BB200 2024

[redefined_cycles]

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[Hyppy]

… and you all had to go all out Viet-Cong style.

I was telling someone about Strata Florida a little while back and they nonchalantly dismissed it and said they'd ridden it as part of the Blaenau 600. Fair play I thought, until I checked the details of that route against what we rode and … you weren't even there, man!

I recall seeing that parallel track (in green) as we started our straight-through-the-middle route.

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[Valerio]

… and you all had to go all out Viet-Cong style.

I was telling someone about Strata Florida a little while back and they nonchalantly dismissed it and said they'd ridden it as part of the Blaenau 600. Fair play I thought, until I checked the details of that route against what we rode and … you weren't even there, man!

I recall seeing that parallel track (in green) as we started our straight-through-the-middle route.

nam.jpg

I had the exact same conversation and they dismissed my PTSD as being too dramatic.
Now I get it!

[redefined_cycles]

When I tell people about the BB200 and the details etc. Including my fails and triumphs, I don't bother going into too much detail. It's too much for people to handle and you end up looking like one of those story teller types.

What happens on BB200 (and the rest) stays on Bearbones forum and the likes. There was once a chap from STW that joined here and his first post including 'alright beirdos' or something like that. It never worked for him/her. No one took the bait and minded their own business (no offence to any active STW users btw, just using it as a point).

Anyway, yeah. When you think about SF, it's best I suppose to just day-drwam about it to oneself. I haven't even been there but my rear hub (grind screech, etc etc) constantly reminds me of it.

[riderdown]

I'm surprised the swear filter doesn't kick in when the "other place" is mentioned

[fatbikephil]

I think the parallel track was part of the reason the 'Strata' was so horrible. If there was no other choice I would have just moaned and grumbled and got on with it. The fact you could see this super smooth fire road running alongside it made it seem 10 times worse. Kind of like we were doing one of those military assault courses - you don't have to use it to get anywhere, it's just a challenge....

Actually, we were doing one of those military assault courses.

*sigh* once again I have this image of Stu sat in the highest of BB towers laughing diabolically at our hapless endeavors.

[redefined_cycles]

I'm surprised the swear filter doesn't kick in when the "other place" is mentioned

Mutual forum respect maybe. Heehee. Sorry for mentioning it.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I'm surprised the swear filter doesn't kick in when the "other place" is mentioned

I'm really not sure where this idea came from? Personally, I've always got on with all at ST, in fact they used to sponsor the WRT back in the day and ran an article on the very first one - sepia pictures an' everything.

[Richard G]

Just to know in advance, at which point do I need to make the decision between the 300 and 200?

I've had a rough couple of weeks which have really knocked me down mentally and physically. Hoping to get back on it, but don't want to make things even worse for myself beating myself up about training / diet etc when I'm barely keeping my head together.

[PaulE]

I asked Stu the same question, and the answer was
"Evening Paul,

As long as I know prior to the routes going out, so roughly a week before."

[Leerowe76]

Also thinking of the 300 if the stars align, Question - If jumping onto the 200 from the 300 if things don't go to plan can you still aim for a badge doing the 200 ?

[Bearbonesnorm]

If jumping onto the 200 from the 300 if things don't go to plan can you still aim for a badge doing the 200 ?

One you've set sail then that's it. No badge is you change part way through.

[RIP]

If jumping onto the 200 from the 300 if things don't go to plan can you still aim for a badge doing the 200 ?

One you've set sail then that's it. No badge is you change part way through.

I like this. Far be it for me to comment as I've never made the commitment but surely the whole point of BB2/300 is total commitment and the will to achieve the aim come hell or high water (literally in the case of, what was it, 2018) with no exceptions or excuses. You make it or you don't. It's cruel.

[sean_iow]

If jumping onto the 200 from the 300 if things don't go to plan can you still aim for a badge doing the 200 ?

One you've set sail then that's it. No badge is you change part way through.

I like this. Far be it for me to comment as I've never made the commitment but surely the whole point of BB2/300 is total commitment and the will to achieve the aim come hell or high water (literally in the case of, what was it, 2018) with no exceptions or excuses. You make it or you don't. It's cruel.

Nail and head spring to mind Reg I'd say if you set out on the 300 with the thought you might bail to the 200 that you're already part way to failure. The key to success is not physical fitness but mental strength. Set off with the sole intention of finishing, no back-up plans for short-cuts, no planned bail spots and no plan B in case it's too tough. Start > follow line on gps until to are back at the start, easy as that

[Richard G]

I asked Stu the same question, and the answer was
"Evening Paul,

As long as I know prior to the routes going out, so roughly a week before."

Thanks.

[Bearlegged]

easy

Quoted for posterity.

[fatbikephil]

easy

Quoted for posterity.

For that word, Sean has to ride last years 300 before he can enter this years!

[sean_iow]

easy

Quoted for posterity.

For that word, Sean has to ride last years 300 before he can enter this years!

I've already got 2 orange badges... if I had 3 it would start to look a bit greedy so I'd better not ride any more BB300s

For clarification, the process is easy to understand... the execution requires a bit more effort.

As I think I said earlier on in the thread, the 2018 BB300 is the hardest ride I've ever done. The combination of the terrain (my garmin said 30,000 feet of climbing including the 2 mile ride to the start) the rain (storm Callum - soaked to the skin after about a half hour and never really dried out) and the temperatures (if I wasn't riding I was shivering uncontrollably) just completely drained me plus the temperature/effort to ride meant I felt nauseous as well so not eating nearly enough/at all for long stretches.

It took me at least 2 month before I felt recovered and back to normal energy levels - so like I said... easy

[whitestone]

Nail and head spring to mind Reg I'd say if you set out on the 300 with the thought you might bail to the 200 that you're already part way to failure. The key to success is not physical fitness but mental strength. Set off with the sole intention of finishing, no back-up plans for short-cuts, no planned bail spots and no plan B in case it's too tough. Start > follow line on gps until to are back at the start, easy as that

Pretty much this - Fitness, not faffing at any stops, looking after yourself and the bike, etc all help but unless there's a base of a general mindset of "just keep going/ finish this" then they are just castles built on sand. There's obviously some interaction between the physical and mental sides but a semi-fit rider with a strong mental attitude is more likely to succeed than a really fit one with a weak mental side.

Some of the early BB300 routes were essentially "stacked loops" with the extra 100km being tacked on to the BB200 route but the last couple have been pretty different, even if in the same general direction, so not simple to drop from one to the other.

[sean_iow]

Had to look back on my Strava for the elevation data for 2018 and just noticed it says this under the stats,


Nice Work! Ride this route again to see how you're progressing.

err.. no thanks

[RIP]

2018 BB300 is the hardest ride I've ever done. The combination of the terrain (my garmin said 30,000 feet of climbing including the 2 mile ride to the start) the rain (storm Callum - soaked to the skin after about a half hour and never really dried out) and the temperatures (if I wasn't riding I was shivering uncontrollably)

Ah so I was correct remembering it as 2018.

Two of my favourite photos from this place are Jack's one of a Winter Event with a group suffering at a stream crossing with spray flying all over the place trying to help each other cross, and the other is the 2018 BB200 one of Javi's Bridge. The latter will never be seen again by mortal man as it has been locked away in a dark cellar under BB Towers, the key has been sealed in a block of concrete and thrown into Cardigan Bay, and the stout oak door is permanently guarded by a tiger that hasn't been fed for a month.

[whitestone]

2018 were wet. REALLY wet. There was no way you were getting round that one with any part of your clothing not being soaked. Surprisingly about 12hrs in, the weather cleared out. Of course by then it was dark so you needed to keep moving just to stay warm. That was the year of Mr Barter nearly departing this mortal coil when crossing a beck in Hyddgen

[redefined_cycles]

2018 BB300 is the hardest ride I've ever done. The combination of the terrain (my garmin said 30,000 feet of climbing including the 2 mile ride to the start) the rain (storm Callum - soaked to the skin after about a half hour and never really dried out) and the temperatures (if I wasn't riding I was shivering uncontrollably)

Ah so I was correct remembering it as 2018.

Two of my favourite photos from this place are Jack's one of a Winter Event with a group suffering at a stream crossing with spray flying all over the place trying to help each other cross, and the other is the 2018 BB200 one of Javi's Bridge. The latter will never be seen again by mortal man as it has been locked away in a dark cellar under BB Towers, the key has been sealed in a block of concrete and thrown into Cardigan Bay, and the stout oak door is permanently guarded by a tiger that hasn't been fed for a month.

Hold on. So, javis pic of him crossing a river using a felled tree and balancing his bike. That was the BB200/300 and not the HT550. Scary. Always looked at that pic and it gives me the jitters and jolts!

[RIP]

Shhhhh!! We're not allowed to even speak of it never mind look at it.

2018 were wet. REALLY wet. There was no way you were getting round that one with any part of your clothing not being soaked. Surprisingly about 12hrs in, the weather cleared out. Of course by then it was dark so you needed to keep moving just to stay warm. That was the year of Mr Barter nearly departing this mortal coil when crossing a beck in Hyddgen

"a beck" - makes it sound almost bucolic Bob. The reality.....

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8MRwK ... 2Q%3D

[Dave Barter]

2018 were wet. REALLY wet. There was no way you were getting round that one with any part of your clothing not being soaked. Surprisingly about 12hrs in, the weather cleared out. Of course by then it was dark so you needed to keep moving just to stay warm. That was the year of Mr Barter nearly departing this mortal coil when crossing a beck in Hyddgen

Not been back since, too scared