STEADY AWAY.
I’m Josh. Through the week I work in video production and animation here in sunny old Yorkshire. At the weekend I belong to the outdoors. This space is dedicated to the steady side of the trail. I’m not about frantic downhill races or extreme airtime, if I’m honest that stuff scares me to death. It’s about slowing down, escaping into the countryside, and embracing the physical and mental health benefits of simply being outside. Grab a brew and have a look around. Cheers!
health & happiness
This didn’t start with a lifelong obsession with extreme outdoor sports, in fact the last time I’d been on a bike was during lockdown – I tried to do a lap of Langsett Reservoir with my friends, I got a flat half way around, couldn’t fix it and ultimately went home annoyed.
Anyway, I realised I needed a fundamental reset in my routine. I was looking for a way to lose weight, step away from the desk, and carve out some much-needed space for my mental health which had taken a nose dive over the last few years. I picked up a bike to help me conquer the local hills, eventually attaching an action camera, and just waffling away.
What began as a personal accountability diary quickly grew into a huge part of my life. It turns out, there are a lot of us out there who just want to get outside, clear our heads, and enjoy the ride without the pressure to perform.
THE JOURNEY SO FAR
AUGUST 2024
MY FIRST EBIKE
Where it all started. I bought a second hand Carrera Vengeance E (Halfords special) and began getting outside. At this point, I was the heaviest I’d ever been and something had to change. Unfortunately, winter of 2024 had other ideas, so instead I went on lots of holidays and put even more weight on.
MARCH 2025
STARTING THE CHANNEL
Without going too much into it, I was beginning to struggle with the every day process and needed an escape, a place to vent and create a space where I can just empty my mind. That’s where the Youtube channel idea came up, and Trails o’Life was born. My first video went live April 2024. It was messy, raw and terrible quality, but I loved it still.
JULY 2025
FIRST TASTE OF DOWNHILL
I headed up to the Yorkshire Dales for my first Ard Rock festival. I was completely new to the scene, so I just dipped my toes in by riding a single practice stage. It was chaotic, but chuffin’ brilliant. Seeing the community and the sheer scale of the event planted a seed—I knew I wanted to come back and actually take part, even if it meant terrifying myself in the process. Not only that, I knew if I was going to have any chance at making it around, I would need to get serious about improving my fitness, losing weight, and eventually getting a bike that would survive the run.
DECEMBER 2025
RIP CARRERA
After over 3000 miles, the trusty vengeance decided to call it a day. Strangely enough, it chose the spot beside the canal where I recorded the very first episode. Quite fitting, eh? I had no idea what I was going to do next, but the couple of weeks ahead weren’t going to be easy.
JANUARY 2026
NEW BIKE DAY
The moment that changed everything. At the start of 2026 I got my first proper full suspension electric bike. The Cube Stereo Hybrid ONE77 HPC Race. It’s got a chunky 800WH Battery, the latest Bosch CX Gen 5 motor and enough range to last me anything I throw at it. I consider this point onwards the second phase of the channel and where everything ramps up, not just in quality of ride, but production too.
APRIL 2026
THE FIRST TRAILS MOVIE
A few months in and we steadily roll up to the 100th episode. I planned an epic weekend of riding for me and my friend Phil, but anything that could have gone wrong, did go wrong. Still, it made decent viewing and a great experience for both of us. It was at this point that the channel started getting a bit of decent traction, but at the same time I felt I could really start taking things slower, stop stressing about each episode and go back to just enjoying the ride.
JULY 26
THE SECOND TRAILS MOVIE
After a full year of steadily losing weight and completely procrastinating with the downhill practice, Ard Rock MTB festival was around the corner. I threw in a few last minute training sessions with some friends and before I knew it, it was off to Swaledale for the weekend. This time, instead of just the practice stage, I took on the Intro challenge. The perfect mid-level experience challenge which tested me in every way. The film did pretty decent.
AUGUST 26
YOUTUBE PARTNER
After 16 months and 130 episodes, it finally happened. I got the email I’d been steadily building towards and trying so hard to get. I was finally invited to the YouTube partner program. Success! It was a very proud moment. Things have just gotten better from here too. Engagement is up, subs have jumped, and there’s even a few people that have joined as paying members which blows my mind. If you want to join and support the venture, please do so below.
SEPTEMBER 2026
WALKS O'LIFE
My bike spent a couple weeks in the shop with a warranty repair and I was starting to lose my mind a little. Fortunately, I’ve been sitting on an idea for the last 6 months or so, which was to do a side-series of walk and talk episodes with a little spin. In these videos, I take out my camera and go on a a venture, taking photos and showing them on the video. It’s a strange but fun take on my regular stuff and it gives me an excuse to get out with the camera, something I don’t do enough.
