I love bike touring, but not camping - so I've found small independent hotels are generally really good at finding you somewhere secure and dry to store the bike. But it seems the bigger (and plusher) the hotel the harder it is. With one magnificent exception - cycling in Ireland I got a puncture which I just couldn't repair, about 10 miles from the 'treat' night I'd booked myself at the fancy Slieve Russel Hotel Co Cavan. A lorry driver took me and the bike there, meanwhile his wife phoned the hotel. On arrival the manager met me and ushered the bike into a function room, and promised they'd find me a lift in the morning to the nearest bike shop 20 miles away for an inner tube. I came down to breakfast, checked on the bike to find it all fixed up with a note from the head chef. He had swapped an inner tube from his own bike, even put the wheel back on. Looking forward to your day 3!

@davesolobiker5601

2 ай бұрын

Wow now that’s what I call good room service , I bet you couldn’t believe it . Part 3 Friday 🚲👍 atb Dave

That was a bloody good idea to stay in the premier inn, sometimes its better to conceed a battle but win the war. Constant wet weather camping as you know is miserable, so onwards and upwards to day three, where things look very sketchy, looking at the preview. You both seem not to get down hearted, which is an attribute, that sometimes I lack when out on small adventures on my own. Shared experiences are almost always better, no matter the weather. Thanks as always for sharing. ATB Big Dave.

@davesolobiker5601

3 ай бұрын

Thanks Big Dave , yes it certainly was the right choice that’s for sure. Yes when there is two of you it’ makes the trip a lot more enjoyable , tfw atb Dave 🚲👍

Hi - funnily enough I was bringing my e-bike up to Preston from a friend’s in Bolton. I figured that the Leeds Liverpool canal route up to Walton Summit Branch (aka Lancaster Canal South End) Car Park would be pleasant and definitely away from traffic! I encountered those bike gates at Top Lock and also further on. Never seen anything so badly designed - like one of the other commentators - I too had to divert and pick up the route further along! I have to say that apart from that I enjoyed my ride, albeit I had a sunny dry day.

@davesolobiker5601

2 ай бұрын

Yes they are a real nightmare , luckily two of us which made life easier.

Woah!! No fun at all being out in conditions like those, and especially if you'd had to pitch up early afternoon and sit tight - so well done on the genius idea of a Premier Inn....and I'm surprised they allowed you to take your bikes up to the room (but that's something good to know incase I ever have to do similar in the future 😅). Shitty weather and crappy mud trails, but very enjoyable to watch lol. Looking forward to part 3 :)

@davesolobiker5601

2 ай бұрын

Thanks Donna , no probs with the bikes in the room , it saved the day really. Would have been a mare trying to find a pitch and keep dry 🌧️😂 Travelodge also allow bikes in the room too. Part 3 is the mudfest 😱 atb Dave

Well done lads loving this so far

@davesolobiker5601

2 ай бұрын

Appreciate you taking time out to watch them all . atb Dave 👍

Well done fellas.

@davesolobiker5601

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching atb Dave 👍

Just watched 1 & 2 looking forward to day 3. Like you video you are both natural and not full of yourselves like some other videos. Keep up the good work guys.

@davesolobiker5601

3 ай бұрын

Thanks we just say it as it is , day 3 is interesting that’s for sure . Tfw atb Dave ⛺️🚲👍

Adapt and overcome. A night in the hotel. You guys are roughing it:) As for bike packing and riding pushbikes, you'll never catch me doing that:) Not in a month of Sundays.... Come to think of it has there ever been a month of Sundays? I'd better get my bike packed and head out somewhere:))

@davesolobiker5601

3 ай бұрын

Cheers Sandy , yeah it was the right choice on this occasion that’s for sure . Get the bike out and head to the hills 🚲⛺️👍

Ah, the paths from hell! I know that section its fairly local to me.

@davesolobiker5601

3 ай бұрын

They sure are , sections are either awful or amazing 🤷‍♂️

Many a time we have blessed both Premier Inn and Travelodge as they let you take your bike into the room. One even gave us white!!! Towels to clean the mud off. Those gates are really annoying- we rerouted as we had such a problem as we were pulling small trailers. Looking forward to day 3. Thanks lads

@davesolobiker5601

2 ай бұрын

Thanks , yes they great with us no probs in taking bikes to the room 👍 yes those gates !! Designed for bikes with nothing on , not very well thought out , probs an age old design that needs updating . Tfw atb Dave

Ive done the Skipton run many times at least 10 mile of mud to pedal through on that canal ..thought u was comin through Worsley but u took the more northern route of canal

@davesolobiker5601

3 ай бұрын

It’s a proper mud fest in sections that is for sure 😂

Great account of Day 2 of your trips lads. Good choice on the Premier In too!

@davesolobiker5601

3 ай бұрын

Thanks , the hotel might have only been a premier inn but it was our little oasis out of that rain ☔️👍

I cycle around the Lancashire/Wigan area towpaths a lot and they certainly vary in quality. all the way from Appley Bridges to Aspull is concrete/tarmac/well compacted stone, then either way it's just a quagmire as shown in some of your video. This and part 1 were really good watches, will there be any more?

@davesolobiker5601

2 ай бұрын

Thanks yeah it was tough in places but we enjoyed it , part 3 final episode out now 👍atb Dave

Ah day 2😏, bloody awful😂, this middle day really added to the whole adventure, I know it can be seen as wimping out, but it was a nice thing, slap up meal, hot shower, nice bed, back on the trail day 3, not planned, but there’s a lot to be said for spontaneity on an adventure ⛺️🚲👍🏻

@davesolobiker5601

3 ай бұрын

Yes Ian , it had to be done 👍 nothing wrong with a night of luxury, warm and dry ready for the final days push on the canal path from hell 😂

Those canal paths looks dangerous for cycling ,this climate change has knackered our weather system.hope for better weather great videos well done you too.

@davesolobiker5601

3 ай бұрын

Only dangerous if you fall in 😂 thanks as always for watching atb Dave

I don’t blame you as you say it’s supposed to be a holiday-always taking a chance with the rain, I’ve had to bail in August with the rain bitta comfort never hurt anyone

@davesolobiker5601

3 ай бұрын

Absolutely , we enjoyed the comfort and it gave us chance to dry a few things too 👍

Those gates at Wigan going up to Top-Lock are going to be open as part of a trial as there are more cyclists using the newly laid canal paths in the area. I have some troubles with British Cycling Guided Rides where a lot of riders have E-Bikes & can be difficult to get through them.

@davesolobiker5601

3 ай бұрын

Yeah they sure are difficult to navigate, especially with loaded up bikes 😂 but I suppose it’s there to stop the local idiots tearing up and down the tow paths on motor or e scramblers .

lol at least the crap weather on day 2 ended in luxury 🤣 whoever designed the gates obviously haven't heard of bike Packers 🤨 18 degree's Carlisle Tuesday Dave ☀️

@davesolobiker5601

3 ай бұрын

yes it was luxury to what it could have been Geordie, shorts weather nah lol

Two good northern lads down to earth love the videos. What are you filming with?

@davesolobiker5601

3 ай бұрын

Thanks GoPro hero 10 and 11 📷🚲👍

When do we get part 3 of the journey plz.

@davesolobiker5601

3 ай бұрын

Friday 5pm

@bignickbignic6190

2 ай бұрын

Look forward to watching, thinking of doing the trip next year. However I ride an ebike !! So would need to plan charging overnight.

@davesolobiker5601

2 ай бұрын

Yeah plenty of premier inns /travelodges along the route , plan your mileage by them 👍

With the awful weather in the uk in winter, maybe people should find another hobby then, and save cycling for the summer

@davesolobiker5601

2 ай бұрын

Problem is it can be just a bad in the summer, with all this extreme weather patterns we seem to get

@KM-wl1tp

2 ай бұрын

@@davesolobiker5601 true. Last summer wasn't great