The further away, the better

“I’ve ridden many thousands of miles on my bike all these years and I can’t say I regret anything… There were rough times but also good times. You just know it’s a challenge that you’ve got to overcome.”
We all have roads that lodge in our mind, routes we want to take. One such route is across the Sprengisandur, an uninhabited highland plateau crowned by an 826-metre pass in the central ranges of Iceland.
Plenty have tried to cross, and plenty have failed. In 2015, Rapha sent filmmaker George Marshall and framebuilder Tom Donhou to attempt the crossing. But after days of high winds, the pair were forced to stop. Four years later, George returned to lead another group across the 170 miles between the end of the tarmac near Reykjavik and the northern stronghold town of Akureyri. But they were far from being the first to make the crossing.
Over 60 years before, Ron Bartle joined Dick Phillips, Bernard Heath and their guide Raymond Bottomley for the first-ever unsupported ride across the Sprengisandur. They spent ten days in the wilderness, crossing rivers in inflatable dinghies and pushing their bikes for miles over boulder fields until they finally reached the first farmstead in the north.
Now in his mid-eighties and still an avid cyclist, Ron has recounted the story of his unexpected Icelandic adventure. And at a time when many of us cannot ride the roads lodged in our minds, he reminds us that they’ll still be there this year and the next.
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[@youssefglover6197]

There are no better cycling documentaries in existence than the ones Rapha make

[@ronwhite8503]

Ron, and his like, are the true pioneers and heroes of cycling to me. From a fellow Ron I salute you and you have inspired a misanthropic 62 year old. Chapeau.

[@richardedward123]

"It's a grand way to spend a life." Indeed.

[@tomcosgrove8005]

indeed

[@theyorkshirepudding2656]

1:50 take a screenshot and read that. Something truly inspiring, sad, yet so totally wholesome and poignant in equal measure to see a life listed in such a way. What an incredible man, and what an incredibly full and well-lived life - with no sign of stopping the journey either! Would love to have a brew and a chat with Ron. Rapha, cap doffed to you for a fantastic feature of a brilliant human 👏

[@paulshilton]

What a legend. Great short vid Rapha. 👌🏻👌🏻

[@cokebottles6919]

So good. Loved this

[@Karla-Flr]

Genial !

[@mattfenn1373]

Chuffing magic!

[@ericpmoss]

How was the reliability of tires way back then? Were they built more robustly than they are now? It seems like people are flatting at least 4x per Rapha ride, but that would have killed everyone in that 1958 attempt, let alone the 1933 attempt.

[@georgemarshall118]

Ron said they had 4 or 5 flats, we had tonnes in 2015 and just 1 in 2019

[@WildOutdoorLiving]

I basically have two goals in life: 1. Prioritize my family and friends and maintain loving and caring relationships 2. Ride my bike as long I live. This man is living the dream.

[@chefjonsf]

Cheers! A simple life is a robust and rich life. No need to extend beyond that!

[@birofunk86]

Nothing hits more than him saying "You might have a few problems on your mind, but once you get out on the bike, you forget all these things" 👏

[@C345OFR]

The screenshot of his 'palmarès' at 2:04 is something to behold, not just for the touring - look at the right-hand column: he's beaten cancer and overcome an aneurysm, too!

[@chiennanyang1]

Respect！

[@conneeps]

Me: trying to make my rear der work with a 50. Ron Bartle: “fixed gear”

[@gw7392]

This is what it feels like after not training all winter and you go for a local ride in the spring

[@McStoolio]

I found that out last week. I got smoked. 😂

[@neilallard9447]

What a guy, brilliant film.

[@wiggle]

Absolute Hero! Chapeau Ron and cracking film from Rapha as always 🤙

[@willboyes1619]

Brilliant stuff!! Really good to see this, especially as Bernard Heath and Raymond Bottomley were both founding members of our club, Huddersfield Star Wheelers!

[@jamesherd9132]

Brilliant I love this I have a lot of catching up to do at 71

[@spongedaddy315]

@James Herd -- You got this, mate :)

[@jonjon9135]

Forward🇦🇺🤙

[@mrichards55]

Love the comment about having a few problems on your mind, but once you get out on a bike you forget all these things 😀

[@thetalkingfly]

Made me smile. Rapha you make great videos -haha so true. Steve

[@thomasmarker8198]

I love Rapha Films, i got back on the bike thanks to you 8 years ago, Thanks.

[@KitWoodrow]

Despite continued asking over the decades, so-called 'Icelandic Dick' Phillips claimed all the photos and rock samples collected on the 1958 trip were "lost in the post". They only emerged once photographer Raymond Bottomley dies and Bernard Heath in a care home, 60 years later. Where did Ron acquire the slides and photos taken by, but denied to Raymond Bottomley...

[@RaYzZaaa]

Well, I guess its time to put some money in the bin for a flight-ticket for Lachlan to Iceland.

[@KitWoodrow]

There is a folder containing letters, newspaper clippings, accounts of supplies etc for the organising of this trip. This was before Ron was involved. It is such a shame that this video was not made when Raymond Bottomley and Bernard Heath were still alive.

[@polsifter]

No honestly I’ve just got a bit of dirt in my eyes... 😢

[@tychoMX]

Just a bit too sandy out there :)

[@renekjrnielsen403]

I have driven that road... In a Big ass defender. He is a absolute mad lad. Imagine riding through the interior of Iceland on that old School gear. This movie somehow make me stop and Think if im on my right patch

[@c-9233]

There were others with Ron who crossed Iceland and were never really credited during their lifetimes

[@think1of1]

Cinelli Splash Black and Red Cork Tape! He's got good taste!

[@johnsfulton]

Great film and Ron explains what riding a bike is all about. Best Rapha film yet.

[@lordgonzo.]

Pause the video when he pulls out his diary. Unbelievable.

[@furmston.creative.studio]

Oh, Rapha! What an absolute delight to watch. This is why we do it. This is what makes all the pain and punctures worthwhile. Almost brought a tear to my eye. Almost.

[@srs31014]

Love everything about this. Thanks for making it.

[@wasupwitdat1mofiki94]

I'm 64 years old and this guy gives me hope that I can continue cycling for the next 20, I hope so anyway because I just spent $10,000 on a new custom built bike.

[@weeringjohnny]

I thought this was going to be another Rapha product promo masquerading as adventure but I was wrong. It dwells on endurance, spirit, attitude and character, exactly what expedition riding demands of you.

[@kevinshea1763]

What an impressive man I'm 60 he's my new idol amazing

[@stephen3650]

‘Build a bit of character’ 🥰

[@earthboymedia]

4 days across rough seas then the adventure starts...legendary Ron !

[@wakweikafelix]

This is a LEGEND! And he still rides his bike every week!

[@richardedwards9648]

Huddersfield Star Wheelers member. Just goes to show there’s not a lot new in cycling. Riders were gravel riding way back. Love it. An inspiration.

[@Boomsmithy]

Wonderful film 🙂 I hope I can look back at my cycling adventures one day and they'll be half as good as those. ❤️

[@RobynRandell]

Brilliant story, incredibly inspiring. Just shows that life is about adventure and creating amazing stories.

[@kingoffifa]

rapha film, lidl jacket. witty witty man :)

[@unknownKnownunknowns]

Further does not mean farther. It has nothing to do with distance

[@richycoles]

Who the hell is disliking this! The guys is an inspiration to us all. Well done Ron. 👍💪

[@gravelcompromise7935]

"Toughen you up maybe" What a hero.

[@benmw9929]

What a wonderfully life-affirming and beautifully shot video! Wow! Thank you, Rapha! Please put all your films and videos up here - still not all the Festive500 are here :(

[@franklouiscycling]

What a legend... Respect ✊🏾

[@lettochfilms]

What a story. What a pioneer. Puts my LEJOG ride in 2019 into perspective - LOL. Note to self - 'must do more touring'. You're an example to us all Ron Bartle. Chapeau.

[@mwab65]

Interesting and inspirational film.

[@justinburgan]

Love these stories!

[@BASEmedia]

Chapeau. So so good.

[@TimFitzwater]

Another fantastic video.

[@JohnRadford-iy7db]

Good

[@joshpearson2529]

Perfection 👌

[@DanielTone1983]

Living legend!!

[@scottbert9556]

That is the greatest weather vane I've ever seen.

[@glenzigdan]

Ron is a legend

[@davidpancerz5820]

Wow. Just wow...

[@alanjohnson9998]

Fucking epic!

[@manuelcalleja92]

Imagine the bikes, the gear and clothes they had back then compared to what's available to us now. True warriors.

[@photobookcafe7440]

amazing

[@jonathangreever14]

Simply beautiful. A peaceful, quiet life, well lived. Indeed a great way to spend a life :-)

[@adamcoatham]

I loved this video, thank you Rapha. I've been off the bike for most of January and February due to a health issue, and this video just whets my appetite even more to be well enough again to get back on - hopefully next week all being well!

[@retrobicyclejunkie]

Very moved and inspired by this. Great work 🚲🔥😎👍

[@mntbikeloui4087]

Amazing....what an adventure. I'll use his story for motivation

[@jeff2231963]

Absolutely outstanding way to spend the moments before calling it a day.

[@anthonygittins506]

This was absolutely brilliant. Properly inspirational stuff.

[@paths2go]

Love this! thanks for making these inspiring documentaries!

[@munzmedia2917]

The power and persistence of the human spirit is an incredible thing!

[@C345OFR]

Oh, and I would love to have done the one in 1957. The rest sound a little too cold for me!

[@jeremyallen5056]

Inspirational and next time we think about not going for a ride that is the face and the words to get us out

[@Eric-rt6tg]

Mind blowingly well made and edited, what a great adventure and what a great guy.

[@rabwardell758]

What a lovely film! Thanks!

[@robertkerner4833]

They were bike rafting in ‘58!

[@richardbeasley9084]

Very nicely put together.

[@richardburrows8044]

Brilliant film, thank you 👍🏼

[@derekperkins7343]

A wonderful spirit.

[@PadyakExploration]

Brilliant film!

[@1qazandrew333]

Inspiring. Thank you.

[@farsidestudios4302]

These videos are everything

[@highwaytohealth3211]

Original badass cyclist!!!!

[@calvinmarwood6602]

Keep trying. Keep going.

[@lizdenhup]

absolutely beautiful

[@EKcyclist]

Absolutely inspirational!

[@BrianBaileyy]

Beautiful work

[@jamessherwood8817]

Incredible film!

[@lordgonzo.]

I would much prefer a Jersey or t shirt honouring people like Ron Bartle 🤘

[@steveplant1799]

Totally agree retro styled gravel/bike packing jersey in merino👍

[@shanew634]

Ron Bartle, what an excellent cycling ambassador. Chapeau Ron and Rapha for telling his story.👏👏

[@barneyanderson2594]

What an inspiration

[@garyonnen7634]

That was awesome! Thanks

[@georgedach5325]

Love it Ron

[@Ledomestique]

wonderfull......

[@Shooterthecat1]

Life well lived!

[@albandb9366]

Legendary 😍

[@Krooks44]

wow!

[@mattspencer3449]

Brilliant

[@eloyanzola]

Yes

[@danjenkins3421]

Superb!

[@mmau]

Inspiring

[@arcoulant87]

Chapeau

[@koko-wt1ub]

👍🏽👍🏽