently building up the courage to head off on my first bike packing trip on my own. So this not only gave food for thought but its very encouraging and inspiring. Great video mate. Thank you.
Thank you I'm really pleased you enjoyed it and if I helped encourage you to that first solo ride then that's even better!
It really can be an incredible experience. Where are you thinking of heading to for your trip?
I love those times when you rock up into town and the locals descend, yes being a solo tourer with bags strapped to your bike peaks people's interest........ Lovely, well thought out video as always Jethro. Gonna be a solo one next then?
Next one will like be with Alan actually (Contii Way is being discussed) but unless I can swing some more time off work I'll be stuck with these philosophy and day ride videos for the near future 😟
There he is, wise words my friend, totally agree. I love my solo Bikepacking trips, i do it to be alone, isolated and at one with the world. Great video dude!
Thank you. I need to catch up on your recent videos as well, I've been slack these past weeks.
Glad you enjoyed though, tha ks for the kind words as always
@@JethroJessop you're not missing much to be fair Jethro haha.. hope you're well my dear
@@welshbikepackingadventures on the contrary! I always rather enjoy them.
I am well, all the weller for it being Friday. Hope you have a cracking weekend lined up!
Good subject matter. I prefer travelling alone. Its seems more of an adventure!I
I just got back from doing the KAW. Loved it, but I could only blame myself when it got painful!
One title I would add is "Spontaneity" . I would argue that it is impossible to make a spontaneous change of plan if you have to consult.
That is a good point actually. That could absolutely have been another section.
The freedom to adjust your route, to do a long day or a short day or sack off the day completely and sleep in a shed is a fantastic bonus to riding solo.
Great video! I very much relate - definitely prefer the solo trips (though I'm definitely not against the random encounters).
It is such a different experience to riding with others. Personally I love it and would happily ride alone for weeks on end
I really enjoyed that one 👍🏻
Thank you.
Glad to hear it 😀
I do enjoy these monologues but am still nervous about how they will be received so thanks for watching and commenting
Thanks for the tips.Going on my first trip in June ,fed up and want an adventure.Getting the boat to France and gonna see how far I get 😂
Amazing! I love the sound of this trip - minimal planning, just go and follow the road.
I hope you have an great time and find all kinds of things that you weren't even looking for along the way.
Good luck, report back and let me know how it goes.
@@JethroJessop thanks Jethro I will do for sure 😁
Very interesting. It's important that we're all different and have different views/ideas etc. It's then up to the individual to validate their claims. You in the other hand seem to make perfect sense and stand by your convictions. I always ride alone, for very similar reasons to those you've stated.
Its not for everyone but it's great for those who enjoy it.
I definitely like riding with friends but going solo adds an extra dimension. It makes me feel different and I think it makes people see me differently too.
I absolutely see the point of doing it solo for all the reasons you've mentioned. That said and having heard you talk about all those issues… I'm certain I would really appreciate a ride with you :D Great video!
I'm probably a nightmare to ride with to be honest. Too slow and always stopping to film stuff.
One day I'll plan a monster tour that visits everyone who comments on my videos so watch out, it could happen ;)
@@JethroJessop let me know if you ever come to Poland. Slow with lots of stops sounds right up my alley 😁
@@MarcinPetruszka Poland is a place I've never visited but have heard good things about from other cyclists.
Also pretty accessible from southern sweden if/when I finally get my residency there sorted out, so you never know :)
@@JethroJessop Yes, the ferries are frequent and get you to an amazing part of Poland cycling wise - you get to choose if you want to ride on flatter terrain or you can go for some really steep hills, all along the coast line. Also quite a bit cheaper than Sweden I imagine ;)
@@MarcinPetruszka Sounds very tempting indeed.
I have a list of places I want to ride that seems to get longer by the day!
love riding solo. if i see a trail i want to try "off piste" i can and i can explore more. when you are with someone you are tied to a route with them. i also love the solitude :)
Being able to change plans and adjust routes as you go is a massive bonus. Logistics and planning in general is so much easier when you are alone.
I probably could have given over a section of the video to this point
Cool to see/hear some more musings from the road. I live in Moscow a city of 12 million people, I am always lonely, hardly ever alone though. Language or a lack there of is the obvious reason.
Yeah, I can imagine big cities become extra hard when the language is a strange one.
I hope you're doing ok. I remember your last comment was a fairly bleak one.
@@JethroJessop thanks Jethro nice of you to remember me, yeah been on chemotherapy for 6 months now and wish things were different but it is what it is, we will all die some day, some of us earlier than others. I am still strong and hopefully by May this year I will be able to do a week or so away with my dogs to the forests around Moscow.
@@solsouth I'm glad to hear you have something planned to look forward to and I hope you stay strong for a long while yet.
Springtime in the forest is always worth working towards so keep those plans in sight and keep looking forward.
I wish you the best possible 2023 and hope you'll be here commenting on videos into the next one as well :)
Cycling is my “Me” time, so I’m OK with going solo. I’m also Ok with spreading out during a ride (as long as everyone is on board with it beforehand).
It takes all sorts. The real key is that people are out riding but I find there is a kind of unreality that sets in after a few days riding solo which I rather like. Everything takes on a sort of dream like quality as if it already a memory as it happens. Sounds daft but I can't describe it any better
I bikepack alone quite a bit, not always by choice, that’s just the way it works out most times. I enjoy the solitude but also meeting people on the adventure ride. I don’t mind that sometimes I find the oddly left wing 😮 person now and then. We usually find we have more in common and that we are more than our political differences. I certainly hope that you’re not implying that people whose politics lean right are homophobic racists. I just found your channel and I would hate to lose you so quickly. I am right wing, not racist, nor homophobic, I do not prejudge anyone. I love nature and riding bikes. I will continue to watch and hope you are who you seem to be and not secretly judging those who think differently than you. Blessings
I try my hardest not to judge people on any single point because, as you say, there is always more to someone than that single view.
I know for a fact that there are people watching this channel whose views clash with my own on many points but who also share many passions and interests. In fact I have friends who do not share all my points of view.
I think there is a greater need all the time to see people as being more complex than a single view on politics, religion etc
You are very welcome here regardless which wing you are flapping 😉. I hope you continue to enjoy the content and to comment as you see fit. Thanks for watching!
It’s an odd one for me. I almost always (99%+). Ride short and long rides and Bikepacking on my own so I’m maybe accustomed.
I do wilderness expeds in canoes and am not afraid of the risks, I have mitigations for those. I’m used to that stuff. I can fix stuff on the bike or boat, I don’t care really, I’ll figure it out
I recently did around 300km on the Lot Valley route and also the Deux mers here In France which is not remote at all and stayed in camp sites with people all over the place.
It wasn’t forever, but I admit that I spent day after day only having superficial conversation and it was that that I found isolating, nothing to do with risk.
I actually just missed a mate a bit. Unusual for me.
I do agree that the solitude part is needed though … I start from those thoughts and go out.
Nicely put but hard for most to do
Goon shows summed up the spectator nature of solo with … breakfast was served at the xxxx manor …..sausage, eggs, bacon …. I was standing at the window looking in.
That’s how it feels to me
There are definitely times when one misses company and there is no way to predict when those times will arrive in my experience.
Its similar to another video I did on fear of the dark. Most of the time it's fine but sometimes it creeps in.
I'm good on my own 99% of the time and when I'm not it only lasts a short time.
Even loneliness is not so bad when you know it's only temporary.
You just gotta bury those oddballs in the woods😜
It's far easier to plan trips if you don't have to dance around other people's schedules for one. Also, if you own one of those 'difficult' personalities, it's nigh impossible to find the right riding partners; difficulty is much akin to finding good roommates or partners..! Lastly, speaking for myself, rolling solo gets you away from the 'noise' of the asphalt jungle you live in and you can focus on dialing down the volume of the thoughts in your own head that all of the sudden, seem so Loud away from the hoi polloi.
Absolutely agree. The simplicity of solo travel is something very special. Being able to tailor your pace and your route on a whim gives you a freedom rarely experienced in other walks of life
Solo is the way to go
I think so. Theres room for both of course but solo does add a certain extra dimension to a trip
Thanks!
Amazing, thank you!
I'm really pleased you enjoyed the video and the support is very much appreciated.
you need to write a book man, you have such a good narrative style. write about your cycling philosophy
Thank you :)
I have enjoyed writing in the past but always fiction - fantasy/sci-fi stuff, completely unrelated to this channel or any of the stuff I talk about here.
I do also have a folder full of notes relating to something more linked to the videos and what I do here. Whether these notes will ever become anything solid is anyones guess and exactly what form it would take if it did is even more up in the air but the idea is there for sure and if I make any progress on it I will absolutely be shouting about it here until you are sick of the sound of my voice :)
I appreciate the kind words though and they will be another gentle push to get me back into that folder and trying to make something of those notes.
Always rode alone on multiday trips. Terrible at planning and generally very whimsical and irratic. Hard to imagine anyone would want to ride with me as well..
That is basically my reasoning as well!
If I ride solo i can plan the absolute bare minimum and no one will kick off if we get lost or end up sleeping in a shed 😉
Søren Kirkegård bicycling.
The best on YT.
High praise indeed!
Thank you. I'm really pleased you enjoyed it.
One day I will manage to do a trip...
Do it!
It doesn't need as much planning as you think and it isn't as hard as you fear.
Take whatever time you can and whatever gear you have and give it it go. You won't regret it!
I've done a few group rides and found them lacking. Too many wannabe alphas who force their will on others, despite no one being wrong about they want to go about their trip. Riding solo, motorcycle or bicycle - I've done both, is the only way to go. Remember, it's your vacation, do not be beholden to someone else's schedule. The best bike trip I had, in a group, was we rode our own rides, meeting up at the end of the day. Sometimes we rode together and other times we split up, meeting at the end of the day for dinner and camp. I did ride with a group, for a time, that was more like family than friends, but ultimately they did trips I was uninterested in so we eventually stopped riding together. Agreed, there is no right or wrong, but there is harder and easier and it is easier to do these things solo, or with a dog.
I've never done a proper group ride, it doesn't appeal to me at all.
I do enjoy riding with a few mates but there is something special about a solo trip that is hard to beat.
Go with your heart and it will all work out.
Sound advice. Things usually turn out ok in the long run :)
It's not that I dont want to ride with anyone it just seems my circle of friends dont fancy spending days in the saddle😂
This is often the case. I guess if you want to ride with others you have to either convince old friends or make new ones.
Either way, I still think solo has benefits and to be able to do both as you fancy is the ideal.
I love riding Solo , I can go at my own pace & be more spontaneous, I do enjoy bumping into fellow riders though . By the way I've just ordered surly Ogre with a Rohloff & that's partly your fault ;).
Oooh nice! A good choice. I think you will enjoy it. Do you have any trips in mind to break it in when it arrives?
@@JethroJessop Yes , Going around The New Forest ( nice & easy ) Then King Alfred's way , Then up through Wales NCN8 , The Hadrian's Wall , & everything possible .
@@kevindean9613 that sounds like you have your priorities right to me 😉
New Forest is great, as is KAW, as is... cycling 😀
It's nice to have a long list of rides planned. I seem to add to mine faster than I tick them off!
@@JethroJessop If I knew about this stuff when I was younger (I'm 58) I'd be off around the planet ..then again you never know :)
@@kevindean9613 i often regret not getting into long distance cycling sooner. I was in my 30s when I got the bug.
But then again, the years prior got me the career that earns the money that buys the kit and more importantly the career that, for a long time, allowed me the time to ride for multiple months in a row.
I can't complain really 😉
and I know even more good reasons for solo-bike-riding
I've thought of others even since I made this video. The list goes on 😉
I prefer solo until I get a bit lonely and could use a mate to share some jokes or philosophy with. But the safety aspect of having just 1 other person does weigh on me.
I guess the safety thing is an issue but it depends where you ride and what you pack.
I don't take many risks when I'm out riding and I'm probably safer alone on a forest trail than riding though town.
Definitely an issue though.
I wish I could ride solo... but then I wouldn't have anybody to rant to and throw twigs at!
You and I are stuck with each other now. We don't have to enjoy it but the people need our with banter and bicycle based adventure so can't stop! 😉
@@JethroJessop precisely. It’s a shame really. I could be doing many more important things.. like working… or queuing for a train in the morning rush hour. But nooo, I’m stuck with you, cycling through wild forests and embarking on exhausting, multi-day adventures.. it’s sad really.
@@Alan_s_Channel I know! We are both eating so much of our potential. Imagine how productive we could be of we dedicated all that time to becoming experts at spreadsheet manipulation instead of going off on adventures??
Well thanks, definitely interesting. As for the examples of opposite opinions that you gave at the end, the strangest opinions in my travels that I have met, mostly gays in a strange way, and left wing in an extreme and strange way, and maybe it is because I am the opposite of them. Maybe we notice things especially when they are very unusual for us. On a daily basis, and especially in 'social media' you don't meet the different, and when you do, it's in a very indirect way. That's why getting out of your comfort zone to a place where you don't control who you'll meet is important from time to time.
Very much so. Experience of all things is what gives you a rounded view of the world
Wow...
That's the kind of feedback i like 😀
I was wondering if all of the wonders of riding solo were also as easily available for women. I mean, you're probably exactly as safe or unsafe as a male adventurer wildcamping in the middle of nowhere, but the encounters with random people...? For example, how to detect potential filth amongst those honest offers of help from strangers? Any female solo bikepackers out there to comment?
Based on my interactions with the few solo, female travellers that I've crossed paths with on my trips, the same benefits are there to be had. Sadly there is that added level of worry about scumbags but it seems from my limited conversations that you are very unlikely to find yourself in dangerous situations but fairly likely to experience a few that are awkward and a little creepy.
Its something that so far from my experience of life as white male that I can't really offer any insight though. I know there are a few women who watch these videos - though the male/female split is sadly unbalance - and it would be great to get some real comments on the subjects.
I hate the thought that there is a whole broad group of people who can't enjoy travelling in the same way that I do because of gender (or anything else).
Ha, ha, ha is there any other way?😁
I've heard tell of these mystical brings called "frendzs"?
To be honest they sound overrated to me 😉
@@JethroJessop Keep that drum beating, it sounds good.
@@greatwhitebuffalo6807 thank you, I shall 😉
Until you meet those who have a different liking than you and then as an 'adversary' make comments in the intent to try to discourage you from your desires or dreams of what you would like to do in LIFE. Those are very disheartening. :( With your gain of wisdoms and personal perspective about humanity and LIFE if you have not done so already, pick up an early edition of a King James Bible or the Apocrypha and read those. God's perspective about humanity and LIFE. The most excellent words anyone could ever listen to.
Best thing to do when faced with people like that is to walk away with a smile on your face.
I've had the odd comment on this very channel from people who don't like what I say or think or how I look or whatever but the truth is, if they want to think like that then they only hurt themselves so I just let it slide.
Peace and love to all says I 😁