Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
The Watershed (Video)
“The Watershed” is a new video that charts Rupert Barry’s bikepacking pilgrimage to the source of his local river. Starting at his front door, he pedals an off-road route that spans the River Monnow’s meandering watershed and crosses the Welsh-English border. Watch it here…
Words by Rupert Barry, cinematography by Tudor Gilham, photos by Jim Cossey
Where I live is beautiful. And even still, the desire to seek out new places draws me in. Once in a while, I have that feeling of having ridden all the possible trails and tracks from my backdoor, leaving me wondering what route to take next as a ride out from home.
When route-making, we’re naturally drawn to bounded lines as the obvious way to shape a ride. And no boundary is more defined in presence and power than that of a river, for the need of a bridge or shallow water to cross.
This began me asking this question about the river that passes through my neighbourhood. Where does it begin, and how does it get here? This started me on a journey; rather than ride further and faster or climb higher, I was going to go deeper, guided by the river.
As I researched the river’s course, I began to trace a route to its source. Instead of following the river as close as I could, its watershed became the guide for my route, the invisible divide where rainfall drains into the river’s meandering path.
A two-day cycling pilgrimage to gain a perspective on the lie of the land. Not least to act as a reminder of the endless cycle of water, how it shapes the land, and defines trail conditions through the seasons. The river’s path marks the long-contested border of Wales and England. In these edgelands and with this in mind, I set out on my ride alive to the imaginary and material boundaries.
It was a chance to recalibrate my compass and see my local environment with fresh eyes. There’s always something to be learnt when we look closer. Wherever we find ourselves, the invitation is always there to recognise the signs and patterns in the rest of nature, to transcend the boundaries that shift, evolve, and disappear altogether.
I’m only just getting started on truly knowing the River Monnow and connecting with the land in a way that is grounded in experience, not just knowledge. And it’s under the pace of pedal power that this is best experienced.
The Route
Further Reading
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