Hi everyone, thanks for tuning in, this video has been a long old process and has taken ages to make so do me a little favour and press the like button, so RUclips gives it a little boost. I'm not sure the future of Keep smiling adventures for the year 2025, but if it ends here, then I wanted to thank everyone who has showed their support by tuning in week after week. Thank you, the last few years have been a blast, all because you watched these videos. But if it is the end, then I wanted to make this ultimate guide to UK bikepacking before I go. Thanks again. And yes, I'm aware of a couple spelling mistakes. Keep smiling Adventures. Here are the timestamps Time stamps 00:00 intro 00:58 What is bikepacking 05:14 Preparation and fitness 10:52 bike handling skills 15:30 bike setup 23:43 shake down ride 25:45 Route planning 44:29 Routes to begin with 49:56 How/what to pack 01:03:47 Safety 01:07:47 Accommodation & camping 01:18:39 Nutrition
Great video guide Josh. You put a load of effort into that and it shows. Keep riding and growing the channel. You can do it and it will be worth it. There are some great bikepacking you tubers out there but as a UK rider I enjoy yours above the others.
Thanks Josh! Your channel shows time and time again how beautiful and diverse riding in the UK is. Next year I’ll be back for my fourth bikepacking trip in the UK. This time a self designed route (Hull-Newcastle). Thank you for your videos and inspiration! Whatever the future of this channel, keep on riding!
Great guide mate. We'll still be here whatever you decide to do. It's just a shame it's been a rough year for you. It must be hard to stay motivated all the time. Take care mate, and I hope you continue. 👊😊
Amazing video. I’m in Edinburgh and planning to attempt both some bike touring and bike packing next year, and this video is so useful! Loads of great advice, thank you.
Thank you Josh for this detailed and comprehensive video guide. Really helpful and useful video. Many thanks too for all the hard work you've put into doing all the rides and making all your wonderful videos over these last few years. I've watched most of them and I really enjoyed them, and they've motivated me to getting back on the bike (if only for small rides) after not riding for several + years. Whatever you decide to do, thank you and just do what you want to do! All the best from the land of Oz.
i have been watching your videos since covid time and always looking foward to it! i bought alot stuff from ur recommendation from alpkit soloist tent , patogonia rain jacket , sonder camino bike etc etc ! all the best for next year! and thank you for inspiration
Thank you for all your work making these videos over the years, I think I've watched all of them from at least the last 2 years. you've certainly inspired me to give bike packing a go, I'm planning a trip to cycle around Anglesey early next year as a shakedown test before perhaps sometime longer and in more wild conditions
Great stuff enough without going full tech , half the joy is in the experimentation of gear that works, planning routes which might or might not work then actually setting off not knowing how it will go and having an adventure. Keep up good work
Wow, what an amazing video. I did my first bike packing journey 2 days ago, and could have really used this video before I started. Ended up on a lot of muddy lanes and bogs haha!
Hi Josh, and excellent bikepacking guide. Well done! I have watched most of your videos and have copied a lot of your routes. I first came across you when you did the Great North Trail which was epic and very inspiring as are many of your videos. Being a fellow bikepacker I know how much effort goes into each ride. I even did the Lakekand 200 thanks to you lol aged 56. Absolutely brutal but amazing too. I put it on RUclips too but your videos are just the best. I can not think of another bikepacker from the UK has contributed more to the field of bikepacking on RUclips. I really hope you are able to continue but I understand your reasons if you can't. Fingers crossed this video makes a difference. Good luck whatever you decide. You will be sadly missed. Thank you for putting in the time and inspiring the rest of us. Your channel is epic👌💯
Certainly sounds like the end😢 I along with many others will really miss these videos. Thank you for all your efforts and I hope sometime in the future you will check back in with us to let us know how your getting on
Here in US New England Region ticks are particularly bad, I treat my shoes, socks and pants/shorts/trousers with Permetherin made by Sawyer, it kills ticks that get on you pretty quickly. Articles that are treated are effective for 6 months or about 6 washes. I've found ticks on me even in the winter months so i dont take any chances.
Thanks Josh, really useful info here - I definitely learned a lot about rights-of-way and route planning from this video so thanks very much. Hopefully I'll see more videos from you in the future but I can understand sometimes making your hobby/passion in to your job can be challenging on multiple levels.
This is a great guide Josh thanks for making it (still watching it!) been following yours and Jethro Jessop's channel for inspiration for a few years. One bit of kit I would really recommend that I discovered on my 1st shakedown ride 5 years ago is to get an inexpensive rear bag stability thing if you are not using a rack and have a larger rear bag ... google Rhinowalk or Rockbros - these stop it swaying and affecting your balance. Also other essential bits of kit in my bag - a few spare bolts, bits of old inner tube rubber and tape to stop things working loose with vibrations eg bottle cages and mount brackets, also a pair of tiny cheap foldable pliers ... just in case you manage to unscrew a valve core with your pump hose like I did in remote Scotland 😂!
Look up emergency spokes and how to make them. You can usually replace a broken spoke with an emergency spoke and without removing the wheel. Jim Langley explains how to do this on his channel.
I like this idea, but not much harder to carry appropriate length spokes. Straight pull, you'd have no choice but to do this. The Stein tool might not work with centerlock brake rotors. 6 bolt disks are a better bet. I cringe at the thought trying the Stein tool on a carbon fork or frame.
Unfortunately here in N.J. USA it's state park camping, "Resort Camping", and wild camping doesn't exist, (illegal)The laws are different here. Stealth camping is the last available option. So for me it's 32mm ties, 24x36 gearing. The sugar sand assures a hike a bike most of the time. The kitchen sink panniers include a spare tire, Stein tool, quick links, multitool, derallier hanger spare spokes for front and rear wheels. Stein tool replaces the chain whip et al. Canal towpaths exist in nearby states, but not locally. You'd be shocked how much a Bob trailer can hold, but doesn't work with through axle designs. About no gravel.
Saw the title in my recommended and I'm like "ain't no way I'm watching a 1.5h long BS video with that clickbait title, every wanker nowadays does an ultimate this, ultimate that" and then I'm like "oh, but it's that one guy that pops up in my recommended and I always enjoy his takes", well sounds like I'm canceling plans for the rest of the morning then, let's strap in! :D
Hi everyone, thanks for tuning in, this video has been a long old process and has taken ages to make so do me a little favour and press the like button, so RUclips gives it a little boost. I'm not sure the future of Keep smiling adventures for the year 2025, but if it ends here, then I wanted to thank everyone who has showed their support by tuning in week after week. Thank you, the last few years have been a blast, all because you watched these videos. But if it is the end, then I wanted to make this ultimate guide to UK bikepacking before I go. Thanks again. And yes, I'm aware of a couple spelling mistakes.
Keep smiling Adventures.
Here are the timestamps
Time stamps
00:00 intro
00:58 What is bikepacking
05:14 Preparation and fitness
10:52 bike handling skills
15:30 bike setup
23:43 shake down ride
25:45 Route planning
44:29 Routes to begin with
49:56 How/what to pack
01:03:47 Safety
01:07:47 Accommodation & camping
01:18:39 Nutrition
Great video guide Josh. You put a load of effort into that and it shows. Keep riding and growing the channel. You can do it and it will be worth it. There are some great bikepacking you tubers out there but as a UK rider I enjoy yours above the others.
Thanks Josh! Your channel shows time and time again how beautiful and diverse riding in the UK is. Next year I’ll be back for my fourth bikepacking trip in the UK. This time a self designed route (Hull-Newcastle). Thank you for your videos and inspiration! Whatever the future of this channel, keep on riding!
Thanks josh that was briliant, realy well put together, i apreciate all the hard work that went into making these great videos.
Great guide mate. We'll still be here whatever you decide to do. It's just a shame it's been a rough year for you. It must be hard to stay motivated all the time.
Take care mate, and I hope you continue. 👊😊
Great video Josh. Really hope you can keep on going with your channel.
Legend. Thank you for your advice 😀💚
Amazing video. I’m in Edinburgh and planning to attempt both some bike touring and bike packing next year, and this video is so useful! Loads of great advice, thank you.
Thanks for all the videos. Invaluable info for us UK bikepackers.
Brilliant guide mate very comprehensive well worth the watch 👍🏻🚴
Thank you Josh for this detailed and comprehensive video guide. Really helpful and useful video. Many thanks too for all the hard work you've put into doing all the rides and making all your wonderful videos over these last few years. I've watched most of them and I really enjoyed them, and they've motivated me to getting back on the bike (if only for small rides) after not riding for several + years. Whatever you decide to do, thank you and just do what you want to do! All the best from the land of Oz.
i have been watching your videos since covid time and always looking foward to it!
i bought alot stuff from ur recommendation
from alpkit soloist tent , patogonia rain jacket , sonder camino bike etc etc !
all the best for next year!
and thank you for inspiration
best video on this subject I have watched
Excellent video josh so much great information well done
Brilliant. Great advice. Lots of inspiration for us to get out and ride.😀
Thank you for all your work making these videos over the years, I think I've watched all of them from at least the last 2 years. you've certainly inspired me to give bike packing a go, I'm planning a trip to cycle around Anglesey early next year as a shakedown test before perhaps sometime longer and in more wild conditions
Great stuff enough without going full tech , half the joy is in the experimentation of gear that works, planning routes which might or might not work then actually setting off not knowing how it will go and having an adventure. Keep up good work
Wow, what an amazing video. I did my first bike packing journey 2 days ago, and could have really used this video before I started. Ended up on a lot of muddy lanes and bogs haha!
Hi Josh, and excellent bikepacking guide. Well done! I have watched most of your videos and have copied a lot of your routes. I first came across you when you did the Great North Trail which was epic and very inspiring as are many of your videos. Being a fellow bikepacker I know how much effort goes into each ride. I even did the Lakekand 200 thanks to you lol aged 56. Absolutely brutal but amazing too. I put it on RUclips too but your videos are just the best. I can not think of another bikepacker from the UK has contributed more to the field of bikepacking on RUclips. I really hope you are able to continue but I understand your reasons if you can't. Fingers crossed this video makes a difference. Good luck whatever you decide. You will be sadly missed. Thank you for putting in the time and inspiring the rest of us. Your channel is epic👌💯
Certainly sounds like the end😢 I along with many others will really miss these videos. Thank you for all your efforts and I hope sometime in the future you will check back in with us to let us know how your getting on
Here in US New England Region ticks are particularly bad, I treat my shoes, socks and pants/shorts/trousers with Permetherin made by Sawyer, it kills ticks that get on you pretty quickly. Articles that are treated are effective for 6 months or about 6 washes. I've found ticks on me even in the winter months so i dont take any chances.
Another good thing about OS maps is if you buy the paper map you get a code to download it and access via the app without subscription.
great vid
Thanks Josh, really useful info here - I definitely learned a lot about rights-of-way and route planning from this video so thanks very much. Hopefully I'll see more videos from you in the future but I can understand sometimes making your hobby/passion in to your job can be challenging on multiple levels.
This is a great guide Josh thanks for making it (still watching it!) been following yours and Jethro Jessop's channel for inspiration for a few years.
One bit of kit I would really recommend that I discovered on my 1st shakedown ride 5 years ago is to get an inexpensive rear bag stability thing if you are not using a rack and have a larger rear bag ... google Rhinowalk or Rockbros - these stop it swaying and affecting your balance. Also other essential bits of kit in my bag - a few spare bolts, bits of old inner tube rubber and tape to stop things working loose with vibrations eg bottle cages and mount brackets, also a pair of tiny cheap foldable pliers ... just in case you manage to unscrew a valve core with your pump hose like I did in remote Scotland 😂!
Look up emergency spokes and how to make them. You can usually replace a broken spoke with an emergency spoke and without removing the wheel. Jim Langley explains how to do this on his channel.
I like this idea, but not much harder to carry appropriate length spokes. Straight pull, you'd have no choice but to do this. The Stein tool might not work with centerlock brake rotors. 6 bolt disks are a better bet. I cringe at the thought trying the Stein tool on a carbon fork or frame.
Pretty great guide, makes me feel lazy again for sitting on the couch. :D
Unfortunately here in N.J. USA it's state park camping, "Resort Camping", and wild camping doesn't exist, (illegal)The laws are different here. Stealth camping is the last available option. So for me it's 32mm ties, 24x36 gearing. The sugar sand assures a hike a bike most of the time. The kitchen sink panniers include a spare tire, Stein tool, quick links, multitool, derallier hanger spare spokes for front and rear wheels. Stein tool replaces the chain whip et al. Canal towpaths exist in nearby states, but not locally. You'd be shocked how much a Bob trailer can hold, but doesn't work with through axle designs. About no gravel.
Hi. What a great video. What kind of rigid fork are you using?
Saw the title in my recommended and I'm like "ain't no way I'm watching a 1.5h long BS video with that clickbait title, every wanker nowadays does an ultimate this, ultimate that" and then I'm like "oh, but it's that one guy that pops up in my recommended and I always enjoy his takes", well sounds like I'm canceling plans for the rest of the morning then, let's strap in! :D
I'll never ride with a backpack.
Traps sweat and puts stress on the lower back.