A New Greater Sydney Bike Trail Video

This one is for the rest of us who just grind along making not much progress, getting lost etc

I recently came across a video by Mike Coles that felt like a breath of fresh air for those of us who aren’t exactly “crushing it” every single day. Mike decided to tackle the Greater Sydney Bike Trail—a massive 180km loop—as a “holiday at home” to save on petrol. What makes his journey so compelling isn’t a display of high-octane athleticism, but his absolute honesty about the reality of the ride. Within the first few minutes, he admits that he is slow and managed to get lost just 300 meters from the start [01:52]. From walking his bike up hills that looked like “ski slopes” [18:38] to dealing with navigation apps that seem to have a mind of their own [17:34], his journey is a refreshing departure from the polished, “perfect” adventures we often see online.

This video is really for the rest of us—the ones who make progress in fits and starts and often find ourselves taking the long way around. Mike’s multi-day trek shows that you don’t need to be a professional to explore your own world; you just need the grit to handle the rain, the mechanical hiccups, and the occasional hour-long wait for a rescue when things go sideways [11:18]. It’s a great reminder that there is a quiet dignity in the grind, even when you feel “rubbish” at following the map [17:52]. If you’ve been feeling like you’re just wandering or moving too slowly, watching Mike find genuine joy in the middle of a messy, beautiful detour might be exactly the encouragement you need to keep pedaling.

Watch the full video here: