A Bikepacking Adventure to See G in His Last Race
- Crank and Watt
- Sep 10, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 12
It's a strange feeling to have cheered on someone throughout their entire career before he called time. It’s like being a kid again, watching a hero from the sidelines! So, we set off on a little adventure to support G one last time.
The Journey Begins
We embarked on a three-day, two-night bikepacking trip to Burton Dassett Hills Country Park. This was the grand finale of Stage 4 of the Lloyds Tour of Britain 2025.
Night one was all about wild camping somewhere in the Chilterns. We left around noon from South West London, making our way out of the city via Heathrow. Then, we hit the trails, aiming to reach our proposed camping spot by about 7 PM. Of course, we had to make a pit stop at a pub.
We found a decent spot just in time to pitch the tent before it got dark. Camp was set, sleep was had, and morning broke and off we went.
Day Two: The Big Day
Day two was all about timing. We aimed to set off by 8 AM at the latest. We needed five hours to reach the finish line. But, with the trails and a frustrating HS2 diversion, we cut it a bit close. Still, we arrived just in time!
I spotted the legend, Big G, riding at the back of the peloton, where the soigneurs were. What a sight! We then made our way to the finish line to catch the leaders and the peloton zoom past one last time before the final sprint.
Seeing and hearing all the fans cheer for Big G was fantastic! I won’t lie; I felt a lump in my throat. I’m gutted he’s retiring. So, Chapeau G! Good luck on your next chapter!
Once the race had passed and we'd taken some snaps, it was then a LONG 40km ride to a proper campsite for night 2. Get a wash and all that jazz. My riding partner wasn't far from his folks, so it was solo ride back home on Day 3. Into a block headwind. Fun!
Reflections on the Adventure
I’m so glad I got to see G in his last race. It was a little late-season adventure that I’ll cherish. And boy, was I ecstatic to finally get home, shower, and crawl into a proper bed!
Here's a small video of days one and two, featuring the Tour of Britain and a little sighting of G. Check it out!
Comments