After some pretty tough bikepacking adventures over the last few weeks, I thought I’d take on something a little easier and a little chilled, the Solstice sundowners route created by all mountain adventures isn’t really a bikepacking route as such but works well for a little overnighter. My plans for a relaxing, chilled out bikepacking adventure would soon change as it all went downhill in the blink of an eye.
The Ride – https://www.strava.com/activities/11229141439
The Route – www.keepsmilingadventures.com/beginner-routes/the-solstice-sundowners-wales
Make a route suggestion here -https://www.keepsmilingadventures.com/route-sugestions
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The gear i am currently using
The tent – https://youtu.be/n9GKHSf805E
Framebag – https://youtu.be/6LM3UJKDOEk
Seatpost bag – https://youtu.be/W1E_iWY6Ajo
Jones Handlebars – https://youtu.be/dhPBSdRros8
Gravel bike – https://youtu.be/Gnd_4LgTyrg
plus bike mtb – https://youtu.be/COTUOzLPbGk
gps device – https://youtu.be/BWeMmx62A9M
mtb shoes – https://youtu.be/OYVEnfXwT0k
All the gear from GNT – https://youtu.be/e5oKSoPoMk0
Vest bag – https://youtu.be/01nzgd-t550
Ortleib bar roll https://youtu.be/Uk9fLgS1ioo
Dynamo setup – https://youtu.be/SL7MhjB6Lp0
Questions answered – https://youtu.be/u1q9AEs9flE
Gb divide bike/gear- https://youtu.be/epcZ81wqFCo
Sonder looped bar – https://youtu.be/BqWGTxd2VaQ
Tarpstar tent – https://youtu.be/RcQoBdZSAb8
[Music] Wales one of them places I go and I never know quite what I will get a place to go to lose yourself in the rugged Beauty a place to go to revive the soul with the last couple of Adventures challenging the body and mind it was time to head out onto the trails once more this time a short Adventure from all Mountain Adventures starting in chepo and finishing in the capital of Wales Cardiff a short Micro adventure to revive the soul from the previous challenges was what I was here for but that is not how this adventure would turn [Music] out stepping off the train into chepo I was greeted by some Welsh rain to welcome me on what was otherwise a beautiful sunny day [Music] starting out along the Y Valley Greenway an Old Railway line connecting chepo to Monmouth I would be heading into the dark the tium tunnel the second longest tunnel on the UK’s cycling Network 1,080 M long at its deepest point 100 m from the surface [Music] [Music] [Music] pedaling along the border between England and Wales with the vibrant colors of spring now upon us [Music] [Applause] rain Sunshine rain Sunshine must me one thing we are now in Wales crossed over into Wales and they’re just making our way up our first little climb Happy Days and the sky is now blue again isn’t really a bik packing route it’s just like it’s going to be a just a day ride really but I’m going to do it as a bike packing route a bit wild camping before I came out on this ride I did check the weather and I did say it was going to be nice or at least not raining however it has already rained so uh we’ll see but should be nice hopefully see Wales in spring in Spring Sunshine as well should be good I started quite late about 4:00 p.m. and sunset’s about 8:00 p.m. and so not going to do too many miles but hopefully find somewhere nice of a nice view would be good to Wild Camp ah the sky is blue [Music] [Music] the smell of pine in the air as I make my way through the forest tracks into this beautiful wsh spring evening the crunch of gravel under my tires and the fields turning golden [Music] [Music] well I have done about 30 Mi which it’s pretty good going it’s been a bit of a road slug for the last 10 miles um I wasn’t actually planning to do that many miles but now it’s uh time to find some way to Camp sun is starting to set but my God it’s so nice to see whales all colorful with blue skies and uh let me just duck hold on so I’m coming along the mov Canal towards abeni um I’m going to go around the side of abeni and cycle path but I’m kind of hoping I might be able to find somewhere to camp in one of these little uh wooded areas along the canal that’ be nice right fingers crossed I can find somewhere ah wow that didn’t actually take very long I think I found where I am going to camp tonight just here perfect little spot by the river the canals up there winds around somewhere there did see a few people walking up there but as soon as it gets dark it’s going to be good got the sound of the river for once it’s not some like droning cars actually have a nice sound and for once I’m going to bed and the sky is bright blue although got trees so I’m not really B to see the stars but got about 70 Mi to go I’m thinking tomorrow I’m going to do most of that 70 Mi tomorrow but I’m thinking it’d be nice to spend One More Night Under the Stars if possible looking over Cardiff looking over the city that would be cool before the send in down but we’ll see we’ll see but yeah this is where I’m going to set up my tent for the T night should be nice now before I set up camp l i have a quick bite to eat got some good old little pizza um should be dark in the next s of half an hour 30 minute a nice easy start to this ride 30 mil done super flowy super easy tomorrow we are going to start hitting them Hills but this ride is generally on the easiest side it is meant to be done in a day so you know I’m really taking my time for it but it should be good um haven’t actually been on the bike for a couple weeks now so feel it in the legs um get these legs spinning cuz after I finish this ride I’m going on to a different ride it’s going to be even harder but that’s another day [Music] [Music] oh good morning what a peaceful night it’s currently qu to 7 the sun has already risen I overslept a bit just the sound of this uh River the sound of this stream just passing by just super nice it did actually rain a few times in the night just a scattered showers really nothing too major ah it’s looking good out there now we got some blue skies it’s not cold at all just feels nice to get packed up I’ve actually got across this stream to head back up to the canal over there um but should be easy enough managed it last night sure we can manage it one more time right let’s get packed up up because we today we got a little bit of climbing to do first thing in the morning the next sort of I know 20 30 mil are pretty much just a nice long climb uphill don’t think it’s too steep but should be good it’s sunny let’s go now I probably could just take the easy option head up that hill and get back on the canal but where’s the fun in that let’s practice uh some balanc in across here what possibly could go wrong I managed to just about make it yesterday so let’s try again sh [Music] [Music] [Music] mission accomplished dry feet confirmed all right let’s go uh go along the canal for a little bit longer and then let’s start [Music] [Music] climbing early morning sun shining on the calm Canal this morning a perfect morning to put a smile on your face to take a breath to fill them lungs enjoying some easy pedaling before heading onto some more disused railway [Music] lines en list in some assistance from some ebike friends to drag me along the draggy Old Railway [Music] [Music] line not long though and I would be saying goodbye to my newly made friends and I would be back to pedaling along this ancient Road Railway alone once more [Music] wow I’ve done about 20 miles this morning and I’m just coming through the highest Village in Wales apparently once I get to the top of this climb and I reach the highest point I’ll be kind of turning back towards Cardiff which would be nice for two reasons one it’ll be a tailwind and two it’ll be a Tailwind it’s not so bad that it’s really slowing me down it’s just quite cold but yeah heading up to the highest point now I want to stop and have some breakfast so I find a little bench out of the wind before I get off road I’m going to do just that [Music] just com through hello please and Trace me hello hello I like your hair getting out of here getting out of here rain wind Sunshine the ever changeing weather as I continued to head up to the highest point on this ride whales just being whales but one thing whales is is pure rugged and beautiful as I get higher and higher that beauty would become clear [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] ah sweet downhill and Tailwind now over the highest point it was a little bit cold out there but really nice to ride but now we’ve got like two climbs to go one little one just coming towards mura tville and then there’s a bit of a climb out of there and then one more little climb and then it’s pretty much all the way downhill to cardi but I don’t want to quite get to CI today W One More Night Out done about 30 mil today going to hopefully find a shop soon go grab a few bits go grab a few suppes and then uh try and get the last two climbs done and then have a nice descent towards Cardiff tomorrow is the goal hopefully go find some uh supplies after collecting some supplies The rest of the evening was looking easy and plain sailing just a couple of them wsh climbs to go before I would be heading downhill all the way to Cardiff a steep climb out of mura tidf what in my mind was the last little challenge of the day but the trails would have another plan my descent would start all was going well letting the trails do the work as i c cruise down the rocky Trails towards abair [Music] okay and just tell me exactly what happened uh I’ve just like slipped on some rock basically and i’ I’ve literally crashed into a big boulder and I’ve just like hit my rib correct bicycle [Music] I have a feeling I might have broken my rib I can’t move I’ve got help potentially on the way an ambulance possibly 3 hours and I’ve got possibly someone coming to find me I know exactly where I am now but I can’t really move it really hurts I’ll keep you updated [Music] bre from breathing liver keep smiling Adventures originally I had been taken to mura tidf but after discovering I had two broken ribs and a cut on my liver I would be transferred to Cardiff to monitor that cut on my liver to see if it would require [Music] surgery waking up the next day seeing the Sun beam through the window I had made it to Cardiff just not quite how I was [Music] planning I would have to spend two nights in hospital monitoring the situation and managing the pain luckily I was given the great news that I would not need to have surgery I was being released to be reunited with my bike which was absolutely fine you will be glad to [Music] hear get bik one second [Music] [Music]
50 Comments
Hello you wonderful people, firstly thanks for all the well-wishes. And thanks for taking the time to join me on what is probably going to be the last adventure for a little while. I will need to take some time to heal up from this one. So thank you so much for dropping by for this little micro adventure that didn’t go so well… Thanks for all the continued support and I will see you in the next one, hopefully not too far in the future. Enjoy the adventure.
I have done a video braking down the crash on the second channel here – https://youtu.be/0BSow7yGd4U
Make sure to check out the website for more info, http://www.keepsmilingadventures.com
Hope you get well soon , and have a speedy recovery
Wales e'h! That's why the British Army train there! Make a man of you!! In all honestly, I'm glad it's not more serious. Take care and a speedy recovery. I broke my arm last year after coming off my E bike.
Hope you're feeling better soon Josh.
Gutted for you, looked and sounded a painful one, wishing you a speedy recovery and see you back out there soon.
Oh buddy just watching the crash nasty hit it could have been at lot worse. Still nice socks ❤
Oh my goodness! 😳 Thank you for the update. Wishing you a healthy recovery 🙏.
Speedy recovery buddy 👍🏻
Mate – that really went through me. Hope your recovery is swift and look forward to hearing you’re back on two wheels. Rest well man.
Really enjoy your videos. Wishing you a speedy recovery
Wishing you a quick recovery Josh and hope to you are not off the bike for too long.
Felt that great vids 🤘
Get well soon my friend.. looked very painful.. wishing you a speedy recovery and hope to see you back on your bike soon 😢 Pete 🚴🏻👍
That was a painfull watch, hopefully it wont be too long before you are back on the bike.
Nasty one, mate, at least your bike was ok! Get well soon, Josh.
Absolutely gutted for you, man that was nasty. I know I'm not alone in wishing you all the very best for a full and speedy recovery. We shall all be here for you when you are ready but for now take it easy mate. 👍
Sorry to hear this. Wishing you a full and speedy recovery, all the best mate
Omg are you OK 👍
🙌
Quite triggering for me watching this as I came down badly doing The Dirty Reiver a couple of weeks ago and still recovering. Speedy recovery.
Gutted , glad you're well hopefully have speedy recovery, just dont sneeze
as always an excellent video 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Sh*ttt. Get well soon mate!!!
If you wanted a chauffeur driven ride into Cardiff I was say there are easier ways of going about it 🤣😂. Seriously though I’m relieved that you’re ok and didn’t need surgery. Just rest up and do what the dr’s tell you with regards to your healing process.
Bloody hell, that scream was horrific..hope you get well soon and are back on the bike in time to enjoy the rest of Spring & Summer!!!
Speedy recovery and back to riding on the beautiful trails of your country
rest up mate!
I think that's the most dramatic, disturbing bike crash I've ever seen. I hope you're going on ok & may I second what you said, big thanks to all the lovely people who helped you out. There are nice people in this world, we'd do well to remember that.
Heal Quick ! Broken collerbone punctured lung here. Your scream bought it all back🤕
Speedy recovery!
Broke many ribs ,collarbone ,shoulderblades , acromiun with plates and punctured lung .So i have been their seen it done it, swift recovery i hope
Ouch! Glad you are OK, and I hope you heal soon.
Wishing you a speedy recovery Josh, that looked really painful! ❤
Glad you did not have to wait too long for help where you were riding looked epic i will have to go there in the summer.
hope you have a speedy recovery bud.
I broke my collarbone and several ribs eighteen months back. The initial thud, then realisation that you know you’ve done some damage is scary. Can’t say mine hurt immediately, but that didn’t last too long! Get well soon 🙏
Get well soon mate, so unlucky to fall right there. Great videos, hope it doesn’t knock your confidence and you’re back to it soon. Might be worth investing in a air vest though
Ouch! Rest up and heal up soon – must admit I didn't want to watch this one, but can I just say that until the unfortunate ending, this looked a fantastic route and ride, and beautifully shot.
All the best for the recovery!
So glad you're ok … I hope you're back on the bike soone than later. Absolutely love your films they are a big inspiration for making my own. Cheers!
What do you think exactly happened?
Oh no get well soon
Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Take time to heal thoroughly!
Thanks
Wishing you a speedy recovery Josh both physically and psychologically after such terrible trauma. Glad your liver didn’t need surgery! We love your videos and you’ve kept us smiling for the last few years for sure. Legend.
Wow! That looked nasty 😢 Hope you’re mending well and glad the bike is ok 😂
Ah mate ribs are sore as hell i feel for ya brother been there as well …..all i can say is take your time and heel up …give us an update from time to time if your up for it …take care from Ireland Josh
You were good. I would have fallen in the brook.
it’s amazing how quickly it can all go wrong 😮 wishing you a speedy recovery and looking forward to your future videos 👍🏼
Great little video my friend!, well done pal
Speedy recovery Josh.