What you doing next year?

Bearbonesnorm · Post by **Bearbonesnorm** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 3:26 pm

Okay, seeing as I've pretty much managed to bring the place to a near stand still with yesterdays post, let's try something else.

What are your plans for next year? What events* are you fancying? Where are you going?

Me, I'll be having a stab at the Great North Trail hopefully and also attempting 'Fort for the month' where I'll aim to spend the night inside an Iron age hillfort ... yep, weird but true.

*They may or may not be on a list somewhere - it doesn't matter.

Cheeky Monkey · Post by **Cheeky Monkey** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 3:54 pm

Me and several mates from my University days are all turning 50. There is the loosest, most ragged plan to have a "big riding / gigging / adventure" trip in Europe.

Fitness and ability levels are all over the shop. As is equipment, expectations and inclinations. No two people are free at the same time and the idea was cobbled together quite literally on a beer mat in South Africa earlier this year whilst two of us were drinking.

It will be chaos. But it'll be fine.

When I get at least a semblance of criteria sorted I intend to ask the local hive mind for thoughts and suggestions.

trob6 · Post by **trob6** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 4:07 pm

I did the Dale's Divide this year which was splendid so I'm doing it again on my new bike so in my mind it will be easy! Also a Scottish c2c starting in Fort William , I've done the English and Weish c2c so then I will have the set.
Plus I'm doing the wrt in January which I'm very much looking forward too.

Bearbonesnorm · Post by **Bearbonesnorm** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 4:15 pm

I'm doing the wrt in January

You're not.

whitestone · Post by **whitestone** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 4:19 pm

Only definites are the Winter Event at Llanbrynmair and the Fat Viking fat bike race in Norway in January, the WRT in May and the YD300 in August.

Probables are: Dales Divide at Easter and BB200/300 in October (depending if I get an entry)

In Reverse · Post by **In Reverse** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 4:20 pm

I hadn't heard of the All Points North Event until Stu's little tantrum in that other thread and it looks great, so that's gone on the list. Thanks Stu

In roughly chronological order:

Holy Land Trail when my current contract finishes, probs end March/early April.
Dales Divide I had lights failure on the last night last time out so didn't get round as fast as I'd have liked. Enjoyed it immensely though so might well go back
All Points North because it's one of the ten best UK bikepacking events to pit myself against in 2020
Yorkshire Dales 300 see above, also another chance to ride bikes with a few familiar faces
Ard Rock for a boozy weekend with mates
Something in the Alps - either uplifting on the full suss or some sort of bikepacking loop. Maybe both if time allows
BB200 hopefully

Plus anything else that crops up. Would like to maybe get a couple of The Racing Collective's things in.

pistonbroke · Post by **pistonbroke** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 4:38 pm

Events I've signed up for are L'Eroica Hispania which is 184km around the white roads of the Rioja region on classic bikes with meesters gearing, only 3,000m of climbing! I'm determined to win my age group in the Terres d'Ebre mountainbike series, finished 2nd this year despite missing 1 of the counting rounds due to not reading the rules properly.
I'm at a fairly advanced stage of a revamp of the Coast to Coast route which is being rebranded as the Spanish Divide as it runs via the source of the 3 longest rivers in the Iberian Peninsula, the Tajo and Duero which run West into Portugal and the Atlantic and the Ebro which runs South East into the Med. As always, Bearboners will be most welcome, it's a stiffer challenge than the current route but still doable in a week and a bit. Again springtime will be the best time to ride, probably just after Easter.

thenorthwind · Post by **thenorthwind** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 4:44 pm

All Points North because it's one of the ten best UK bikepacking events to pit myself against in 2020

Nicely done sir. Seriously though, I only heard about that this year when an acquaintance went off to do it. I like the format though, so it's on my possibles list.

Need to sit down with the calendar this weekend. Only thing for definite at the moment is the Moors One Hundred. Will probably do the Yad Moss 200km road Audax in January to kick start things a bit, trip in February with some friends (bothies/hostels on a Scottish C2C possibly), Moor Gravel Forever in April, trip to Shetland in April/May which may or may not involve bikes/packrafts... etc.

jameso · Post by **jameso** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 4:51 pm

The idea was cobbled together quite literally on a beer mat in South Africa earlier this year whilst two of us were drinking.

It will be chaos. But it'll be fine.

This sounds excellent : )

I've signed up to another winter-motivator ride, London-Land's End-London 1000km audax in June I think. I will get some sleep but I intend to do it as bare-bones as poss, so probably a bivi bag nap in a bus shelter rather than a pre-booked travel lodge. A chap I ended up riding 400+ km of the TINAT 600 with, pace and chat matched well, was a good ride, he and his mate Nick came along to TNR in Sept and it's a guy they know who's organising L-LE-L.
Will be doing DIY 200, 300 and 400s as prep, then if I can get a 600 DIY in later in the year I'll get an AUK SR badge. TBH the points bit of audax doesn't really interest me but super randonneur sounds cool and I like patches.

Then TNR in September again. Missing mountain biking and my occasional climbing/scrambling trips these days so planning to ride my Jones, flat pedals and boots, and scramble up a couple of peaks along the way. Mostyn B went up the Meja on his TNR last year and it's only bike footwear that stopped it from being a good idea this year.

Dales 100 with Matt. Meant to do it last year, or at least get the train up for a weekend.

I really want to go to the Kashmir area too but it seems like now isn't the wisest time for solo travel there. Not put off yet but have been advised against it. Was the same thing about Tibet in early 2000s. Can't put these places off for long as the politics changes so fast.

jameso · Post by **jameso** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 4:55 pm

Holy Land Trail

It's a great route. Tough but other-worldly in places and the singletracks are so good.

Boab · Post by **Boab** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 5:07 pm

I've signed up for The Dirty Reiver 200 in April, my first mass participation cycling event. Also my first mass participation event since the Bedford standard distance Triathlon in 2007. As a newbie to all this organised cycling malarkey, I liked the sound of the Frontier 300 and if I get an entry, plan to park at the finish and spend two days cycling to the start. Mostly I'm planning on just getting out on my bike, and trying some bivies while I'm at it.

Other than that, there are plans for some openwater swimming events. Possibly the Great East Swim, the 4x 1 mile at the Henley festival, the Dart 10km, and maybe some others.

Dave Barter · Post by **Dave Barter** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 5:10 pm

In Reverse wrote: ↑Fri Dec 06, 2019 4:20 pm I hadn't heard of the All Points North Event until Stu's little tantrum in that other thread and it looks great, so that's gone on the list. Thanks Stu

Hope you were quick as I heard they'd sold out almost immediately.

I've done something silly that means it will rain and be horrible for everyone in May ;-)

I'm also looking at the GBDuro route (not the race) and I think Stu's Big Bear needs some colourful language adorning it.

faustus · Post by **faustus** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 5:10 pm

No events. Some longer solo rides, 2-3 bivvys would be nice. Road riding in Tenerife for 4 days with my brother in February. Otherwise getting in as much riding as I can before and after baby No. 2 arrives at the end of April. I'll definitely be doing as much as possible before then, but hope the summer won't entirely pass me by. Rationalising and sorting bikes now so time in the shed spannering is minimised. Local riding will be increasingly mixed terrain, to make the most of all local trails. It's a significant birthday of mine around the due date, so a celebratory long weekend ride somewhere in Wales is off the cards! Should have thought of that

RIP · Post by **RIP** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 5:19 pm

12 months fairly aimlessly tramping, searching out absurdity and pointlessness wherever it can be found, all in UK, mostly in Welsh Wales, bit of gigpacking, bit of beerpacking. No 'events' other than Boner ones - just a little oddity of mine is that. No requirement for 'les grands projets' myself.

faustus · Post by **faustus** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 5:22 pm

RIP wrote: ↑Fri Dec 06, 2019 5:19 pm 12 months fairly aimlessly tramping, searching out absurdity and pointlessness wherever it can be found, all in UK, mostly in Welsh Wales, bit of gigpacking, bit of beerpacking. No 'events' other than Boner ones - just a little oddity of mine is that. No requirement for 'les grands projets' myself.

Absurdity and pointlessness in the UK...you're spoilt for choice!

RIP · Post by **RIP** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 5:28 pm

In Reverse · Post by **In Reverse** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 6:01 pm

Dave Barter wrote: ↑Fri Dec 06, 2019 5:10 pm
In Reverse wrote: ↑Fri Dec 06, 2019 4:20 pm I hadn't heard of the All Points North Event until Stu's little tantrum in that other thread and it looks great, so that's gone on the list. Thanks Stu

Hope you were quick as I heard they'd sold out almost immediately.

I was not.

That can go on next year's list then.

I was, however, quick enough to get a place on the Moors One Hundred which I missed off this year's list.

You going to solo the GBDuro or would you consider it riding it with some friends? or failing that just some people you've previously met?

Dave Barter · Post by **Dave Barter** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 6:05 pm

The more the merrier Andy. Thinking of Apri'ish

In Reverse · Post by **In Reverse** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 6:16 pm

Noted.

In Reverse · Post by **In Reverse** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 6:18 pm

jameso wrote: ↑Fri Dec 06, 2019 4:55 pm
Holy Land Trail
It's a great route. Tough but other-worldly in places and the singletracks are so good.

Also noted.

Did Chicken Legs do the actual race a couple of years ago or have I got some wires corssed?

RIP · Post by **RIP** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 6:22 pm

Liking 'Fort Of The Month' idea. I wish I'd fort of it first. Ho ho. Actually, we did one on WRT2019 and I'm already well tucked into my castlepacking (*) project to be going on with.

(*) other fortifications are available.

pistonbroke · Post by **pistonbroke** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 6:25 pm

Re Holyland Challenge.
Steve Heading has done it, twice I think, but bailed once with illness. He said it was properly tough and riding along with shellfire rumbling in the hills was a bit disconcerting

Bearbonesnorm · Post by **Bearbonesnorm** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 6:58 pm

You might like this Reg - https://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk/

redefined_cycles · Post by **redefined_cycles** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 7:04 pm

Another fine thread (IMO) Stu...

1. The Solo300 - (only solo cos I have no friends that are slow enough and the ones that are probably dont have gloves to handle the weather) - which is actually another name (my name) for the Rapha500 which needs to be completed before midnight of this year. But still gonna class it as the first ride of the next year

2. Complete the BAM which I started in April or May of last year. Gonna use the badge to make my sexond BPing bag

3. The charity (or Charity as Karl calls it.. he thinks its a 'she' and is very well off

) ride that starts with the Solo300 - which is a circumnavigation around the Peaks in a round about way - and gets my donations going for 10 orphan children sponsorship, will get the addition of the Yorkshire500. You guessed it, a circumnavigation of the Great Ol Yorkshire boundary. Still don't know the route but plans have commenced in building it. Its gonna be vaguely exciting cos my buddy who I'm riding with doesn't take to bivy and camping quite so well. Means we won't have too much gear to lug about but will need to make cut off points at the various YHA and independent hostels so we can get a bed for the night. Still not sure how I'm gonna sleep in them beds as I don't like the thought of sharing bedBugs (millions in a standard mattress apparently according to a NewSceintist report of old). Seems as though things might be changing though cos last time we stayed at the YHAs with the kids the mattresses were of the wipeable variety ... Oh go on, lets have another

4. Bearbones200.. Obviously. If I get a place and as long as Stu isn't gonna make something that he needs to torture peiple with... With it being a milestone year

... Please don't be hard on us Stuart

5. Starting work at York soon. So every shift could potentially be a ride day

... Well am gonna try and not much choice when yer car registers 27mpg regularly on the motorways

6. Might as well state that am gonna attempt another 15 of the 200 Greatest (apparently) climbs as suggested by Simon Warrens book...

RIP · Post by **RIP** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 7:15 pm

Hey that forts website's good innit! Project for life there

.

Now that the cogs are turning, another thing on my list is the Rhondda and Abernant tunnels when they re-open, which'll be amazing. Must get round to joining the Society...

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