Dartmoor 200. September 18th

[Asposium]

I should be free that weekend (pending house move logistics), and would be keen to join please (although with a little trepidation)

I’m planning on riding over two days.
With a camp out on the Saturday night.
So, if you can ride 100km in a day then you’ll be fine.
I’m intending a fairly leisurely/ social ride.

[lune ranger]

Nice one. I’m glad to see there’s still some interest in this.
I should have been riding the route as an overnighter this weekend but I’ve been pretty sick so haven’t managed to get out.
That means I’ll probably up for stopping and sleeping rather than pushing through. This will primarily be a BB200 shakedown so I’ll be looking to push pretty long into the night and do a good chunk of the 200km prior to sleeping.

Methers - It’ll be good to see you there. To put things in context - I’m pretty slow and ride a selection of overly heavy bikes. My method for covering distance is to reduce stoppages and faffing to the minimum possible and just keep going and going.
My intention for this weekend is to plod along and enjoy the company of those who ride when and where it’s available. I imagine many people will be faster than me, and a few may even be slower. I’m good with that.

Asposium- It’s hard to describe 100km on Dartmoor as a relaxing ride You must be made of iron
It’ll be great to see you too.

I’ll polish the route up and get it out soon.

Who’s in?

luneranger- Luke
methers27 -
Asposium

[Asposium]

This will primarily be a BB200 shakedown so I’ll be looking to push pretty long into the night and do a good chunk of the 200km prior to sleeping.

surely "a bb200 shakedown" leaves the camping gear in the car?

[Asposium]

depending on the sat start time i would likely drive over Friday after work.
if anyone wanted to camp friday night let me know.

[lune ranger]

This will primarily be a BB200 shakedown so I’ll be looking to push pretty long into the night and do a good chunk of the 200km prior to sleeping.

surely "a bb200 shakedown" leaves the camping gear in the car?

Tut, tut. You’re supposed to carry shelter and a sleeping bag on the 200 regardless of your intent to use it.

My original intention was to ride through that weekend and I may still do that but am aware that my longest ride for quite some time has only been 12 hours.

[Asposium]

This will primarily be a BB200 shakedown so I’ll be looking to push pretty long into the night and do a good chunk of the 200km prior to sleeping.

surely "a bb200 shakedown" leaves the camping gear in the car?

Tut, tut. You’re supposed to carry shelter and a sleeping bag on the 200 regardless of your intent to use it.

My original intention was to ride through that weekend and I may still do that but am aware that my longest ride for quite some time has only been 12 hours.

i will carry that which is necessary to comply with the rules.

[lune ranger]

Here is a link to the route on RidewithGPS:

NEW LINK FURTHER UP THREAD. This version of the route superseded.

Hope that works. Feel free to PM me an email address to send the GPX if you want the route that way.
RidewithGPS looks to have downgraded the elevation to only 4300m ish. When I worked up the route with Garmin the climbing hit 5000m. The only way to find out for sure is to ride the route.

Some route notes:

Start is Steps Bridge Carpark, Dunsford : SX803883. Free parking. Should be OK to leave cars overnight but I can't guarantee that.

The small loop is ridden clockwise, the large loop anti-clockwise.

The route enters the Merrivale Range Danger Area at approx 85km. Please check Dartmoor Ranges firing times online and obey restrictions. The section through the range comprises the majority of "pushing on invisible trails" style type 2 fun.

There are multiple river crossings. You will get wet to the knees at minimum. All rivers should be crossable except in the highest flow states. You decide to cross or not. In particular, there is a crossing of the Meldon Reservoir outlet stream at approx 64km. Locate the dangerous, closed foot bridge. Push/ride upstream a few tens of meters over a small tributary. Cross where you can see the remains of a railway bridge, there is an unlocked gate on the opposite bank.

I relented and only included one set of stepping stones.

Most resupply opportunities are in the first 100km. There are no 24hr facilities on route.

[TheBrownDog]

Wow Luke what a great route. For me, that'd be a "very hard" three days, or more likely a "quite challenging" four days. A man's gotta know his limitations. Sending good weather vibes.

[lune ranger]

Thanks Tim. It’ll be around a year since you were down. I enjoyed that ride.

[darbeze]

Would you be open to slow riders who are not in a particularly fit condition at the moment?

I like the look of your route and very much appreciate you putting it together.

I live around these parts and have been thinking about getting off my backside and riding on the moor again.

I envisage that I would soon fall behind the "group", which I don't mind at all, and certainly don't expect any support. I will be "happy" to fend for myself and make my own way.

Does that sound OK to you?

Si

[lune ranger]

Absolutely.
Everyone welcome.
I too am slow and will be using this ride to find a bit of form. I fully expect to be left behind sooner rather than later.
It’ll be good to have a bit of a chat early on if nothing else.

[lune ranger]

Went out on parts of the route yesterday to check the last bits I haven’t previously ridden.
I rode the the first and last 27km. Overall average for the first 27km was 9kmh but had risen to nearer 11kmh by the time I finished.
From where you reach Fernworthy woods with about 25km to go the route runs fast. The final run down past Castle Drogo and along the Teign is very enjoyable and makes a great end to a long ride.
I will update a couple of details on the route and release a new version soon.

Anyone decided if they are riding on the 18th yet?

Here’s my ride from yesterday:
https://strava.app.link/bT2Cdjsxdjb

[Asposium]

I’m still planning on riding.
Only have the weekend.
So would cut sections if time limited.
Be nice to explore a new area.
Drive over Friday night and camp somewhere local

[Meg Pugh]

Hi
I'm fairly new to this forum and have been lurking on this thread.
Now I know I can make the the weekend, I'd love to join you from the 18th - and meet some of you too.
Similar to Asposium, likely drive Friday night, and have to in London for Monday afternoon...
Cheers

Meg

[lune ranger]

Great news.
Let’s see who else is in and think about a start time later on.

[pete68]

Still hope to be there. Have just finished the gbduro, and my hands and feet need a bit of recovery time. Is it possible to send the gpx as I can't get ride with GPS to work for me

[lune ranger]

No problem Pete.
I’m working nights this weekend. I will tweak the route using the knowledge gained on my scouting mission early next week.
When you see the new route on this thread pm me an email or phone number and I’ll Bob over the gpx.

[Robster]

Lune Ranger, so you were one of the three I saw going from Babeny to Bellever in the dark while I was bivvy nr there on Thursday night.

[lune ranger]

Lune Ranger, so you were one of the three I saw going from Babeny to Bellever in the dark while I was bivvy nr there on Thursday night.

Negative. I was in my pit at home. I don’t have that many buddies anyway
You local? Are you joining us on the 18th?

[jam bo]

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ugust-2021

Range firing times, looks clear. Firing in merrivale on the Tuesday.

Stepping stones at dartmeet are impassable if the river is up. I know this the hard way…

[lune ranger]

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ugust-2021

Range firing times, looks clear. Firing in merrivale on the Tuesday.

Stepping stones at dartmeet are impassable if the river is up. I know this the hard way…

Me too, I’ve only encountered that in winter though.
You can always retreat back uphill and follow the tarmac round to Hexeorthy and cross the river using the road bridge.

[jam bo]

20-30mm of rain at dartcom (https://www.dartcom.co.uk/weather) will bring the dart up even in summer.

[lune ranger]

20-30mm of rain at dartcom (https://www.dartcom.co.uk/weather) will bring the dart up even in summer.

For sure. It never rains in Devon in the summer though…

[Robster]

[quote=Robster post_id=271897 time=<a href="tel:1630789114">1630789114</a> user_id=3633]
Lune Ranger, so you were one of the three I saw going from Babeny to Bellever in the dark while I was bivvy nr there on Thursday night.

Negative. I was in my pit at home. I don’t have that many buddies anyway
You local? Are you joining us on the 18th?
[/quote]

Paignton. Might have a look at the route and maybe tour it with Darbeeze sometime. Despite having done a few WRTs I’ve never done the 200 and doubt I ever will. Too many other activities to be able to train etc.

Good luck, cheers Rob

[lune ranger]

Link to final route here:

NEW LINK FURTHER UP THREAD. This version of the route superseded.

Two very small changes: One early on using a permissive track avoiding a farm yard and one to straighten the route through the woods at Fernworthy.
This version also includes a slightly cheeky use of footpaths near the end. It goes off road just after Chagford pool and follows a beautiful footpath along the Teign to join the Hunters Path at Castle Drogo. It's really nice, avoids some hilly back lanes and is a good surface. Use the old ending if you have objections.

Really looking forward to this now.