Bikepacking Across Europe - London to Istanbul Ep.1

We set off to bike across Europe from London to Istanbul. We pack up our bikes and start our first day bikepacking across Europe in London. We stay with warm shower host for the first time and try English food. This is the craziest adventure we have ever attempted!
#bikepacking #traveleurope #biketouring
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Liz & Alex
About us: We are Liz and Alex, a married couple that makes outdoor adventure and travel videos. We strongly believe that dreams are meant to be pursued, and we hope to motivate others to get outside their comfort zones and do the same. We are full-time nomads and divide up our time between traveling abroad and the other part of the time in our self converted van all the while fitting in loads of outdoor-based adventure along the way! Our goal is to show you amazing places and inspire you to get outside your comfort zone and pursue your dreams...whatever they may be.

[@SebsTruckStop]

My girlfriend and I are doing this trip as soon as we finish school. Really helps to see the perspective of others doing it!!

[@morningmonsoon]

I missed watching your videos, and I'm so glad you're back with this epic adventure! I can't wait to see the rest of the journey 😊

[@PursuingMountains]

Aww thank you so much! ☺️It’s good to be back!

[@user-zk8im3oz4k]

I hope that the UK continues to treat you well. I wonder if your diet allows you to eat fish & chips and drink warm beer. I'm looking forward to the next episodes. Good luck!

[@PursuingMountains]

The people in the UK were very friendly and helpful. I did try the fish and chips, but warm beer? Is that a thing in the UK?

[@user-zk8im3oz4k]

@@PursuingMountains Traditionally British people drink Bitter or IPA which are served at room temperature. As the name suggests, they are a bit bitter so people who are used to drinking lager may not like them. I believe that Craft Beer is very popular in the US so you may be accustomed to their taste. A gourmet route across Europe sampling local delicacies (food, beer, wine) would be a treat!

[@westmidlandsdashcam6717]

Just come across you guys, both of you are instantly watchable!.. Brilliant series and well delivered. Earnt a Subscriber!

[@PursuingMountains]

Aww thank you so much ☺️

[@pierremiyamoto4490]

Great video ! I'm planning to be the first person circumnavigate the globe on roller blades ! 🛼🔥🎆

[@PursuingMountains]

Wow that is amazing!!! When do you start?

[@pierremiyamoto4490]

@@PursuingMountains Hopefully in 2026, but first, I need to get sponcers, and contact media outlets (Roller blading youtubers or just youtubers in general, and different TV outlets, etc.) ! I'm also figuring out which foundation/charity I want to support ! 🥳

[@ThatWalkingGeeza]

@@pierremiyamoto4490don’t wait that long or deep it too much who knows what could happen in two years, just go for it

[@mikecandler4350]

Great job, looking forward to this series. It just popped up on my feed today, looks like I have catching up to do tonight.

[@PursuingMountains]

That’s awesome 🙌🏼 Thank you! Glad you found our channel :)

[@benbuffalobrown4594]

Glad to see you two doing another tour. I really enjoyed your GDMB videos. In fact you inspired me to go back and try to post videos of our bike tours. ❤

[@PursuingMountains]

Oh that is awesome to hear! It is so nice to have those memories documented :)

[@MatHall]

Amazing you guys. We did this in 2018, i look forward to binging all your videos on my lunch breaks :)

[@PursuingMountains]

Nice! That’s awesome you did this too! Thanks!

[@Santoroskitchen]

binge watching it all!

[@PursuingMountains]

Aww that’s awesome! 🙌🏼

[@JamesDowningChapters]

New subscriber, will be binge watching the whole series :)

[@PursuingMountains]

Aww that’s awesome! Hope you enjoy :)

[@CityWalks]

This is great. I'm hoping to do the French section with my son next spring. I love the travel details and that you are sharing the issues you run into. It's very helpful. Cheers. -H

[@PursuingMountains]

Thank you! It’s hard to know exactly how much detail to include, but I guess I figure people probably want to see at least some of the challenges and details of the journey

[@hippiewithabackpack9777]

Excellent video!! First one I’ve watched. Love that you made a series. That is an awesome app to know about thank you!! I want to bike tour Greece/Croatia soon

[@alicyclochallenge3063]

Great you helping me for my next trip thanks

[@PursuingMountains]

Awesome! 🙌🏼

[@Bikepacking]

Nice tradition Bicyle tour set up

[@PursuingMountains]

Thanks. Bike touring on the back, bikepacking on the front

[@symbiketour4704]

That's will be a great adventure from London to Istanbul. I hope both of you will end the journey safely. Done subscribe your YT Ch

[@PursuingMountains]

Thank you!!!

[@2wheelsrbest327]

Looking forward to watching your onward journey. Living here in the South East Coast of the UK and having not visited London for years its a little ironic that you being Americans have made me realise just how many bike lanes we have in our capital city. Just glad you didn't get your bikes stolen. Stay safe.

[@PursuingMountains]

Thanks! London wasn’t the best city to bike in, but it definitely wasn’t the worst.

[@reeseprince8]

Really enjoyed it subscribed

[@PursuingMountains]

That’s great to here! So glad you enjoyed the video ☺️

[@kevbutler81]

That’s definitely a bit of a stretch, when I return home from Canada I’m going to do a few of these trips 🎉

[@PursuingMountains]

Nice! Any particular bikepacking trails in Canada? We did the gdmbr Canada section a couple years ago and loved the section right after banff!

[@kevbutler81]

@@PursuingMountains Every were you go here there is a maze of trails. None in particular but Jasper and Banff are amazing.

[@kevbutler81]

Everywhere lol.

[@mikehedges5954]

The sewage plant is an architectural & engineering wonder (it really is!)

[@mertaksal7194]

If you continue to Izmir, Fethiye and Antalya after Istanbul, you will see beautiful views. There are also great camping areas. I think there is a direct flight from Dalaman to London. Have a safe trip.

[@PursuingMountains]

Sounds really nice. Someday, we’ll have to visit Turkey again!

[@robertfoster1151]

Great video for my first stop with your channel. Map route graphic on Google Earth really useful in following your travels.

[@egigov]

Nice video and an amazing trip. For anyone looking for tips on bikepacking, please don’t pack your bike in a box like this. Wrap the fragile parts in foam and pad the box with clothes and other items or your trip could end before it stared!

[@PursuingMountains]

Are bikes were padded. We had some foam, sleeping pads and sleep bags to pad the bikes.

[@wajidpoernomo4677]

I was wondering what you did with the box at the airport? Was the staff ok to take the boxes off you? Or did you dispose of the cardboard somewhere? Curious to know as Heathrow are pretty strict.

[@cosmelapd]

new suscriber, great content

[@PursuingMountains]

Thank you! Welcome to our channel ☺️🙌🏼

[@narasimhav3330]

Nice 🙏👌👍🤔🤗

[@PursuingMountains]

Thanks!

[@Scor-ah]

Oh my goodness, I ate so many of those Veggie English breakfasts when I was in England...lol.. I am kind of over them.

[@PursuingMountains]

Really?! We loved them! I guess we weren’t there long enough to get tired of them though

[@andrewmaljaars2693]

Is there a GPS route you are following?

[@PursuingMountains]

We followed sections of some of the Eurovelo Routes, and had a general idea of the direction we were going, but usually just put the directions into Komoot and followed it. We made some modifications based on recommendations from people and whenever possible (especially in the Balkans) we would try to avoid busy highways.

[@bvdv47]

What are those long flappy things on your helmets? Doesn't look very aerodynamic :D

[@PursuingMountains]

They are visors from a company called Dabrim. As we’re getting older we worry more about sun protection than speed 😆

[@OliverLeaverSmith]

Get some HP sauce on that breakfast! :D good luck on the trip!

[@PursuingMountains]

Thanks! I’ll remember the HP sauce next time 😀

[@David_a_journeyman_curmudgeon]

What do I do with the bike box at my destination? Dispose?

[@PursuingMountains]

I am not sure. I’m guessing just to try dispose them. We didn’t have to worry about it because while we were setting up our bikes at the airport a man who worked there, asked to take them.

[@leapintothewild]

comment for the YT algorithms 🙂

[@PursuingMountains]

Thanks!

[@johnrobertd748]

How do you figure routes? I know nothing about Europe

[@SB-hr5yr]

I'm surprised a member of staff didn't come over to you in the airport and charge you for putting your bikes together. Make up a new rule on the spot and then charge for it. Soon to be charging customers for going to the toilet and breathing their air conditioned air. :-)

[@PursuingMountains]

Right?! 😂 it’s getting out of hand these days! However, luckily cycle tourist are not super common I imagine.

[@sulaimansulaiman3403]

👍👍♥♥🇮🇳🇮🇳

[@PursuingMountains]

🫶🏼🩷

[@davidharris4062]

Breakfast needs Bacon and definitely Black Pudding 👅👅👅

[@nancytriggiani9565]

What bikes are you riding?

[@PursuingMountains]

We’re both riding the Salsa Fargo. We got them back in 2020 when we biked part of the Great Divide

[@smcqueen123]

National Cycle Route 1 out of London is not pleasant to look at and does not even have a good cycle infrastructure. I live in Greenwich and our cycling infrastructure is woeful in comparison to our French and Dutch neighbours. Though I hope you will have a great time wherever you go.

[@PursuingMountains]

Thank you! We found the cycling paths improved a lot once we were out of England. We really enjoyed seeing the English countryside though!

[@Welshman-abroad]

The London eye *

[@sayantanbanerjee411]

Why does the Indian guy keep smiling

[@Welshman-abroad]

The London eye *