BIKEPACKING THE NORTH COAST 500, SCOTLAND

[@cathschofield674]

I’ve come a bit late to this but it is by far the best video I’ve seen of this route. Beautifully put together and I love your commentary. 👏👏👏

[@JRLNeal]

Very watchable video fellas. Thanks. I know how much time it takes to not only film on the bike but also the editing, voiceovers and music. It was all very professional. well done.

[@TheVCAdventures]

The BEAT and edit on this was KILLER bro!

[@davecarter1047]

Yo vegan cyclist, it's dave I subscribe to ya bro! Love your work

[@FoobsTon]

Well done lads and thanks for taking the trouble to document your adventure.

[@VeloVegan]

thanks!

[@scottlaughlin2251]

Great. Thanks for letting me tag along.

[@VeloVegan]

Cheers scott

[@urby1720]

Another great video. Scotland looks beautiful. Thank you for the adventure.

[@VeloVegan]

Urby 1 thanks! Yeah it’s stunning, it’s like wales on steroids, more mountains, bigger mountains and less people !

[@jenniferbailey44]

Great video! Thanks for sharing. Sounds quite scary cycling in those winds. Well done! 👍🚴‍♂️

[@callumd3527]

That was epic - after taking some time off the bike after being knocked off by a car, this has truly reminded me why I love cycling so much and inspired me to begin planning for another tour of Scotland next summer. I completed a similar route this summer and it brought it all back. That was an absolute pleasure to watch. Thank you.

[@robinfjaer]

Thanks to the algorythm that brought me here. But much more, thank you for this killer edit! One of the best cycling films I've seen in the last months. Looking for ways to get to scotland right now!

[@czarinajeananonuevo9075]

I love the vibe of this 🙌🏻 the storytelling, music and the views awesome!

[@VeloVegan]

Czarina Jean Añonuevo thank you!!

[@speckofdust272]

Great video and great cycle trip very inspiring well done 👍 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@VeloVegan]

Speck Of dust thank you!

[@robertnuttall3272]

Good job, nice edit. Its going to be amazing to look back on this when your in your 70's

[@wanderingbox7971]

or even when you reach 120...being plant based ✌️😁🚴

[@denverspin]

Glorious Scotland! Epic ride lads! Inspiring to many who watch. Thank you

[@VeloVegan]

Philip Donelan cheers Philip

[@paulminister8603]

Great work fellas, I'm up there in May 2021 over 7 days so not quite at your killer pace & hopeing for better conditions than you had. Its videos like these that inspire me to take on this tough challenge in my twilight cycling years. Thanks for documenting it & respect for your ride.

[@kevinjager8007]

Guys thank you so much, I really enjoyed that. The filming of excellent and you didn't use too much cheesy library music😁. Although I'm a mtb rider at heart I still like watching Epic Adventures like this. Well done!

[@JAYZWORKSHOP]

Great video really enjoyed.

[@markboden7208]

Great effort fellas, like the video, well put together. So you both did it in June? Bike-packing that route is probably the sensible option. I attempted it in late September last year, in bike-touring mode, camping, so the bike was really heavy. Unfortunately, I picked up an injury, the weather was extremely challenging, bit like your day 3/4, and probably how I got injured. The Scottish wind can be so brutal. I got to Ullapool, then admitted defeat and limped back to Inverness. Late September everything was shut, so like you experienced difficulty in getting food in the day, was not easy to find. You've inspired me to get my ass back up there and get it done, bike-packing mode next time and plan some accommodation. Thanks for the video. Grand stuff. What's next?

[@VeloVegan]

hey Mark thanks for the comment! yea we did it in june! id deff recommend bikepacking vs touring, kind of fits nicely with the distances between towns and the milage is a lot easier not carrying a lot of kit over all the hills!

[@BikeBodyMind]

dude this was one of the best things I've seen on youtube. Excellent work!

[@VeloVegan]

Big Vegan Jeff ahh thanks bro! Btw back im boulder on the 7th July so should catch you around!

[@BikeBodyMind]

That sounds awesome!

[@jackwhorton6826]

Really enjoyed that. Brought back memories of my own solo trip on those roads in 2016. The wind is so brutal, especially on an A to B route where you know you won't get any respite all day.

[@VeloVegan]

thanks jack, the wind can be so cruel up there! give me hills over headwind any day of the week haha

[@joulzee001]

Great achievement. I’m doing this next year. Looks amazing

[@eyedoclondon]

Loved this video. I know that area well. So good you had a lovely time. Wish I was fit enough to cope with that trip myself!

[@alannorman1773]

It is a gorgeous part of the country isn't it? Really enjoyed the video, thanks guys

[@gauloisrefractaireenexilvo4366]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful piece of vlogart. This is nicely filmed, there is a constant melody between the travelling pace and the surrounding landscape. Bikepacking teaches us efficiency, minimalistic lifestyle and patience. No matter what you have to reach your destination. It would be great if you could share a bit more about your gear and equipment. It's always interesting to hear about this or that specific bikepack set-up, capacity or straps.

[@VeloVegan]

thanks! yeahh i had filmed a video before hand with my kit but i didnt get around to editing it before i left, especially since i changed my mind about some of the items and a few of them were pretty obsolete. I'll make a quick one on it tomorrow. Agree with your comments, and nothing beats that point to point ride feeling, where the goal of the day is just to get there!

[@C.Medina]

Glad to know things are good with you mate. Keep riding!

[@VeloVegan]

hiddenchildren thanks mate 🙏

[@palmer3977]

Absolutely brutal in places, fantastic vlog Gruff.

[@Svdude650]

Nice one. Well done on the whole trip and also the bikepacking KOM 😜👍🏻

[@alanhaddy7499]

Great video and appreciate the huge amount of work to create

[@VeloVegan]

Alan Haddy thanks Alan!

[@normanbradley2536]

My mom used to tell me a little about some of her cycling trips thru the highlands, in the 1930s. Thanks for the video.

[@VeloVegan]

thanks norman!

[@pconhispc2759]

Great use of music and editing. Lovely little film.

[@VeloVegan]

thanks!

[@briangibson142]

Awesome adventure, you made it look easy

[@mua6887]

I'm planning on doing this next may. Looks amazing. Thanks for sharing your trip.

[@VeloVegan]

Thanks mark!! That’s good to hear 🙌

[@johnnypeperone4093]

thanks for this guys ....it was very nice ! keep up the good work

[@monty2078]

You guys are tough. Great video and a hard ride in unpleasant weather, but, glad to see where my ancestors came from.

[@VeloVegan]

thanks monty! we're the softies though, saw plenty of tough guys out there with all their camping equipment where as we were cosy inside a hostel/airbnb every night :D

[@ducatimale]

Thanks for the vid, capturing the atmosphere and spirit very well indeed! :-)

[@VeloVegan]

thanks!

[@rogerpennington3019]

What a great video, Hope to do this next year

[@Andysumm555]

Nice video, shame about the wind on day 3 as the road via Lochinver is something else, then when you get back onto the main road at Kylesku you still have the hills to do to get to Durness. With the rain wind and midges it can be a real challenge, though at least the wind keeps the midges at bay, well done.

[@VeloVegan]

howling wind or death by midges, the dilemmas or riding in scotland haha

[@palmer3977]

Shame I can only give one thumbs up for this mate.

[@remifolz4364]

congrats lads! I enjoyed your trip, I know it's hard to film and ride! Final footage is definitely good to watch, choices of the music are fitting pretty well too! Good job!

[@davecarter1047]

Excellent work my friend, subscribed!

[@VeloVegan]

thanks Dave, appreciate it !

[@johnd1466]

Epic ride guys chapeau Bucklisted,

[@kennyness8881]

Nice video. Thanks for posting.

[@VeloVegan]

thanks kenny!

[@GuyRWood]

Great job guys, what a beautiful ride!

[@briangrieco32]

Beautiful;y shot and edited. I can't imagine doing those k's and filming and getting anything worthwhile.

[@VeloVegan]

thanks brian!

[@jeremyprodger6766]

Nice video guys - enjoyed very much

[@VeloVegan]

cheers jeremy

[@kylehall4063]

Awesome video, big days! Nice work!

[@VeloVegan]

thanks bro!

[@JaysonBryant]

Fantastic video. Great content and editing. Makes me want to go ride my bike. At least you had better weather than your attempt of Haleakala

[@tatecarlson6843]

I stumbled upon your channel. I really like this film.

[@officialmcdeath]

Major fistbump! Never a dull moment, watched it in one sitting - glad you addressed the Casey-style ride-through issue, personally prefer 'real' stuff - the footage you caught gave us all the atmosphere - clearly you have fallen in love with the place the same way I did, the first time I landed in the West Highlands as a youngster. Did you ever see Gusto in any of the wholefood stores up there? Thanks so much for sharing this - shoutout to BT \m/

[@VeloVegan]

officialmcdeath thanks mate, yeah I’m kinda torn, have a friend on KZbin called cyclingabout, he makes the best touring videos and it’s full of well framed ride throughs and it comes out so well. it can be fun finding and getting those shots but it definitely breaks up the ride and stops your rhythm, maybe if we weren’t always running from the rain we’d have done a few more hahah. The only wholefood shop was out off business haha. Mostly was small village shops when we were riding and there was a supermarket in two of the towns we stayed at!

[@officialmcdeath]

VeloVegan agreed I'm torn too, especially after the joyous balance on display in your Bormio and Tenerife videos. Knowing that trade-off makes the result here even more remarkable - the real story is how naked one is to the whims of the Atlantic and how that translates to a series of Abdullah / Rhino - style mini-odysseys. All that overlaid with the ever-present question of food choices. You played the hand you were dealt and triumphed - inspirational and eye-opening, thank you for that! #YEEW

[@vincentvolmer5076]

What a great experience! Hopefully soon we can get out again for explore the world🤞

[@sirillustration]

Been considering this on bike for a while now. Great video, looks like a tough ride but worth it.

[@jemmavtaylor]

Maybe a bit late to the game with watching this video, but i've just found it - it's great, thank you for filming it and putting the time in. I'm planning on doing the route over 7 days with a friend this summer. Any chance you could give a list (brief or detailed) of what you took with you or perhaps what you didn't take but wish you'd packed. Thank you so much!

[@VeloVegan]

Hey, I think I packed ok. Camera equipment/wires was probably the biggest weight/space used in my bags. Lugged a big lens that I used only once haha. Kit wise, went with one pair of bib shorts, two jerseys arm warmers leg warmers and a good lightweight waterproof jacket, plus velotoze. Felt that was fine and we did have quite the range of conditions!

[@VeloVegan]

What I wish I had was since it was a bit cool was a light long sleeve top for non cycling in the afternoon instead of a t shirt., sandals over flip flops or the slip ons that have a single strip over your feet don’t know what they’re called. since your feet get cold walking around with no socks! Hope this helps, thanks for watching!

[@stevenmcfarlane8831]

Bealach Na ba. Is cool eh. That’s the easy bit. From Applecross to Sheildaig is tough as .... good video guys. We were lucky the day started off with torrential rain then an hour or so later we were blessed with clear blue skies. As we dropped into Applecross the scenery was spectacular . Wish I’d had my go pro on. Cheers.

[@ourwilliam2405]

Superb video i really loved it, thank you for sharing. Saludos from Chile.

[@mikesheridan5218]

Great vid thanks! "Mornings like these are why we ride bikes" .. love that & hope you ride the next one soon :) I'm driving the route next month for a recon!

[@VeloVegan]

cheers mike, enjoy!

[@adharwood]

Awesome. Really enjoyable watch.

[@FutureMark809]

Love the ending 👌🏼

[@dugongpoo]

Well done lads. Shame you couldn't get over to the Shetland Islands. Smooth roads, dozens of coffee shops and lovely people.

[@VeloVegan]

cheers john! yeah would have been great to get around them!

[@velilenare5267]

Want to complete this route next year. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@VeloVegan]

Velile Nare thanks! Good luck!

[@ghardi6324]

Great, enjoyed watching!

[@martinowl]

Awesome stuff boys, well done.

[@adrian.howell]

man you nailed this, awesome stuff!

[@VeloVegan]

Thanks bro!

[@robinfjaer]

Oh, and those Sportful leg warmers are killing me, too! It gets better if you wear them the wrong way with the seems facing outside and not to the back.

[@VeloVegan]

ah ill try this, they're such a nice material but the rubbing is unbearable

[@jamesrumble6842]

thanks for putting this together, very inspirational

[@VeloVegan]

thanks james!

[@tonusbarronus4824]

Amazing vid! Thanks so much!

[@VeloVegan]

appreciate it bro!

[@mrinmoyborah842]

You guys are inspiration ❤️

[@fashion_nerd]

Scotland is rugged beauty

[@alt4res]

Sick video, thanks!

[@mtbguides_Rich]

Great vid 👍, hope I get better weather for my attempt.

[@gjones7151]

cheers! pack a good coat hahah

[@brezdog4623]

Great video gents. Me and a couple.of mates are doing similar in August. What were the biggest lessons you'd share with us? We don't look to be as experienced as the 2 of you so any wisdom imparted will be gratefully received.

[@TheCoopsvids]

Well done lads that was epic. ATB for 2019. Cheers Coops 👍🏻🚴

[@nickisauer9626]

Fantastic trip. Cheers! Not reindeer though. ;-)

[@ourwilliam2405]

Amazing video chaps. You looked to be traveling very light.

[@janicegalloway5636]

Great video guys...you did well 👍

[@mralexjmd]

The road along the Summer Isles is worth it 👌

[@markl2815]

Locked down into week 5 in France so ... thanks for that, I needed it just now It’s an interesting one, the “filming vs basic POV vlog” question ... I haven’t done it with cycling but have done a bit with expédition canoë paddling and it is always a balance unless it is only to do the filming really. I worry that setting up things to get good shots can detract from the “just being there on the trip” part of it. You balanced it fine here I think. Cheers

[@VeloVegan]

thanks mark, i love doing both types of filming but when you have 150ks to ride and thinking about food etc you have to streamline your mental energy right haha

[@santeshrajkumar1922]

Awesome video guys well done

[@allanfotheringham1959]

amazing mate

[@PistachioFilmsLLC]

yup, weather, wind, rain and cold, always the same up there, rather you than me, lol. good video though.

[@ceriedwards6315]

Super video, thank you. Have you thought about doing the Irish Wild Atlantic Coast?

[@VeloVegan]

Ceri Edwards yea it was actually a flip up of doing this or the WAC but aaran didn’t have the time for a slightly longer trip!

[@ceriedwards6315]

Well, if you only have time to do a section of the WAC do the top!! The roads are all newly tarmaced, the views stunning and no traffic!! The Ring of Kerry doesn't compare - beautiful but way too much traffic.

[@andymuller5824]

Nice Video and a good Job, Great 👍👍😉

[@stuarthenderson7354]

Nice Video really enjoyed it thanks.

[@jameshcox]

Nice one, thanks for sharing.

[@VeloVegan]

thanks james!

[@CHEKER19]

Nice video!

[@rrobotman]

Really enjoyed this!

[@716tommo]

8m30s...stunning

[@karlmarx3471]

Amazing video, well done 👍🏻

[@richardnorthing6615]

Great ride and video production guys. My heart went out to you on Day 4 with the closed coffee shops! I've been there, and t's brutal. I'm vegan too and seriously considering this route - you you really able to find food enough along the route?

[@VeloVegan]

yea it wasnt too bad, we brought the pain on ourseleves somewhat as well heading out so early in the morning, better views and quieter roads but what little stores there are can end up being closed hahah. the more isolated sections definitely isnt the biggest choice of vegan food but we definitely were fine food wise!

[@neilgatenby8646]

@@VeloVegan Thanks for the fab vid! Also a question from a vegan (who is a lot older, and will be carrying tent etc!) How did you manage for evening meals? I saw you buying some hot food? I guess you were going to the store and then cooking in the hostel? Am thinking post covid even fewer places will be up and running

[@danmac2760]

that must have been some ride!!! Man, would I like to do that route!

[@HarryRunsUK]

Stunning video buddy. Inspired!

[@VeloVegan]

Harry Runs thanks harry!

[@dukekaboom5717]

Thank you.

[@markstevenson9862]

Fantastic video mate!! Did the route a few days after you!! Loved it!! Keep up the good work

[@VeloVegan]

wicked! what was your favorite part?

[@markstevenson9862]

VeloVegan Ullapool to Durness!! Super hard!! Steep climbs!! Rain, Hale stones and the wind!! All paid off!! For the descent in to Durness!! Then to be made so welcome in Durness YHA!! 👌 what was yours

[@VeloVegan]

Yeah that was a hectic day for us as well! i loved the landscapes all across the west coast though. So beautiful

[@markstevenson9862]

You made the right choice cutting out the headland!! In that wind you would have been hint by the full force of hector!! West is best fella!!

[@pablosearth]

This was amazing! Inspired me enough to go out and buy my first adventure bike and get out there. From a fellow 'V' i thank you so much Brother. Hey which Gore are you wearing is it the C7 Stretch? Looking for a good waterproof as we slide into the Autumn. Big thanks!

[@VeloVegan]

Plant Based Paul hey i couldn’t find the name on the jacket but I think it’s called a “gore one”, it was on offer at about 100£ on wiggle at the time. Really recommend the “waterproof ness” of it. And it packs down into back pocket easy

[@wanderingbox7971]

✌️🚴😁

[@pablosearth]

I love watching this video seen it many times now and hope to do something as epic shortly. Interested to know what tyres you used. Was it the 28mm? Take good care guys amazing effort!

[@VeloVegan]

hey Paul thanks! at the time my road bike only had clearence for 25mm tyres but i have toured since on 28mms and 32mms and definitely prefer the added comfort and control the wider tyres give!

[@areabass]

Great job mate. Been thinking about the best way to create a cycling video without smashing up my gear. You did very well, looked like a great trip.

[@VeloVegan]

thanks mark! yeah the struggle is real, especially with all the electronics you have to lug around.

[@wulliedornan4787]

Impressive guys.

[@steveb1972]

An amazing video with great riding, but no packing! Lol

[@paulbayley744]

Great ride and video gents, I’ve done the Applecross section and the climb both ways is a killer. I think it’s the highest paved road in the UK?

[@VeloVegan]

Paul Bayley didn’t know that! And yea it’s relentless!!

[@donnacampbell6967]

Just waiting for the lockdown to lift a little then I'm off bike packing NC 500.

[@Ian-ld4fk]

Really nice vid thanks for sharing

[@arcoulant87]

Chapeau