Mid Week overnight in Mid Wales in Mid November

[Richard G]

Yeah, I'll probably give mine a quick go on the canal tomorrow to make sure it's not completely fubared.

[Blackhound]

Looks like Ben has done a rubbish job organising the weather! He had one job seeing as he left the route to Stuart.

I suppose I will find out if my waterproofs are waterproof ;-0

[Scattamah]

If the weather was anything like this weekend just gone, it will be wet, wet and a little more wet with a slice of wet on the side. That slatey descent to the bothy will be mighty interesting in the dark if it's as wet as it's been. Bring your best lights!

In other news, my making it to the start is now 50/50 after blowing out yet another BB91 press fit this weekend. If I can get it into the shop and out in time, I'll be there.

Greetz

S.

[benp1]

Looks like Ben has done a rubbish job organising the weather! He had one job seeing as he left the route to Stuart.

I suppose I will find out if my waterproofs are waterproof ;-0

I know, sorry about that, I tried my best but looks like it'll be broadly fine where I live, and very wet in Wales! I guess I messed up the rain dance!

[Richard G]

Good news, wheel held up ok mostly, and as it was pissing down here I even managed to get a bit of practice in for the sub standard weather that ben has unleashed on us.

...I think I'll be bringing my full on waterproof jacket rather than the lightweight one.

[Scattamah]

Looks like I'm out, gents. Please give my regards to Nant Syddion.

Greetz

S.

[Richard G]

Bah. :(

[benp1]

Bummer, that's a shame, sorry Scott. No chance of sorting your BB before you leave then?

[Scattamah]

It seems not. A touch more lead time required to get to the shop. The way things are going around here, I'll be lucky to get it done for Saturday. I have a feeling I need to invest in the tools required to do the job - this will be the third BB91 this year for me.

Greetz

S.

[Blackhound]

Bad luck, Scott.

Bike is virtually packed just a couple of items to stuff in tomorrow and good to go.

[benp1]

I'll be packing up tonight. Might have to dry bag stuff in my seat pack!

[Scattamah]

If it's anything like the weekend just gone, double dry bag will be a good move.

Greetz

S.

[Richard G]

Ha, I'll be packing two minutes before I run out of the door as always. I'll be lucky to remember my bike.

[benp1]

A short after fixing my front wheel it's flat, despite riding it fine for 2 nights

Tried to fix it tonight, hopefully it's ok tomorrow. Otherwise will need to stick a tube in at the car park

[Zippy]

this will be the third BB91 this year for me.

I've changed a few, the amount of hammering required does still concern me. I have a set of race face ones in one of them now, apparently I can just change the bearings and not the whole cup on those - not yet tested that theory.
I like screw on hollowtech BB's!

[Richard G]

Yay... in the middle of preparing to move house and I can't find anything.

STRESS.

[Richard G]

Well... that was some horrific weather, and on the first day some REALLY HORRIFIC weather, and a rather scary river crossing followed by a bunch of bog and ruts we could only scoot along in / on (we couldn't find the better route, with the bridge, in the fog).

However, day two (despite some moderately horrific weather) was a good ride on the whole and I got to do a quick loop of High as a Kite at Nant yr Arian whilst the lightweights had another coffee in the cafe.

Great to meet you guys, and will see you again at "back to back".

[Bearbonesnorm]

Well... that was some horrific weather, and on the first day some REALLY HORRIFIC weather, and a rather scary river crossing followed by a bunch of bog and ruts we could only scoot along in / on (we couldn't find the better route, with the bridge, in the fog).

Oh, you missed the little wooden bridge after the rocky descent then?

[Scattamah]

Looking forward to a write up on this one. A bit miffed I missed this.

Greetz

S.

[Richard G]

Well... that was some horrific weather, and on the first day some REALLY HORRIFIC weather, and a rather scary river crossing followed by a bunch of bog and ruts we could only scoot along in / on (we couldn't find the better route, with the bridge, in the fog).

Oh, you missed the little wooden bridge after the rocky descent then?

Yeah, I knew it was there from when we went out, but I couldn't see for sh*t. The fog had left us with about a bike length of visibility.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Yeah, I knew it was there from when we went out, but I couldn't see for sh*t. The fog had left us with about a bike length of visibility.

Yes, not easy to find even in the daylight and you'd have been approaching it from the other direction too.

[benp1]

I’ll try and do a better post later. But for now, just wanted to thank Stuart

Stuart, thanks for pulling it together. Really enjoyed it, the Friday was a bit sketchier than might have normally been ideal, but the weather really didn't help. Saturday was a cracking route, just the sort of lanes and tracks I like to bikepack on. Good distance too, in total we did pretty much bang on 50 miles – left the car about 6pm and got back just before 5pm the next day

Richard, Kevin - thanks for the company. I was nice having other people to share the horrendous weather with (plus the eerie sound of the wind turbines going crazy in the wind farm in the rain, wind and fog)

[Blackhound]

Agree with above, a nice trip despite the weather. Came off and banged my knee on the descent to the bridge we could not find so a bit of vitamin I at Nant y Arian sorted me out. Another knee deep crossing on day 2 but the water was quite warm. At Bugeliyn the water was really rushing out and we used the bridge rather then riding through as usual. Thanks to Ben and Richard.

I used an Ortleib dry bag on my Wildcat lioness that kept everything dry and also my Wildcat framebag also kept the water out far better than I expected. My Montane Batpack was another story and everything in there was quite damp. The important stuff was in plastic bags.

[Scattamah]

My Montane Batpack was another story and everything in there was quite damp. The important stuff was in plastic bags.

Yup...that sounds about right. Everything I carry in mine is in ziplocks or S2S sil bags.

Greetz

S.