BB200 2023

[fatbikephil]

Three weeks on Saturday!
Cue idle route speculation - looks like it's been a while since it went north....

Stu wrote a blog post on how he chooses the route. Without reading it again I think he said it cycles through NW, NE, SE & SW general directions. Obviously the Covid version down south threw things out by one year.

Edit: here we go... https://www.bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/ ... f-a-bb200/

I've a mental image of dark clouds gathering around the gothic fortress that is Bearbones Towers, rain coming down in sheets and then a terrific crash of thunder. Out of a dimly illuminated window in the highest tower there is a peal of diabolical laughter "9000m of climbing mwa ha ha haaa!"

I heard this years was all rideable and all downhill

Actually, last year was the first time it occurred to me to focus on the downhill rather than the up - 7500m of descent sounds much better than 7500 of climb....

[RIP]

I've a mental image of dark clouds gathering around the gothic fortress that is Bearbones Towers, rain coming down in sheets and then a terrific crash of thunder. Out of a dimly illuminated window in the highest tower there is a peal of diabolical laughter "9000m of climbing mwa ha ha haaa!"

That was an impressive bit of image painting there Phil!

[Lazarus]

7500m of descent sounds much better than 7500 of climb....

200 sounds better than 300

[redefined_cycles]

Threebearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/how-a-route-is-born-the-birth-of-a-bb200/[/url]

Thanks so much for this Bob (and Stu for writing it). Hopefully people (including me) will stop being [I don't know which word goes here, but it's a positive word that evokes emotions of happiness and a bit of dread] of Stus route building methodology.

[fatbikephil]

7500m of descent sounds much better than 7500 of climb....

200 sounds better than 300

Nah, if I'm going to trek all the way down there I want VFM

[Richard G]

Related to the topic, I was amused that Bikepacking.com have put together "fun" routes based on two of the BB200 rides.

Batshit.

https://bikepacking.com/routes/bear-bones-border-bash/
https://bikepacking.com/routes/bear-bon ... mid-wales/

[TeaFuelledMutantGingerBike]

I'm in for the second weekend, along with a friend who's not on here. Hadn't thought about the night before yet - probably end up being a stupidly early start from Sheffield (anyone want a lift?) but who knows...

Me please!

[PaulE]

I'm in for the second weekend, along with a friend who's not on here. Hadn't thought about the night before yet - probably end up being a stupidly early start from Sheffield (anyone want a lift?) but who knows...

Me please!

Given the username, you may well already be in the car... and if not then you may have a lot in common with someone who will be!

[TeaFuelledMutantGingerBike]

I'm in for the second weekend, along with a friend who's not on here. Hadn't thought about the night before yet - probably end up being a stupidly early start from Sheffield (anyone want a lift?) but who knows...

Me please!

Given the username, you may well already be in the car... and if not then you may have a lot in common with someone who will be!

[dlovett]

Route speculation time, given that:

2019 was mainly NW.
2020 was mainly S
2021 was mainly E
2022 was mainly S/SW

2023 mainly N/NE towards The Brogan and Dyfnant Forest AKA 2015 area??

I hope so as I've never been that way before.

[Escape Goat]

Is anyone feeling ready?

[dlovett]

Is anyone feeling ready?

Yep, actually looking forward to it this year.

[Escape Goat]

Good place to be.

[riderdown]

Yep

I thought being completely unprepared was what it was all about.......?

[Richard G]

Is anyone feeling ready?

lol no.

I might be ready 10-15 minutes or so after the start. Probably more like half an hour after though.

[fatbikephil]

Likewise properly looking forward to it. Less so the run down there but once I get going.....

Related to the topic, I was amused that Bikepacking.com have put together "fun" routes based on two of the BB200 rides.

Batshit.

https://bikepacking.com/routes/bear-bones-border-bash/
https://bikepacking.com/routes/bear-bon ... mid-wales/

Both look pretty damn fun to me!

[Escape Goat]

I expected you not to be ready Rich! You’ll still ride well.

[Richard G]

I expected you not to be ready Rich! You’ll still ride well.

Time will tell. I do at least try to put in the effort for the Bearbones route, even though since my injury I've been too much of a coward to do the 300 again.

[RIP]

Is anyone feeling ready?

lol no.

I might be ready 10-15 minutes or so after the start. Probably more like half an hour after though.

I thought you 'd say you'd finally be ready 10-15 minutes after you got back . Good luck Rich anyway.

[TeaFuelledMutantGingerBike]

Is anyone feeling ready?

absolutely not!

[Lazarus]

Is anyone feeling ready?

Well i bought a ticket so I will go with yes I feel ready [ Never done one, what is the worst that can happen?]

[Bearbonesnorm]

A couple of places for the second weekend have become available if anyone's BB200 curious. Email me.

[Richard G]

I thought you 'd say you'd finally be ready 10-15 minutes after you got back . Good luck Rich anyway.

Lets be honest... that does sort of fit.

[sean_iow]

I thought you 'd say you'd finally be ready 10-15 minutes after you got back . Good luck Rich anyway.

Lets be honest... that does sort of fit.

The question on everyone's lips is.... do you have a fully assembled and functioning bike?

[PaulB2]

I just assumed that's why he wouldn't be ready until 30 minutes after the start time - he'd still be assembling his bike.