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Like Desert Island Discs, where you can hear castaways like Cher, Gareth Southgate and Nick Cave,

and enjoy longer versions of the music they've picked. Good things come to those who don't wait.

Listen to your favourite podcasts first on BBC Sounds.

This Scotland Outdoors podcast from BBC Radio Scotland.

Hello and thanks very much for choosing to listen to this podcast.

I'm Helen Needham.

In this edition I'm on my bike with author and adventurer Marcus Stitts. Marcus is originally

from Germany but he's lived in Scotland for many years now. He's a real bike enthusiast and

has even cycled all the way around the world on a single speed bike. He's also spent a lot of time

exploring Scotland on his bike and is an advocate for this country being a wonderful place for off-road

cycling adventures. So much so, he's just published a new book outlining a range of routes

throughout the country called

Bikepacking Scotland.

I met up with Marcus in Edinburgh recently where we took advantage of the network of cycle paths

in the city and just round the back of Arthur's seat and heading towards Musselburgh I asked

him what does bike packing actually mean?

Quite simply is putting backs on your bike and then go riding.

I mean, it's mainly used as a term for if you go at least for an overnight trip or a multi-day trip.

I would call it adventure cycling and you take some of your own luggage with you and

you might be staying in a tent or you might be staying in a B&B or in a hotel or in a Buffy

or whatever.

...