BB200 2024

[Bearbonesnorm]

Is there a 300 this year?

Yes Phil.

[Richard G]

I definitely have some work to do before I'm 300 ready... if such a thing is ever possible.

[Hyppy]

I'm in. But I signed up while still in hospital, staring at the ceiling, and ripped to the tits on codeine. It remains to be seen how race ready I'm gonna be although ~7 weeks on I'm tentatively back on the bike at least. We'll see … 

[Richard G]

I'm in. But I signed up while still in hospital, staring at the ceiling, and ripped to the tits on codeine. It remains to be seen how race ready I'm gonna be although ~7 weeks on I'm tentatively back on the bike at least. We'll see … 

Definitely not ideal prep!

[Hyppy]

Definitely not ideal prep!

I'll concede to it not being part of any recommended training plan, but in my addled state it seemed good to have something to aim for.

[Boab]

I'm in and asked for the 300, but that was before my home life imploded. I'm not remotely 200 ready, let alone 300... But like Baldrick, I have a cunning plan.

[Richard G]

I'm in and asked for the 300, but that was before my home life imploded. I'm not remotely 200 ready, let alone 300... But like Baldrick, I have a cunning plan.

Bike doping?

[Mrs Polisherman]

Ill now spend the next 2months praying for a sensible route and good weather

No, no, no! You're missing the point - it's not about a sensible route and good weather - it's meant to be an adventure

Absolutely loved last year's route, I definitely want more of the same

[fatbikephil]

Absolutely loved last year's route, I definitely want more of the same

Nooooooooo.......

Right. I'm going to do the 300 again, after all, if I have to traipse all the way down there I need to get some VFM.

[Richard G]

Insanity.

[PaulE]

Aaagh - stuck in 200/300 indecision here! I'd wanted the 300, but am suffering with plantar fascitis at the moment so it all depends on the amount of hiking involved... But I've cried off doing a Bob Graham this summer and my place in the spine race for next January (because of the PF) so should probably just toughen up and get the 300 done... It can't be as hard as last year, right???

[Valerio]

Ill now spend the next 2months praying for a sensible route and good weather

No, no, no! You're missing the point - it's not about a sensible route and good weather - it's meant to be an adventure

Absolutely loved last year's route, I definitely want more of the same

I think you're missing some marbles (jk) last year's route was highly questionable (imho) in places.
I just came back from an event where someone slipped and felt on a short HAB section and had to be air-lifted to the nearest hospital. They were only able to call for help thanks to the mandatory GPS tracker provided by the event organiser.
If someone had broken an ankle or something in the tussocks last year it would have made for a long cold night and a search party on sunday night. I was glad i had my SPOT tracker with me and id recommend to anyone taking part to have one.

I'm not interested in "easy" and the challenging nature of the event is why i signed up again, but there's no need for riding along a river or endless hike a bike in sheep sub standard to make an event challenging.

Part of me is tempted by the 300 but thatd be really asking for troubles.

Hoping for good weather....well thats just me being naive

[riderdown]

If someone had broken an ankle or something in the tussocks last year it would have made for a long cold night and a search party on sunday night

Unfortunately instant rescue isn't a feature of wild places, on bb200 and 300 you should be carrying enough kit to comfortably bed down and avoid hypothermia, there is also the factor that someone is likely to be behind you and come across you. secondly I'd argue the biggest risk comes from drivers more people are KSI by them rather than hurt themselves falling off

It's also not about remoteness I was involved in a rescue at Dovestones, no mobile signal at the casualty he was saved because someone saw the incident, that's 10 or so miles from Manchester

I'm not interested in "easy" and the challenging nature of the event is why i signed up again, but there's no need for riding along a river or endless hike a bike in sheep sub standard to make an event challenging.

Personally I'm just going to go knowing it could be awful but likely to be more a curate's egg and if lucky amazing

[atk]

... there's no need for riding along a river or endless hike a bike in sheep sub standard to make an event challenging.

That's not to make it challenging, it's just what the riding in Wales is like

[Hyppy]

I'm not interested in "easy" and the challenging nature of the event is why i signed up again, but there's no need for riding along a river or endless hike a bike in sheep sub standard to make an event challenging.

There's "no need" for any of this but it what we do with or without Stu's encouragement! IMO, hike-a-bike has always been part of taking your bike off the beaten track and even as a kid in the 70s I recall dragging my bike over unridable terrain while seeking out anything resembling a trail to ride on. Good times!

If someone had broken an ankle or something in the tussocks last year it would have made for a long cold night and a search party on sunday night

Unfortunately instant rescue isn't a feature of wild places, on bb200 and 300 you should be carrying enough kit to comfortably bed down and avoid hypothermia, there is also the factor that someone is likely to be behind you and come across you. secondly I'd argue the biggest risk comes from drivers more people are KSI by them rather than hurt themselves falling off

It's also not about remoteness I was involved in a rescue at Dovestones, no mobile signal at the casualty he was saved because someone saw the incident, that's 10 or so miles from Manchester

All self-supported events are exactly that, self-supported. They need to be treated as solo endeavours with the same safety considerations. Even riding locally I'll carry a spot tracker if I'm going anywhere that's likely to leave me undiscovered should I have a fall, tell someone where I'm going, and when I ought to be back, etc.. While I'd hope an event organiser would notice I hadn't returned at some point, I'm not relying nor expecting them to look out for me. They've got far more important things do be doing: like preparing bacon butties and the like!

[Richard G]

I'm reminded of having to work my way across Croatia and Bosnia after injuring myself in the Trans Balkan Race.

God I could have done with a sag wagon!

[Valerio]

If someone had broken an ankle or something in the tussocks last year it would have made for a long cold night and a search party on sunday night

Unfortunately instant rescue isn't a feature of wild places, on bb200 and 300 you should be carrying enough kit to comfortably bed down and avoid hypothermia, there is also the factor that someone is likely to be behind you and come across you. secondly I'd argue the biggest risk comes from drivers more people are KSI by them rather than hurt themselves falling off

It's also not about remoteness I was involved in a rescue at Dovestones, no mobile signal at the casualty he was saved because someone saw the incident, that's 10 or so miles from Manchester

I'm not interested in "easy" and the challenging nature of the event is why i signed up again, but there's no need for riding along a river or endless hike a bike in sheep sub standard to make an event challenging.

Personally I'm just going to go knowing it could be awful but likely to be more a curate's egg and if lucky amazing

Tricky to rely on others to witness an incident/spot an injured rider when visiting the most remote lake in Wales, and riders being scattered around because none has a clue where the trail is (if there is one).

I'm all up for remoteness and wilderness and I'm not asking for sag wagons but hike a bike for the sake of it (i.e. when there are perfectly good alternatives) just isnt fun for me.
I guess that will be the main challenge for me....and not having done any decent riding in the last 30days

I'm sure the route recces wont be affected by my whining and i look forward to the ride!

[Richard G]

I'm sure the route recces wont be affected by my whining

I wouldn't bet on that... Stu's probably got some horrific hike-a-bike for the sake of hike-a-bike just for you!

[redefined_cycles]

I'm sure the route recces wont be affected by my whining

I wouldn't bet on that... Stu's probably got some horrific hike-a-bike for the sake of hike-a-bike just for you!

Yeah. After Mrs Polisherman and Valerios comments, I'm certain the social experiment might be slightly worse than previous now. Maybe soon, if we keep getting all these hormone filled hard men/women making comments of how easy it is, I'll just have to drop out. Maybe go back to my 30 miler Colne Valley Mountain Bike Challenge.

Just saying, heehee. It's a (unplanned) social experiment in my opinion and I'll try remain a part of it as long as possible. But a few more hard lot entering and I'll probably have to concede. Barely holding on with the grip of my teeth (pr whatever the saying goes).

[Boab]

I'm all up for remoteness and wilderness and I'm not asking for sag wagons but hike a bike for the sake of it (i.e. when there are perfectly good alternatives) just isnt fun for me.
I guess that will be the main challenge for me....and not having done any decent riding in the last 30days

There's always a perfectly good alternative to a public right of way, but that's sort of the point of the event. It's not just a challenge for your legs...

[Valerio]

I'm sure the route recces wont be affected by my whining

I wouldn't bet on that... Stu's probably got some horrific hike-a-bike for the sake of hike-a-bike just for you!

Hopefully I wont get injured before that (or maybe I will!)

Yeah. After Mrs Polisherman and Valerios comments, I'm certain the social experiment might be slightly worse than previous now. Maybe soon, if we keep getting all these hormone filled hard men/women making comments of how easy it is, I'll just have to drop out. Maybe go back to my 30 miler Colne Valley Mountain Bike Challenge.

Just saying, heehee. It's a (unplanned) social experiment in my opinion and I'll try remain a part of it as long as possible. But a few more hard lot entering and I'll probably have to concede. Barely holding on with the grip of my teeth (pr whatever the saying goes).

My english is not very good so just to clarify, I'm begging for taking it down a notch from last year, I NEVER said it was easy!!!

[redefined_cycles]

Lol. Sorry Valerio. I always interpreted it as you saying it was easy but the muddy sections could be removed to add more rideable/rocky gardens. The/my fear is always that the rider-maker will end up making more hike a bike sections and other flooded bits.

Yes, I see what you mean now about me reading it wrong. Hopefully see you there Valerio (pending my training being somewhat complete).

[Valerio]

Oh no, it was definitely hard and took a toll on body, mind and bike!

I'm just asking for the swimming and hiking sections to be avoided if possible, it'd be foolish to expect a mud-free ride in Wales in October.

I haven't trained in a month and will spend a couple of weeks on the beach so it'll definitely be a shock to my system hahahaha

[riderdown]

I'm all up for remoteness and wilderness and I'm not asking for sag wagons but hike a bike for the sake of it (i.e. when there are perfectly good alternatives) just isnt fun for me.

I did the winter event and having no friends and not knowing the area randomly plotted a route. On return I commented to Stu that I now understood why BB200 was the way it was as I had successfully found invisible bridleways. Locked or non existent gates, hike a bike, bogathons etc. it's just mid wales

Strata Florida however is next level

[redefined_cycles]

Valerio, AFAIR from my last 4 entries (2 completed, only one within time limits, another not started and the 3rd I clucked out after 30ish miles) there's always been se sort of swimming section. I'm guessing that SF was even worse because there was no way to avoid the waiste deep, and you all had to go all out Viet-Cong style.

Let's hope Stu goes out and combs the tussock this year and fills out any uneven terrain where water could sit. The fact that you stuck to the route and didn't use any alternate adjacent footpath route means you should pat yourself on the back. I always try to go back if I mistakenly enter the easier/illegal route. But it is madness whichever way we look at it