Inspirational bike films. And off topic swimming

Ryan van Duzer is worth a look. He is a really enthusiastic American - which you might find wearing or endearing... I think it was @matt_outandabout who originally recommended his YouTube channel on here.

Also have a look at the EF education Alt racing and Lachlan Morton YouTube content.

Depends what you mean by ‘inspirational’?

The Engine Inside is good on the life changing power of bikes (with bonus Phil Ligatt), and is free to watch on Red Bull TV, but it’s not exactly shredding the gnar.

There is always Keep Smiling Adventures… he is prolific and pretty straightforward and as British as Van Duzer is American.  He doesn’t always keep smiling, has a terrible diet, doesn’t use a sleeping mat (bonkers), struggles with pronouncing the names of the places he visits, hates hikabike and gets very wet very often… but he does sometimes knock out some impressive mileage and he’s likable and positive and I enjoy his videos.

https://youtube.com/@KeepSmilingAdventures?si=fYb9TSYsxr2We_eN

Not biking or swimming but I have been enjoying Lost Lakes on YouTube.  Quite slow and long but good to watch and wish you were out on a trip.

Try "El Silêncio", it should be on YouTube, really nice film about touring the Peru divide.

Also anything by Backwoodsbikepacking, by a guy that makes some soulful videos about biking and camping in Norway.

There are loads of links to videos on Bikepacking.com too. Some are kind of realistic for those without loads of time and/or cash… others may give you very itchy feet.

The keepsmiling guy tacks up serious miles on the worst food. He will do a half century off road on a bag of rank meatballs then his lunch will be crisps. Seems to work for him tho.

+1 for lost lakes.

Terraventure is a decent channel for bikepacking vids in Scotland.

Also non bike, but i kike thomas heatons landscape photo channel (uk) and livingthevanlife for quiet US winter camping in a van.

See if you can find Adrea MAson's documentary on Sea to Summit - thats a great watch on swimming / cycling / hiking - it's a bonkers challenge, but great to see her determination to overcome adversity.

There are (or at least were on GCN+ up to 10 days ago beforeit was closed) a number of great films of / by Jenny Graham (with one being her solo unsuported round the world ride).  I find her very inspiring indeed. 

The most inspirational bike video I've watched was MBUK's 1995 DIRT when it was first released

3-4 dudes just hooning about on bikes. Brill

RIP JMC

Not sure of copyright/legality situation so mods please delete if not OK, but it's great fun to watch and reminisce.

Glad it's not just me that finds the mileage/diet equation of KeepSmilingAdventures utterly baffling! Isn't he a bit of a unit too? I swear in one video he said that he was 6 foot 6! Any sort of mileage approaching what he does and I need five meals a day, and I'm 70kg and 5 10

This might not be what you wanted. But “the swimmers” on Netflix is a great film

I like mctrailtidet on YouTube but live too far from Scotland not to feel frustrated

No swimming and the cycling is on touring bikes but some of the skiing is fairly insane. Fairly inspirational and crazy bike tour.
A couple of years old so you may already have seen it.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AzyK5qr-WC0

I know it’s not a video but I really enjoyed the book ‘A boy in the water’.  <br /><br />

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/304736/a-boy-in-the-water-by-gregory-tom/9780141988757

Channel swimming documentary that was on BBC years ago. I haven’t watched it since, there’s a few characters in it if I remember correctly.

I've enjoyed watching Ed Pratt's various adventures on his you tube channel over the years (probably originally recommended by someone on here).

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qZIxw0bwe9Q&t=14s&pp=ygURQnJldHQgYmVsY2hhbWJlcnM%3D

This guy was an inspiration to me in real life, met him a couple of times, thoroughly nice chap. Good film if you fancy a short one. I'm in it too😁 Very much an extra in a crowd scene mind...

Mick Turnbull’s YouTube is well worth a watch but will give you very itchy feet!

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCYgB9wgzUs1AQodbt8MTxOA/videos

Also loved this one for something a bit deeper:

https://bikepacking.com/plog/alexandera-houchin-stronger-together/

Onboard Transcontinental (on Netflix) was a good watch, and makes me want to go to Slovenia

For swimming, check out the Merthyr Mermaid, very inspiring!

The only interesting video I’ve ever seen with swimming in it!

I found Iohan Gueorguiev superb....

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqiYX6cqxQI9CqhH_kvHeOw

Safety to Nome  is available free if you Amazon prime

its maybe not your typical bike ride but its certainly inspirational

https://watch.amazon.co.uk/detail?gti=amzn1.dv.gti.34b94ae2-6f1c-d964-d7b6-d30fd69ae22d&ref_=atv_dp_share_mv&r=web

I found Iohan Gueorguiev superb….

Yes, he was the best.  I still miss the guy I never met.

Won't Back Down, the Steve Peat story - yes it is largely DH professionals hurtling down hills but an inspirational story that transcends the sport. If you look hard enough you can find a free online version.

It's not exactly what you asked for, but I love Vast- it's pretty much your traditional mtb film of rad clips, except, a bit closer to normal level than most, and with really gorgeous scenery and great music choices. Like, they're all better than me but they're not inhuman. It makes me want to go to the alps or race a train, every time. red travelllliiinnnnnNNNNNN socks

Thanks everyone, thats just the sort of stuff I was after.

More a not what to do than a to do but hopefully it'll inspire someone to ride, which was my reason to do this
https://youtube.com/@ukgravelco?si=5nVd7FbAsmHR_P83

Hold Your Breath - The Ice Dive is an interesting swimming documentary. We also enjoyed watching The Deepest Breath which is about free diving. Both on Netflix.

@crossed - that's my mate Dan Duxbury from Ambleside AC. Top bloke is Dan.