That's the best video you have ever made - a true audax story, with disappointment , disease, and treachery !

I can't believe you got booted off the coach by other Bristol audaxers... Outrageous.

Who would have thought you can find a pile of dirt on a coach. Rare.

A difficult watch especially for your sickness and subsequent lack of team support. You're a KZfaq legend and will be stronger for the whole experience,which might sound strange.....but get well and be Adam Watkins..!!

Watch out for gout, pox and snakes Felt your pain, top job as always

Very poor from the club Adam. I always thought ACB was such a cool club and wished that there was something similar near to where I live. Not so sure now.

Omg Adam, no excuse to leave when a man is down. So sorry to watch this experience as thought something was up as you do not move on the live tracker. Absolutely gutted for you in many ways but hope you bounce back quickly but for now rest up.I am sure you will be there in 4 years time and hopefully me also as I have found your videos informative and inspiring.Well done also after be dumped in France that you sorted your return effectively.

Absolutely gutted for you. Shame on Audax Club Bristol.

It’s clear that it’s hurt you and I can understand why. Shingles isn’t contagious once it’s broken out like that… it’s low risk… and most people will have had it as kids so the virus is already in their body. Leaving you to make your own way home when you’re not well is pretty off. I hope you feel better soon and you’ll find a new challenge and better friends. As a side note, you did well to pull the pin as early as you did. The mental strength to keep going when things are going against you is pretty strong in audaxers and being so invested in the outcome, I think it would have been tempting to go a bit further. Fair play to you for understanding your body and trusting your instinct that something was very wrong,

What an ordeal! Sorry to hear of your troubles……….don’t think much of your “mates”😮

Well done for showing the positivity through that. I'm sorry for your troubles. Shame that the F5 couldn't just talk to you about it directly to convey their worries which helps to preserve some amnesty going forward. Feel better!

Hi Adam, feel so much for you, what a hugely sad video. I'm glad you were able to get home but that was a horrible thing they did to you. I had chicken pox when I was 18 and it was horrible. I was in the same wave as you and hoped to meet you at the start. When I didn't I was sure you'd pass me at some point. When you didn't, I asked another ACB rider I met who'd said you'd got sunstroke and had gone to recover and help out at Dreux. I even had a walk around Dreux control to see if you were around to say hello - your PBP 2019 was an inspiration to me.

Oh Adam. It is what it is, out of your control, so no regrets. Onto the next challenge. As for the feckless 5, the least they could have done would have been to make sure you were set as a condition of leaving you behind. But to leave you to your own devices that is low. Again life's too short to bother with these type of people.

What CLUB? Shocking... For those who voted you off the coach and those that said nothing and were happy to leave you on the pavement. ACB no thanks Fingers crossed all goes well in 4 years 🎩

Hope you get well soon Adam, sorry about the unpleasant experience you had and hope it can be resolved. Thanks for continuing to make this film, it was a great watch. Look after yourself.

Another event that proves your toughness and tenacity. Just not the one you expected. You are a rock.

What a brilliant video, capturing everything you went through! Many wouldn’t have continued to document such a journey!! Loved the lay-by monologue,

Blimey Adam, I'm so sorry to hear what happened. It's really sad that your mates didn't look after you when you needed them most 🙁 Treat others how you wish to be treated yourself n all that... On the plus side, you avoided a sweltering coach, filled with a soup of 'Audax germs,' 😉 whilst you got to travel in style on a plane. Did you notice the colour of your cap matched the colour of the plane😁

Well shit Adam, you really had quite the time of it. Been a long time since my last decent ride now, but I felt every minute of that ordeal with you. You’re a far better man than I. First, for not melting down as I would’ve (and have!) and second, for your dignified response to what, on the face of it, sounds like base treachery. Chapeaux, and maybe one day I’ll dust off my bike and desperately try and hold your wheel on a ride. Kettle is always on if you’re passing through Lacock. Right at the bottom of Bowden Hill. 👍

your urine-soaked lay-by monologue should be played to medical professionals to allow them to understand chicken pox symptoms very sorry you had to abandon but glad you are mostly OK! hope the paris-betrayal-paris drama doesn't affect you too much

Not the PBP journey I had hoped to see. Terrible luck, absolute nightmare scenario to be stuck abroad whilst poorly, paying nightly for the pleasure. TBH, I can understand your fellow bus passengers concerns (they would all have had immune systems in the gutter after that ride, I know you wouldn't have wished your experience on them) but it's a shame they weren't communicated to you in a more productive way. Hope the ACB bridges can be rebuilt.....

Not the outcome anyone wanted, especially you, but dont let what happened get to you. You dont seem to be the only one that had a rubbish PBP, but that was some great content none the less. Hoping for a swift recovery and please keep on doing the good stuff.

An extraordinary effort Adam. We've all been looking forward to your PBP for weeks now and your KZfaq super-fan base is going to stick with you until the next one. No doubt. Merch idea: "F*$k the Feckless Five" caps. (Get Mark Hudson to make them for you?!)

Big respect matey . True grit in the face of a dire situation. You can’t trust anyone. Peace bro ✌🏻

Gutted for you Adam. Loved following your qualification to PBP23. Hope all issues can be resolved with your ABC members.

Sorry things didn't work out this time around, sure you'll be back though👍 Glad you're home and safe. Spineless ACB members who can't talk to you face to face, disgraceful.

A true story of a bikers struggle. Great video Adam and the ones who ousted you from the coach need to think how they would have felt stuck in France…. An unbelievable situation to leave you in. Hope the Pox clears up soon and look forward to the next video

It was so good to meet you again at the start of PBP 23 (last time was after Dreux control when I briefly joined the ACB possee heading to the end). My checklist didn't list Chicken Pox (something to add next time, maybe?), but glad to tick you off my bingo list. Really sorry to learn of your plight which I know must have been a crushing disappointment after all of the qualifiers and build-up etc. I didn't complete either (Carhaix going out was my greatest achievement), but thankfully no incident or illness, just tiredness and too much heat. Hope this doesn't discourage you for trying out further adventures. Can highly recommend the longer-distance Irish audax rides, for example.

Typical of you Adam to make even PBP going horribly wrong an entertaining watch! Well done for managing as you did and good luck for 2027!

You were not the only one, a buddy of mine also suffered a heat stroke and quit after 40km. Onto the next adventure, thanks for sharing this!

Sorry to hear of the catalogue of troubles. Chapeau you battled through it, kept the camera rolling during your agony and made it home safely…

Aw man! Absolutely gutted for you Adam. I’ve just watched this and whilst it was lovely to see the French’ content the rest was heartbreaking to see. You’ve nothing to prove, you’ve done PBP before but it would have been nice for so called club mates to explain their thoughts about travelling with you. Aw the best fae Bonnie Scotland!

Watkins In PBP Gout Shocker! All of that looked awful. Seems to have been a few horror stories this time round. Get well soon!

Gutted for you mate and so sorry you went through that. Glad you got back home ok in the end.

I wouldn't be surprised if Hollywood option the rights to this as a movie....Brad Pitt is prepared to shave his head and attempt a West country accent. 😄..On a more serious note, don't be too down on your fellow ACB...Chicken pox is a contagious thing for some. Hopefully some form of insurance will help cover the cost. If you had a go fund me page you'd recoup those funds in a couple of hours. BTW the 2CV is not a patch on a Suzuki Jimny...

So very sorry that you had such a bad experience. Sounds like shingles, especially the painful bumps-very awful misery indeed. Many people wind up in the hospital with it, so I am amazed you managed to ride your bike even a bit. Hope you are feeling better.

poor show from your coachmates , hope you have speedy and full recovery

Think I'd be finding a new club

Incredibly bad luck, third PBP video I’ve watched and the third DNF. Thanks for still taking the time to put this together, looked like a pretty painful experience all round. Sure you’ll be back for redemption in 4 years time.

Damn bad luck Adam! Might be time to consider a club change. Thanks for keeping it real and documenting your (mis)adventure.

Bless you! Outrageous you had to limp back alone

You handled that extremely well, which is even more amazing given the horrible set of circumstances you were presented with, really shocking behaviour from the other club members too.

Very bad luck Adam , I’m happy you got back safely, and will have better cycling adventures in the future. Thanks for videoing when you are feeling SHIT

Well, that's definitely a week you won't forget about in a hurry. 😮 Fair play for keeping on filming 🎥 when you was obviously not very well . Looked like sunstroke symptoms at first , I would never have guessed chickenpox .

K36…. It was my number in 2019! I got it a little further, St Nicholas, before sickness etc(!) forced me into a 12 hour sleep and DNF. I can understand your low and feel for you Adam. Rest and take care of you! Rob.

I'm half tempted to shout "Justice for Adam" every time I see an ACB jersey now. Or is ACB just ACAB in disguise?

I would ask a lawyer what can they do for you. If you was good enough for Easyjet to take you from France to the UK, surely the coach company has no right to kick you off. Considering you've paid already paid for the service, that they failed to deliver.

Very sorry to hear that you were ill at such an unhelpful moment. That banging headache sounds like shingles. Good news is that healthy people can get over it fairly easily. Bad news is that there is some numbness which persists and, for me, seems to be permanent. Also, the virus lingers and can recur. Not great for someone who pushes so hard. But, you might never have any bother with it again and I hope that is how things work out for you.

Sorry to hereabout your troubles, must admit when I compete abroad it is my biggest fear is getting is ill or breaking a limb. Good to hear you'll be back

Sounds like a real nightmare. I hope you recovered fully and are not too disappointed. Sounds a bit pathetic of your fellow club members if a doctor had certified you as safe to travel. This is the second PBP video I’ve watched and the second dnf although the other guy’s only excuse was he wasn’t enjoying it with only 300kms left to go. Jeez….

Falling ill when you're abroad sucks bad -- have been there and feel your pain. You got some gripping content out of it though!

I met a bunch of ACB'ers at Ambrieres-les-vallees, and I enquired after you. Was told it was sun-related! Bummer about it being chicken-pox. Hope you get well soon!

Despite your chicken pox and the injustice of (some) of your club mates. You’ve still put in an impressive effort training for PBP and you probably rode much further than many even when you were I’ll. well done 👏

Welcome back Adam. Sorry to hear about things. Hope to spot you out on the road :-)

That was a difficult watch. I am happy to get to the end and see that you did make it home. Inspiring stuff, but shocking that you were just left alone in France with no support.

Bad luck Adam. I was trying to follow your progress on the tracker and was a bit concerned you hadn't reached the 1st control. Now I know why! Great video nonetheless. I suspect there may have been a bit of misinformation about Shingles and Chickenpox by your 'friends' but it's still a disgrace to leave a clubmate stranded in France.

Damn, you did the right thing. Hope you're recovered! Big love! Wales one probably better ride anyway ;-)

Bad luck Adam, gutted for you after all the work of the qualifiers and expense of getting there. Hope you are feeling better now. Cheers.

Well that's a different kind of dot watching for sure. 🙈🤣 Hopefully you're on the mend soon

Really sorry to hear about what happened mate, must be very frustrating and four years is a long time to wait.

What a story, and a what a video ! All the best Mate! 🤛 (Fugghedem acb guys)

Gutted for you Adam, good to see you used the 'sleeping in urine' method to try and detox ;-)

Don't know where to start here. I'm assuming you made it back before the club & collected your bike? I, for one, would have got off the coach in protest, what else, wave you goodbye as we pulled away? Gold medal winner for documenting the grief, wondered why I didn't see you & Richard on the tracking. Some people live sheltered lives Adam, I do my best not to be one of them too.

Hi Adam, right choice. Better not to push a bad situation; Shingles is a night mare. At least you found piles of dirt.....

That is truly horrible! I've had shingles and can't imagine cycling with that deep to the bone pain and itching. A couple of years later, that pain and itching started too come back in the same areas on my face! I got myself to a doctor promptly. After convincing the doctor, I went back on the antiviral medication as before. The pustules never developed and the horrible sensation abated in several days. Unless you were to rub the open pustules against someone's eyes, you weren't contagious. People will treat you as a leper with the sores. Some of the symptoms may become permanent, yay.😢

Bloody awefull to fall ill on a bike trip like that, respect for continuing to film you're experience. Its just bad luck, it happens, all the best.

Adam, it was so awful to hear and see you in such distress. Wish I was there to share the load. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger and all that.

Hello Adam so sorry to hear about your medical issues! I was P245 and was hoping to see you on the course at some point in the 1226 km. I hope you’re feeling better. How are you feeling?

What terrible circumstances. You're to nice, they would have had to drag me off. You have a note to travel and state you will wear a mask, should had been enough.

Bad luck Adam. Feel better soon and fair play on getting to hotel (and Brisol) and producing this video.

What is to your credit your feel really ill but maintained a cracking sense of humour. Inspirational👍

Did you have any painkillers left whilst waiting for your Bolt, or did the parrots eat em all?

Sorry to see that you were poorly Adam. Hopefully you are starting to feel a bit better now. Bad timing or what, as you say though at least you didn't fall off.

Get well soon, Adam, surely you'll shortly be back!

Sorry to hear you had such a shite time. Glad you got home okay. Get well soon Adam.

The scene from 21:23 is absolutely iconic

“Never leave a man behind”

I don't think some viewers know how hard you had to train for that experience. Pleased it wasn't more serious. Congrats in getting thru it

The look on your face when you said the coach had departed-shame on all those on board not one of them stayed with you unbelievable

Is that Fred Blasdel in the pink shirt with white dots at 7:28?

Sounds proper rough, did well to get yourself back to that hotel in one piece. Rest up.

Tough luck Adam.....I hope you mend quickly. Unfortunately.....it made great content. 'Nails' mate.

Sorry it all went wrong. If it’s any consolation I bailed at Fourgerres. I had a stomach bug, couldn’t eat anything and together with the heat it just became too much. See you in 4 years.

Gutted for you Adam, wanted to say hello at the start but you were chatting, so didn't want to interrupt. Assumed you'd come past sooner or later. Of course *I* now have a post pbp illness - it's almost expected isn't it?

That was a depressing watch. Chickenpox can be quite nasty as an adult. Certainly worse than gout! Happy to act as your own personal emergency physician on the next edition if required! Best wishes for a speedy recovery from 🇦🇺

hope you feel better soon man

Symptoms sound similar to shingles. Take care. Be well. Stay safe.

Just watched this Adam, hope you are ok. Very disappointed at the behaviour of your club mates. Just remember it’s their problem not yours.

Oh my god! That was hard to watch it must of been horrible for you. I don’t know for sure but is chicken pox still contagious after a week? Hope you resolve your issues with fellow ACB members. Glad your home safe and hope to see you soon on a calendar ride!

Not nice to see you so rough, hope you’re nearly better now. Sorry to hear of the behaviour of the minority - very poor

Shite timing of the CP. Hope you are back to 100% soon. It does take it out of you though. You are a hero Adam. Stay safe.

Sorry didn't work out, get well soon 👍😸

pile of shisters ( is five a pile ? )

Proper drama wos this one 🙁 Curse those feckless five, may a plague of gout be forever upon them. Gws 👍🏻🇫🇷🚲

As the saying goes “you wouldn’t want to be in the trenches with some people”. Poor form from F5 not to have the guts to tell you to your face and at least offer some kind of help or alternatives. Covid has made cowards out of some people.

So sad for you Adam, with all that build-up and planning. You did however manage to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear with this video ! ( sorry that's a bit non-vegan ). The scene with you lying in the gravel looking up at the sky with the riders flowing past reminds me of one of the key scenes in Tolstoy's 'War & peace' .

Holy Cow, you find out people’s true nature when the chips are down and you need help or even empathy. No man left behind. I would have got off the bus with you and left those a$$holes behind.

What a shocker 😮 .... I guess you know who your mates are..... Or aren't!

Adam. What a disaster bud...can you tell me what sunglasses you have. Like the look of them...

I'm sorry Adam. We start together, "K" number. I hope to be able to ride LEL 2025 and I hope you are there and complete your challenge healthily.