Dad's sweet bike ride videos with daughter melt hearts and go viral

Angharad ThomasBBC Wales
Gareth Williams A man in his early thirties and little girl are smiling into the camera while sat on a bike wearing helmets. Green grass, trees and a blue sky with white clouds can be seen in the background.   Gareth Williams
Gareth Williams and his daughter Indie have gone viral for sharing their bike rides

A father and daughter duo have captured the hearts of millions after sharing their bike rides with the world.

Gareth Williams, 33, described how toddler Indie loved "scooting around the house" on her little bike, so decided to buy a child's seat and handlebar to attach to his.

Videos of their adventures on the mountains above their Blaenau Gwent home have gone viral, reaching more than three million views in total.

Adrenaline-chaser Gareth never thought he would be sharing his mountain biking passion with Indie so soon - but her love of their trips has seen their 'daddydaughterrides' Instagram account gain more than 10,000 followers in a week.

"For me, it's the best thing when she comes and asks, 'can we go and ride the bike?'...it is amazing," he said.

"She loves seeing all the animals... she's just got a real interest in the outdoors."

Drainage technician Gareth had not planned to post footage on social media, but he was so excited on a 20 minute ride around their local woodland and mountain, he filmed it.

It was after loved-ones were blown away with Indie's cute interactions with animals and nature that he decided to share it more widely.

"We sent it to friends and family and everyone had the same reaction, so we just decided to post her online," he said.

"She just loved it instantly and she doesn't want to get off it since."

Dad's sweet bike ride video with daughter goes viral

When out on the bike ride, Indie can often be seen in the videos asking to "see the cows".

Gareth explained: "The cows came down off the mountain one day, they were the big highland cattle, with the massive horns, and they actually came in our garden."

Little Indie thought it was "hilarious" and ever since, she has been convinced they are going to appear again.

Speaking about the snippets he shares online of his nearly two-year-old, he said: "Believe it or not, she's really shy.

"I think it's the fact that it's only because it's me and her out, she just she doesn't think about it and she doesn't really notice the camera and she's just being herself, which is lovely to see."

Gareth Williams A little toddler wearing a pink helmet, a fleece and pink body-warmer with her name 'Indie' on it in white writing. She's on a mountain with a brown highland cow in the background. The sky is bright blue with some white clouds.  Gareth Williams
Little Indie loves trying to spot the highland cows on bike rides with her dad

Gareth said going viral with his daughter on social media was "mental", adding: "I can't believe that it just went as big as it did."

He thinks the family are lucky living in an area where they can be out on the mountain within five minutes of leaving their home.

Especially because Indie loves the outdoors, and being in the garden, even when it's raining.

Gareth Williams A mum and dad in their thirties with a toddler in a pink fleece with pumpkins on it. It is around Halloween time with a display on pumpkins in the background in a muddy field. Gareth Williams
Indie, with her mum Kate and dad Gareth, has a love for adventure

Gareth is grateful that the reaction he's had online has been positive.

People have posted saying the videos make them "smile so much" and to "keep them coming".

Another said: "One of the best things I've seen today! Properly uplifting!"

But there has been one thing that has melted people's hearts that surprised Gareth.

And that is Indie's "little Welsh accent".

"Loads of people love that, they think it's brilliant, but again that was something that we don't notice," he laughed.

"Obviously we're Welsh ourselves, but we see her all the time and I don't even notice if she's got an accent.

"Then everyone's picking up on it and I'm thinking, 'it must be really strong'."