SE (Chilterns) Winter Bivy - 10/11 Dec

[jameso]

No probs about parking as planned before Ben. I did think that if Sat looks/feels too grim a ride out along Reg's route until I see you all on Sunday would be good. Itching to get out for a ride, been well over a week now.

A real shame that I don't get to use jetlag body-clock to be awake annoyingly early on Sunday though ..

[TheBrownDog]

It should be dry enough to have a fire in the evening after dinner. I've filled my hip flask too

The roundhouse has a fire pit in the centre and Sam's gone and stocked up on wood, so we'll have no issues keep the pyromaniacs happy.

[benp1]

No probs about parking as planned before Ben. I did think that if Sat looks/feels too grim a ride out along Reg's route until I see you all on Sunday would be good. Itching to get out for a ride, been well over a week now.

A real shame that I don't get to use jetlag body-clock to be awake annoyingly early on Sunday though ..

Great, thanks. If you're going to be up early on sunday and bear to leave a warm bed check in via mobile and we can meet you somewhere en route

Struggling to get the GPX on my Oregon, will try again but having Reg for directions is handy!

[benp1]

It should be dry enough to have a fire in the evening after dinner. I've filled my hip flask too

The roundhouse has a fire pit in the centre and Sam's gone and stocked up on wood, so we'll have no issues keep the pyromaniacs happy.

Can't quite picture what a roundhouse is, sounds pretty fancy though!

I was (am?) a bit of a bushcrafter so might bring a couple of extra bits for the evening. I have a couple of bow drill sets that would be fun to play with but they're not easy to pack on the bike!

[TheBrownDog]

It's like this but not made to the same exacting standards, or quite as big. Sam reckons it sits 8 and probably sleeps 4 (or rather, it sleeps me and three others ) but I reckon we could cram heaps of folks in there at a pinch, even stay dry depending which way the wind is blowing. As a result Ive made what might be a fateful decision to jettison my hammock in favour of a bivi bag my neighbour gave me - (a brand new Hunka no less which he bought two years ago on my recommendation and never used) and a folding chair. I never sleep well in bivi bags, so probably best put me near the door.

[benp1]

Wow, that's pretty cool! Look forward to seeing it tomorrow night

[Dr Nick]

Please can you add your name to the list (and copy/paste and include yourself) so that we know whether we need to hold on for anyone

Dr Nick now can't make the ride unfortunately but will join us in the pub for dinner

Berkhamsted station @ 10am
Benp1
Jameso

Tring station @ 12am
MuddyPete
Blackhound
RIP
Crewlie

From Saturday morning or so we'll probably revert to the whatsapp group to let people if anything changes. Though there are only 8 folks on the whatsapp group (incl me)

Dr Nick can now make the ride! Had to cancel to take my wife for a check up, but the wrong scan was booked, so it's not happening, and she's told me to go ride! Yay for Mrs Dr Nick!!

See you at Tring stn at 12!

[benp1]

That's great news. Final list is as follows

Berkhamsted station @ 10am
Benp1
Jameso
Mbnut
Javi
Jamesatthelodge

Tring station @ 12am
MuddyPete
Blackhound
RIP
Crewlie
Pickers ;-)
Zippy
LeBrownDog
Dr Nick

[Pickers]

Yay for Dr Nick - see you 10:30ish ;-)

[Zippy]

Yay Dr Nick, we can compare notes on how much our BMW's have cost this month!

[Dr Nick]

Yay Dr Nick, we can compare notes on how much our BMW's have cost this month!

I try and avoid thinking about that!

[MuddyPete]

Check your train times!
Southern trains are cancelled due to a strike tomorrow . This site has further details: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
I'll be at Tring at 12.09.

[benp1]

I've got the list of attendees and we'll aim to wait for everyone that has stated they'll be there

Text or call me if you have any problems. Mobile number is oh seven seven six four 500 five six oh

I've also managed to get my route on my Garmin and remembered to put the right SD card in so I have proper OS maps

I was going to bring an OS map with me but reckon I'll leave it in the car now

[Old Aliens]

Hello all - was great to have such a decent bunch of chaps staying down the field, nice to meet you all, Found one item of lost property

1. Pair Endura shorts black belt with white stripe on it size large (they were in the shepherds hut so that should narrow down the potential owners.

Will bung in the wash and post out to the owner just send me a postal address.

Many thanks and see you again - Sam.

[TheBrownDog]

Hi Sam, thanks again for letting us stay. Those shorts are mine - I just bunged everything in the washing machine and was wondering where they might have got to. Don't bother posting them - we'll probs run into each other in the near future.

Cheers
Tim

[RIP]

Well that was blinkin' brilliant, great to meet everyone!

And this year's 'Gingerbread Cappucino Award' - yes really :) - goes to....

[Pickers]

Top notch weekend that! As above, really good to meet up with everyone.

Many thanks to Sam and TBD for the overnight spot, also thanks to Ben and James for route and pub organising.

Special thanks to Carol Kirkwood for the fxxking rain!

Edit to add - And apologies to Reg - many thanks to he for taking up much of the guiding and providing entertainment on the days.

[Dr Nick]

Indeed, a great weekend. Fab to meet everyone.
See you at the summer version!

[MuddyPete]

Many thanks to Sam and TBD for the overnight spot, also thanks to Ben and James for route and pub organising.

Hear! Hear!
It was great to meet you all and thanks for making it a week-end of Type 1 fun , despite the grim weather on Saturday.

We certainly earned our gingerbread lattes.

[jameso]

Looks like a good weekend, saw Kevin's pics on instagram. Good to meet Ben and James briefly. Sorry not to make it. Spring bivi anyone? April has been great for a season starter for this non-bivi a monther. Otherwise, summer would be good.
Also, open invite for anyone that liked the riding to return, parking or station right by where I am in Berkhamsted.

[Bearbonesnorm]

See you at the summer version!

Spring bivi anyone?

You boys are getting into this now, aren't you

[benp1]

It was a very enjoyable weekend, and nice to meet fellow weirdos for some mud riding in the dark and a bivvy

I think most people were game for another trip next year. August sounded promising, we were trying to avoid May/June/July as there are so many events around then. April sounds good as a Spring option, even if we only get a handful together it'll still be good fun

[Javi]

What a nice weekend despite of the incessant rain. Loved the muddy downhill bits. Dinner at the pub was superb and the place we slept was fabulous, roasting marshmallows was ace! Hope I can make it next time.

Thanks to everyone involved in making this happen, Ben for organising the pub night, the Christmas bike leader (forgot your name, Chris?) andthe guy who let us stay at his place for the night but couldn't ride with us.

Hope to do another of these soon. I'll be at Braunton 150 and Jenn's ride.

Apple custard was good

[benp1]

Apple custard was good

Apple crumble and custard

the crumble is the best bit! with custard obviously

[benp1]

For anyone interested, this is Day 1 and Day 2 thanks to Relive

Day 1
https://www.relive.cc/view/800057650

Day 2
https://www.relive.cc/view/800059648