{"id":422190,"date":"2026-01-19T00:10:29","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T00:10:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/422190\/"},"modified":"2026-01-19T00:10:29","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T00:10:29","slug":"pez-at-the-movies-what-17-days-cycling-taught-me-about-britain-lands-end-to-john-ogroats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/422190\/","title":{"rendered":"Pez at the Movies: What 17 Days Cycling Taught Me About Britain | Land\u2019s End to John O\u2019Groats"},"content":{"rendered":"

Adventure cycling has become a Big Thing now.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

It seems to be necessary for hardcore bikepackers to show off their determination and resilience by riding through all kinds of inhospitable terrain.\u00a0 You will easily find videos about riding on barely-there roads in North Africa.\u00a0 Or in the oxygen-free environment of Tajikistan. Or slogging through the peanut butter mud of the Great Divide.\u00a0 There are often additional challenges, such as dangerous wildlife, menacing local inhabitants, and mechanical failures.\u00a0 So it is with a sense of relief that we sometimes get to share in what amounts to a Really Nice Bicycle Ride.\u00a0 Here enters Oscar Boyd and his tale of LEJOG.<\/p>\n

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In April 2025 Oscar, a young London-based rider, set out with his brother Milo to ride Britain\u2019s iconic Land\u2019s End to John o\u2019Groats route.\u00a0 This runs from the westernmost tip of England to the far north of Scotland.\u00a0 Known as LEJOG, the traditional route is 1,407 kms and seems to have been used for every conceivable record.<\/p>\n

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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.\u00a0 This is mind-boggling.<\/p>\n

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But we digress.\u00a0 Oscar Boyd was not out to set any records and his version of LEJOG was quite different.\u00a0 The traditional route avoids Wales entirely but having enjoyed the scenery there, he included it in his plans.\u00a0 This meant that his version would be closer to 1700 kms and involve some additional impressive climbing.\u00a0 Disembarking from the train in Penzance he and his brother made their way to Land\u2019s End for the launch of what was to be a 17 day trip.<\/p>\n

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Somehow \u201cbikepacking\u201d has supplanted the term \u201cbicycle touring,\u201d perhaps because it sounds more rugged.\u00a0 This video is of what looks like a traditional holiday on bikes.\u00a0 There are no savage wild animals, mechanical disasters, being hopelessly lost, or sleeping in ditches.\u00a0 Yes, there are some bouts of bad weather, although surprisingly little given Spring in the UK normally.\u00a0 Various other riders come along to join Oscar at different points (including his mum!) so he usually has company.\u00a0 He stays in hotels, eats very well, and manages to remain in good spirits most of the time.<\/p>\n

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He was right to choose his detour through Wales.\u00a0 It looked hard as he had to cross all three mountain ranges in the country\u2013the Brecon Beacons, the Cambrians and Snowdonia.\u00a0 They are magnificent.\u00a0 But so too, in a different way, is Exmoor in England or the Highlands of Scotland.\u00a0 On a bicycle one sees the changes in landscape acutely.<\/p>\n

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It seems that many people cycle LEJOG but what makes this video so recommendable is how well done it is.\u00a0 Oscar Boyd is an appealing character, bubbling over with enthusiasm shared by his friends.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

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To meet his deadline of 17 days it is necessary to ride an average of 100 kms each day.\u00a0 This is no small feat when accounting for weather or gradients.\u00a0 He does feel the physical effects as he comes near the end, riding with his friend who joined him for the final week.\u00a0 \u00a0Sharing a celebratory dram of high quality Scotch upon reaching John o\u2019 Groat anchors that\u00a0accomplishment.<\/p>\n

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Oscar Boyd\u2019s 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.\u00a0 It should be emphasized that he did not use fancy equipment but his aluminum Cannondale CAAD 14 bicycle with 28 mm tires was sufficient.\u00a0 However, he did note that in some places that would be the minimum recommended tire width.\u00a0 Plus better gearing for those brutally steep inclines would have been a bonus!\u00a0 You can check out his recommendations here:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

One\u2019s first thought is yes, maybe this is \u201cbikepacking\u201d in that the riders just sit on their bikes for 17 days straight rather than \u201ctourism.\u201d But Oscar does have an eye for the beauty of his environment.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 What impressed this viewer is how extensive the network of cycling-dedicated trails is in Britain.\u00a0 This makes riding a great deal less stressful if motor traffic can be avoided.<\/p>\n

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A real accomplishment of this 49 minute feature, however, is the superb video and editing work.\u00a0 It makes use of both cameras and a drone and, frankly, is quite wonderful. There is a nice soundtrack composed by Oscar\u2019s sister Alice.\u00a0 The short trailer for the video is entitled \u201cBritain is Beautiful!\u201d and that is not over-promising. This is the heart of the video: the idea that with some effort you can \u201cdiscover\u201d your own country.\u00a0 Watch it and find your own inspiration!<\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat 17 Days Cycling Taught Me About Britain: Land\u2019s End to John o\u2019 Groats\u201d<\/p>\n

by Oscar Boyd<\/p>\n

49 minutes, released on YouTube in October 2025<\/p>\n

Link to the video HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n Like PEZ? Why not subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive updates and reminders on what’s cool in road cycling? \n <\/p>\n

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