Hi Mat....this video inspired me to try a portion of the GDMBR - section 2 - heading out mid August. Excellent video work. Enjoyed real sounds of the real world rather than the typical canned music.

🙏🏻

Thank you for all the videos. Flying to Calgary tomorrow for my GDMBR adventure and your videos were very helpful. Gold mine of information.

Matt not sure if you started yet . But just got back from Canada 🇨🇦 /USA border area where you will be starting for your trans am trip .. ? please check on current wild fires 🔥 statement issued on radio 📻 etc . I was diverted off /on various highways several times to avoid local fire fighting & army units . Trying to Avoid smoke as well . safe travels ! Keep up the good work as I enjoy your channel 👍.

-How much money did you spend in the end?- Nevermind i just saw another video about that :)

Heeeee Matt!!! Just saying hello from the same Warmshowers host you stayed at in Butte! John B. Haven’t met him yet, he will arrive after midnight so I see him tomorrow. Sitting at his table now and wanted to check what’s in store for me the coming days so looked at your video again. 😊 It is so great being here! And this video also reassured me a bit of the route to come. I was a little afraid of the long endless stretches, but now I’m looking forward to it. Thanks again so much for inspiring me to do this! Oh and I just need to tell you: you’re famous! Every GDMBR-rider I talk to and tell you and Ryan van Duzer were my inspiration know the both of you! You’re a real influencer. Ain’t that great?! 😂 I wish you all the best on your trip to come. When I get back home I will watch that series! I’m planning to go to Jackson, not all the way to Antelope Wells. But I’m taking it slow, so will take some more weeks. 😊 Bye, bye 👋🏻👋🏻 Astrid from The Netherlands

Nice rig. What I would advise for a tarp is some carbon poles maybe from 6 moon design. I always have 2 of them just in case if I will not find trees for my sea to summit jungle hammock.

Hi mat, I think your security solution for the bikes are a brilliant idea going to give it a try myself. Can I just ask what kind of anchor you used?

I didn't know if i was watching Jackanory or the Red hand gang for a minute then I realised it was neither ... Great way to tell a story lads I really enjoyed that👍

Well I am ryding in UK and to be honest it would be hard to pack my trek 1120 to a plane, is a beast 😂

We have been enjoying your videos, Mat. One thing to consider with the Varia -- when it is on the "flashing" mode (press the power button three times) the battery will last longer... But what I find best with this mode is it is dynamic -- meaning it flashes faster the closer the car is to you, to get their attention... Good luck!!

Hi Mat. I've just come out of hibernation and by now I'm sure that you'll already be turning the pedals on the Trans Am. The formula for larger cassettes is 1 extra chainlink per 2 extra teeth, so I hope that you added 3 extra links over your old chain 🙂 Looking forward to the first video 😁👍

Hi, Matt, on day 4 you went off course to a dead end, did it take long to get back on route ? And did you use a Wahoo round gps ? Fantastic video btw !😎👍

Okay I was going to have an easy weekend but now I'm inspired to go and plan a big long ride for saturday or sunday ...great content lads 👍

I wild camp when ever i need too i have 3 rulez ....no open fire ....leave no rubbish and take only fotos

@matryderadventures It looks a nice piece of kit to me Mat. Great to customise and add your own preferences to it, and a bike is really a superlative example of how reasonably "straightforward" engingeering can be used to cover really significant distances, under human power, and simultaneously provide genuine enjoyment. Distance walking aside I cannot think of anything that compares. Look forward to seeing you progress, have a great time! Good Luck.

Been bullied my hole life for some reason could never figure out why,thats made me a introvert hate social gatherings and anything to do with people,

Fantastic!

Looked awesome.What guide group did you use please?

Glad you can cook 🎉🎉😂😂

Very informative video. What brand is the camp stool you took?

Just so happy to have found you in the biking fraternity… genuine ride genuine comments… thank you for your honesty

You done really well. One thing tho. You went from a 36 tooth to a 42 and didn't put a longer chain on? The derailleur is being pulled at such an extreme angle.

Thank you for a great story! ❤ Best eve. I got curious about what tent you are using? And where you bought it?😊

Oh my gosh! I think I saw you outside of Pinedale on my travels back to Texas!

like you i love to pack up the van drive off out into the wilds park up unload the bike then ride out into the proper wilderness n camp up for a night or 2....I knows its a very simple way to live but it works well for me . Mate the people who call the likes of us crazy are the sort of people who work 50+ hours a week just to pay a morgage for 30+ years and call a 2 week summer holiday to the costa brava adventurous traveling. I have tried both lifestyles and honestly imo the " work till death paying a morgage route" sucked and left me feeling like a very hollow unfulfilled....I guess what I'm saying is if some folk are calling you crazy, after finding a hobby/lifestyle that makes you happy then run with the KRA KRA my friend ....excuse the ramble .

The biggest tip is start up Ben Nevis at 1800 hours. That means you can climb all the hills in daylight.

By far ...the best GDMBR video I've watched.

Agree, I cannot do hiking (due to my weird ankle at brith), but cycling is the way to go for me too. John is a funny dude and wouldn't be bore with him on the trip.

Thanks for sharing the tubeless and rear cassette installations, definitely something I’m considering on my Sutra. Good luck on the Trans Am. Be safe

I camped just along from this location this Friday, through the muddy nettle tunnel! (kept awake al night by fledgling owls!) Those Alpkit stools are on sale at the moment down to £16 so I'll be picking one up. Good luck on the TransAm

Thanks. If you decide to do the sustrans LEJOG I highly recommend extending it from John O'Groats to island hopping in the Orkneys to cycling the length and breadth of Shetland until the very north of Shetland. I myself added about 1000 miles at the end of the 1000 mile LEJOG. Basically LEJOG got better and better the further north and the islands are very beautiful and were my favourite section. I loved the magnificent desolation. I also was a quick convert, having been a hiker and done all but one of the Wainwrights I switched to cycling and really enjoy the Goldilocks speed of bike-packing.

Hi Mat, thank you for putting out the videos! After GDMBR I will surely follow your TransAm-Adventure! Pls. allow one question: Is this the sleeping pad you are recommending: **NeoAir XLit NXT MAX**? Thanks for returning to me (... and I recommend the radar, use it in 2nd season and never experienced any error, however, one more item to charge...) Rgds from Germany/Bavaria, Dieter

nice little overnight epic maybe consider upgrading to some proper lights eh 😉

Great video! Good luck on your trip. Enjoy yourself, take your time and film everything (spoil us). 😁Rushing is bad, mmmkay!

That’s great if you can afford it. ultimately, it’s about enjoying the outdoors,not about how expensive your kit is..

Thinking of doing it over a period of 3 months. Have the bike and most of the kit. Need a couple of panniers to add to my bike-packing setup to carry more food and water and warmer jacket and sleeping bag for altitude. Just need to fully recover from seven months of post concussion syndrome and get back on the bike for 6 months training back to 60 miles per day fully loaded. I have very very mild asthma so will carry inhaler also. Thanks for the video. A praiseworthy addition to the collection of GDMBT and Tour Divide vlogs on youtube. As a British guy of similar or slightly greater age I appreciated your vlog. My next and second and possibly last bike trip is a toss up between Tour Aotearoa, US trans continental or GDMBT though I'd most like to do Cairo to Capetown solo for its culture. As you, I love the US landscape which to me is so iconic because I've seen the US in TV shows and movies all my life. I'd rather do it South to North to give me the option of continuing northwards beyond Banff, but the vibe to me is that it is a North to South route just as the vibe of LEJOG is that it is a south to north route. Maybe it would be possible for me to plan heading west and continuing south through the Baja peninsula to delay having to stop.

Great video. that's a mountain I've never thought about climbing

Hi Mat. I'm pleased that you're taking the Kona on the original Trans-Am. With those tyres you can easily vary your route without much compromise. All the best 🚲🙂👍

Nice, relaxing video. A very real tour and look into the daily life of being abroad in a van. I have two questions and sorry, but they are about bear: what handle bars are you running.? I like the vertical hood and curious if there is any “gravelish” flair for descents in the drops. Secondly, I agree with your comment about the van size being perfect. Just enough and no more. I am from the U.S. and can’t stand the giant behemoth rigs we get stuck behind or practically blow you off the road out riding. Have fun!

Hi Mat a great video , forget the superglue It's called Basting tape and it is used by canvas workers, very thin and narrow, it helps waterproof as well. Try One Sails in Levington or Solent Sew. Once you start using it its like cables ties or duct tape- You won't know how you lived without it!

Fell asleep watching one bike video and woke up at the start of this - glad I did. Probably the most inspirational/therapeutic cycling video I have seen. Going to watch in small segments to make it last.

Mat, a pint of Spruce Budd at Fort George Brewing in Astoria, Oregon is not to be missed and a great way to begin your adventure. Cheers!

You'll be absolutely fine on your Kona. The Sutra is an awesome bike for Touring. I cycled from Alaska to San Francisco on mine a good few years back now and it done a stellar job. Even on some significant unpaved roads as I took a detour up the Dempster Highway. Good luck and I look forward to watching your progress on the TransAm

Some people store their spare spokes into the sitting post with foam and rubber bands, so they don't rattle in there. Give it a search... maybe its worth the fuss to put them out of the way.