What Worked, What Didn't | Torino Nice Rally | Part 5

[@alistairmeechan2451]

Hi Simon. Watched this series of videos and absolutely loved them. I am constantly dreaming of doing an adventure of some sort but at 63 yrs now time maybe has ran away from me. Saturday morning ritual now for me is catching up on your stuff. Have a great day fella and keep on providing us with great content 👍

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

I'm pleased you enjoyed the series Alistair. At our age (I'm 64) history of injury and illness is what stands in the way. I'm currently recovering from what I think is a groin strain just because I over did things o the turbo last month. Provided there's no lasting damage, I'm as up for an adventure as ever. If you haven't already, check out this video which was great fun to ride and shoot kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqe1iHeQiquXfrs

[@smintken]

Simon it was a wonderful series of videos. The views were fantastic and i have big respect for your abillities. I m about 10 years younger and you show me there will be a lot things to do on my bike.

[@uvdpuqhcpenfyalf]

"Last aventure"?! Never stop going, dude! Just keep riding, and we'll keep watching your videos.

[@IsaacS1]

Excellent, and definitely a series favorite. Great seeing a conclusion to the event and an overview. Well done.

[@denisephil7967]

Thanks so much for the series of the TNR you had done. I was there in 2019, but got horrible sick in Briancon and had to bail home and was like 1 week in hell. Meaning to go back again, but always something happend, now seeing your videos got the bug again to do it. Kudos

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

I think it’s all a bit different this year with insurance and other issues but it’s still happening - sort of.

[@sureshchinnappa2290]

Ok now for a full documentary. I could listen and watch your videos for hours on end. Great video!

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

I’m actually thinking about that Suresh…

[@sureshchinnappa2290]

@@alwaysanotheradventure please do Si Your story telling and videography is superb

[@ArtDrawColour11]

Great series of videos Simon - thanks for taking us all along on the ride!

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Thanks Alison

[@spikeymike267]

I’ve a hunch you’d love Montana Vacias. Thanks for the informative videos on this route, it’s now on my list.

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

MV is one I fancy too.

[@allyp7]

63?? plenty more cycling years in you. great video as always

[@RohanTheBT]

I’m watching live Simon. Well done on completing the TNR

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Thanks Mike

[@ofwolfanddan]

Thoroughly enjoyed this series (along with all your videos)! Thank you!

[@PuddledPete]

Excellent Simon. I enjoyed watching the whole series and you've made me think about upping my game.

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

I enjoyed your big Scotland ride Pete - it’s all the same really.

[@myminx]

Some great tips here . Many thanks !

[@quarryfield]

Wonderful series Simon, thanks for sharing with us.

[@gcsScotland]

Excellent as always. I was expecting you to be home in Scotland talking about the kit - filming it en route was better and must have taken some effort. As a fellow 63 year old I hope I’ve many more adventures in me 👍

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Thanks Graham. Actually I've realised there are a couple of tiny things which made a big difference so that's probably coming in a couple of weeks.

[@Astr0Bot]

Thank you for this and all of your other videos - I really appreciate the work you put into these! Without a doubt, you produce the best, most polished, professional, and fun to watch cycling videos on YT. I look forward to the next one! (Also, congrats on making this journey! Looked amazing!)

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Thanks very much

[@pauljones5066]

my only criticism is that your videos are too short !!! thanks btw

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Looking back I wonder that too. I might have another go one day as I have lots that didn’t go in.

[@alexmorgan3435]

Nice epilogue to your actual stage videos. Looked hard. As you said it would have been difficult if the weather had been cold and wet. The thing that worries me most is the traffic not only the risk of being knocked off but the solution breathing in all those noxious fumes as you toil up the climbs. As I said in my comment on your video of part 4 I would ride this on my fat bike with 4" tyres, tubeless.Did you take spare brake pads as well as tubes or did you start with fresh ones? Did you lube your chain every day as the roads looked very dusty? Have you ridden in Gran Canaria? If not get yourself there. I went 2 years ago and it is fantastic. A cycling paradise. Lots of climbing, you gotta love climbing, steep climbing, the but the landscape and scenery is stunning. And it's warm! Wish I had started going decades ago. I can see why so many pro riders train there like Mijorca and Mallorca. Many thanks for filming this series. It is a great inspiration and resource. Chapeau.

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Not Gran Canaria but Lanzarote several times. Didn’t lube much but did carry spare pads (didn’t use). and started with fresh .

[@andyclough285]

Fabulous Simon….another great video.

[@petrawiltshire6078]

Great videos! Did Women’s TNR week after you and loved it. Also did Montanas Vacies earlier this year with Komoot and Lael Wilcox and it’s an amazing route and currently my favourite of the two

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

I’d love to see which of the MV routes you took if you recorded it anywhere.

[@SebastianDeBeer]

Very enjoyable and informative watch!

[@bazzahead7282]

Great series of videos! I agree once you’ve done it, you’ve done it. Many more adventures to do 👍🏻

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

👍

[@DIY-DaddyO]

Excellent effort. I’ll stick to my triple front ring giving a 22f32r and 2” Land cruiser tires. A truly epic adventure and although I’ve never done a big run I feel inspired to give it a go. Maybe try the Scottish thing first.

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

That’s great. I think it’s the Borders route in 2023

[@Handletaken4]

Perfect! Thanks

[@Foxtrottangoabc]

Enjoyed yer trip, thanks for sharing . I got a new tubeless ready mtb and a cycle event on November but I'm gonna stick to tubes , as tgats what I know at the moment , and it simple to swap out 😆

[@br5380]

I’ve been tubeless for over 15 years, they’re the answer. On my gravel bike for that kinda off-road I’d be running 25-30psi, my XC MTB I’m usually at 22psi and my Enduro MTB 15-18psi.

[@Foxtrottangoabc]

@@br5380 I've decide once my bikepacking event is complete in November I'm going to give tubeless a go as a bit late in day to change now too stressful 😅, at least one wheel anyway 😆 watched sicbiker do tubeless fluid tests and seems like getting good quality tubeless fluid is a good start. I currently tun my mtb 27.5 2.8 tyre around 25 28psi so yes that will also feel weird on lower psi

[@92redferrari]

I'm the 1 person waiting! 👍

[@92redferrari]

Worth the wait thanks

[@cyclops60]

I echo the many comments of what a great adventure and so well presented, very well done and thanks for sharing all the details. Seems like your prep and planning were largely successful and as you say lessons can always be learned but I think you adapted well where needed - one benefit of experience! What was the overall distance, elevation and daily averages (if you get time!)

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

I’m pleased you enjoyed them and I’ve put the videos together to release as one 30min vid for ease of new subscribers. As for the stats - it’s probably easier if you take a look at the Komoot links under the videos. It’s a collection from which you can see daily mileage and elevation gain etc.

[@cyclops60]

@@alwaysanotheradventure Cheers Simon, thanks for the quick reply!

[@garypierson6455]

love your vids here in tx..👍

[@peterlock2165]

Brilliant series, production quality amazing,thank you. What mudguards are you using on your Sonder?

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Here we go Peter: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZq2gn6OeLKJpck

[@charlieallen9647]

Hi Simon . I thoroughly enjoyed your films about the TNR. If you wanted to do it again would you take a gravel bike or hardtail ?

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Oh gosh there are a few factors here, principally me not having a decent MTB! But putting that aside, a lot would depend on the route and whether I wanted to do all the most gnarly of sections. The route has changed a bit this year so I’d need to factor that in too. If I did want really rough riding that might tempt me onto a hard tail although my lack of recent experience with them would have to be rectified first. Such a bike might also help in bad weather when some of that dust could turn claggy. But the TNR has quite a lot of road riding, and I was happy to do more of that rather than some of the very rough stuff. So given the same conditions and my personal priorities I would take a gravel bike with wider (45mm?) tyres and a smooth centre bead. Among the bikes lined up at the Gardetta Hut and at the start I’d say 95% or more were gravel. That’s probably confused you more Charlie! The organisers James Olsen might have addressed this in the video/podcast I did with him before the ride. It should be in the same playlist as the other TNR videos.

[@charlieallen9647]

@@alwaysanotheradventure Thanks that's great advice . Plenty to think about

[@longheadedshorthorse]

How did that "sink bag"work with the alpkit bar bag below? Great videos btw, really enjoyed them and checking out your back catalogue.

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Thanks. It works well with the AlpKit because it has a simple carry system and just hangs down from the bars, pulled back by the Velcro on the head tube. I’m currently out for a couple of days with an Apidura front bag and it works differently with fixed straps that push it forward from the hanging point. So for the Apidura I closed the Kitchensink bag’s extension pouch (there’s a zip underneath) and lost a little space. I was looking for a way to show a photo but can’t work it out!!

[@longheadedshorthorse]

@@alwaysanotheradventure big thanks!

[@philtomlinson8220]

A great series of videos on a ride I've considered doing for several years. Really interesting to get your take on it. Another route I too am considering is the Montanas Vacias, so if you get around to doing it before me, it will be great to get a comparison. You mentioned the Pacific Crest trail. Did you walk this, or is there a bikeable version?

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

I've joined the Montanas Vacias group on FB and it does look good Phil. Bikes aren't allowed on the PCT and, compared to 20 years ago, it's much busier now. To my knowledge there's not a bike version.

[@2rocship]

Excellent video. Very informative. Quite a short gear you have (34/46). Which rear mech did you use? I’ve got 38/42 10 speed gearing on my Camino (rdm6000 Deore rear mech). I like the idea of changing to a 11-46 cassette to help on ascents when fully loaded. I think I may need to swap the rear mech to Deore m5120 to accommodate the 46t sprocket

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

I handed these complications to the LBS. They found the SunRace 11-46 worked with the existing mech.

[@2rocship]

@@alwaysanotheradventure I’ll be putting my trust in my lbs.

[@tonyoswald3013]

Can you not run 650B's on the V1? If not could you swap to the new fork and at least get a bigger tire on the front? I'd be interested in a rough breakdown of the costs on such a trip, accommodation and, food, fights entry etc. Would that interest other too do you think?

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

These were 650 and you’re probably right Tony. Perhaps I could have got a bigger front tyre if I’d bought and fitted new forks - but that’s a lot of trouble and expense for a marginal gain IF I could find a fork which fit. In truth I haven’t worked out the costs - kidding myself perhaps - but I was planning on doing so eventually. I’ll post it on my blog if and when I do.

[@pachamama7029]

How was the alpkit sleeping mat? You didn't mention it here.

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Good point sorry. I took the Cloudbase on the TNR. It’s warm enough but I sleep on my side and my hips pushed through the pocketing into the ground. On my most recent video I used the Nemo - some of the reviews say the air chambers burst. It’s more comfortable and higher R than the Cloudbase but the longevity has yet to be tested.

[@davidalderson7761]

Shock stem is fantastic I use it all the time. The bars bag combo seems overly expensive and I mentioned this to them they disagreed.

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

The new seatpost is interesting. I've put it on Liz's bike for a ride tomorrow. It doesn't use springs like the first gen, it's elastomers and it's not adjustable. I see Josh Ibbett used it on the Atlas Mountain Race.

[@davidalderson7761]

@@alwaysanotheradventure saddle position & angle is very important. Off road I may try the seatpost but I need a 20mm offset on my best saddle .

[@The_One-Eyed_Undertaker]

I've checked your detailed blog in your website. It seems most of it worked quite well, no punctures even! But you omitted the make of your saddle. Care to share? Thanks!

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

You're right - sorry. And it got nibbled by something somewhere! It's a VERY old Specialized Riva that I took off my road bike during training because the rails on the Camino saddle started to break. I rang Specialized a week ago to replace it (because of the nibbles) and they advised it's SO old there have no similar saddles in their range. I'm replacing it with a SDG Bel-Air RL Cro-mo Rail Saddle in Black

[@The_One-Eyed_Undertaker]

@@alwaysanotheradventure An old saddle is like an old pair of slippers. Cheers!

[@Al_Fresco]

I keep looking at this series of videos, unfortunately I won't be able to try the TNR this year but I'll still go bikepacking in the Alps with a friend. I'm struggling to decide which comfort temperature I should use to pick a sleeping bag. Thanks for recommending the Rab Neutrino 200, i thought that would be too light for the Alps with a comfort of 4degs? Would you say the 400 would have definitely been OTT? Is pitching next to a rifugio generally allowed? It seems perfect but i thought it was frowned upon!

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Thanks for watching the videos (and ads 😀). Refuges seem to vary hugely in nature - some seem to be boutique hotels, some were shut with nowhere for water fill-up - those were always by a road and not true Refuges. The ones in the mountains that took effort to reach, like the Assietta or Barbera were much more helpful. Still, I’d check. Some people sleep hot. I don’t. I’m a wimp! I really feel the 🥶 I’ve just done a 1C night out in that 200g RAB bag in the Jupiter Lite bivi - video being edited. Frost on the stuff outside. I wore all my clothes including a great PHD down jacket. That’s what boosts to comfort of the bag! (Plus tights, hat, rain jacket et al). Without that I’d need a 400g bag. I forgot to take extra warm socks (SealSkins are great around camp and in a tent) so my feet were crazy cold and I didn’t get much sleep. I hope that’s useful. Perhaps wait to see if it’s another heatwave year in the Alps before deciding?

[@Al_Fresco]

@@alwaysanotheradventure thanks that's really helpful. I also sleep cold and if in doubt I'd like to err on the warmer side. I've got a bag that is allegedly slightly warmer than the 200 RAB but I've felt cold in it in the Lake District (temperatures must have been around 5-10degs) although I wasn't wearing much other than baselayers and socks. It sounds like with a down jacket and some wool baselayers the rab200 should be warm enough. My (large)bag is also 1.5kg which is going to kill me on the climbs. Unfortunately with the way things are going there will be a heatwave no doubt....but with my luck I might get the only freezing cold weekend haha

[@alfiefranklin7831]

I’m new to your channel, great videos, where are you from?

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Hi Alfie and welcome. I'm from north-east England - a Geordie, although you wouldn't hear much accent in my voice. I've lived in Scotland more than twenty years, first in Glasgow and now in the highlands.

[@danalec4742]

Hi. I'm sure you'll go for another adventure. Now is time for rest and recover. The wild souls cannot be caged 😉. See you soon. P. S. I'm happy with Tubolito but I'm happier with RideNow. I really hope that you're going to check them out. 👍

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Never heard of RideNow - until, er, now. Thank you!

[@The_One-Eyed_Undertaker]

Same TPU material (pink instead of orange) as Tubolito at half the price.

[@dirk2518]

What’s the name of the spanish ride you mentioned in the video?

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Yeah I didn’t quite get that right 😂. montanasvacias.com/

[@davidalderson7761]

It’s in your blood now. After three this year it’s in mine.

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

I've always loved long trips - foot, kayak, bike it doesn't matter. Fitting family life around them isn't so easy, but already planning the next one (or two!)

[@treebs1423]

So the Camino Ti did well but could have done with front suspension?

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Perhaps... with a lock-out. Josh Ibbett put front shocks on his bike for the recent Atlas race. Although for this ride I'd prefer the new generation Camino that takes 2.2" wide tyres on 650b. That would do it for me Mark.

[@treebs1423]

That’s what I’ve just bought a month ago and looking forward to next year 😁

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

@@treebs1423 It looks a superb bike - and sold out before the list opens!

[@weeringjohnny]

I commented in a previous video that bugs in the Alps would probably be easier to deal with than the Scottish midge. Was I right or wrong?

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

You were SO right - no bugs of any significance. In Scotland the midges were more a proxy for heavy rain that could easily have happened in the Alps. All the issues of getting out of cycling kit (especially wet) into sleeping kit would be tricky. But yes, delightfully benign by comparison - just a few ants.

[@weeringjohnny]

@@alwaysanotheradventure In that case I'm doubly pleased that you ditched that ghastly hooped bivvy thing before departure.

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

@@weeringjohnny Oh I still have the thing. For those sunny highland days without midges 😂

[@seltunkoko]

AAA ❤as always ❤

[@unda25]

Smart

[@jumarikrajan7823]

Very cool very hot& Stronger

[@RY-ip2qe]

Did you learn that Carlsberg ISN'T the best lager in the world?

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

😂

[@bikerdenzuy]

🚴🇵🇭

[@paulmiddlemass6465]

I don't understand the logic of using tubes instead of tubeless justified by having no punctures. You wouldn't have had any if you had gone tubeless either probably

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Hi Paul - I’m sorry you don’t understand, I’ll try to be clearer. I’m not attempting to justify using tubes. I’m pointing out I used tubes because a) I couldn’t get the back wheel to seal and b) I didn’t want to risk latex sealant in my bike box. I used tubes and didn’t have a puncture. That’s not a justification, it’s just what happened. And I point out most riders used tubeless. I hope that’s clearer.

[@br5380]

@@alwaysanotheradventure when you side bike box on the video I didn’t understand, now it’s just dawned on me - for the flights 😀

[@jumarikrajan7823]

U very uahh

[@AliEid7623]

There is still hope getting older.

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Always better than the alternative 😀

[@AliEid7623]

Your videos are exeptional. No wonder, you learned this job and enjoy to do it right.

[@stevelampley2591]

Nicely done. I learned lots by following your pre ride videos as well. And, would you do it again on a MTB?

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Thanks Steve. I don't think I'd do it again on either type of bike. While an MTB might be more suited to some of the off-road sections, it could be a real drag on the longer road sections, including the downhills which are a real feature of the road cols. Oh, and I don't have an MTB. That's not a show-stopper, I could buy one, but I prefer the gravel bike flexibility. It feels like MTBs used to be, but with drop bars. Like a really strong, go-anywhere road bike. Switching to an MTB I feel I'd loose more than I'd gain. Of course, others will have a different view!