Hampshire Loop :: Day 2 :: Rake to Aldershot

[@jonmarshall1502]

Poor old Alan looks the least prepared of anyone I’ve recently seen on a bike. And yet he’s kinda what we should all aspire to be on our bikes, and likely more prepared for whatever comes his way on the trail.

[@JethroJessop]

He projects bumbling fool vibes but he's sharper than he looks. Always has the tools, the enthusiasm and the good snacks, and not much else I've required really 😉

[@Frostbiker]

Has anybody say out loud what we all truly think of Alan? He's so funny and cool. And his fantastic retro bicycle is so much better than these modern monstrosities. More of Alan, please!

[@JethroJessop]

I'll let this one slide but any more of that kind of talk and I'll be blocking you from this comments sections! Insubordination and insurrection of the highest degree and such behaviour will not be tolerated ;)

[@Anna-Ess]

​@@JethroJessop Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed Jethro?😉 Or were you the head master of a most strict and rigorous boarding school in your past life?😁😂

[@JethroJessop]

@@Anna-Ess I'm all about discipline and instilling respect (and a little fear) in everyone who I meet! I guess that side of me hasn't really come through in my videos yet 😉

[@Anna-Ess]

@@JethroJessop It hasn't. Yet. Can't say I'm looking forward to it, though ;) And Yes Sir, you don't have to say anything, I know it's already past midnight, and I'll be marching off to bed immediately!😉

[@bradlyttle]

"Alan&Co" has a nice ring to it. lol. Nice 2 day ride montage of lovely rural scenes, thanks for this! A good pub overnghter is a great idea. I'm envious. ATB

[@JethroJessop]

Much as I love the rugged thrill of wildcamping and winging it, you are right that a nice pub dinner and comfy bed at the end of the day are sometime just what I want. I'll even put up with Alan for these luxuries ;)

[@jimmccorison]

Alan's first introduction was much more fitting. And, yes, I know I'm encouraging him. Suck it up. 😂 On the serious side, the countryside looks much nicer in the sunshine.

[@JethroJessop]

Everything looks better in the sunshine. It still amazes me how much difference clear skies make to a ride! Alan doesn't really need any encouragement to be honest. He's like this all the time, even when the camera is off. It's exhausting 😉

[@Anna-Ess]

Listen up folks, don't miss it! Alan's Channel is now officialy open!🎉🥂

[@JethroJessop]

Keep up the pressure and that might actually be true one day ;)

[@Anna-Ess]

​@@JethroJessop It's true as of yesterday actually. There's a video there, and you're in it, by the way. Missing a juicy blackberry by just a millimeter😉 Go see for yourself!😀

[@JethroJessop]

@@Anna-Ess Ah yeah, he sent me the link actually and I didn't even twig that it would be live live live. That trip was years ago! Now keep bugging him for new content and everyone go and subscribe!

[@LostandMeandering]

@@JethroJessop Can we have a link to Alans channel please!

[@JethroJessop]

@@LostandMeandering Here you go youtube.com/@alan_s_channel?si=rhz-FbnQGX3GoZp1

[@jimbojet8728]

A great vid fellas. Really nice countryside and a more adventurous route than I’d have taken. I’ll go off tarmac onto trails, gravel roads etc, but not the out and out ‘hike a bike’ routes you seem to prefer. So, well done both, I don’t feel like I’m missing out though ha ga! Thanks for sharing.

[@JethroJessop]

I'd rather not have to get off the bike if given a choice but I'm happy to do so if it keeps me off roads. I enjoy feeling like I'm out in the wild so a few rugged patches are to be expected and they make for good memories (and videos) ;)

[@dave300m7]

Alan is like Gromit (as in Wallace & Gromit), he doesn’t say much, but he always gets you out of trouble 😂😂

[@JethroJessop]

I don't need that freeloader to get me out of trouble! Though this video may actually suggest otherwise ;)

[@StarEssences]

Jethro, since you love Bike Packing, you should think of areas you can turn it into a business to guide or help others that may take an interest in what you are doing too 🥰

[@JethroJessop]

I have daydreamed about something like this but never in any serious way. I like the idea of putting together routes and helping get other folk out but it's a big responsibility, to have someone pay to take on what would essentially be my opinion. Might become a reality one day though!

[@stevenwilliams7845]

Another great video love it, man

[@JethroJessop]

Thanks. It was a great ride, I'm glad you enjoyed coming along :)

[@marcodeijmann5064]

I like Alan, I think he's so cool 🙃

[@JethroJessop]

Oh stop it. This is exactly what I was talking about! 🤪

[@marcodeijmann5064]

@@JethroJessop 😂

[@keithchambers-oq6nb]

Reminds me of “ Robin Hood Prince Of Thieves”where Sherwood Forest stretched from Nottingham up to Hadrian’s wall 😮😅.. The juxtaposition of characters within…😅😊.

[@JethroJessop]

Prince of Thieves or Men in Tights ;)

[@keithchambers-oq6nb]

@@JethroJessop spot on, you got my drift…😂😂😂

[@Sean-vz7zw]

Another great video Alan 👍 looking forward to the Scottish adventure, not sure this other guy will be as good as you though Alan 😂

[@JethroJessop]

Yeah that other guy is just a burden. I can't even remember his name! ;)

[@Anna-Ess]

🌿All this lovely scenery, more to it than greenery.😉 You two making your way through the vegetation👌... However, since Alan had denied Jeffers Dirty Dancing in the evening, I think the least he could have done was ask for a dance when Jeffers were balancing upon that log.🕺🎶 The scene would be almost complete, we'd just have to imagine a babbling brook underneath! Maybe next time Alan?😉 I hope you get lucky with the weather and the trail in Scotland Jethro!🌞 🤗 Glad Midsommar!🌿🌼

[@JethroJessop]

We did consider recreating that famous scene but decided neither of us would probably survive the attempt ;) I'm just back from the Scotland trip. We got super lucky! Five days of sunshine, hardly any midges, amazing trails. I've not been through the footage yet but there should be some cracking videos coming out of it soon!

[@Anna-Ess]

@@JethroJessop 🌞I'm glad to hear that.😊Looking forward to the videos!

[@Alan_s_Channel]

Good shout. Jeffings certainly owes the audience a dance in the next vid!

[@Anna-Ess]

@@Alan_s_Channel Yes, I think that is something we all can agree upon! I'll certainly vote for it!😉

[@notquiteultralight1701]

Great to see you two on a trip. Great to see Alan. That was quite a track! Hell yeah it was bikepacking! You guys packed some things on a bike and rode somewhere😂. Maybe on the next trip we can see the nano in full wood flame😉👍🏼. I went on a little solo backpacking trip this past weekend and my sawyer squeeze pooped the bed on me so thank goodness I had the nano so I could use the methylated spirits sparingly when it was raining and burn wood even in a sprinkle to boil water to make it safe to drink. Always good to have a wood burner around… especially a nano because it requires such a small maximum diameter twig to run. Hey.. take care sir and we will see you soon. NQU

[@JethroJessop]

Good old nano to the rescue! I've just come back from a trip in Scotland but we passed No Fire signs on every gate so no twig burns sadly. Not sure what the next trip will be but maybe I'll do some more camp cooking videos soon ;)

[@jenniferw2725]

Most of your route looked like a dream! I’ve been riding my Ogre on quite a bit of single track lately and I can’t believe how well it handles it. Love the video! Alan is cool and all, but you’ll always be the star! 🤩

[@JethroJessop]

Finally, a voice of reason recognising Alan for what he is - Robin to my Batman, a sidekick, comedy relief from my wisdom and insight. Alan, I hope you read this one and take note! Glad you are enjoying the Ogre. I'm just back from Scotland where we rode a lot of pretty technical single-track which was eaten up by mine! It's an awesome bike!

[@jenniferw2725]

⁠That sounds like a great trip. I look forward to seeing you slay some Scotland single track!

[@patdunne3277]

Hey ho Jethro brilliant days ride!! Should Alan start his own channel i fear he would break the internet he is the GOAT. Look forward to the Scottish adventure 👍

[@JethroJessop]

That's the plan. He goes to the moon and I ride his coat tails all the way!

[@lazerblastoid]

commando is a perfect movie

[@JethroJessop]

I'd not seen it since I was a kid. It was quite an experience to rewatch I have to say 😉

[@lazerblastoid]

Over the top cocaine 80s Hollywood at it's finest.

[@JethroJessop]

@@lazerblastoid Alan took the wind out of it by pointing out the continuity errors regarding the damage to the Porsche after the first chase scene 😉

[@lazerblastoid]

yup, i noticed that when i was a little kid in the 80s. i just figured it was one of those toy cars or He Man figures whith the flippy damage bits

[@JethroJessop]

@@lazerblastoid Now there is something I haven't thought about for a loooooong time

[@oheso]

Next time I'm knee deep in mud I'm going to imagine a jazz quartet BGM.

[@JethroJessop]

A good soundtrack makes any situation more bearable 😉

[@stevenleak6400]

fine sunshiny fun! and alan's back to crank up the viewage! nice groovalicious music!!! cool ride . . . the first day was really hard to watch . . . not the vid quality at all . . . nope . . .the sketchiness of the terrain and route . . . oh mannnnnnn . . . anyhow, here you are . . . "no buttocks!" LOVE it!!!! Easily one of my favourite vids by you two!

[@JethroJessop]

Yeah, day one was an adventure. It was actually a really nice ride but the weather was rather unpredictable 😉

[@jamescoffin7670]

Nice couple of videos. You should persuade Alan to do the Cairngorms with you. He's bound to have a suitable bike in his collection. Seriously though, I would love to see you two take on a serious overseas tour together. Somewhere unusual, say, Cambodia or Ethiopia or Chile or somewhere. That would be epic viewing for sure.

[@JethroJessop]

Sadly Alan couldn't make the Cairngorms trip. A pity because we lucked out big time with the weather and had a fantastic ride! We have talked about crossing the water to ride somewhere foreign but I doubt it would be anywhere that far afield. I'm already flying far more than I'd like to going back and forward to Sweden so future bike trips will ideally be served by train if not setting off from home.

[@grantswheelstohills]

Looks a great couple of days. I completed the last two sections of the KAW yesterday and today. Yesterday I went along some of those trails. Fantastic time. Though rather hot through the common ! Good luck with your Scotland trip !

[@JethroJessop]

i recognised a few sections from our KAW trip as well. In fact we even recreated a shot from the series for the truly dedicated to spot ;)

[@LostandMeandering]

Great stuff as always. I think a trip down there might be on the cards before summer is out. I must get out of Wales soon! It's hard as it's all on my doorstep! Elan Valley this weekend. Looking forwards to the Cairgorm Loop. Looks to be great route

[@JethroJessop]

Wales could keep me entertained for a long while. There are plenty of good rides round this way but you have to plan more to avoid towns and main roads and all that. Much harder to find routes that feel like you are really out in the wild. Just back from Scotland now. It was amazing! I have a tonne of footage to go through but will start editing soon!

[@LostandMeandering]

@@JethroJessop Can't wait to see the Scotland trip. I just got back from Mid Wales. Strata Florida is amazing. Saw two people all day until I got to the pub! Will edit footage this week and post it up.

[@JethroJessop]

@@LostandMeandering Wales and Scotland both have so much to offer on the bikepacking front. I could spend years exploring either of them and probably still miss loads!

[@LostandMeandering]

@@JethroJessop Absolutely. Im falling totally in love with the Cambrian Mountains.Its not called the Welsh Desert for nothing! I love the feeling of solitude. Im quite a gregarious chap when the mood takes me, but the empty mountains are so special. They have a presence that can be felt inside, (and in your shoes after crossing another bog!)

[@JethroJessop]

@@LostandMeandering I'm with you there. Introvert or extrovert, solitude is a rare state to exist in these days and also one to be embraced. You can find a lot of good stuff in silence and emptiness, not least the realisation that it is neither silent nor empty, just buzzing with something you won't find anywhere else.

[@DIY-DaddyO]

My darling wife thinks Alan is a "young smoldering Johnny Depp" ... Still, a view is a view...

[@JethroJessop]

So Alan gets Johnny Depp while i have garnered two comparisons to Alan Partridge. I gotta find a new riding buddy 😉

[@platypushatstand]

05:38 Time you two sought counselling 😂 It begs the question: are you using Hike with GPS rather than Ride with GPS? As yesterday seemed to be footpaths.

[@JethroJessop]

RWGPS is not always the authority on the actual status and condition of trails. One of the prices to pay for crowd sourced data. I'll admit I do ride on footpaths if there are good sightlines and no other users. I try not to but sometimes it is unavoidable. On this occasion though I pretty much just threw a few points down on the map and went where RWGPS told me. I thought it turned out quite well 😉

[@penny6658]

Totally loved these 2 videos. Alan is great, quiet but funny and good looking (as you mentioned!). You are also good looking and I love following your channel but don't let a little collaboration with Alan and the subsequent follower worship directed at him stop you from the occasional duo foray! No need for any insecurities whatsoever ;-)

[@JethroJessop]

This is the kind of comment that will make us both obnoxiously big headed and self important 😉 There will always be rides with Alan as long as we can keep arranging them. We always have good adventures and I know that when it really comes down to it... He's just a sidekick! 😉 Thanks for watching. We both appreciate the support 😃

[@timevans9195]

Alan should be the next Prime Minister …..

[@JethroJessop]

Don't give him ideas! Can you imagine....

[@thewelshwonder1965]

Does Alan still have his obsession with masonry?

[@JethroJessop]

He didn't mention it. Maybe that was a passing phase.

[@oheso]

I think Alan is my new KZbin favourite, after Nigel or whoever the little lovable prick on GCN was.

[@JethroJessop]

Of course it goes without saying that both of them come after me...right?? Right???

[@markday1714]

frist rule of alan, dont talk about alan

[@JethroJessop]

Don't even think about him!

[@MADC1973]

We subscribers must all stand together in solidarity to stop Alan from usurping your channel. He's becoming too likeable. Content creator's rights have been infringed on here.😲

[@JethroJessop]

Likeable. That is one word you could use though I can think of a few others ;)

[@MADC1973]

@@JethroJessop Ooh...ouch! 😁