BB200/300 2022 edition (no spoilers)

[TPTurner]

Long shot, I know, but if anyone found a black camel back podium bottle on route (before mach) please let me know. Thanks!

[Richard G]

That explains where the rain came from!

Have you really had rain? Lovely all day here.

Yeah, started on that abandoned road around 110km in.

Wasn't terrible, but did see me putting my jacket on.

[In Reverse]

Hopefully they are "best before dates"

Gels are only 5 years gone tbf. Still taste as fresh as if they were cooked this morning

[rufus748]

Similar to my protein bars

[fatbikephil]

Done 26 hrs 15 mins. That was quite hard..... weather perfect but trails somewhat soggy. Multiple tyre perforations added to the drama....

You and cath ok Bob?

Cheers stu and Dee for making such ardour such fun

[Richard G]

By the way, thanks again to Dee and Stu for putting on a great event as always. :)

...even if Stu has gone soft with all the road he's putting in these days!

[Bearbonesnorm]

Thank you and well done to everyone who came to ride the first edition. It was something of a weekend of firsts:

1/ Dry and warmish (at times) for the entire weekend.

2/ First sub-24 BB300.

3/ Us making it home before dark (just).

Now, let's see what November brings.

[flyingpig]

Thank you Stu and Dee for all your hard work and actually putting something as outrageous as this event in this sanitised world

Here's to another go next year

Thank you, Paul

[flyingpig]

Done 26 hrs 15 mins. That was quite hard..... weather perfect but trails somewhat soggy. Multiple tyre perforations added to the drama....

You and cath ok Bob?

Cheers stu and Dee for making such ardour such fun

Impressive time, good to meet you at the Aleppo!

[Bearbonesnorm]

...even if Stu has gone soft with all the road he's putting in these days!

Careful

[Rob S]

2/ First sub-24 BB300.

That is impressive. Looking forward to reading a report or two.

[redefined_cycles]

2/ First sub-24 BB300.

That is impressive. Looking forward to reading a report or two.

Me too. Thats what I keep logging in for. Much easier reading about it than actually doing it (talking anout myself here). I suppose everyone might be too knackered for today so will check back for tomorrow...

Thanks again Stu/Dee.

[fatbikephil]

Done 26 hrs 15 mins. That was quite hard..... weather perfect but trails somewhat soggy. Multiple tyre perforations added to the drama....

You and cath ok Bob?

Cheers stu and Dee for making such ardour such fun

Impressive time, good to meet you at the Aleppo!

Likewise Paul good to meet you. Did you get round?

[thenorthwind]

Well done you lot!

Cheers stu and Dee for making such ardour such fun

Ardour eh? Must have been quite some ride Phil!

[riderdown]

I was amazed by how many hub deep puddles Stu managed to incorporate into the route

Feel for the guy just outside the 24 hours

Felt the route had a good balance, tried to test you for the first two thirds and then brought you home in the dark safely. Glad nice to ride those roads when nothing was out, Imagine they are wacky races during the day on the average weekend.

Lots of lessons learnt, met a few nice people, bacon butty was needed

[Mbnut]

Well done all... just turning up to an undertaking that is guaranteed to challenge is quite something.

I spent all weekend banging on about the weather to anyone that would listen... it's the November one for me, got the sun screen packed already!

[whitestone]

You and cath ok Bob?

Both OK - I was next to last back! I wasn't really rushing, as a result I think that's the first event I've ever done where I didn't get cramp Got back at ten to five so 34 1/2 hrs.

After I saw you I didn't see anyone until Peter, the guy who really was last back, passed me as I was setting up my bivy. I caught him up again in Llanidloes and again in Hafren. Probably as close to a true ITT as you could have on a group start.

I ended up bivvying at about the 205km mark in a barn/equipment shed just off route. It was getting pretty cold when you dropped into the valleys - that long road descent before the climb to the route's highest point was particularly bad. One of my lights packed up at about that time as well so made descents a little tricky, that was just one of a few kit malfunctions

Just about a perfect weather window - heavy rain from Chester all the way home.

Cheers as ever to Dee and Stu.

[Johnallan]

Thanks Stu/Dee.

Mostly very enjoyable and the not-so-enjoyable bits were my own fault. Coming out of a very warm and dry summer I'd almost forgotten what it's like to be that cold during the night.

Great route and a warm welcome back

I'd dropped a couple of quid in the honesty box at the Glyndŵr’s Way cafe for the coffee, then on reflection thought that the space and use of facilities at 3am was worth much more than that, so made an additional donation via the PayPal address used for last year's donations. Just a thought if anyone else feels particularly thankful, I'm sure they'd appreciate it

[Richard G]

I was amazed by how many hub deep puddles Stu managed to incorporate into the route

Yeah, that got tedious. After the river crossing I felt like I should just cycle them, but I've had some nasty crashes due to hidden obstructions.

[flyingpig]

Done 26 hrs 15 mins. That was quite hard..... weather perfect but trails somewhat soggy. Multiple tyre perforations added to the drama....

You and cath ok Bob?

Cheers stu and Dee for making such ardour such fun

Impressive time, good to meet you at the Aleppo!

Likewise Paul good to meet you. Did you get round?

I did, thank you, got back 5.45am for 21.5hr

[riderdown]

Yeah, that got tedious.

It was more psychological warfare as each subsequent large muddy puddle got viewed with extreme suspicion, often completely justified

[whitestone]

Yeah, that got tedious.

It was more psychological warfare as each subsequent large muddy puddle got viewed with extreme suspicion, often completely justified

My drivetrain is going to need a lot of love I think the deepest one was the one just after the fast flowing ford.

[whitestone]

...even if Stu has gone soft with all the road he's putting in these days!

I think (from one of Stu's "History of Bearbones" articles) that the first BB200 had just two sub24hr finishes, maybe people didn't know what to expect so played it safe. Not sure what the scores on the doors were for this weekend but it's likely more a general perception that "it can be done" (possibly with a "If he can do it then so can I" attitude) plus I suspect that now people are expecting to ride through without a bivy so rather than take comfy bivy kit they take a much lighter "emergency only" setup.

With fast times done on the Cairngorm Loop and YD300 it was only a matter of time before there was a sub24hr BB300. Again just progression, people knocking on the door then it happens.

Oh, yeah Richard "I'm not going very well, I'll just see how I get on" my arse! 15hrs

[riderdown]

I suspect that now people are expecting to ride through without a bivy so rather than take comfy bivy kit they take a much lighter "emergency only" setup.

I think a lot went for this strategy, as I hadn't a clue I went for the "comfortable night" strategy. the noise from the wind turbines and the cold in the valleys reduced the places you'd want to stop so kept going

[rollindoughnut]

Was with you guys in spirit. Rode Thursday to Sunday on a 200mile tour of Snowdonia.
The big storm on Friday found us above Bleanau Ffestiniog, making the descent down through the old slate mines very atmospheric.
What a stunning part of the world. Epic riding and amazing scenery. A little mild peril thrown in too with howling winds and shaking tents overnight.
Don't think I've got anything left to give for the BB in November. Used up all my fortitude and then some over the four days. Socks never did dry out, even when the weather improved. We'll see though, memory is a funny thing. Am already forgetting the difficulties.