GCN Goes Bikepacking In The Atlas Mountains, Morocco

GCN Goes Bikepacking In The Atlas Mountains, Morocco

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Well. Good. Morning it's currently. About. Our. Past 6:00 in the morning and. I. Am back, to 9000 meters and, the High Atlas Mountains. Of. Morocco yesterday. Josh. And I that's Josh. Over there more, on him in just a moment we. Rode, 130. K through some of the most remote, and, breathtaking scenery, I have ever been, in and then. We, decide to call a date at this very spot and then slept out under the stars, this. Is quite an introduction, to by packing. This. Is gonna be something pretty new, to me in fact I've not done anything quite like this for 17, years and that wasn't, with a bike so, as you can see I'm pretty, nervous but. Because I'm like a fish out of water I have drafted in a total, expert, to, show me the ropes this, is Josh. Bike. Packer ultra. Endurance cyclist. Formal, winner of the legendary, transcontinental. Race and a man eminently. Comfortable, with, sleeping, in hedges. We. Fly out to Morocco in three days so josh is stopped by to make sure that I've got everything that I need and nothing. That I don't we. Are traveling. A lot. Hey. Sorry I forgot three pairs of pants with you cuz. We're, going away five. Days no no you just need one pair that'd be fine, Wow. What does he know anyway I'll pack them when he's not looking next, up Morocco. This. Is, Marrakesh. This is one of the gateways to the center of the city it's, currently lunchtime, on Monday we've. Got a flight out of here on Friday, morning. In that time we've, got a route plotted out there's four hundred pays long we've got to go over the Atlas Mountains, turn, right when we get to the desert and then, all the way back over the Atlas it is, only. Eight thousand litres of climbing but. There's also a catch we checked out the route on commute while we were planning and it's telling us that there's potentially, a large amount of off-road riding on. Debris, in. Its own words it was extreme, mountain biking extreme, mountain biking cheer, by packing Josh.

Well. We. Survived, which, i think is the main thing and they're actually. Really durable like super, hectic. But. You know like you. Get into it. Control. Chaos yeah you play by the rules you're, okay you, start trying to stop at traffic lights the thing is it's gonna go wrong for you all. Horses as you found out she fell, when you're looking at that black drop with those mountains, you. Kind of always know where you're going you're. Just going to hear them calling. Come. On let's go. So. Josh, maybe you, should fill is in a little bit more. On your back story I've said that you've won, the Transcontinental. Which you have I said, you like sleeping in hedges, which, you do but. How exactly we got to, this place and so. Early as well cuz you're only 29, actually, 30 today sorry, they do that I. Fish. Their masters Rachel. Actually. Started in a very similar fashion to you so. I started racing across country in the UK yeah by. Founders, as I, got older I was just better I don't especially the longer races kind. Of Americans and. Then through, University I started in 12-hour man two boat races and. I want a few did well for, the next step was kind of 24-hour. Racing and, then, I really enjoyed stage races and. It kind of escalated from there and then I, saw. People like Michael who I raced against a new do. The round-the-world trip and then he started the transcontinental, race yeah and, one tour divided and I was really inspired and, I. Was actually really scared to do the Transcontinental, race to start with. It's. Intimidating. Exactly. And I've never done anything like it before so, I, didn't enter the first one, but. I've watched avidly I was a dog watcher and the day. Finished I booked a one-way flight to Slovenia brought. The kit and rode home and that was that and. Then actually oriented and it kind of escalated. So, actually by packing, came out of a competitive. Thing and then. And now do you, bike pack for by packing itself. I mean you went around the world yeah, bloody summer I've done extensive traveling. And I, actually, found that the, TCR, open my eyes yeah, because I've never been really outside of like. Sort of sense of the Western. Europe area yeah and, it's all very fun of, similar. And TCR. Took me to recent Europe and really, opened my eyes you're, right from your house basically a year, the first year I did it was in London, and. Then you ride all its Turkey and you see the gradual change I just love to change the cultures yeah and I wanted to see more. So. Now I have a seat mr. places in the world I want to see Rocco. Being one of them nice I love. It it's a whether, it's racing or. Just cruising around seeing the place. Some. Kind. Of sonic clip I am used to but there. Is a pair of boxer shorts in there. Well. It's time for, second, breakfast, we're, at 1400 meters in the, foothills of the Atlas and you know what. Now. See. One. Of the things I'm learning to love about by packing is the fact that you stop whenever. You want and have. A something to eat and drink the, great thing is you can pretty much eat whatever you want as well ah the. Coffee yes so this is a, Moroccan specialty. Called an lessness which means a half and half so I, think, that's this press a and milk. Sucking. Kind of a cortar day and, we're rocking flat white amazing. Listener that's what it's all about hipsters. Every hour being obscene. Oh. My. God look. At that. Oh wow. That's. The one what. A spot to ride in push bike. Last. Sighs talk this is the spot mate. Wow. Look at that. How. Nice. Poor. Cats, go peps song okay. I'm cute I'm cute ah okay. Okay. So this is apparently. A barbecue, joint so we are choosing, on, meat they're, gonna grill it for us and then there's a super cool place at the back over a suspension. Bridge or, amazing spot. You. Know didn't, believe, you, this is missed me, oh it's going to cuff top. Yeah. Engineering. Right. Here we go this is the literal high point of day, two as, you can see it is the summit of the cold Attica at, two thousand, two hundred and sixty meters it's been a pretty, long slog to get up here but it's not the most brutal climb I think we've ever done no no it's not the steepest think there's a few sections but.

It's Kind of pretty gradual the thing that got the most with it was the thin air yeah, and last half hour we've been out breath quite a lot yeah and three Pharisees stopping for lunch halfway, up probably. Helped as did stopping for second breakfast, before. That so it's. Not like we've raced up is it no it's definitely not no but what we do have now is pretty, much thirty, kilometers of uninterrupted descent. To. Where were sleeping tonight and, I would like to add I, got, here first. Well. There we go that. Is day. Two done. Little bit harder than day one it's got we said we have now on the south side of the Atlas Mountains having just ridden over them what, Dex Blin incredible. Views gone from like the lush northern. Slopes on the way yet up from Marrakech to here where it's super, arid isn't it right just incredible, wood now about at the town of eggwin and this is where we're going to stand for the night to, refuel have a good sleep and tomorrow, we, head off into. The unknown but. We know a little bit actually we. Know it's gonna be some gravel we, know there's very few supply of resupply points and. We. Know it might get a bit bit. Scary yeah this, is the pointer which, kamut. Said that it's going to be an extreme mountain by ride and. Actually. We, have got no hotel tomorrow night we are bidding out in, the High Atlas so. That's. A first for me let's hope is not too cold there. Anyway. That's tomorrow first, things first a beer. And a, refuel and possibly a shower. Moroccans. Really. Know how to do breakfast that's for sure so just, finishing off, fresh-squeezed. Orange juice that was a useless coffee. Bollocks. Bread, bad. Boy is it omelet with cumin this, is miss ermine which is developer. Pancake it's. Kind of like, a Chia battery or something. Funny. So. Everyone eats for breakfast. It's. Gonna be a big day mate, and. Ironic. So. 3,000, meters of ascent today, and. What, that translates as, in. Reality. Is, 3000. Meters of ascent. Which. I kind, of really glossed over until. We start struggling up the first 11%, gradient. He. Is gonna be a big day this. Civilization. I. Was. Not expecting that maybe. Not. Entirely sure where we are this little. Village has just come out of nowhere on this epic. Descent, and pranks. Market day Wednesdays market day we're just going to see whether we can grab some some. Lunch second. Lunch before. We disappear, off kind. Of up that way into the mountains where there it's cool hanging. Out some kids they. Speak French don't. Speak my eleven French narrator. Joe. Now. By now you've probably worked out that Josh and I are not completely alone on this trip and that is very good thing because otherwise all you would be watching is a load of shaky GoPro footage and listening to a load of wind noise and you would also be missing out on all the how-to videos, are going to be coming out on the channel over the next few weeks is Josh he's taking us through the, finer points of bike packing but anyway rather than hide that, fact we thought we would introduce our little crew so this is Tom who is our filmmaker this is Pete's riding, the motorbike that Tom can sit on and then, this is Aziz who's our local legend and he is driving that 4x4. To stash camera kit and Pete and Tom's luggage in, at. This point it's worth pointing out that we. Are carrying everything, we would use on this trip if we were doing it by ourselves I'm. Pretty adamant that Saye does it properly I wanted to have a proper backpacking, experience and, therefore. We're not taking any advantage, of the full buy for the motorbike to carry stuff for us we're doing this properly we are indeed now we're going to be together for, pretty much the whole trip except this much-talked-about Wednesday, afternoon, Wednesday evening Thursday, morning, we're effectively, Josh and I are going to be using tracks that only bikes, can go on apparently. Yeah, hopefully they can go on them hopefully, the tracks exist we don't know. The. Last 20k has been amazing, gradually. Undulating, those. Are nice curves, great news yeah. A real contrast, this morning where we were climbing, up through this really, arid, landscape, and then, suddenly descending, down this valley this. Beautiful. Oasis. Next to the river the bomb that's. Just been magic and there, and. We weren't even expecting tarmac. We thought their roads all day said, maybe. Wouldn't see that after a time.

Well. This is the point at which the, guys are gonna have to leave us so. We're gonna do a ceremony you'll hand over of, camera. And. Well. This is it now Josh I guess. The. I. Guess the point, is gonna go down yeah. A little bit maybe. Fine I've. Seen them I've seen them do this all the time. So. That. Is it the guys are leaving us it's. Currently just after 6:00 in the evening and. We've got another couple of hours of riding before josh reckons, it's gonna be time to bivy out so, it's converse you gonna depend a little bit on location, it's going to depend a little bit on altitude, we don't want to be up too high. We've got to go over about 8,000, feet so. We. Better do some peddling hey mate. So. Now at 2,000 meters and, we find our way up this valley, and. It's not quite what we're expecting it's actually we've. Been passing loads of tiny villages, all this green land. And. The little villages here were fully self-sufficient yeah. It's incredible it's like a secret Kingdom, totally. Wasn't expecting, to find like. Well, so many people up there like there's just enough water in that stream down below to irrigate, enough. Land that, you can grow wheat. Old barley there's, a load of fruit trees down there there's. Nut trees yeah walnuts, almonds, it's, just this incredible isn't it's like a little mini paradise, hanging, mm, it's not the Atlas Mountains and really isolate any way yeah I mean this this, road probably and. It's super-new so, I guess, they. Really. Let's. See if that continues oh, yeah. Right. We've got our gravel, at last even if we can't fully appreciate the. Majesty, of it given, there is pitch black but basically, the. One who is telling us that we are on the summit platter and we're just about to drop off down into what. Looks like a sheltered, Valley, so given, this a little bit of spindle split up here we are gonna head, down before we actually get into, our sleeping bags and camp for the night and also we've, got a bear mind there's a rather impressive lightning, storm going on just over there and, so this doesn't feel like a particularly, sensible, face to stop and back.

To Fair it's. Pretty cool up here the stars are absolutely, incredible the. Riding is great we've got enough enough. Lumens, between us to enjoy it properly, fantastic. What do you think Josh I'm, loving it right oh, there you are my a minor you regret right now is that we can't see the view I know I'm a meeting. Oh. Just. To appease Josh, I am. Gonna. Be in Miami tonight. This. Is it baby, time. Wait. Here Josh I got. Some, boat riding today when. They had me coffee here mate. Maybe. We'll get a few Cairo belts and get warm and then stop. For coffee speak, for yourself my time very warm, very comfortable. I'm, quiet for a lion I'm quite honest anyway. You. Think quicker, the more you practice. It. So. This is attractive, found ourselves on last night we. Slept down here just off the side of the road and. Then. You basically, descended. From. These mountains up here. You. Can see the Sun rising now. Says. Great, you awesome really okay. I. Think you get the big camera out for this shot. Right. Now. This is one of its the trip that I've actually been most looking forward to thing and I know it sounds silly but, stopping. Somewhere absolutely, incredible early, in the morning for, breakfast, and a, coffee now that, is our master barista just there yeah that's Josh. We. Got water. On the go. We've. Got our. Drip. Coffee, that's right and then, we've. Got a, selection. Of the coffee beans this one is. Sent. In by mate this is ember, ground coffee for, the travelling cyclist oh yeah. Well. Yeah yeah, this is me now -, oh. Yeah. Look at that that's. Just it. That. Is actually a bag of quick. So. How was that descent. Awesome. How's, the food awesome. Pretty good right now about second. Breakfast go this is amazing. Yeah, pretty, much pretty, much one of the best days riding ever and it's still not even lunchtime like, that was just incredible. Yeah. True. True highlight. So. Sorry last night was the first night out under, the stars in. The middle of a mountains we're back on the tarmac now how, you feeling. Mate. I'm buzzing to be honestly like, it's really funny when we were talking about it Josh and I beforehand. Joslyn. Said ah I don't really see it is day three and day four it's one big day with, a bivy in the middle I didn't. Really understand, but now I do like it's. Hard to separate, but. You know sleeping under the stars. From. The amazing trails of the road, in order to get down to a second breakfast. We're, up in traffic jam. Okay, so according, to the old wahoo we've got just thirteen and a half cage, to go until, Marrakesh. It kind of feels a little bit mission that comes it's on it despite the fact that for, the first time in our four hundred K trip we, found ourselves on, slightly, uninspiring, roads, really and with a massive, block, headwind, but, it's been a pretty good day up to now yeah. I mean this morning is incredible, waking up in the mountains, and so. Brightening our way through the deep gorges, has been amazing, and. That's. Nice just have a platter. On into the finish yeah we're behind me we've, descended to gnaw thousand meters today and climbed, only a thousand, so that. Gives you a pretty good idea of what kind of a day it's been now. Josh I've got a question for you mate so now I've got a little, bit of experience, of bite backing a little bit I'm, really intrigued so you've. Done like big fight packing tours but. You've also got your ultra endurance racing, which is I guess like. Competitive, fight, packing, for want of a better phrase to. Help you have. You combined, the two like what what. Took you from by packing to racing. Or vice versa which. I actually win the background so I went from racing, and kind, of the old to endurance bike back in races towards. Touring I found. Like. Especially the transcontinental race I really. Enjoyed seeing new countries, new cultures, and, I've always had that competitive, aspect to me as well yeah I'm sure you know that from your history. So I, found that I love the. Kind. Of a trillion of in ultra. Durance are really stripped you back to the bare basics I mean this new Bunch there's no set. Course there's no tape, on the side of the track it's. Just you and your bike and. You're essentially surviving. And it almost to me feels like, it's. Kind of natural instinct. Essentially. We are kind of we've evolved, from, plants. To gatherers and I feel like when we're when. You're racing you. Kind of revert back to those instincts you're thinking about food you're. Thinking about shelter, and, you're. Thinking about being chased and chasing. People yeah Korey Kuhl it's really nice to strip I like insect. Does it differ very much for what we were doing it.

Does In the sense that we're, not racing, non-stop yeah so we have quite a luxurious villa I'm not gonna lie luxurious, Vivek it was it was a gentle instruction. But. Yeah. So there's the main difference is in a race you probably do that one here the. Less than 300 miles out that would be a non-stop. Er yeah, well. I tell you what I'm glad we stopped yes sir. There, we go mate the, koutoubia mosque. Built. In the 11th century namely, in Marrakech and it's, gotta be said has a fitting, spot to, finish our Morocco epic, Marrakech over the Atlas over, some more Atlas Mountains and then back over the Atlas to, finish here 400 caged 8,000. Meters of climbing we, did it may be dipped yeah, I tell you what I've got to say a huge, thank you to Josh, for coming, along and show me the ropes it's, been a fantastic experience for me there's gonna be loads more videos coming up on the channel showing exactly how we've done that what we've done I would've. Been lost without you mate and speaking, of which I see thank you for the route to be using your experience, it. Looked, a little dicey at one point but actually it worked out brilliantly so, mate thank you again no problem at all thanks for inviting me it was a really really tough ride actually although. A look pretty short on paper, compared, to some of the rides I've done it, was certainly one of the toughest so. I just want to say on behalf of the flight pack as well world wise. You've. Earned, the. Right to finally, clip, your mark once your saddle packs. On. Buddy. Ok, Josh now I'm gonna suggest that we break from, GCM tradition, and rather than going and heading, straight for the bar maybe. We're gonna have showers first what do you think really after, all effort, ok. So we are going straight to the bar do. Make sure you give this video a big thumbs up if you've enjoyed it and, if you can't wait until, our bike packing content begins in earnest then why not head over to the tech channel right. Now where, there is an in-depth video about, this very bike the one that has just survived a bike, back in epic.

2018-05-14 17:49

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Comments:

What country would you go bike packing in?

Wakanda and liberated Free Scotland. Too bad the former has extremely tight border control and the latter does not exist yet.

I've been bikepacking some in northern Norway, with tents and stuff. It would be cool to try something different too, Morocco seemed awesome.

Russia - Siberia

Carretera Austral in Chile

Seriously good idea - you should consider GCN rides in many of these suggested countries. New Zealand's South Island of course being the most scenic.

China would be cool!

Colombia with its amazing scenarios on the Andes

Global Cycling Network Egypt!!!!!

Croatia!

Ireland

Albania, Romania and Vietnam are my favorites that I've already been. Pakistan and northern India are the places i'd most like to go next. Logistics are a bit more difficult though. The Balkans are great in general.

The Tour Aotearoa here in New Zealand. Mostly off-road the length of the country. To pick somewhere overseas - Iceland!

Romania ... so many beautiful sceneries and remote places to visit and explore

Nepal !!

Sicily/Malta

California (Is that a country)? SF Bay Area-Sierra Nevada

the philippine cordillera is a bit special

Anywhere everywhere, mainly off-road and not UK lol

Love your channel. I am living in Japan and my goal is to bikepacking from Kyushu to Sapporo

Global Cycling Network hawaii

Wakanda forever

I'd like to do some days and days of riding in California in places both new and old to me, and more realistically in the near future, I'd like to do two-day escapes here in Pennsylvania--ride about twelve hours in one direction, stay overnight in a cheap motel, wind my way back the next day. I've done the camping thing and I would do it again with friends, but for a solo ride, I'd rather do more of a glamping thing and stay in a motel.

Ben Tidswell that sounds epic!! I’m going to start doing more rides around the greater Tokyo area then branch out to mini bikepacking rides. Bike bag and trains give lots of options here

Not Mexico!

Labrador, Canada

Planning a trip to Japan. Tour of 43 prefectures. 4 months, 5000km. Gonna be amazing.

Definitely here in Japan. While known for the high speed bullet trains and crowds, get a bit out of the cities and cycling is awesome. Lots of rural areas, lower speed limits of cars and unique scenery, culture and food. I’ve got myself a saddlebag after some recent inspiration for commuting, now looking at going further afield. Trek Emonda or Fairdale Weekender was my question but the fat tyre benefits you showed in the video I think helped me make that decision.

I'd like to go bikepacking here in Canada. In particular, I'd like to ride between L'ainse aux Meadows and Gros Morne.

Mongolia!

Definitely not Morocco!

I'm thinking Wakanda, I read they have flying bikes there.

Argentina and Chile

Lakotah095 with those two I’d use a coin and then spend the coin in the country that you go to. Good luck and enjoy

Australia or Egypt

Turkey would be amazing. Friendly people, great weather, stunning scenery.

Global Cycling Network Northwest USA manly that's where I live but with the planed routes already on RWGPS I'll be exploring for the next 20 years just hours from home. I traveled the globe enough the last thirty years time to see what's out my back door :-)

Mike Pop what region did you go to. I have been through Murcia and northern Spain. Fantastic!

Morocco to Cape Town. That would be awesome.

Matej Burian actually it probably has a lot of unspoilt beautiful countryside. However, you'd be constantly fearing for your life!

United States, the Pacific Coast Highway from near the Canadian border down to San Diego with plenty side trips. A bit of an obvious choice since I live in California. A more adventurous trip with even better views would be from Portland, Oregon, east to Glacier National Park. Much more remote with lots of beautiful mountains and lots of climbing.

Did 300 mile of the Scotland North 500 route in 2016. Great fun, the "Mad Wee Road" and not seeing a traffic light until we terminated in Thurso. We had loads of beers there before the 13 hour train back to London.

Any.

Japan!

England

I'm starting locally in Quebec this year, ultimately, in two years morocco was the goal.

New Zealand or Japan.

Oh - and if you think 2200m is breathtaking, the Baralacha La (the Baralache Pass) in Ladahk is over 5000m.

Northern Pakistan - The Atlas Mountains on steroids - I guess you'd love Little Kashmir between Gilgit and Chitral. Or India - Ladakh and Zanskar - more tourists (of both varieties) but more mega climbs among jaw-dropping mountains and amazing landscapes.

Romania pretty rural and "hilly" trip around Transylvania sleepover somewhere in the forest would be nice :D ^^ Transfogaraska and Transalpina probably one of the most beauty full roads in Europe

I have motorcycle toured Morocco and most of europe I think Romania would be really intresting bike packing

I'd love to try it in Slovenia!

Sage Era I was just thinking Samerica too. Good choice on that!

Ireland, Greece, Italy, Norway.

South Africa!

GB :D

Spain, done it before and 10/10 would do it again in a different region.

Not a country but I'd love to go bike packing In the Andes

more morocco dude

First of all I must say "GCN did again!" and I have earlier ask about video with bike packing and got it. I would do a bike packing through several of countries with end in Bristol at GCN for say hello to all the great people who do the greatest bike program on earth. You are so inspirational!

france -> germany -> switzerland -> france again -> spain -> portugal in that order

Global Cycling Network riding across Spain on the Camino this September!

Europe is great for a taster and I would recommend London to Paris as a first trip if you go via Dieppe but honestly anywhere in Asia is awesome, Thailand for example has a great bike culture and the food is awesome and a trip can be done for as cheap as chips, Philippines for being well off the beaten track but the food can be a issue.SHOULD ADD, Where is the GPX link for this trip??..

I think bikepacking trough Europe would be cool. Start in the Netherlands and go to Italy, trough Germany and Austria

Denmark and maybe next year Estonia.

Global Cycling Network Algeria

Two places I've visited that I'd love to go back to and bike tour would be Jordan and Ethiopia. In Jordan the roads around Petra are amazing - whilst the roads in the highlands of Ethiopia to from Addis to Dessie were the most scenic I've seen. The people in both places were also super hospitable too.

Lhasa ,Italy, France,Switzerland,Spain and Morocco here you guys rode!

New Zealand, Taiwan, or—while it's not a country by itself—Hawai'i (probably the big island) would all be toward the top of my list. Islands featuring mountains, combined with the infinite horizon of an ocean, provide for a stunning juxtaposition of nature's two most remarkable landscapes, and this seems like a superb choice of venue for bike packing.

UK ,, am from Greece , is to hot and dry ,, and no forest,

Iceland!

In my own country Denmark....Why ? gettin too lazy for uphill ;) and there are so many places this big city boy has never been, that it is almost shame full :)

Greece

I'm thinking Japan, probably in or around Hokkaido or the Kansai area. This, right after a bikepacking trip to a natural wonder somewhere close to home.

Southern China

Global Cycling Network a rural country, like somewhere in south america! Maybe Rocky Mountains in canada, or a green quiet charming area :D when thinking about it that’s one gorgeous hell of a trip

Probably best to stick to Zwift in your living room and pretend to be camping out in a mountain with Isis terrorists hunting you down.

Matej Burian Yeah, cycling up that mountain they just nuked would be exciting.

Morocco more!

North Korea

Heyyy! Welcome to Morocco!

loved this

Great video.  Slightly minor question but anyone know what shorts Si is wearing?  Look ideal for when full lycra is inappropriate.

Chile and Argentina Patagonia

great video, try Madagascar next!

Does GCN has a Komoot account? Can you guys share your route tracks? Congrats to all the GCN team you guys rock!!!

I can't find the musics on YT...

"Morocco's capital of Marrakesh" errrrr, Morocco's capital is Rabat (fantastic vid btw)

i want more

Wow! Great video! Why would someone downvote this?

Amazing video. Great inspiration, can't wait to see more. Cheers

The Very Best epic ride video! Inspiring! More!!!

I doubt you can read all these comments, but I hope you do! I just want to say great job. Not only was this video amazing and inspiring, but all your videos are. You guys do a great job of explaining new topics like gravel grinding and bike packing. I love how mtbn and gtn started. Im a huge fan of all you do!

Deeply inspiring stuff. I hate to lower the tone, but did nature call when you were out under the stars?

Love these long form adventure bits! Lloydy's up next I believe, maybe a tour of his favorite Cervelo Test Team races, or an 'Amstel Tour' where he follows the Amstel Gold route but gets beers along the way...

Everything about that was amazing, the experience, the filming, the editing, the music choice. Top marks guys, loved it, and now jealous :D

Awesome!

Epic rides, bucket list rides, specials like Taiwan KOM, classic sportif’s all these special types of cycling are so good to watch and plan your own off the back of what you see here. Epic guys love it! The only thing I could have like a little bit better if Matt was in it as well. Miss the old bugger a lot and hope to see some cameos and guest presenting from him soon.

Excellent video, genuinely inspiring :)

Totally fantastic! I want to do that, inspired. Will you be planning to show an hour long version. Great work.

'We're Up In Traffic Jam'

one word: EPIC

@ 20 mins. That's the best wave goodbye I've ever seen.

Brilliant stuff!!!

I must confess, I got a little bit emotional during that video. Really inspiring. Great work guys.

Best thing about bike packing is you can have a beer when you stop without having to worry about getting back into a car

what are the bikes specs? more tyres? width?

Well That Was Awesome

AMAZING video! Thanks

AZIZ LIGHT!

Great vid. Thanks

What was your average speed? Mph/Kph

Give away bike plss thanks

I'm sure there were at least 8 second breakfasts on that 5 day trip.

That was really a great piece: your effort, how informative it was, the filmmaking, the lot. Good on ya!

Si you have the best job ever

What is the model of the saddle bag you're using? Looks very convenient.

That is so cool and amazing! Bikepacking looks so fun! Hats off to Si!

Lovely to watch and being from the area of Värmland in Sweden I was surprised and super amazed by the "Ack Värmeland du sköna" song as you departed Marrakesh. Let me know if you ever want to come over to Sweden and Värmland for some sweet gravel roads through endless forests.

Great experience. Is the distance 400 km or miles or I heard it wrongly altogether?

One of my fav GCN videos yet, very cool. I feel stoopid for not bikepacking in Morocco when I was there. Music pairs well with the video too. Well done.

Brilliant. I think the music stepped up a bunch too? It also got me wondering when you guys are going to produce a movie!

Great video. Epic views and the food looked pretty decent.

How was the Moroccan hash?

This was an immensely enjoyable video. Please, more like this!

Great film! ”Ceremonial hand over of camera.... I guess the quality is gonna go down a bit now...”- and the entire world goes out of focus

Went on a (car) tour of the Atlas mountains last year. Highly recommended, more so if you're based in Europe.

Man, I watched the shit out of this video! What a cool thing! I really like these new adventures that GCN is taking us on. Si has never looked more windswept and interesting.

About 10 minutes into this video I thought "GCN should do a GCN video, video" about how a GCN video is made. And then you touch onto that with introductions of the crew. Good work!

Hi, from Morocco. =)

An amazing video ! Well done guys!!

Best GCN video ever! Well done! More like this, please!

Great video! I wish I was 20 years younger and didn't have a mended spine! Can't imagine trying to sleep with the sheep at my age and current condition. I'd be a bit concerned about carbon Zipp hoops on that ride. No sign of any Zipp distributors or dealers in Morocco! Good to see that you went with mechanical groupset!

gee, what an epic ride. I have done some one-day double centuries with off road bits but this is taking it to a whole new level! I would though be personally more worried about the food, eating were you did was probably the most adventurous thing in the whole deal. Did you have any food related problems @si_richardsongcn ?

Beautiful adventure, GCN! It was refreshing to see something non-racing related. Keep up the awesome work!

Excellent video of an epic ride - totally loved it.

Great video apart from the dead animals in the barbecue joint. Please consider your vegan and vegetarian viewers next time. Cheers

incredible ride! and this is your job? lol, no of course i'm not jealous, superb video, thank you guys, great job si.

Super! Thank you

Great film. On my opinion, best on GCN. Hopefully more will come :))

great video!

Do more bike packing

Oh dear, is that cup sufficiently "aero" for this channel?

Thank you Josh for showing Si how to do bikepacking the right way. That little bunny would have been Si roadkill otherwise.

john smythe Glad you enjoyed it!

Absolutely great video, it brought me back, somehow, to "Hans Rey's Egypt Adventure" that I've been watching hundred times as a kid! I was waiting for the replicas of it and now I could just hit the "play" button again. Anyway, wow, those gravel bikes are definitely capable of off road. It seems like the gap between mountain biking and road cycling got bigger in the last years, but I reckon many people were actually using mountain bikes in the way people now could you use a perfectly suited gravel bike. One of the reasons I switched to road biking is that I gradually started to enjoy more cycling faster and further and the smooth action of pedalling itself, mountain bikes can be a bit clumsy in this respect. But the possibility to have a PERFECT bridge between the disciplines is really really exciting!

The great thing about bike packing is the speed. You travel slowly enough to take in your surrounding and to stop and meet people. More of these videos please.

E x c e l e n t e....!!!

You guys have an exceptionally good job.

Fantastic. Can not fault it. One of GCN's best.

Some of your best work there. Great viewing. Spot on.

Fantastic vid, very jealous!

Have we any strava files for the 4 days that would be great to see I think!

I think this is the best film you guys have ever done. Excellent stuff!

Amazing lads, nice one

This is everything I love about cycling. Amazing video. I realize these take a lot more money and time to produce but this video really is on another level, so a couple of these a year along with the odd presenter challenge really would make this the Top Gear of cycling. Just never get as scripted as Top Gear please. I am going to go buy something from your store shortly just to show my support of this brilliant content.

Oh just to add the odd UK overnighter would be a good vid too, you don't always have to travel to Bikepack.

Josh is bobbing all over the place on the bike

Ahh Damm guys... this video ... soo Ace! You really brought a smile to my face... and a longing to escape on my bike. Well done indeed!

wow nice ride nice video its a grand tour or top gear with bikes

Mate

Is Simon wearing GCN baggies?!?

Great video. Really interesting and so much better than anything GMBN is doing these days. Keep up the good work.

Excellent video, quality production. I really enjoyed every minute. Thanks Si, Josh and the team

Amazing!

the most awesome thing GCN has ever done!!!

We need more Vidio Like this !!

Brilliant video I love Morocco my wife and I honeymooned there we intend going back on our tenth anniversary (2019) ... This video is giving me ideas we bring the bikes

I thoroughly enjoyed this video well done GCN !

Please do The tour divide GCN/GMBN mash up race

very nice video. i want to ask that which modifications did you do with yours' bike? like tires were thicker than road bikes.

So when can we expect to see 'Meet the newest GCN Presenter, Josh Ibbett' to be released?

Brilliant video. Anywhere touring v special. NE lincs or SE Yorkshire beautiful and quiet. Congrats more pl

Great effort and video!

this just might push me over the edge to quit my job and travel the world again by bike

I could stand a few more of these grand tours :)

Alaska. Please..

Great Video! I would love to see many more videos with bike packing content. I'm sure many others would also.

Definitely the best video I've seen so far! Awesome!

17:41

Great video, truly amazing!

Global Cycling Network southwest Australia from Perth to Albany , epic 14 days

North West Coast Scotland!

Bolivia to Peru in June! Super hyped but a bit scared aswell...

Thailand

All of them.

Taiwan ! ! ! Small Island Big Adventure ! ! !

Norway

Sweden and China

Philippines!

New Zealand

i have tried Taiwan and S.Korea. Next will be CapetoCape Japan!

I want to go bike packing in UK/ Ireland

The U.S. actually has states that don't border the Pacific (it's true). How about the Blueridge Parkway for example?

The Western Way, Ireland

Quite happy to explore the bikepacking options here in Canada!

Pamir/Karakoram Highway and Yungas Road!!!

Somewhere warm. Avoid the areas of Taliban.

Yeah! We have great bucolic landscapes in Brazil.

Brazil! We have some breathtaking roads to show on a bike.

Overly Under Rated - Central Ontario - the Canadian Shield - Unique, Majestic, "Your's to Discover"!

Whichever country is the least windy and cold.

North Korea would be great, but S.K. has better coffee shops and already has great bike paths that span the country corner to corner, as well as good roads. The pack maybe isn't needed though. SK this year. The Koreas in a few more maybe.

come to turkey please!

Israel!

The cinematography on this has really stepped up, it's like a top gear special. Great work team.

I AM SOOO GLAD YOU DID THIS GUYS! Two of my favorites watching GCN and Bike-packing touring!

What an amazing trip! I can't think of many things i'd rather do than what Simon got to do in this video..Please do more of these trips Simon!

Anyone from morocco ?

I really like how you prononce "nes nes coffee" is amazing coffee it is my favorite coffee. I watched your videos from USA but I am pure moroccan . thanks guys

Great video, inspiring. Josh makes a fine presenter too. Nice new topic to explore.

Where's the 'love it' button!!??

Fantastic video, seems like an epic experience.

If there was ever a video GCN have made that has inspired me then this is it. One with nature. One with your bike. One with your riding buddies. One with your pants! Really thinking about organising a bikepacking trip into the wilderness with my grown up sons. What a way to reconnect with your grown up family. I would urge GCN to do more, more and MORE of these videos. The ambience is less about competing with the clock, getting the best gear or kit, analysing your data and being a competitive wheenie! This bikepacking comes across as raw and pure biking. EPIC. WONDERFUL. INSPIRING. BEAUTIFUL. The chemistry between Josh and Si really works well too. MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE of this!

...and that scenery???????? WOOOOOOOHHHHHHPPPP

I really enjoyed this video. Thank you. What was the music that backed the descent from Tichka? Not on Shazam...

I loved the epic rides series, but this takes it to the next level. What an awesome video. One question though, was there any chamois cream involved, or is it true that endurance bike packers have balls of steel????

Joyous video! Small tech question....what dynamo is Josh using? Cheers.

Anyone have experience cycling around the Gulf of Finland? I'm thinking of bikepacking Helsinki - Viborg - Novgorod - Narva - Tallinn

You guys seem to have a different video shooting/cutting style. It's awesome

Oh this is so enjoyable!!

Glad you enjoyed it Tomi!

This is so cool!

Cheers Willem

MASSIVE THUMBS UP!!

Are we going to get an depth look at the gear and equipment used? How gear was packed? Brand of bike packing bags, sleeping bag used(weight of gear) etc. ✌

Hey Antonio, check out this video on the 3T bikes http://gcntech.co/3texploro

*sigh*.....just wonderful

Thanks Helen!

Great vid and a terrific topic. Hope to see many more like this, especially with lists of gear carried.

Can you make a video on how to take a first aid kit with you while biking?

Epic.

Huge thumbs up! Planning my first bikepacking trip now. Unbelievable scenery. Amazing how much Si put in to this video.

This is an epic video! Well done mates!

Cheers Gabe

Thanks for the route too mate. Enter awkward silence

What cycling bib/shorts are you wearing? Semi baggy bibs?

Which Wahoo model are you using?

What a captivating film and incredibly beautiful production! I am truly inspired. This is the best thing I've ever seen from GCN...Ever!

Thanks Dan

What a fantastic video! Thanks for making in. Where can I buy the baggy GCN shorts like those that Si wears?

Hi Richard, we used our GCN bib shorts with ASSOS MTB style shorts over the top. They had the GCN logo as a one-off, but you can still buy the shorts on ASSOS website

Beautifully done GCN. Truly a well made video and entertaining trip through Morocco and its culture

Cheers Dan

Great video! Thanks for sharing this most excellent adventure.

Thanks Scott

this is so cool ! thanks GCN

Thanks Shari

What a great adventuristic video!!!

20:10 Josh's wave game Is strong.

Man that is epic. Love it

I absolutely fucking love this! Look, I know you guys got to pay the bills, but this was really really nice to just enjoy a half hour of Epic cycling without a bunch of plugged product and paid advertisement filler.

And no flats, lucky devils.

The dirt fireroad looks just like Romero canyon trail in Santa Barbara! Except no ocean vista on the way down. Same chaparral tho

Broke back mountain

I'm a big fan of this content. Thanks man. Keep it coming!

Thanks!

Epic guys, we want more

Thanks, stay tuned for more bikepacking content!

This was a superb video. I want to see more bike packing tours from around the world like this. Mixing travel and culture into the video makes it more accessible to a wider audience and more entertaining. It's also inspiring for roadies who are interested in trying touring and bike packing. Hope to see more how-to videos around this trip. Specifically with the gear and how you planned the logistics of what you needed, how much of it you needed, route planning, etc. Keep it up!!

Stay tuned Brian

Nice to see the bus pull over as it passed you. Good sign. Way to step up the content GCN!

very well done everyone. Thank you

Cheers!

This might be my favorite GCN video ever. So dreamy, what a lush production!

Thanks Camille!

Awesome, thank you for the great video. Any chance you could post the detail of the route (GPX file?)

fg velo It’s up on my Strava at the moment but we’ll see if we can put it somewhere better.

I've been dreaming about you guys starting a touring/bikepacking channel for a while now. I've even made listings of regular shows you could do. Pretty please??

Stay tuned for plenty more bikepacking content

The two best things GCN has brought to my attention: Videos of Lasty climbing steep hill and videos of Simon touring. Thanks GCN!

You're welcome Steven!

Indypac next year Si?

9:22 now that's a knife. Another great video from GCN, love the travel log videos keep them coming. First came GCN, then came GCN Tech. Next? GCN Travel....

Great video! where next?

Any suggestions?

Brilliant video. Do more stuff with Josh!

Thanks Keir! We have a special #askgcn coming us with Josh so stay tuned!

My home country - fantastic video

Thanks Brahim!

too much bobbing

Is there a Strava for this? If live to see the speeds, route etc. I just did a month bike touring and found my speed on hills could be really slow at times. (9km at ~7km/h was the worst section.)

Global Cycling Network thanks!

It's currently on Si's Strava Byron

Best video in GCN history! Not bikepacking per say (using panniers and a tent), but we are touring Iceland for 3 weeks in July.

Thanks Tobias! Let us know how you get on!

A channel that actually listens to its viewers - we've been asking for this for some time! I'm so very glad you've started this series; it should be a great guide for those of us who are bikepacking noobs! Cheers GCN!

That's always our aim EastStandManc, so glad you enjoyed it!

Brilliant video, thanks, can you share the Komoot route ?

Excellent video and expedition, GCN! Who can I get in touch with to get Si to come ride with Bike Tour Japan (biketourjapan.com) this fall? Beautiful countryside roads, delicious local eats, tranquil shrines, natural hot-springs, and volcano climbs to epic views of rural Japan. Like if you want to see a video of Si exploring the amazing North Alps of Japan! Please get in touch :)

Thanks for the invite Robert!

Just simply Brilliant. Plus It’d be great to see Josh regularly on the show.

PLEASE MORE LIKE THIS!

Stay tuned Allan!

Love this sort of content. Can't wait to see more of this. Congrats!

Gustavo Santos cheers!

Favorite video so far. Watching the descent on that dirt road made me nervous. Maybe because I just went down on one? Either way, great work. Edit: a behind the scenes video for this trip would be excellent.

Thanks David, glad you enjoyed it

I went to the exact same restaront in october

Glad to see this type of content, really enjoyed it! Hope to see more in the future, long live GCN

Cheers Juan!

Awesome and inspiring well done on this film.

Thanks Robert

Fantastic video guys. Its got me hooked. My two favourite pass times, travel and biking. Can't wait for another adventure.

Thanks Nigel!

Stunning. Please please do more of these types of videos. This massively ups the standard of YouTube videos and is something in would expect from National Geographic.

Thanks Ben!

Really enjoyed watching this. Feeling inspired. Thanks

Thanks George

No punctures so far

One of the best viedo on GCN channel!

Wow! Genuinely new and interesting content, and briliantly edited at that!

Thanks Kosio!

Where did you get (or what are) those rear triangles? They were really eyecatching. Dull question, lovely video.

Looks like a bike version of a Car Warning Triangle. A quick Google search yielded this: https://www.adventurecycling.org/cyclosource-store/equipment/sp/jogalite-cyclists-safety-triangle/

Unironic fist pump

7:18 I was there :)))

More of this. Wasn't going to watch it and did. It was amazing

Thanks Noel

Brilliant!

The editing on this video was sweet!

Cheers Ben!

I’ve watched only the first 10 minutes of this amazing video. GCN should really take the time to make more of these ‘epic’ or ‘adventure’ videos going forward. Brilliant watching and really inspiring.

Glad you enjoyed it Tom

What time of the year did you do it ?

Last month Enrico

What a great video ...........

Great video, inspiring content. Keep it up.

Best video till now. Keep up the good work. Debating if I should even go to work tomorrow and not just leave on my bike.

Cheers Tom!

That trip looks awesome. So does the food.

Thanks Bryan, it really was awesome!

Bike-pack New Zealand. There is a north to south cycle route. New Zealand is arguably the most scenic county in the world. I spent 4 weeks there in the 90s. It rocks! As far as culture is concerned, the place to go is India. Surely by far and away the biggest culture-shock country in the world!? As far as cycling in the most politically and religiously interesting melting pot is concerned, there can surely be no other place by Israel. I spend a year there in the early 90s. There was the intention to create a north to south hiking route in the 90s. I don't know if it was completed. Maybe Israel has cycle routes. But even if it does not, I'm sure it would be quite possible to cycle from the far north to Elat without too much risk. Ideally of course cycling the Golan Heights, down to do a circuit of the Sea of Galilee and then along the Jezreel valley and up through the West Bank highlands via Jerusalem, but if that's not possible cycling down, down, down the Jordan valley road to the Dead Sea would be possible, then through the Negev via Mizpe Rammon to Elat! I guess you have done some backpacking Simon!?

Great video. Hoped to see Josh Ibbett on his Mason, but the 3T is a decent alternative :)

Thanks to Pete and Tom for putting together such a fantastic video! Superb!

Cheers Mark

Si you are one lucky man doing stuff like that while on the job!

Definitely on my bucket list. Im in doubt whether to visit Morocco first or cycle through the Balkan.

Amazing, Epic whatever...thanks!

For some reason, I prefer the shaky hand footage much more than professional bike shoots

Thanks for letting us tag along on your incredible journey!

You're welcome Jeremy!

How was the traffic on those mountain roads? I passed through there last year on my way to the Saharah and many people were driving like maniacs on those roads. Didn't seem to safe too ride there at that point.

8 dopes that need to get lives...how could you not enjoy this video..epic

useful.

How much weight did Si lose?

Please make some more bikepacking videos. look amazing indeed.

We have plenty more bikepacking content coming up on GCN!

Great little film good production great scenery!

Thanks Guy

How about making this a regular feature. Best video you guys ever made.

Thanks Buzz Man!

US, It would be fun to see my own home country by bike before hitting Europe

Anyone up for Ireland with me?

Simon for the Tour Divide in 2019

@Ben Johnson Nice. Tokyo is a pretty solid base of operations for great destinations, I've heard. I'll be avoiding trains as best I can, because dismantling my steed and carrying it with all my panniers sounds like a pain. :)

I'm with you! This was a great video, but felt too much like where I'm from (Southern California) ;)

Germany

North America

Do fat road bikes exsisit???

how liberating to only have to worry about being cold and not both cold and wet. down bag in a dry sack, done.

Great video. I’m now headed to goggle earth to search out some new roads and trails to plan some epic adventures and go ride them with my club mates.. STEVE Wadebridge Coasters CC.

I've watched many many GCN videos over the years and have never commented before. That was just amazing!

Great video and awesome reporting! All we need: a good buddy, two bikes and that view !

I really enjoyed this video, ive been contemplating doing something like this, on a smaller scale:). It was nice to hear a classic swedish song aswell!

Great video GCN

Do you guys have a video about all your gear you brought and why? Including those shorts you wore? How does one get started in this? Thanks

loveeeee this

This channel has progressed so much since I found it two years ago and I'm really excited to see what's to come. Informative bike bros are a dime a dozen on youtube but this had elements of HBO content/quality.

I could see this as being a regular thing. Like, Top Gear, but with bikes.

Best vid yet. Thank you lads

Guessing all that food he ate was gluten free else how did Si avoid being so ill?!

Amazing. More of this please GCN!

That was epic. One of my favorite episodes

Very fun adventure. How big are those tyres? 50 mm? Josh's look more like 40 mm.

what the bivy brand and model

Wow, just wow Truly epic

This is a FANTASTIC video... for so many reasons... I have been there (driving/backpacking exploring), the content is superb, the inspiration is thru the roof... I'm off to get what I need to do this... Congratulation to the team...

Are the drugs in Morocco as good as rumored?

yes I am from morocco if want weed you can visit me inbox

Wow, you guys weren't kidding when you said epic. Stunning ride, I loved itl Cheers guys

Mark the 13th of May 2018 as the day GCN reached a whole new level of awesome. I hope you keep making great videos like this!

Great video! But, where is the bike bag? Where does the bike bag go to storage after getting to Morocco?

Wow, one of the best ride vids you chaps have done. The roads looked better than the UK

Best one yet... Feeling inspired... Cheers guys :)

Wow those tyres on Simons bike are HUGE!!!!What are they? On another note, I've wanted to do something like this ever since I started cycling, about years ago.Not internationally, but localy at first( Greece, the weather permits it).The one thing I've never managed to figure out was, how to sleep out in the middle of nowhere, with a 2k bike+equipment, and not getting it stolen... :/

More bikepacking adventures please, this was excellent

One of the best videos from you guys!!

Well done lads. Think this and all the additional content is very well done. Great storytelling. I would cut lots of the music. Disracting from my pov. Cheers.

This is next level stuff, absolutely awesome. Anyone else without summer plans keen on a bikepacking trip?

EPIC

Great to see that the film quality has improved so much for GCN. This was a great video!

GCN's made lots of great video's and I know cause I started watching on day one - but - that blows anythingelse you've done completely out of the water, in fact I can't think of anything bike related on Youtube that even gets within a 100k sportif of the quality and content and just pure unadulterated fun on a bike'ness.... more.... Please.

Compares to the around-the-world cycling tour, this is kindergarten stuff. Also, this is an holiday trip. Do you really have to wear like doing Tour de France?

Best GCN ever!

this is absolutely brilliant love it

couldn't tell if you were wearing padded shorts or proper cycling bibs??

Where can you get one of these small safety triangles you attached to your bag? Can't find them anywhere online. They come in handy for my next solo tour!

I vote for Josh to be a new GCN presenter.

I'm not a jealous person but this is now one of my dream destinations to ride.

Argentina to Chile through Los Andes Mountains.

That's exactly the kind of freedom you enjoy on a bike.

Have seen most GCN videos (if not all), but this is probably my favourite one! Kudos, guys!

Awesome to see so much love for bikepacking in the comments! Top job on the video gents and kudos to GCN for being bold enough to produce content like this. Will you be covering the Trans Am Bike Race kicking off on June 2nd?

A stunning adventure! Would this trip be possible for the average person? Is it necessary to ride so many km's per day? And only 1 pair of boxers!? We have hybrid bikes...would that make the adventure miserable?? I need all the info you can give me so I can talk my husband in to something like this

Really loved this.......Inspiring

This video made me want to walk out of work and get on my bike.

I really enjoyed this show. More like this please.

The restaurant at 6:02 min: Le Coq Hardi :D

Fatbike tyres on your carbon aero bike. haha.

it's probably worth mentioning that it's rather foolish heading into the wilds of north africa relying on just a gps. You should always take a detailed map and a compass. GPS's fail and it's easy to get lost in new terrain (and most people don't ride with a support crew)

I’m not an envious person but I truly envy your ability to do this. The scenery, the people, their culture, their food, taking it all in while on the saddle...glorious. Cheers from South Texas!

GCN should do more bikepacking videos. This is incredible.

never knew Si could speak French

Those GCN Mountain Biking shorts? ... shop?

Excellent video Si

Awesome episode. Totally enjoyed the journey and I now want to try my hand at bike packing. Morocco is a beautiful country and the people appeared to be very friendly. Well done to the GCN staff for putting together an awesome video. If It has been 60 or 90 min long I would have watched it as well. 100% enjoyable and educational - Thx

The best video of GCN so far! Stunning.

North America, top to bottom. Would be amazing!

New Zealand

PHILIPPINES!! People are hospitable here .

I would love to bikepack both Ireland & Scotland!

Argentina,Bolivia, Chile, Peru, España, Portugal

Come on to Colombia Best Landscapes awesome mountains.!

If I was healthier, I'd love to do the 1998 Tour de France route.

@00:01 when I see Benedict Cumberbach, I press like XD

21m45s Simon does The Bond (007) look ! - where is that Martini - shaken not stirred :)

Some of those trails look better than the roads I ride on in Kent!

How many tubes did you go through??

A very interesting and inspiring video. It shows you how versatile the humble bicycle is. Thanks GCN I’ve already got my map out.

What a wonderful video, thanks for sharing and doing this.

What an awesome video, love the production (so kudos to Tom!) - I'd watch Si and Josh do this anywhere! Keep em coming!

Best GCN video ever! looks like a rad trip.

@GCN, any chance of getting that GPX or KMZ?

Been there. Nice country, but people are shit.

very amazing experience and very amazing climing elevations per day!

Which Zipp eheel did you ride? is that the new exploro..... do you like it? thanks

Ack Värmeland du sköna! Was a bit of a surprise.

i ride my horse on those mountain roads too

hey guys. can you do a test of 2 bikes of similar geometry, and frame material but the only difference is group sets. 1x vs 2x and how they do on different terrain. Thanks

Well done Si and fellow... good to see not eating wind.

i personally wouldnt dare to go bikepacking unless i had a sizeable crew going along with me. If i'm not mistaken two around the world cyclists were killed recently in mexico by robbers. RIP

One of the best videos GCN has ever made. Reminds of the specials that Top 'Gear would Make. Loved it

Fantastic video

where can we get those shorts!!!???? #supernice!!!!

Peru, Chile, Argentina and Bolivia would be great. Could you publish at least some details of the route via Strava, RideWithGPS or other sites so that if we are interested in planning something similar, we can get enough detail to use as a starting point for our own research?

GCN just gets better and better. This was an awesome video, great filming of an epic ride and a fantastic motivation to just get out there and ride!

Awesome...great episode !!!

Guys try the route nuremberg to ljubljana/slovenia and perhaps further to croatia - i will go with you!

What a great video. More like this please.

Please tell me the bikes they have. I'm on the verge of buying Bianchi All Road for similar rides in Europe with crap fitness. Please help

Such a great video GCN...All I want to do is go bike packing!

Great watch looks immense!

The smile on those kids.

And ofcours 3t strada ( am I wrong?)

We know from the GCN tech video that Simon is running 55mm tyres. I'd also like to know what Josh was running, his tyres looked a fair bit narrower than 55?

The fuck am I doing with my life...

Wow. Just wow!

You are absolutely living my dream and I'm very inspired to do this thing myself. Just one thing actually 2 how can I get my hands on that playlist and what kind of wheels and tires and tubes are you using

Holy hell, this is a terrific video. Thank you.

At the end where they talk about saying they're glad they stopped and didn't go non stop summarises why I went to cycling in the first place. I didn't know anyone who did it so there was no competitive element at all. Just go out and enjoy. And now I've gone deeper it's going back to going faster for longer for me. Constant struggle.

Awesome, epic, breathtaking! Makes us want to drop everything out, jump up the bike and travel the world!

To quote Oliver Twist " can I have some more please " of the many GCN videos I have watched this is clearly the best I have viewed. Interesting and inspirational. Thanks

Nice trip. Does anyone know what kind of shorts they wear? Couldn't find them in GCN shop.

What a ride, it surely was an epic one. At the same time I am wondering if bike packing rides are safe in Morocco since there are Moroccan refugees in Europe. Very confusing to me.

That looked truly epic! Quality riding lads.

Great job guys! Very entertaining and informative video. Keep up the good work!

Awesome adventure!! what's with the yellow triangles on the backs of your bikes? Safety or requirement? AND what kind of shorts is Si wearing?? Thumbs up to your field crew and stellar editing!

welcom to morocco

welcom

Is that a boiled for safety mug?

Why run such huge MTB style tires? Surely some gravel or cyclocross tires would be more efficient and handle the offroad stuff just fine.. Its not like there was a bunch of gnarly singletrack....

You rode a bike at top spec. Do you think an average sportive rider can do the same course and same temp on, say...1k euro bike with beefy tires? What was the largest rear, did you find useful....50t?

Amazing film guys, you should do more multi-day rides

Wow GCN visited my country that's amazing

Awesome video! Makes me wanna go bike packing right away!

One of your best! “Second breakfast”. Epic!

Superb video

Great vid guys

Si & Josh making bike backpacking look appealing, mucking loon's.

Nice Trip ! How do you manage the water to drink in such an dry country ? I hope to see more video of bikepacking on your channel. That make us want to take our bike and go everywhere ;)

Bike packing survival game: Eat every time Simon says, "Second Breakfast".

try Japan Hokaido, you'll love it

This summer across Sweden and Norway! Thanx for this video. My favourite one :) One question: What shorts do you wear? How to manage the chamoix if you can't clean it for 5 days? Also nite to hear you speak french :)

Kabylie

Global Cycling Network Romania

I plan to go to morocco... Any change to get the gpx files? Thank you!

People you may scoff...but i love bike touring & wild camping (it's all the more fun when you're camping somewhere you shouldn't be) in dear old England - i've had some super times touring the Chilterns, the Cotswolds etc, i'm off to Devon in August with the bike. Actually i say that but some of my favourite trips have been in Scotland. The thing i love most about touring at home is the village pub at the end of the day...hearty grub and a couple of local real-ales - you wouldn't find that in Morocco!

Dude that is Bad ass!!

The mention of nass nass (coffee) was just so cool ! So authentically moroccan (and not folkloric).

bike packing on carbon bikes with carbon rims... what a couple of fred dentists lol

best video yet

lol

By far the GREATEST GCN video. this one will be nearly impossible to top.

so jealous of these GCN guys. they always have different bikes with the bling parts

Any flats?

what's with that drop bar

Without doubt, a great episode. Beautiful scenery/footage. Personally, the inclusion of this type of content, makes GCN's appeal broader than the often 'race centric, road bike' history of the channel. Well done and chapeau

This is so good! Loved it and the filming was so professional and sick

What's the difference between Bike packing and Bike touring?

Brilliant more please

That was soooo cool to watch. Awsome trip..... I mean video, guys!!

This made me wanna get on my bike

What is amazing "malawahh" on second breakfast. )

BEST GCN EVER

Even Morocco have better roads than Serbia :(

That looked fun

I am in tears mate. Thank you for this.

Production values are on the rise! Nice music and B roll editing

Love the bikepacking content. Solid film/music work as well. Already building my shopping list to give it a go myself.

id also love to do something in Morrocco, or even the middle east - but as a solo female who has travelled such places before, i dont think it would be wise to camp out alone :D

Colombia !!!

Ukraine or North Korea

Pamir Highway in Kyrgyztan and Tajikistan

That would be a dream trip, unfortunately my wife would kill me if I tell her I go away 3 days to do something like that.

How did you plan your route, using maps or an app??? Thinking of doing a ride from Nottingham to London and I am not sure Google maps will do?

Nice one, a really nice one. Really good to see the fundamental elements of long distance bike touring live on...its about the bike, and the terrain, and the people and the company..

Thank you for such an amazing video! Kudos to Tom on the cinematography, just wonderful.

Hi guys, amazing video. Will you be releasing Strava routes or some other kind of logistic info for this trip. Have been thinking of a very similar trip to Morocco for a few years.

So would you carry same amount of gear doing the long endurance races?

I put off watching this vid because the title didn't grab me but it was in fact amazing!

I did a ride across North America, and Hungary. Each was spectacular!

Talk about upping the production - this is in another league. This route is going to be the go-to route once you post the gps. holy cow - amazing guys, thanks

What bike is he riding? and what size of tires?

Wow the song from 3:22 is amazing i cant find it though.

Amazing!!! Throughly enjoyed this

Welcome to morocco!!!

Great video. Thanks to the whole team for sharing

roads in morocco look in better condition than the roads in west Yorkshire

nice video and this is my video i share it with you( the atlas by bicycle-bikepacking) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoNnX0WvgUA

Where were you filling up your water?

Any punctures along the way ?

this is a great video introducing us to another adventurous aspect of cycling and traveling

Boy do I love these kind of videos, thank you GCN! - A Moroccan

Hand up if you ever read any of Josie Dews books. I have fond memories of packing with her books to keep me company

Epic, beautifully made, well done GCN

Unbelievable ...this has to be one of the alltime best videos from GCN ever !!!. My long term goal is to cycle from West of Ireland to Gibraltar ( but I may include Morocco ) it's simply stunning !!....then my ultimate goal is to cycle to India .. What time of year is this guys ..?? #Smithydidit

You need that tire in morocco because the road I bad I'm from morocco

WELCOME TO MY CITY

Great video guys, Morocco looks like an incredible place to tour :-)

Brilliant video, must be one of the best.

You are fantastic

morocco is a beautiful country. my self im from there

Well done! Great adventure!

Malaysia. Have a taste of equatorial weather for a change.

Hmm. Another one for North Korea? Do you realize that you would never be permitted to bike pack in North Korea, as it is a prison state run by a family of brutal dictators? You know that, right?

Unspoiled because the population is force to live in poverty.

North Korea? A prison state run by a murderous dictator? Really?

The mountains of the Netherlands :) ...Nah Estonia, Yes.

More of this please!

Remind me of my times spent bike packing in the Alps. I always fancied Morocco.

What a fantastic vid. Bikepacking is now officially on my bucket list.

Brilliant.

More videos like this please

Si has been working extra hard on his French “Bonjour! Bonjour!” Almost bilingual.

1:33, I don't see the WD-40?

I've never seen my own country like this

Two completely different countries...Iceland and Mongolia

yeah, love those little valleys in the Atlas Mountains, it must have been how the Fertile Crescent could have been

I slept under stars in Morocco, woke up with a scorpion by my feet - oh man had such bad diarrhoea there too

Loved the video guys, certainly inspirational, I've just bought myself a Touring style bike but more Fully loaded style and will slowly kit it out for touring with possibly Norway as my first destination though looking at your ride it make me yearn for some of that landscape. Was wondering about the Cargo style shorts Brand ? as I would rather wear that sort of casual style on my tour.

Lol up in the fart bag at the start of the video

Hang on.. Was your hotel called Le Coq Hardi... ?

@Simon and Josh. Great video, really inspiring indeed. Any chance you could share the GPX file? Have friends in Morocco and was contemplating doing a similar epic bikepacking ride. Cheers

Sweet! I'm a fan of supported "luxury" rides myself but it's great to see Morocco cycling getting the love it deserves. https://intentionallylost.com/morocco-photography-and-cycling-tour/

So as its a bank Holiday today here in Belgium (Pentecost) I finally got my wife to watch this clip. Her comment: She loves it, especially the music - and one clip in particular. Although coming as she does from Värmland she wonders why you've used her Swedish regional song for background on a bike tour of Morocco....

Lovely, Morocco is always a place to go with half a plan as there's always something random happening to scupper your plan, but that is part of the adventure! Hope you had a good Hammam scrub down at the end.

what is the music @ 28:00 min? It's awesome. Epic ride & epic video!

I'm very happy to see these types of videos made on GCN. I've seen a lot of small channels dabble with it but now bikepacking it getting bigger. I've completed a tour across the US with a bikepacking rig and I'm slowly shedding some of the gear so I can ride easier. The gear is helpful but comes secondary after the thrill of an adventure. Cheers folks!

New Zealand, Sweden and Norway.

i simply cant beat the UK for its diversity & abilty to access food & water easily

Go and do the Portugal Divide race in Portugal

siiiick

Sorry guys, Marrakesh isn't the capital of Morocco...

Massage Therapies at your service for the next bikepacking adventure.

Let me know if you ever need a massage therapist on board?

oh yea gotta have those GCN coffee mugs! That is a destination must. Thanks for that.

Very inspiring! Thanks GCN!

I go bikepacking in the UK mostly its so beautiful. i think you should have done your first trip at home here in the uk as it has so much to offer in terms of landscape, cultures & ability to access food & water easily.

Hi, ppl. my apologies in advance since I am kinda new to this whole cycling circus, nonetheless I fell in love with cycling again after some 20 years. Kinda trying to commute to and from work 40 km 3x a week, on an old Raleigh road bike, which I sometimes find a bit uncomfortable therefore switching to a MBT 27.5" in hope of a more comfier ride. And here is kind of my Q. For a touring bike would a MBT 27.5'' or 29" not make a more comfortable bike? I mean at least it has front suspension and a more laid back seating position.Not like all the way forward, like most road bikes and the handlebars of road bike. It just seems/looks uncomfortable. Can someone elaborate more on the topic/idea why Road bike, without front suspension, just wider tires. And please no smart(dummb) ass comments " cuz it's better" this brand or that brand facts please. Just cuz a bike cost 2-3k does not mean it's really worth it. Thanks in advance

absolutely loved this vid guys!

That was really good

More like glamping....

great video, you guys had a great dynamic for the video!

You need to point out the hazards. And there are a lot in this area of the world. As an Anglo Saxon white person what should I be careful of?

Australia , Of course

Global Cycling Network Chile is on my short list. Canada too.

Morocco more

yep ;-) July, August probably better

yepppppp

When cycling gone wrong.

This is the most incredible video I have ever seen you guys make. Awesome to watch great to see. Thanks

Amazing! I'm going on a 430 km trip this summer alone. How many days should i do it in? In Norway.

What jacket is that ? The black one with the hood ?

Ok, who's filming and how the hell did they do it?

Thank you guys I'm from Marrakech

Si: talks about the massive headwind whilst drafting a motorcycle.

This is like Top Gear for cycling! haha basically the premise of the hole channel but just catched on right now after many years hahaha

Merhba

Great video. Stunning scenery. Makes me want to visit Morocco.

Namibia and Botswana.

this summer? germany - italy in one day and netherlands - switzerland in one day. one pair of shorts. ;-) and maybe morocco soon?

you guys should try Pakistan to China through khunjerab pass! you wont regret it. Lots of people do it.

My morrocan. Experience https://youtu.be/aQQAn8Zp-Yw

Did you try the hash over there? It's just awesome.

What shorts are you guys wearing? They appear to be tight fitting but have pockets.

totally would recommend it, im living in japan and cycling in japan is just incredible. the roads are kinda small but the scenery is just magical

How many flat tires? What sealant and tires? What caused the flats? Model tires? What would you do differently?

How can you stay in your bibs without developing major butt rash?

Apart from the images of animal carcasses(check out Cyclist Vegan FB page), loved it!!

Wow yeah ! ! !

Did you guys take gels with you to refuel en route or were you just running off glycogen stores and food from Cafe's?

What an amazing video. Hopefully you guys do something similar again the future!

2:30 Bourne Identity goes for a spin.

Big thumbs up...Wow! How inspiring, this is cycling great video and I'm now hooked on finding out Josh's hints and tips. Thanks guys all of you camera man included. All the best Andy

I'll keep on my 9-5 :(

anyone cycling in Thailand?

New Zealand!

Check out Ryan Wilson in Peru/South America on the Radavist.

France

This is why I liked cycling, you can see so many things.

absolutely LOVED this video! awesome scenery, great cyclists ... thoroughly enjoyable!

Wow!! What a trip, fantastic!!

Man, why do road cyclist wear such gay clothes even when leisure traveling?

Thanks for sharing the adventure. Can't stop watching this film the #longway as it is meant to be.

P.s. please start the GBPN channel, Global Bike Packing Network. Love this cycling!

#BeMoreMike , such an awesome video. Thank you!

Hey Buddies I really like your videos. I am now interested in a transcontinental bike ride

I'm late for work now! What a video/journey, wow.

ty that is the greatest thing i have seen on youtube that didnt have peter sagan in it

I've done lots of hardcore offroad cycle journeys to Bolivia, Chile, Mongolia, Most of Europe, The Australian Simpson desert (no support vehicle), Nullabor Plain in Australia & Melbourne to Sydney via the Alpine tracks. Being old school it was always with panniers & racks. Due to my age 60, I have taken up road biking because its smoother and less harsh on my bones. Your bike packing video has given me a reinvigorated interest in touring again, which based on your luggage setup could be done on my Carbon fibre bike. Thankyou for the video and for encouraging me to start Touring again.

What shorts are they wearing in this video?

did you guys bring a bike lock with you to this journey?

OOOOOOOhhh...Wanderlust! What a video. 2nd breakfast rides - love those too!

Second breakfast! Confirmed... Si the oversized hobbit!

Welcome to Morocco gcn anytime there are a lot of beautiful mountain thank you so much for visiting us.

inspired me to do a little trip here in the usa from orlando to savannah georgia can't wait!

A very informative and interesting vid.... nice one guys. Wonder if you would do this tour in December from a weather perspective?

Fantastic Video one of your best. I'm going to get shot for this but how about Jones bars rather than drop bars for gravel riding ??

India

If it's not on Strava it never happened

Would this be possible on a mountain bike?

Hi Si, that looks absolutely amazing, beautiful music to accompany beautiful scenery. Just a quick question, is it such a good idea to eat a big lunch and jump strait onto the bike.

Time to quit youtube & my bed for an Adventure..

This is the best you’ve done

Great! Do more bike packing trips!

What a great video, inspiration to train harder and perhaps do a light version of this sometime!

@Global Cycling Network is it ok to commute 8 km each way everyday with 2km each way 9% grade on a single speed? Or is it too harsh for the knees or too fatigating?

brilliant !

I’ve been a dedicated roadie most of my life. Never had the touring urge. But this video was beautiful and inspiring. Actually thinking about it now, especially with minimal packs so it still feels like a bike. Good one guys!

there are no plants&trees there,they burnt them all?!...

Nice bike packing in the USA. Try California / Oregon / Washington. You'll see some of the most beautiful country in the world : the Sierras, Yosemite, the Redwoods, Oregon Coast, the Wine Country, the Gold Country, Olympic National Park, etc.

Looks like Nevada.

Truly inspiring ! Q. Is the Gear you guys wearing available on GCN store online !?

One of my favourite GCN videos... me and my mates are talking about a trip like this now after watching. As always, thank you GCN you rock

Incredible scenery, what a great video! Thanks so much!

Can you tell us what brand of shorts you were wearing during the Morocco trip? They look very comfortable.

: ))) takes me back to my bike tour haven't taken a vacation in years inspired!

After watching this: I want to do a bike packing holiday. Thanks GCN

Carlsberg don't make epic bikepacking films, but if they did..

Bannf

Chile & Argentina in South America.

More Bikepacking, More Bikepacking...!!! Great Video production...!! We want to see the latest on Gravel Bikepacking clothing fashion and GCN´s take on the matter...!!!

I just felt like i'm with you guys on this backpacking journey! More of this, please? - Duathlete from the Philippines!

Hey guys, amazing video. Do you have the gpx files of this trip?

Would love to see more bike packing trips in the future!

Love those bikes

Hands down your best video! Loved it!

It's....touring

...for hipsters

more!!!!!!

Great video! Would love to know the type of bike/tires/gears best suited for a ride like this.

Considering majority of this trip they were on paved road, why do they even call it bike packing instead of bike touring? The only bike packing they did was packing up their gear into bike packing bags.

New sub... awesome channel. Appreciate the love back

Someone’s watched watchtower of turkey

Can't believe I've only just watched this! What an EPIC ride and brilliantly produced video - all this great content and we get it for free :D

Why do they wear there sunglasses upside down on their helmets

nice bikepacking,

Great!

Rabat is the capital of Morocco, not Marrakesh

It's simply remarkable...

I LOVE this video!!! Amazing! And I really like this matching picture to the music - so cool!

I can't believe that big tires have made their way on to these road/hybrid type bikes. For years, peers & mechanics alike would ask why I used larger tires & suggested that I spend big bucks on skinny wheels & tires. Now this? These guys are hunched over on road bikes with mountain tires.

BTW guys, were you using SRAM 1x groupset for this ride?

Portugal

Very inspiring video! We really enjoyed watching it. Now we are extremely motivated to go there ourselves! Thank you from Vienna!

This was all very informative but what about pooping? That's the ultimate question.

Черт, тоже захотел туда!!!

I rarely put pen to paper so to speak,but I didn’t half enjoy that so

Cuba, after Morocco!

Well looking forward to working my way through these bike packing videos!

Other would pay for this and Simon got paid to do this? Must be a line for those who would join GCN.

this is dopeeee

Had a smile on my face all the way through, Thanks.... n+1 is looking like a gravel grinder

love this video.

This is like the Grand Tour but without the fat middle aged petrolheads. Quality production for a YouTube video.

Epic suicide mission! lol

Second language tho...

NEW ZEALAND!

Guys, amazing trip, amazing everything. What kind of tyres were you on? looks they withstand everything...

Great video as always! Also amazing to hear the "värmlandsvisan" or "ack vörmeland du sköna". A melody me and my wife played when we walked down the isle to be wed. A local Swedish folksong and a very special song to me. So surprised to hear it in a GCN video but it matched perfectly! Thank you!

Nothing gets between Si and his coffee! Awesome video

Awesome video, Simon, Josh, and GCN production team. Really enjoyable. I wouldn't mind at all seeing a lot more bikepacking and road touring videos from GCN.

Guys visit macedonia all country less than 400 km alot of breath taking views and only mountains and nature and such a pleasant people you will be more than welcome here! please visit this small and peaceful but beautiful country in eastern europe. the balkan cycling championship its in august. and thanks to all of you for every advice that you are giving to us RES5EKT!!!

Great video! Just started bike touring and never even imagined riding in Morocco but it looked like a great adventure.

Nice video .. Just a quick question. What kind of bikes are these? It 'd be interesting to list the spec and also your opinion on a good bike to do such a trip.. Thanks.

nevermind - I found the video :) ... Cool video, cool bike ..

one of the best videos on GCN for me

Spain

how was that filmed

Straight to the bar? In a Muslim country?

This Deserves a Netflix series...

that was awesome!!!

Guys this video was really inspiring! I'm very new into cycling with a hand me down multi-track bike and now I have to plan out a packing trip for my little riding group. Well done, love this channel!

how can this trip make a profit off of one video?

nope to dangerous :D it's like to go mexico or afganistan and irak- i wouldn't go there becouse of the dangers!!

I would bikepack around the world!

Enjoyed the video. Wish I could do it soon. Hmmm maybe I would buy a CX bike than a mountain bike.

Lads....that was totally fucking Awesome......more more more

hi, pls give some bikes to the poor countries, we cant afford bikes more than 200 dollars (

Just superb...

Minsang1st it's backpacking, but by bike.

Coy it's an arid country...

Indonesia. Been doing trips there since 1990s. Great because you can generally find a cheap place to stay within a day's cycling range almost anywhere for $10-$20. Island hopping on local ferries is easy and fun. Good bottled water is sold everywhere so you never need to carry more than a litre or so. With Google Maps these days avoiding the main roads (traffic!) is now much easier than years ago. People are friendly and pretty honest too. And happy to see you. (shouts "Hello Mister" will drive you mad! ). I can recommend it.

Probably a really green section of Japan

Nice tour , welcome to Bali for cycling balicycling..com

Great trip! Try "bike touring pro" to see some more bike packing. Bike packing as a regular GCN feature please! So many interesting places to visit. Where next?

Love GCN, But now you've taken it to another level

posh gits born with silverspoon in gob

What a great video I can’t wait to see more bike packing!

Coy I'm not sure if you're not really understanding me or just joking.

i know..i think all arab countrys burn all of nature.. some day Allah shall punish them for this!!!

What handlebars are you guys using for this trip? I'm thinking about converting my flatbared bike to drop bars... Cheers

I finally figured out why I love GCN. The bikes? The hints? The hacks and bodges? Na, second breakfast!!!

I loved that you introduced your crew and were upfront and honest about their role. Thanks for being forthright.

Any punctures on those massive tires??

My fave GCN video....by a long way! I emigrate to Holland this year and you have inspired me to try bike packing; ease my way in but will do a "proper" one before I am 60 next year. Thanks GCN.

Also your soundtrack guy is really good

This video really made me think about quality and Youtube. This is TV quality content. Entertaining, captive, good composition. Thanks for doing this! I hope you get your income through Youtube so you continue doing this. Also the presenter are so good. Just a perfect show you put together!

Austria

That was amazing! Truly amazing! I so wish I could do something like that one day. Great video shots through out the video! GCN just upped the bar!

Bikepacking in Finland was an absolute joy! Hands down the best holiday I've ever had and I would go back in an instant.

velosapien that the thing abou Holland they are not cycling enthusiasts just ulility cyclists taking advantage of flat roads. Even then rarely go faster than 10mph! They would not like the idea of cycling in the mountains. To them it is just getting a to b.

Sha ne don't forget how good it is here. Most bikers have no idea the amount of offroad routes in UK and there are very remote beautiful parts.

what kind of bikes are those?

Great video and especially of interest to me since I have done lots of biking in Morocco. One question: How did you guys find the pollution levels there? I always was wearing a Respro mask to protect my lunges because their old diesel cars and truck are NO JOKE especially of they drive in front out you going up a mountain. I would advise anyone going on a trip like this to invest in a pollution mask, but I am really interested to hear how the GCN guys were experiencing this aspect?!

Patagonia!!

Nice French accent ! We French speaking people appreciate and respect it when English speaking people make an effort to communicate instead of assuming everybody in the world MUST speak their langage.

Awesome!

Who ever picks the sound track for your videos...great job! 'Da Sien - That impossible last breath' was gorgeous

Little Si growing up before me eyes.

You did 4 days in an unknown country (for Si at least) and only got a 30 minute vid? That's robbery. This should have been a 4 part adventure!

What a fun trip! Great video and tips.

Gay

My eyes started to water around day 3. Tom and your editors deserve a raise. Chapeau.

Very nice! If you ever consider bikepacking in Vietnam, it's also very beautiful with great jungle and beach routes

Really nice video. I work in television and have shot and produced many travel series. This one is a very good story and was done very well. Congratulations! Makes me want to get out and do some more adventure on two wheels.

whats tires you two using at how many bars?

islamic country really suck donkey ass.. horrible places, shit people... and u can get killed.. pls avoid at all cost.. they are shit hole of humanity

Scotland

One of the best cycling videos I have seen, well done guys!!

this is my favorite GCN video the best bike packing

Great video guys, well done on a great trip. Quick question. What bikes are you riding?

Beautiful footage. My fav gcn vid so far.

That was awesome Sy and Josh! Reminds me of the adventures of my friends Michel and Olga who are two years into a round-the-world bike trip. Check out their channel Rausgefahren https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiLpJ2PLirc

omg, thats so cute when they rode with the kids!!

The Highest Level of Cycling is what ? Of course Bike Touring or Bike Packing !!

Fabulous!

Where do you get water

So well filmed & produced - nice one.

Wow.... That looks so epic!

I need to learn to pay student loans doing this it has been my biggest dream for many years. i freakuently wish id not listened to family in 2005, stupid university education, never have n ever will use

Love the video. Inspiring. Any videos on beginning backpack locations? And bikes to get?

Best type of bike to use for Bikepacking? (Mountain or Cross/Gravel Bike)

Hey Simon, what a funny coincidence that you went bikepacking in Morocco shortly after us - Dunno if you remember but we met 2016 during the shoot of "A day in the life of a bike engineer at Canyon" // check out our story if you've got a moment: https://click-inspired.de/antiantiatlas or https://radpropaganda.org/2018/05/18/anti-anti-atlas-01-marokko-bikepacking/

I don't cycle or backpack and this was awesome.

Hey I’m living in Germany and want to ride to the UK by bike. Is there any gear list or tips you have? Thanks for answers Julius

Amazing video though, more bikepacking!

Go bikepacking in south London!

Gentlemen, great video. Any information on the shorts you both were wearing? Look like they had zips for making them narrower for on the bike. Will GCN make these available?

Bangladesh

Two guys in Lycra stay at a hotel called Le Coq Hardi (6.02) and not a single lewd comment - impressive restraint GCN fans!

The trip is epic! And who is doing camera? His/her filming skill to take you guys and landscape is just incredible

Cracking video guys

imagine this in 4K!! almost ligma..

Great video. I need to get back to this sort of thing. Any trouble with dogs? In those places they are often an issue.

Ack Värmland du sköna...

Southern norway

Bravo well.done Thank for not complaining about the state of the rood and riding behind those diesel trucks

Why if simply touring do you have to wear your GAY cycling clothing?

defintely New Zealand and Australia.

Awesome you guys! You should do more bikepacking videos! Well done!

This was a wonderful video Si. Congratulations to you, Josh and the whole team. Loved I!

i personally find that riding at night could be very very dangerous. specially if u dont know the roads

28:15 Josh's palmares is undeniable but it's interesting to see the difference in form between the two. Si is rock solid and Josh looks like an itchy octopus. Is Si just making him work hard?

Super cool and very well edited :-)

Egypt!

How do you pack so light? Every time I go bike packing I need panniers and the bike weighs a tonne. Do you have a kit list?

great film best ever.can i have a metal mug please.

USA! Utah/Idaho :3 but I would like to go N to S of Japan Hokkaido to Okinawa! If only Japan was more gluten free friendly :'(

I'm late (2 months) but it would be amazing to bikepack in South Korea or in japan.

Great video guys. Just wondering what kind of biking shorts you're wearing I couldn't find it on the GCN store.

Hi, they are ASSOS own brand, which you can buy on the website. They were branded with GCN as a one-off.

First class video

Is it safe to bike pack in Morocco? When I toured the Atlas mountains via campervan it felt sketchy and we were constantly hassled by the locals . .

Not sure, but I think the big Island would be a short trip. Like a couple of days tops I think.

Tatras from Poland to Slovakia and back - similar to this route in terrain. Or tour of Bohemia or Flanders

OutStanding Show.

Italy

What are they bikes?

That looks sick. I'm for sure primarily a mountain biker, but I kind of want to get a bike packing bike now and just start cruising across the U.S.

nice, what tire´s did you use and what pressure?

Thanks Catherine

Great story, one of the best movies on GCN.

Good to see gcn enjoying life instead of just racing.thumbs up to you.

I would love go do this some day

I have been thinking about bike packing for a few years...now I am going to do it, U.K. First then the world. Thanks guys! I have a AWOL comp.

Hi gcn, great vid. What tyres/sizes are you using here ?

RUSSIA

Holy crap.... 33 minutes is too short. The content, spirit of cycling, and adventure is pure within this video. This is got to be the most amazing video i have seen so far.

3rd time I have watched this. Absolutely awesome

Where can I buy those #GCN baggies Si? Can't find them in the #GCNSHOP

They were a one off we're afraid, but ASSOS make some non-GCN branded ones.

simon youre the man, your love for all things cycling can be felt. adds to the channel being a great watch. GCN is sick

wtf is that meat at 9:22 some huge roddant or wtf?

wait wait wait, from uk to turkey, have you gone trought croatia and stopped near krk because the winds were too heavy and than asked some people for a place to stay for the night? a frend of mine told me that not too long ago, they actually called the ciclyst inside since 150+kmh winds + a tent would not be fun. hope you see this ,and if it was you please respond il be sure to send him the vid...

Watched this many times. Stiil great! How about... more of these? Thanks GCN.

I’ve watched this 3 times now!!

Wow! What a fast reply! Who's tougher; Katherine or James? Maybe both? Lots of bike packing opportunity here in USA. Keep up the great work. Always informative (Jon/GCN Tech) and fun. Thanks!!!

Cheers Dan, we've got quite a few more videos on Si's bikepacking trip on both GCN and GCN Tech. Who should we send out on the next bikepacking trip?

Superb video. And the scenery is just "what dreams are made of". Greatly appreciated video on my point.

Tanzania!

This has to be the first time I’ve seen zipp on a bike packing ride

Is the camera man also on a bike

This video honestly could get an award as a short film. Very nicely done and very inspiring! Excellent work GCN

Here is Aziz local legend ahah

Morocco mouaaaah

How about a cross country US journey?

Awesome Video! One of my very favorites ever on this channel! Big Thumbs Up!

Loved this episode! Please make more of these longer videos

So there are no scorpions in the Atlas Mountains? I was surprised to see you guys sleeping in the open air without a tent. In places like Mexico that would be dangerous.

The Congo Nile Trail in Rwanda

Dou got the link to buy the bags.? Thanks

lol! that camera editing made josh look so creepy

Global Cycling Network great documentary learned and loved every second of the video ,just recently got into mountain biking but bike packing has me very interested.looking at hard tail 27.5 .keep moving them feet boys ( respect )

I just love seeing different cultures and really want to start bike packing

So inspiring... I send this video to my wife... :D

Epic backdrop! Wow

ou guys are both a couple of divas who should be in a movie getting run over by a semi

fantastic, im going to try this next summer around the south of England

Great stuff

Next Destination: Munda Biddi Trail in Western Australia

Lebanon.

ONE OF THE BEST!!!

Probably the best GCN I have seen...especially as I am just about to have a crack at bike packing... Thanks so much. nearly a third of a million views on youtube already ! Well done guys.

I just did it in Bosnia & Herzegovina and it has been the greatest highlight of my trip! The čiro trail is absolutely gorgeous!

Paid propaganda

What a f****** vidéo amazing

so amazing, i would love to do something like this in ireland

Love it!

Incredible film, absolutely loved it. Can we ID the bikes and tyres please, possibly in the description? Really curious to know what rubber you chose.

Where did you get your water guys?

Thank you for for sharing your adventure. Great video!

British Columbia in Canada or New Zealand.

WOW! What can I say? Totally unexpected, truly inspiring, different in so many ways away from the UK's B-roads. Bloody LOVED IT! GCN has stepped up the game with this video. Well done guys. Of course now we will want more!

Awesome video... noob question, is there any risk of the bikes getting stolen while you are resting or asleep?

I would invite you to India for bike packing and promoting cycling

25:37 2018 vlogger cheers, eye contact on drinks and cameras but not each other.

Le Coq Hardi looool

What kind of adjustments you guys did to those race bikes that can handle quite a lot of off-road biking?!

Morocco

Well done. Thanks for putting this together for the GCN subscriber base. Seeing what you put together with a support crew of 3 deepens my respect and admiration for the solo trekker/filmmakers out there. Viewers, If you like GNC’s take on bike touring don’t stop watching. Search for other bike touring, trekking video. There are great, inspiring, beautifully filmed contribution on YouTube.

Not sure how i've only just found this epsidode but amazing content again GCN.

Hello, what a great trip! Is there any chance for GPS track?

South Africa... pls not Iceland thats so boring and over traveled hipster island, i know it better from all this videos than my hometown....

That was amazing. I'd love to do this one day.

Australia

Fantastic video! Thank you. Looking forward to seeing the follow up videos

touring on a carbon bike is definitely way different. i have to carry more gear with so i would crack a full carbon bike in short order

Great video, top class. Really enjoyed it!

Jesus look at all those classic ford vans! £10k+ here in the uk only 2 Goats and a Wife there.

Are these bicycles mountain bikes? (sorry, I don't really know that much about bikes...)

Indonesia

Oh my gosh, I've been to the restaurant you were at in the 9th minute. It brings back so many memories.

i found this so entertaining! Really enjoyed it. As to what country I'd like to go bike packing? None! Looks way to rugged for me :)

British: Goes to a foreign country without learning a single word in the local language, then pretends everyone can understand english with a thick accent.

This is exceptional, the best GCN video yet, and that's from a huge GCN fan.

I would never move away from Europe, the only continent where you can find remoteness, landscapes, history and great food in one place. Why searching for distant and exotic places when the best is out of your door.

Easily the best video produced by GCN, I would like to see more of this type. !! Go on !

If u want to get murdered and head cut off, go packing in a foreign country. No prob. Come home without a head. U already don’t have a brain. Dress like a couple of pansie tight shorts and fags and try to not die. Morons

Guys... You've got to consider bike packing in China! I'm an expat based in Shanghai, and numerous times a year get out into the country (mostly Zhejiang, Fujian or Anhui) with the bike... roads ere great, scenery better than the vast majority of Europe (I've bike packed in more than 25 European countries), accommodation is cheap and plentiful, food is amazing, transport links are easy (high speed rail system where it's possible to throw the bike in a canvas bag and carry on) ... and always really interesting seeing the various and unique culture along the way. I never thought I'd say it, but, I much prefer cycling in China than anywhere else. It's a shame there isn't more information online about travelling in China, especially in this regard. If I decide to organize myself, I'll create some videos for people to check out - or maybe even setup a tour organisation... Until then though .. It's worth considering!

How much is the total weight that you guys carrying? including bike + packing?

Could you share your gpx?

Brilliant adventure guys, thank you so much for taking the time and effort to produce this excellent video.

Needed more gravel and camp vibes..

2:20 in - Hooked. 3:09 - I want to go.

INDONESIA

Damn Si’s got some fat tyres on there

Peru. Great coastal roads and high, paved mountain passes!

I'm not even halfway through but maybe show us the route you took? Great video again..

Ok, that was INCREDIBLE!!! Great riders, both of you! Much experience needed for these rides, lovely to see while sipping on my coffee :-) :-)

PERU

Go and visit Poland. There are a lot of nice places to see for cyclists

I love this video, I've driven some of those roads, but that was epic. Small side note, the capital city of Morocco is Rabat, not Marrakech as written in the description.

No mattress, guys? Mattresses don´t wheight much, but bring good comfort after so much cycling...

I am a big fun of you guys from this wonderfull contry

A huge "bonjour from marocco

09:06 adzan

"Stripping back life to the essentials" - great comment mate

California USA

Cycling around China

Amazing

Was that a wtb 700x35?

I'd rather have my mountain bike going on those rough roads.

A tourist was beheaded there

I sort of accidentally discovered GCN and have been learning a lot from your videos. But this video made me wonder why I didn't discover you guys earlier. And why I never got into road biking. Love the content that you guys create! Now, I'm off to make myself a noos-noos.

Wish I had the time to do this :/

Great video, really captures a lot of what is awesome about travelling by bike...  The only thing i'd say is you might want to think about wearing lycra when passing through small villages that are likely to be quite culturally and religiously conservative when it comes to dress and figure hugging shorts are probably only a small step up from being completely nude. (Not to mention Simon's unzipped jersey!!)... a lightweight linen shirt and pair of 3/4 length shorts are worth the space in the pack!

Love these longer epic rides! Great video and so well produced!

Great watch - any chance of getting an idea of the pack list? As a first timer, Ive got no idea what to/not to pack...

Norway in summer, all the way north to south.

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