Bb200 Waffle Thread.

[sean_iow]

I'm gonna guesstimate from what I've read previously and say its around 18H by either IanB; Sean (from the island) or Slarge... I'm gonna guesstimate also that you're gonna complete it in sub20

I've only done one BB200 (2017) and it took me 20hr 51min but it was 220km long that year, pro-rata that would be a 18hr 57min 200km but still much longer than Ian B has done them in, he did a 16hr 51min in 2016 for example.

https://ianbarrington.com/2016/10/15/be ... h-edition/

I think Slarge was fastest in 2017 when I did mine. As it's not a race as long as it's under 24hrs for a black badge that's all that matters

[Alexinthepeaks]

I was wondering....if it was possible to do such an event under Audax UK time cut off, which is ~14.3km/h, but i dont think there is a cat in hells chance unless your Nick Craig, its super dry and you have a support crew! Im not in any rush really, but love a good stat!

[Richard G]

I think my fastest was just shy of 18 hours.

I've been on course to go faster than that... but then had some pretty bad bike and body (injury) problems in those rides.

[sean_iow]

I've been on course to go faster than that...

and

but then had some pretty bad bike and body (injury problems) in those rides.

Could there be some link between these two statements

I think you overtook me twice on the 2017 event as I re-passed you fixing a damaged tyre? That was the year you also broke a shifter in an off?

[whitestone]

Pretty variable in times, very course and weather dependent: In 2016 for the 205km I had a total time of 19hrs1min with 16hrs35mins riding. In 2018 for 202km I had a total time of 21hrs20mins with a riding time of 19hrs35mins. So 3hrs longer riding time for slightly less distance. The weather in the first nine or ten hours was pretty horrid with some strong headwinds as well as the aquatic nature of the trails I think I was nearly two hours longer to the first resupply at 60km than I'd scheduled for, it was that rough. Stopped time will include opening/closing gates and wondering "where the fugawi?" as well as café/pub/resupply stops.

Here are my blog posts for the two rides: http://bobwightman.blogspot.com/search/label/BB200

I notice that selfsupported.net has a fastest time for the BB200 as 13hrs 8mins Don't know who or which year that was.

Best advice is to just go at a steady pace, i.e. one you can comfortably chat whilst doing, ignore what anyone else is doing (the staggered start helps in this) - they might know the climb or might just be over enthusiastic!

[Ian]

Here's my BB200 resume, as it were:

1 - 2011 - Black - 17 h 28 m [blog] [Strava] - Singlespeed - joint 1st
2 - 2012 - Black - 15 h 18 m [Strava] - Singlespeed - 1st
3 - 2013 - Black (and Gold) - 13 h 58 m [Strava] - Singlespeed - 2nd
4 - 2014 - Black - 22 h 33 m – [blog] [Strava] - Singlespeed - 4th
5 - 2015 - Blue - 27 h, 32 m [blog] [Strava] - Gravel bike + bivvy - stopped counting
6 - 2016 - Black - 16 h 51 m[blog] [Strava] - Gravel bike - 6th, I think
7 - 2017 - Green - 28 h 47 m [Strava] - Fat bike + bothy - didn't care on placing!
8 - 2018 - DNS

So, definitive proof, as if it were needed, that singlespeeds are faster and I get slower as I get older

2014 definitely the hardest.
2016 felt fast but actually nearly 3 hours slower than my actual fastest of 2013. I am getting old...
2017 was the best course and my favourite, but I never did a write up of it - shame...

[Richard G]

Could there be some link between these two statements

I think you overtook me twice on the 2017 event as I re-passed you fixing a damaged tyre? That was the year you also broke a shifter in an off?

Yeah, I broke my rib on my handlebars and smashed off the shifter with my knee. Not going too fast on that occasion; lost my entire front wheel in a muddy puddle.

[Ian]

I notice that selfsupported.net has a fastest time for the BB200 as 13hrs 8mins Don't know who or which year that was.

Phil Simcock, 2013. The original course, in reverse

That was the year it seemed like an actual race. The opening pace was blistering, and we stayed pretty close right into the night where we could see each others lights across the wider bits of landscape. I was chasing Phil S, but also trying to hold off Alan Goldsmith and Phil Richmond. I thought I'd done a write-up of it, but it's not on my blog, so maybe buried in a thread on here.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I've just had a final recon trip to check a couple of sections and they're lovely. Fast, flowing almost serpentine singletrack ... shame you lot are going up it not down

[Dave Barter]

I've just had a final recon trip to check a couple of sections and they're lovely. Fast, flowing almost serpentine singletrack ... shame you lot are going up it not down

Was it Jase or Andy that went the wrong way round one year?

[sean_iow]

So, definitive proof, as if it were needed, that singlespeeds are faster and I get slower as I get older

That is quite a palmares You might not be slower as you get older, you've just ridden a geared bike on the last 4 you did which were slower? Your times got faster from 2011 > 2013. 2014 was slower but was that the infamous year of the tussocks/bracken/bog?

[sean_iow]

Was it Jase or Andy that went the wrong way round one year?

Wasn't that Andy, hence his forum name?

[Bearbonesnorm]

Andy went backwards one year and Steve Air did last year - last man back at around 3.00am Monday morning

[redefined_cycles]

poor souls...

I've just had a final recon trip to check a couple of sections and they're lovely. Fast, flowing almost serpentine singletrack ... shame you lot are going up it not down

[Escape Goat]

I've just had a final recon trip to check a couple of sections and they're lovely. Fast, flowing almost serpentine singletrack ... shame you lot are going up it not down

oh dear...

[Bearbonesnorm]

poor souls...

Why are you laughing ... you're one of them.

[Escape Goat]

If I don't laugh, I'll cry. Simple.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I meant Shaf Allen

[dlovett]

I've just had a final recon trip to check a couple of sections and they're lovely. Fast, flowing almost serpentine singletrack ... shame you lot are going up it not down

Fast and flowing translated from StuSpeak to English, means that we are pushing up a steep river

[redefined_cycles]

I've bought (my first)Arcteryx boots just for the occassion* they're Goretex so might inevitable become boats... But they're Goretex Arcteryx boats so surely it'll be fun

poor souls...

Why are you laughing ... you're one of them.

*only cos they was for £100 on SportPursuit and thus waited almost 3 weeks for em

[In Reverse]

Was it Jase or Andy that went the wrong way round one year?

Wasn't that Andy, hence his forum name?

It was just a minor misunderstanding.

[Ian]

So, definitive proof, as if it were needed, that singlespeeds are faster and I get slower as I get older

That is quite a palmares You might not be slower as you get older, you've just ridden a geared bike on the last 4 you did which were slower? Your times got faster from 2011 > 2013. 2014 was slower but was that the infamous year of the tussocks/bracken/bog?

I hadn't thought of it like that, but possibly the case, though I think my attitude towards the event changed as well - perhaps deep mental scarring from 2014, maybe? Seriously though, while 2014 was the toughest year (which also had one of the lowest drop out rates I think?), since then I've been less inclined to sit on the rivet for hours on end and enjoy the ride in a different way. 2016 was a slight exception, but riding was an absolute blast I was content to just carry on through to the end.

[Asposium]

Seriously though, while 2014 was the toughest year....

2014 was worse than 2018??

[ssnowman]

What was so bad about 2014?

[whitestone]

Seriously though, while 2014 was the toughest year....

2014 was worse than 2018??

2018 was bad because of the weather and the subsequent "interesting" stream crossings, Stu removed the worst of the hike-a-bike which would have seen us cross the Afon Hengwm here - http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=279775 ... &A=Y&Z=120 - because of the river levels. The only other hike-a-bike of note was the climb out from Nant Syddion, the rest of the route was rideable.

I didn't do 2014 but those people I know who did do it were wide eyed and "WTF!"