As the great Shaun Ryder said to us,
" Ain't got no skin tights in my wardrobe today "
Also one of my favourite sayings being,
" You've got to be out to be in!!!"

Suffice to say - Smellier in the second incarnation:

Then




Now

... and I bet you don't feel any different Niall, do you?

Twenty some years ago when I lived on the shadier side of the street as mentioned by Rob ... most of the hair's gone, the girl's long gone, yet no amount of long years or change can alter the fundamental fact, that I still am and always will be, a scruffy bloke lay in a field.

Is that a panda on your shirt?

Is that a panda on your shirt?

Don't think so Zip, I don't think I'd discovered to power of the panda back then ... chances are, whatever it was it was somethng offensive. Ooh, hang on it could have been a panda with an AK47

Nah patch club types are all ******s encountered enough to be happy with that generalisation. If we were proper bike packers we wouldn't have time to post on this forum

Ooo, nice mullet....

Ooo, nice mullet....

Gotta grow it where you can

Gotta grow it where you can

Touché my friend

Chin up...

Looking at that picture the main difference between Stuart's former and current associates might be the 'leave no trace' policy

When I wore my BB jersey at a charity ride earlier this year it resulted in getting my picture on the charity website, twice, once from the front and a close up of the 'Ride, Eat, Sleep, Repeat' which I didn't even realise had been taken. At the time when the nice young lady at the checkpoint asked if she could take my picture I assumed it was my charm and boyish good looks but looking back perhaps she liked the jersey The other thing which happened on the ride was that fellow riders who spotted it quizzed me about biving, tarps, stoves, bike luggage etc. They must of assumed that the jersey had to be earned and that wearing it was a sign of having passed a detailed bivi test whereas actually I just had to order the correct size. It did open my eyes to how many of them had heard of Bearbones.

Looking at that picture the main difference between Stuart's former and current associates might be the 'leave no trace' policy

Without doubt - sadly.

Actually, yesterday was the first time I'd seen that picture in years and the thing that really struck me is how few wrinkles I had then ... these days my forehead bears a strking resemblance to a shaved scrotum.

You're lucky Stu - I don't think colour film had been invented when I last had hair For those of a certain age, think Brian Connolley from Sweet as to the styling

Compared to a modern festival that field is pretty tidy. The office of the contractor I do consultancy work for is accessed by a road that cuts through the Isle of Wight Festival site. On the Monday after they seem to just up and leave and don't take anything with them. As you can buy a festival pack of tent, sleeping bag, mat, mess tins and hexi stove for about £40 to £50 why bother packing it up and taking it home for next year

RIP wrote: I think Stu needs to start coming up with some sort of elaborate handshake. We probably have the 'strange garb' well covered already.

ah the secret boner shake ......

Single Speed George wrote: ah the secret boner shake ......

That came out wrong didn't it

Yes indeed, gives "boneshaker" a whole new meaning

Quite fancy sporting a 'boner insignia somewhere about my person cos it would be a good conversation-starter as mentioned above (or stopper of course). "Don't Be Soft" sticker is a bit small to spot. But the various clothing options kindly cooked-up by Stu haven't appealed for various reasons - either they don't fit with my "materials" preferences (bamboo!) or kit "type" (not that keen on a "jersey", I layer bamboo/fleece/waterproof as and when) - so I'm not sure what to do. Tattoo my forehead? (shaved scrotum problem ;-)). Some sort of hyperlight breathable gilet thing? Bloomin' Nora I should probably just have gone with the gilet order after all, sigh .

Dave Barter wrote:I rode past a bikepacker on the Ridgeway today in my BB shirt and he called out "Excellent a Bareboner, respect!"

If it was you sorry I did not stop for a chat but was on a 5pm deadline to get home.

That was me! had your tarp packed, not that I needed it on such a lovely weekend!

Perhaps we should rename the website Bona Bikepacking in best Jules and Sandy fashion.
(That is one for google)

RIP wrote:Quite fancy sporting a 'boner' insignia somewhere about my person...

If you look really carefully Reg, you may find you are already suitably appointed.

Or perhaps your legions of 'special friends' would be willing to assist...

"There it is!"

They all look a bit like they're on tranquilisers.

What have you been doing to them Reg?

I was asleep under my tarp at the time and don't remember any of it, honestly Officer.

They're all pointing at different levels in the vertical plane so I'm trying to work out which bits they're each focussing on.

sean_iow wrote:Compared to a modern festival that field is pretty tidy. The office of the contractor I do consultancy work for is accessed by a road that cuts through the Isle of Wight Festival site. On the Monday after they seem to just up and leave and don't take anything with them. As you can buy a festival pack of tent, sleeping bag, mat, mess tins and hexi stove for about £40 to £50 why bother packing it up and taking it home for next year

This was the Y Not Festival site a week after the event was cancelled early on the Sunday. There was a gang of 20+ East European workers picking up trash when we past on the following Sunday