Solitude - A cycling self film in the Scottish Highlands

2020 - the year of lockdowns, uncertainty and bad news.
After the first UK nationwide lockdown I decided to go on a two week solo roadtrip around the Scottish Highlands.
I slept in my car and travelled around on the bike without a timetable for the duration. There's something quite liberating about not following the news, reading the negative headlines and endlessly scrolling social media feeds. The simple pleasures of getting some sun (and a bit of rain..), listening to the flow of water and the gentle bleating of roaming sheep.
On a personal level, I'm a bit of a seasoned racer on the bike. I decided this year to take a step back and really enjoy just getting out on the bike without worrying about hitting numbers on the bike in the name of training. Just roaming and peddling around for the joy of it was.... amazing.
I'd implore you to do the same at some point if you've never tried.
Enjoy the Ride!
1) PS. Apologies about the state of my shoes
2) Yep I did use film myself whilst controlling a drone and whilst riding a bike (although thanks to my mate Nathaniel who I happened to bump into whilst on the Isle of Skye for assisting with one of the shots here)
3) I used public showers and toilets
4) I drive an electric car, hence why it sounds like a bit like a spaceship in the beginning
*****
Follow my journey behind the lens and on two wheels:
Instagram: / calvinoooooo
Facebook: / ccheungphoto. .
Website for work stuff: www.ccheungphotography.com/

[@richardwaring8613]

I could cry. I had a stroke in December and my balance on a bike is destroyed. I hope it comes back one day but I am now having to ride an adult trike. This is exactly what I hoped to do in the future. Don't delay carpe di before it is too late.

[@richardwaring8613]

That should have been carpe diem

[@mathiasthelander7834]

I hope you recover Richard! Take care!

[@tonyoerlemans392]

Hi Richard. Sorry to hear. Maybe a recumbent trike would be a solution if recovery is slow. Should solve your balance issues and still stay ‘sporty’. All the best.

[@ChristianBorrman]

ride on… there is a german in mallorca who spanks mosts cyclists up sa batalla after urban legend he was hit by lightning. I love cheering him on as he passes me 🆙 🔝 ⛰

[@FSEVENMAN]

I'm sorry to hear that dude but if you have to forget about writing try hiking or something just get out there and enjoy yourself make the best of what's left of your life🙂 good luck to you😀

[@ALittleAdventureTime]

Beautiful film of the Bealach, it's a great climb. Some fantastic shots and I appreciate the hard work you've done to set those up, ride through the shot then go back and fetch the camera!

[@chokehanson1830]

Just found this while doom scrolling for motivation to clip in, get out & ride. This is it for me, this is exactly what cycling is now about - just the wind in my hair, peace & quiet, big skies, empty roads & no agendas. Did 28 years of racing, got to a reasonable level for a little while, but when I finally took the numbers off my jersey for the last time it was like a total release. I still ride hard but I never see it as training, I'm probably still rrasonably fit, but to me every ride now is just about the ride, nothing else. This vid you've posted up here says it all without actually saying it. Thanks for posting it up. I'm now off out for a couple of hours spin round the lanes.

[@cphbanfb]

Well explained !

[@ohnihsi]

That was incredibly beautiful. Thanks for making and sharing

[@patrickbateman80]

Come to Italy, the homeland of cycling, wonderful and unforgettable places, good views, beautiful roads to ride, spectacular mountanis and good food and wine!!!

[@AllenBoardman]

This is filmed so incredibly well. You had my attention from start to finish. I recognise a whole load of those places too. Thank you for sharing. I wish I found this sooner.

[@marcusxmac9687]

Absolutely fabulous. Thank you!

[@KH-pw8oi]

Inspirational. Oh the joy of cycling and wonderful scenery.

[@karamarie6781]

What amazing countryside!

[@Donykovida]

this is the best self filmed cycling highlights! keep doing this! thank you for sharing this is so inspiring...

[@air1jwilkins1212]

Ahhh, so lovely and peaceful. Great video!

[@CaptBongo]

Thank you for posting a wonderful video. I wish I had found it sooner. I am jealous of the hills and awesome views.

[@stephaniefortney22]

Absolutely Beautiful…and done so well, you captured the peace that cycling creates within. What a Dream to ride there, thank you for sharing with us, it’s inspiring.

[@lesleyomnet3718]

Beautiful! Video footage is amazing ❤️

[@minethegap]

That mountain at the start is Beinn na Caillich on the isle of Skye just outside Broadford. It has significance for me. Very strange to see it pop up like this on you tube.

[@zerofighter42]

Fantastic little movie, thanks for putting it out there.

[@derrekkelso3418]

Incredible video!!! Great job man!

[@MarcoP70]

One of the bst cycling vids ever. Absolutely beautiful.

[@Enjoy-The-Ride]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bianchirider....neverendin8532]

Beautiful and incredible.

[@stuart3744]

It took me 1hr 11 minutes to do the Bealach Na Ba, did the loop from Shieldaig, and got great weather , just a lot of fighting with the horse flies

[@Thenewsystemis]

I'm guessing that it must have been so quiet that sleeping in the car didn't cause any problems? It truly looks amazing and maximum respect for the self filming. An inspirational 4mins 18 secs. Thanks for the idea...

[@manfrednt]

Arcydzieło gatunku kolarskiego. Muzyka kadry wszystko pasuje do siebie idealnie.

[@khayyamkhan7794]

Wonderful video. The scenery so breathtaking even more so on 2 wheels. Nature at Her best.

[@sebafragt740]

Perfekt! Very good job. Thx a lot for that

[@Mister20seven]

Beautiful video, really well done. Great how you managed to get such a variety of perspectives and good shots. Inspiring and fun to watch, thumbs up

[@nborland]

just came across this. what a great little adventure. big fan of giants and pilgrims too

[@gordontyrrall5299]

Beautiful film! It looks like it was done in winter when there would be few tourists on these single- track roads.

[@TalesofAdventure]

Really love the vibe of this vid - huge congratulations 👏

[@jamesmclean7868]

Great video, good footage of Beleach na Ba. Climbed it a few times myself. 🥵

[@AmoLaMusicaIAC]

Subscribed immediatly. Underrated content, so high quality! Cheers from italy

[@plumbgray]

Top drawer video ! Really enjoyed that thank you

[@todd92371]

Amen to this. The joy of riding.

[@andrelcunha87]

What a beautiful video!!!

[@Pedalareversoilcielo]

Nice location ! Una pedalata in solitaria ideale fantastica in un luogo incantevole ! Complimenti per il filmato ! Solitudine oh yeah 👍

[@yijuntey]

this video is so underrated and viewed. Great quality filming, and the video goes so well with the music. I would love to film and post something like this in the future too.

[@sigurd9143]

This is one of the most beautiful cycling films I've ever seen. Epic, Soulfull, Awesome. Found your Channel yesterday. Amazing Content, Dude.

[@Enjoy-The-Ride]

Thanks man! Appreciate it :))

[@hereintoca4701]

Another really well shot video!

[@philipbarrett3151]

Got one of my favorite roads there, the tourists and campers visit the Quiraing, turn around & go back down again. But the road over the top of the Totternish to Uig is spectacular.

[@ColdDarkNorth.]

Lovely stuff!

[@kimfitzwater3475]

Great Video - reminds me of the Col Collective - you have made the scenery the hero.

[@VY-zt3ph]

Great video brother. I wish I couLd ride a bicycle with you in those highlands.

[@markjthomson]

Very fine. Thank you!

[@rickysan1045]

Amazing video! Bravo!

[@benbhuida_adventures]

Beautiful video

[@yanyangustian5603]

Such a very2 good atmosphere.. 👍

[@intarcus425]

This a whole vibe!

[@ishigakiislandcowboy3194]

Beautiful

[@brandonsebastianzornado2600]

Great video! Amazing scenery. Way to ride! I just got into cycling this year. I knocked out a 20 mile road ride today. Attempting my first 70.3 Half-Ironman in 2 weeks.

[@nelsonguerrero2099]

Good luck brother and ride on...Be safe out there 🙏

[@brandonsebastianzornado2600]

@@nelsonguerrero2099 Much appreciated!

[@snoopysnoop8546]

woooow!!! amazing!!!

[@NoIdleTalk]

Beautiful video. Well done.

[@KNURKonesur]

I wish I had a car... Or a nice bicycle... Damn, some goals here!

[@JohnSmith-ec9qr]

Ok...just what I needed to watch.

[@ersinbozkurt8590]

awesome..great work..

[@nicholascowen]

coffee in a jet boiler, YOU ABSOLUTE SAVAGE!!!

[@globaljobber]

Great video. Well done.

[@lindamduncan2088]

Love it 👍

[@JoeCannon1]

That’s why I like Hyundai - that big trunk 🙂

[@brendanthorne8353]

How does this vid only have ~7000 views. Very good quality, bravo.

[@thepandaman]

A week later and ~17k, so maybe the algorithm has picked it up :)

[@wseejattan]

Lots of off saddle,hills for months on end😲😲😲

[@Mike-vd2qt]

Sweet video, thanks from a fellow cyclist in Colorado.

[@lukemurray89]

Great video buddy

[@xchopp]

Yep, thought that was an EV at the start... so quiet! Nice riding :)

[@domanura16]

While i watch this video, my knees hurt))

[@kervilou5905]

very nice

[@sergeykhorobrykh8042]

Нехило он кофе себе наварил в конце!😁

[@petegordon-smith2497]

Quality!

[@jawnpawlsawn]

A very under-viewed video. Awesome.

[@drewdgriffith]

This film leaves me absolutely speechless and yearning for a similar adventure! Would you be able to provide the route that you took or at least some of the segments?

[@steverunciman3514]

Start at Loch Kishorn and head north-west over the Bealach na Bas.....then Loch Torridon....then Sligachan, the Fairy Glen, The Quiraing, Loch Fada and The Old Man of Storr on Skye. Enjoy.

[@beneric1000]

I love this film and I like cycling. I have no question. What song is this?

[@lifeofasoul]

beautifully filmed. May I know which bike is it? Thank you 😊

[@wkooroweru390]

Prostota, krajobrazy, jeździec w samotnej podróży są kwintesencją kolarstwa czy to górskiego czy szosowego. Gratuluję zmontowania bardzo przyjemnego filmiku. Lukas from Poland.

[@davidrussell9011]

Would love to see where some of the roads were - I am moving to Scotland soon.

[@steverunciman3514]

Start at Loch Kishorn and head north-west over the Bealach na Bas.....then Loch Torridon....then Sligachan, the Fairy Glen, The Quiraing, Loch Fada and The Old Man of Storr on Skye. Enjoy.

[@tomcarslaw2117]

You will be welcome! Love my homeland , especially its people

[@marcusmartin5758]

Im going to buy ebike, this place would be fun to ride.

[@aimeeravelo3632]

Hi! May I know who the artist is in this video? Love the song. Great video too!

[@aimeeravelo3632]

@@Enjoy-The-Ride Thanks so much!

[@JineeshGeorgeME]

This is a very well made video with a lot of attention paid to the details. Excellent video quality too. The background music could have been different though - I would have gone for some epic, uplifting, instrumental music. But still, great job. I am planning to to do my first climbing video and this one will be my bench mark.

[@imherelul]

what camera is used here? great vid!

[@sandrider1406]

Scotland + Giant = 😁

[@saronyobose2064]

I will send it to my x girl , whom we had to break up because she thought cycling is risky .

[@andrewbrown6462]

What is that song? Great video.

[@hendrik1445]

May I ask you how you managed to take the big cameras and the drone with you on your bike? Did you take off a backpack for your shots. Colors, cuts & pacing are very good! I really enjoyed your video :) and would like to do something like you did in my own way! Thank xou!

[@hendrik1445]

@@Enjoy-The-Ride Wow okay. Well done, really. Keep it up! Would like to see more of this kind of silent cycling short films. Thank you for the inspiration!

[@jean-louismonvoisin1932]

Do you use a tripod or you just put the camera on a wall or a rock when you found it ? Really great job 👏

[@MrRemota]

Mas, de onde você tirou este fogareiro a a cafeteira?

[@sudiansahjr1405]

Wish u recover soon....then get a ride bike

[@snjmickhe9290]

please tittle of the song i realy like this for long way ride

[@meyers6622]

Can you stealth camp in Scotland?

[@ARGMTNT]

Loved it , shame about continuity. Peace.

[@loveisall5520]

You poor thing! I toured the US by bike as a college student over the seventies. But I certainly didn't do it on a silly little bicycle with dropped bars. Don't you realize how hard this unnatural seating posture is on your neck for extended periods?

[@typing.....................]

pandemic cyclerist starter pack : always standing position in front of camera (checked)

[@MrPhotodoc]

Now get Ewan McGregor to go with you around the bloody world. That would be a bike ride.

[@WayChuangAng]

if it's real solitude, who's there to do the filming?

[@WayChuangAng]

what? That's incredible

[@farilhou]

That's a proper shit weather

[@mdzahid62]

What's the name of the song please?

[@Enjoy-The-Ride]

Settle Down - Giants & Pilgrims

[@ajusshi8885]

wow so its true. cyclist need atleast to bring a "mini portable espresso machine" :D

[@a1pestservice]

I hate cyclists, but its a great video and well put together in Bonnie Scotland. OK, maybe a bit harsh, I dislike cyclists, they take up all the road, AAaaaaa. LOL

[@josmith8205]

HORRIBLE MUSIC