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Sandy | MTB guide | Photographer

@sandyshewan

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two wheeled stories to inspire your next adventure

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If you thought bikepacking was easy… Slovenia says hi
Tougher than expected, more magical than imagined ✨.
Slovenias western loop was a proper adventure.
Whats your next epic?

We jumped in bikepacking.com and hunted for a route for our first bike packing adventure abroad.
Choosing Slovenias western loop we absolutely lucked out. Much harder than expected going by the stats but we were rewarded with gems we didn’t expect to find.

#cyclinglife #bikepacking #mtbadventure #onelifetolive taken in Slovenia by @sandyshewan

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a year ago

Is bikepacking the best way to see a country ?
It’s our second time abroad exploring on two wheels and I can’t stop thinking where’s next 😍 forgetting what day it is on my bike is my favourite thing. Bikepacking Adriatic crest Croatia taken in Croatia by @sandyshewan

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24 days ago

There’s definitely easier ways to see Croatia! and bikepacking has a lot of suffering… especially during a heat wave and then cycling through thunder and lightning storms turns up the adventure dial a bit too much though.
But the bits in between, you can’t buy. It’s the why.

Pedalling our mountain bikes 425km 8264m climbing in 34 degrees. Calling it quits in a town called Gospic we bailed back to Slovenia with 7 hour train rides #and went to Venice to be tourists for the day. taken in Croatia by @sandyshewan

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a month ago

Getting lost in Venice…
A chilled day exploring this amazing wee city at the end of our bikepacking trip to Croatia. We walked about 10k wandering about its maze of streets and only explored a tiny part of the map. Venice Italy taken in Venice, Italy by @sandyshewan

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a month ago

Would you ride this?
If you have, you’ll know how good this descent is.
Kintail is a pretty wild place to explore on your bike.
Home of Scotlands most remote youth hostel surrounded by some of Scotlands best hill days. taken in Kintail, Highland, United Kingdom by @sandyshewan

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a year ago

I love where bikes take you and hunting swim spots as a side quest and finding that switch that makes hard things weirdly enjoyable has been my favourite this last year or so.

From the Hebrides to Slovenias magic rivers and lakes, diving through waves in Morocco to Smashing Scottish loch ice in the dark, never thought I’d say it but I bloody love swimming, who knew 😎

What’s your favourite swim spot?!
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.
#Bikepacking #wildswimming #lifesanadventure by @sandyshewan

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9 months ago

A trail that just keeps on going…!
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An adventure that’s all pedalling if you’ve got the legs, through glens and pine forests all the way to the summit for one of the best views and descents in the northern Cairngorms??
A cold swim in the loch was a pretty awesome end to a proper day out on bikes 😍

#mtbscotland #mtbgram taken in Aviemore by @sandyshewan

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3 months ago

All you need for an epic adventure is the bike you already have, the kit that’ll do just fine, a partner in crime and a yes attitude.
Throw your bikes in cardboard boxes and go on an adventure you’ll be talking about for years.

Slovenias western loop is a mountain bike adventure that’ll remind you that life’s at its best when all you need is what you can pack on your bike, pedal into the mountains and say yes to every wild swimming spot. It’s definitely type 2 fun at times but all the best adventures are! taken in Bovec, Julian Alps by @sandyshewan

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a year ago

All you need for an adventure is to just go on one 😃
Anyone else been bikepacking abroad ?

A mini photo dump from bikepacking in Slovenia.
There’s a lot of unforgettable moments from this trip especially all the insane swim spots but camping by a ww2 bunker at 5000ft surrounded by peaks was pretty cool indeed as far as camp spots go. Scottish man in the mountains enjoying nature taken in Triglav National Park by @sandyshewan

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a year ago

Have you ever bike packed Slovenia?

you probably should!

Louise and I did 384 km with 6,199 m of climbing on the western loop over 7 days (soča variant)

I did remember the insoles for my shoes this time so it felt like I was winning at life, but the country had a sense of humour
My chain ring decided to spit its bolts out and zip ties don’t fix everything apparently.
I did get a new one fitted which gave me a 5% speed increase but it wasn’t enough to keep up with Louise’s chase for pistachio croissants.
One night camping, my bike became a meeting place for all crickets in Slovenia which sang to us while we tried to sleep. A winter sleeping bag in 32 degree heat wasn’t my best idea either but I could have used it to smother Louise when she snored. It’s cute so she’s still with us.
Louise became a mosquito magnet, I got stung by a bee in the eye just for fun, and at one point we gave a headtorch to a damsel in distress searching for her car on top of a mountain.
Thank god there’s many cafes. Just don’t ask for sprite because you’ll be told no. Lack of good coffee also kick started a beer addiction which is great until you try and book hotel rooms a little drunk.
We found a punk rock festival too and waded across a river and blended in perfectly with two cans of beer, pretending we knew the words but it cost me a sunburnt back and I had to drag Louise out of holiday mode.

Between the chaos were climbs that made our legs regret life choices, rivers so blue we couldn’t resist swimming, and castles perched into mountains.
Honestly though, Slovenia is beyond amazing and we definitely fell in love. .
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#bikepackinglife #bikepacking #adventurebybike #ridebikesbehappy Bikepacking Slovenia taken in Edinburgh, Scotland by @sandyshewan

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a year ago

Blue skies in Torridon and riding bikes. I’ll take it!
Proper short wee route just riding the Achnashellach descent but morning loch swims and squeezing in a Torridon lap and being back home by 3 is a pretty sweet Sunday by @sandyshewan

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4 months ago

Proper mountain biking. No easy outs—just you, your bike, and the challenge of one of Scotland’s last true wildernesses.
River crossings big or small always make it seem more adventury especially in November 🥶 taken in Dundonnell and Fisherfield Forest by @sandyshewan

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2 years ago