Most kind of you. Thanks. Pretty much everything I am hoping to achieve with these videos!

Thanks! If you liked this one check out the Turkey one too sometime... :)

@@BromptonTraveler I am working my way through them, Gianni, some for the second and third time! (Dolomites) And I have much enjoyed your books, too. :-)

@@effyleven Many thanks!

Ah ah 😊 , prego!

Great to hear! That was a surprise to see...

Thanks so much! I loved the Highlands raw beauty. Cheers

I will, thanks a lot.

So far my only experience of Scotland but I knew it is one of the best parts as far as rugged landscapes go. Excellent place for touring too as you can put a tent pretty much everywhere thanks to Scotland's right to roam.

Thanks Josep.

You should Linda, I am sure you have plenty of wonderful places in the north too. I was actually planning to visit north England instead of doing this trip but then I got inspired to do the North Coast 500. They are strong and reliable bikes and compact enough if you ever have the bad luck of needing some sort rescuing!

Glad you like them! Many thanks.

A couple of tough climbs but otherwise very doable! Go for it.

Many thanks Fabian, I hope you make it to some of these places one day!

Many thanks. Achmelvich was really a stunning place. I do cold swimming and would have loved to dive in but I would have needed a bit more equipment than I had and a thermal flask with something hot to drink at the end of it! All the West coast was truly stunning.

Really happy to know! I have never thought about it but wonder if as you say the relaxed upright position makes touring more enjoyable on these bikes …

Merci!

Ullapool was pretty wet for me too! Thanks

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks

Many thanks! Most appreciated.

You must have had such a great ride in good weather! Well done. Next time you are around there, the West Coast is highly recommended. The camper van plan sounds great too ;) Thanks

Go for it! As you have already seen some parts you know what to expect. The west coast up to Thurso in the North is all well worth it.

@@BromptonTraveler Yes, I was in Thurso twice as well also John o Groats but did not cross to Orkney... next timer I take my time & see all of them but the weather is terrible when rain also those midges. Nevertheless it is still one of the best I've been thus far as a newbie in solo touring.

Given your experience I guess I was lucky! They were really annoying for a couple of days. Really happy to have carried a head net and some spray though as they helped coping with them at the worst of times.

I have had similar comments in the past! Good to hear :)

My pleasure 😊

@@BromptonTraveler ❤❤

Many thanks! That's a whole different way to tour but there are times when you will appreciate going slower ;) Many thanks on getting the book but mostly I hope you will find some good ideas for future rides on your Brompton. Cheers

I must admit there was a fair bit of walking involved on those steep ramps… if that wasn’t bad enough as you can see on that day it was also very gusty with a strong head wind that made even walking hard.

Thank you too!

Thanks again!

Many thanks Paul! Spectacular scenery indeed.

Thanks Matt. Nothing bad with having a bottle of wine too! :) It's easy to get to places on a Brompton.

Most appreciated Mithu! As usual I try my best filming with the simple gear I have, but it is the landscape that speak!

No way Manny! Go for a ride next time as these are there on demand, at any time!

The discomfort in aerodynamics is repaid by more comfortable and warmer nights! You can't get everything in life :)

You should! It would take me a long time to adapt to the climate but I loved Scotland and its people. This was my first trip there but I'm sure there are lots of nice landscapes everywhere. You probably won't know the singer as I use music from a Swedish company and it's not Abba!

Attempting it, is the right word here... With a fully loaded Brompton and the gears I have, I would have had to walk some of it no matter what but with the kind of gusty winds I had, there was little chance of riding all of it!

Thanks Markus. Those landscapes are essy to capture but what is always hard is to find decent copyright free music!

Thanks a lot for the drivel! I also think a good travel video is more about the scenery but the story is also important. Probably a combination of both is good but then you can’t please everyone. Happy I didn’t waste too much of your time…

It is, especially the west coast. Not something easy to find anywhere else in Europe. It reminded me of Patagonia but with decent roads.

Are you planning another trip abroad next ?

Thanks Arnel!

Most appreciated. Still an amateur and with amateur gear too, but the beauty of some places is easy to film. Thanks!

Thanks!

Glad you enjoyed it

Thanks a lot Adrian. It's a beautiful road to ride.

It is! Highly recommended if you haven't done it. Prepare for some rain...

Thanks!

Thank you too! Most kind.

Thank you very much! You get nice views from the flight deck too.

Molte grazie!

For Scotland’s standards, I suppose…

Thanks Peter, appreciated. I have never been in a situation where the tyre deteriorated so badly to need it but I like to be proactive and don't mind a little extra weight. They do wear out quicker than regular larger tyres as you are probably aware already.

The good news is that any wheel size is fine! :) More gears than I had can also be helpful at times...

Many thanks Clark. No, I have never used a carbon fibre seat post so I can't really comment on durability. Titanium I would assume is sure strong enough if not as light. In my setup I also put about 10 kg of my rucksack weight on the saddle bar, therefore increasing the stress on top of my weight. In my current Brompton I have installed a telescopic seat post as I find it really convenient to be able to remove the top and the saddle which makes also the bike more compact when packing it for flights and so on... Not light for sure, but to be honest I don't look at weight as much on a bike that is not that light anyway, I rather trim down on the things I carry with me which works out cheaper. If money is no issue I would go titanium. Cheers.

Lovely loop in the Highlands

Thanks a lot! Not an expert on motorcycles but I suppose that speed and having to wear a helmet is a bit of a disadvantage but bicycles have disadvantages too; going uphill springs to mind… Still I am sure those sceneries are amazing on a motorbike too! Cheers

Thanks!

Ciao Alberto, grazie! È stato un viaggio deciso all'ultimo minuto. Pensavo di fare il Nord dell'Inghilterra poi ho cambiato idea. Ne è valsa la pena. Il caffè alla prossima!

That’s always been mine too! Thanks for reminding me what a privilege it is to be able to travel like this. Of course wishing you to fulfil yours too. All the best.

Indeed. I have put it off for years not because I doubted that but because I wanted to get some sun and warm weather as part of the ride... ;) The west Highlands coast particularly is stunning and would really recommend it for your ride one day.

Thanks so much Tenpa! I don't call this hard work :)

Many thanks!

Thanks Ahmad!

Just a privilege to be able to tour somewhere, especially in these times! Thanks

Adrian, sadly not yet! The North of England was actually meant to be my original destination instead but then I got inspired about the North Coast 500 and ended up going to Scotland. I have never been to the Lake District, Cumbria and Yorkshire so I hope to make it up there one day too. Many thanks

This ride was around 850Km and follows what is knows as North Coast 500 with a short diversion to Lochinver that makes it a little longer than the standard route. Highly recommended despite the challenging weather one can always find up there.

Thanks Suneel. It was my latest trip this June. The road does get really narrow and twisty but traffic at that time was not too much and i felt they were all minding cyclists as there are quite a lot in such a popular U.K. route. I wild camp here and there ( completely allowed in Scotland) still I found campsites really good and cheap usually letting you pitch a tent for average 12 pounds with hot showers which was a bargain.

It is. It only has some issues with the weather...

Thanks Peter, I hope you are well. Rim overheating is something I have heard but must say it has never happened to me. In Scotland it was pretty cool despite being summer. I think that problem is more when riding in extreme hot temperature and long descents but it is something I have done in the past and again I didn't notice it. I have read once that one shouldn't keep the brakes on at all times but rather use them in short bursts which is what I normally do. Take care.

That's some expert advice I should have discovered earlier! Does that work on mosquitos generally or is it Scotland specific?? :) Head net worked well too but I think it can get much worse than what I have found when there. Cheers

@@BromptonTraveler Hi Jonny. I do no know whether Vitamin B1 works on mosquitoes. Also whilst it works well on most midges a few years ago some determined midges got to us in a deep gorge south of Ullapool, but they were as nothing compared to the attacks you can suffer. I will try your suggestion next time I am in the Highlands.

I guess so!

Like?

Thanks Vignesh!

Do you mean the guy I was talking to? How do you know? A very nice chap I met along the way.

Correct. They’re part of an Elite fighting unit within the British Army. In my line of work I’ve came across some of them. Great people with fantastic stories! :)

I noticed he was wearing a paras sweater

Thanks for visiting!

Very simple equipment Keith. I currently have an iPhone 11 and a GoPro 7 Black.

This route is quite hilly with some steep climbs and strong wind so I had planned easier days than on other tours. Probably the average was 50 miles or 75 km per day or so... Also I knew it would be really scenic and that some days the weather might be bad so I wanted to give myself more time to enjoy it.

Thanks for your sincerely answer

Thanks Reli! Slow learner but after years I do try to improve things here and there... :) I followed the North Coast 500 but made the longer version which goes through Lochinver ( by the way one of the best parts of the entire ride so well worth taking that route ) Total was 885 kilometres and I did it in a comfortable 12 days. Can be done much quicker but the sceneries deserve lots of stopping and staring! How was the South?

@@BromptonTraveler i have been in greek islands for a while. Relaxing and enjoying the slow life before I start my new job in August. I think i will do a week long bike baking trip in August. Will report back once done!!!😍

Thanks! Standard 6 gears but with 'reduced option' which you can chose when ordering the bike. It gives a lower gear ratio which I find better for touring with luggage.

@@BromptonTraveler Thank you. And for all the amazing, inspirational videos you post. Much appreciated.

Thanks! 12 gears is a brand new model. I have owned 6 reduced gears option from the past

Thanks!

Cheers!

Thanks! Mostly to do with the stunning landscapes of Scotland. Otherwise I use a GoPro with Chest mount and selfie stick while on the bike and an iPhone for filming off the bike. Cheers.

@@BromptonTraveler amazing, thankyou

I loved the Highlands raw nature. Applecross with the wind I had was hard work but one of the best parts. It’s just a simple Cateye odometer. Thanks!

Thanks a lot! It is an excellent bike that brings some advantages to a bike tour. You do lose a little bit of speed compared to a full size bike. 125km is possible but it all depends on your fitness and style of touring. I personally find the ideal day to be between 80k and 100k. If you are touring with lots of mountain climbs, the limited gears will slow you down too so you might have to consider that. Otherwise it is a comfortable bike to ride loaded and much easier to move around with buses, trains or car whenever you include some transfers within the tour. Enjoy!

Thanks David! I did get rain here and there as it is normal in Scotland but overall I think it wasn't too bad. Few times it luckily rained only at night when I was safe in the tent. Merino wool baselayers and all the Gore tex you can get hold of is good in these climates, and can keep you damp rather than wet! It was a leisurely 12 days and the last part back to Inverness does follow the A9 in some parts but every now and then you are able to ride on cycleways ( Route 1 I believe Land's End to John o'Groats ) so it isn't too bad. Those last 3 days are not as exciting but not too bad either.

@@BromptonTraveler thanks for the info!,will bear that in mind.Always enjoy your films,lot of hard work I’m sure,but very relaxing and look forward to the next trip👌

Helmet is personal choice and a risk I take as I find it really uncomfortable to wear while touring long hours every day. The North coast 500 is spectacular as I suppose are other parts of Scotland if you are open to challenging weather! Land’s End to John o’Groats seems a great plan and it is possible on a Bromton. You might have to push the bike at times as roads can get really steep in Cornwall and up north and you are limited with gears on a Brompton but if like myself you dont mind, the bike is solid and reliable. Enjoy.

🚲

Hello, if you refer to the Amazon links of gear I use you need to click on the picture which links to the full list. Cheers

Can't compete with that!

Mark Cavendish won stage 13 and made history sir🔥👍

Sir what do you think about doping thing in TDF because it needs humungous alien effort to push fast at last 1km of 220kms flat track race

Most welcome 😊 It was 15 days of cycling.

Glad I haven't wasted your time!

Yes Cher, wonderful route. I don't have any experience of using supported tours but one I have heard good things about and based in the uk is Redspokes and looking at their website they seem to have the North Coast 500 in their offerings. www.redspokes.co.uk/cycling-holidays/tour-overview.php?c=19&t=162

Cheers!

The only thing you can do is trust your common sense that can judge whether a major road is too dangerous to ride. Otherwise it is for those that drive to be careful rather than you. The best we cyclists can do is make ourselves more visible with clothing, lights etc. Be a little assertive in taking your space on the road as that will slow down traffic behind you. Being afraid and riding on the threshold seems a good idea but it isn't.

It is definitely a time consuming process that takes patience and time! For me it is part of the journey and I love reviewing the clips for the first time and see what happens when music is added. It is always a surprise in a way as you never know how it will turn out in the end. I use basic software like iMovie if doing it on my Mac computer or Lumafusion when editing directly on the iPad. Same result can be obtained with many decent movie editing software for Windows I am sure. I hope you enjoyed the tour, it is a spectacular road.

@@BromptonTraveler Thanks Gianni. I enjoyed tremendously the whole journey and loved the solicitude and the people I met. I'm Shah, that's how I used to log in on KZfaq before, but I changed my username. You can call me Shah. Is anything in the pipeline this summer or spring or in the winter/austral summer? Any plan to do London to Istanbul in the future following the Eurovelo 6/Danube?

@@GhurabaAbuMaryam Hi Shah, all going well I plan a tour in either Korea or Japan around September October and as far as longer tours and time to do the London-Istanbul I have plans but will have to wait to have much more spare time and less work ;) Thanks

I stayed in a Airbnb in Inverness at the start and end otherwise camped all the way. Scotland is fantastic as wild camping is allowed by law. Cheers

@@BromptonTraveler awesome thanks!

Mahesh on these videos it doesn't show the countless times I stop for meals, talk to people, enjoy the landscape, have a rest a cake a coffee and on and on... The more you ride the fitter you get though so you stamina will improve the longer you tour. Thanks

I have seldom used it for daily rides but while touring as I need to film, I want to save batteries on gadgets and don't use GPS or apps running in the background as they drain too much power. Great app otherwise and good to find out nice rides. I also love the Relive graphics you can make at the end of it.

Thanks. I wouldn't say it is that much harder than touring on a regular touring bike in most situations. It is harder uphill mostly due to the limited gear options but otherwise a little slower than a normal bike but surprisingly Brompton can be really comfortable to ride once you get used to. Touring with any bike does involve some more effort as you carry a lot of weight on you but you do get fit by doing it so start from wherever you feel comfortable and you will be surprised.

Thank you for replying, that’s great to hear, I love the idea of folding it up and jumping on a train and riding wherever you fancy, I might have to give it a go. Thank you and keep your videos coming

I’m sorry but I’ve got another question, how do you plan your routes so you’re not riding on major roads? I’m watching your uk to Italy video, I just love the freedom, do you cycle the whole distance or use trains in between? Thanks again, Brian

@@colvillebri196 Brian I don't use trains unless I don't have time to cover the route I planned. This was all done cycling. I plan routes using cycleways when possible or smaller roads if available. In Europe we are spoilt with lots of cycleways and here I mostly followed the Rhein river and Eurovelo 15 which is well signed, no need for planning. When I plan routes I use an IOS app called MapOut. You can draw maps with altimetry with your fingers on an iPhone or iPad. Cheers

Thanks for taking time replying, I really think I’ll take up the challenge, yet another bike to my collection 😀

Sorry but I don't have the list with me...Like most creators on KZfaq I use www.epidemicsound.com for all copyright free music.