Adventure cycling has become a Big Thing now. Bicycle brands include travel-focused machines in their product lineups, elaborate mapping software is on offer, and you can find a specialized bag to fit every handlebar, frame triangle and seat extension. What was once the purview only of nutters trying to complete Paris-Brest-Paris in the requisite 90 hours has exploded in a variety of long-distance bikepacking events or attempts at record-setting. The accessibility of outlets such as YouTube and Vimeo and lightweight camera and drone gadgetry have provided an outlet for the two-wheeled adventurers to capture and share their journeys.
It seems to be necessary for hardcore bikepackers to show off their determination and resilience by riding through all kinds of inhospitable terrain. You will easily find videos about riding on barely-there roads in North Africa. Or in the oxygen-free environment of Tajikistan. Or slogging through the peanut butter mud of the Great Divide. There are often additional challenges, such as dangerous wildlife, menacing local inhabitants, and mechanical failures. So it is with a sense of relief that we sometimes get to share in what amounts to a Really Nice Bicycle Ride. Here enters Oscar Boyd and his tale of LEJOG.
In April 2025 Oscar, a young London-based rider, set out with his brother Milo to ride Britain’s iconic Land’s End to John o’Groats route. This runs from the westernmost tip of England to the far north of Scotland. Known as LEJOG, the traditional route is 1,407 kms and seems to have been used for every conceivable record.
The fastest completion on a conventional bicycle took 43 hours and 25 minutes but records exist for tricycles, recumbents, tandems, folding bicycles, quadricycles, team relays and unicycles, besides people running or even doing a return trip on the route. The record time for a penny-farthing bicycle set in 1886 was finally broken in 2019. Readers will be gratified to know that Richard Thoday did it then in four days and 11 hours. This is mind-boggling.
But we digress. Oscar Boyd was not out to set any records and his version of LEJOG was quite different. The traditional route avoids Wales entirely but having enjoyed the scenery there, he included it in his plans. This meant that his version would be closer to 1700 kms and involve some additional impressive climbing. Disembarking from the train in Penzance he and his brother made their way to Land’s End for the launch of what was to be a 17 day trip.
Somehow “bikepacking” has supplanted the term “bicycle touring,” perhaps because it sounds more rugged. This video is of what looks like a traditional holiday on bikes. There are no savage wild animals, mechanical disasters, being hopelessly lost, or sleeping in ditches. Yes, there are some bouts of bad weather, although surprisingly little given Spring in the UK normally. Various other riders come along to join Oscar at different points (including his mum!) so he usually has company. He stays in hotels, eats very well, and manages to remain in good spirits most of the time.
He was right to choose his detour through Wales. It looked hard as he had to cross all three mountain ranges in the country–the Brecon Beacons, the Cambrians and Snowdonia. They are magnificent. But so too, in a different way, is Exmoor in England or the Highlands of Scotland. On a bicycle one sees the changes in landscape acutely.
It seems that many people cycle LEJOG but what makes this video so recommendable is how well done it is. Oscar Boyd is an appealing character, bubbling over with enthusiasm shared by his friends. Even the adversity of a brutal headwind for the first two days out or the cold and rain of Scotland does not slow him down much.
To meet his deadline of 17 days it is necessary to ride an average of 100 kms each day. This is no small feat when accounting for weather or gradients. He does feel the physical effects as he comes near the end, riding with his friend who joined him for the final week. Sharing a celebratory dram of high quality Scotch upon reaching John o’ Groat anchors that accomplishment.
Oscar Boyd’s intent with this video was to encourage others to take their bikes out and enjoy their country. With this in mind, he also produced a short video about the nuts-and-bolts of planning a trip like his. It should be emphasized that he did not use fancy equipment but his aluminum Cannondale CAAD 14 bicycle with 28 mm tires was sufficient. However, he did note that in some places that would be the minimum recommended tire width. Plus better gearing for those brutally steep inclines would have been a bonus! You can check out his recommendations here:
One’s first thought is yes, maybe this is “bikepacking” in that the riders just sit on their bikes for 17 days straight rather than “tourism.” But Oscar does have an eye for the beauty of his environment. Even if he did not stop at every castle or Loch Ness Monster tourist trap the viewer is really able to appreciate what is to be seen on LEJOG. What impressed this viewer is how extensive the network of cycling-dedicated trails is in Britain. This makes riding a great deal less stressful if motor traffic can be avoided.
A real accomplishment of this 49 minute feature, however, is the superb video and editing work. It makes use of both cameras and a drone and, frankly, is quite wonderful. There is a nice soundtrack composed by Oscar’s sister Alice. The short trailer for the video is entitled “Britain is Beautiful!” and that is not over-promising. This is the heart of the video: the idea that with some effort you can “discover” your own country. Watch it and find your own inspiration!
“What 17 Days Cycling Taught Me About Britain: Land’s End to John o’ Groats”
by Oscar Boyd
49 minutes, released on YouTube in October 2025
Link to the video HERE.
In addition to the featured video and the shorter one with practical information, Oscar Boyd also has a Substack page with additional words and images HERE.
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