Thanks Stu & Dee and all involved in orgainising this event.

For me, this years pace was definitely more gentle with late starts, long lunches and early finishes the order of the day.

No pics from the start due to the horrid weather but the sun eventually came out.


The last nights bivi followed by a lovely sunny morning, followed by a short ride, followed a huge amount of tea & cake.

s8tannorm wrote:

I don't think I'm built for sleeping in the outside world

You seemed to cope reasonably well when you were out with me ... although you did look a little groggy first thing

Oi, that's my sexy morning face!

A 2 minute photo video of my solo token and ice cream hunting WRT

http://youtu.be/yjiRKW8xCtc

Yep, thanks from the sussex contingent.

First time on a multi day trip, first time using bothies, took too much gear, but had a blast!

Found great accomodation


Fantastic views by South Downs MTB Skills, on Flickr

Shared it with others!


Our other bothy guests by South Downs MTB Skills, on Flickr

Who very graciously let us join their party and eat their food!


There may have been beverages.... by South Downs MTB Skills, on Flickr

But had a great time out riding


On the final push by South Downs MTB Skills, on Flickr

And lived to tell the tale...


Hurrah, we made it to the end! by South Downs MTB Skills, on Flickr

Look at all that alcohol.

Richard G wrote:Look at all that alcohol.

You should have been at Nant Syddion

Watching Wenchie pour an entire bottle of red wine into one of her bike bottles the following morning was amusing. I never knew bike bottles were that size for a reason - must have been a french invention

Were those women flown in for the occasion? ... that's not the easiest bothy to reach while wearing a full face of slap and they really don't look like your 'normal' bothy dweller.

There were quite a few cans of strongbow left behind too when I had that Bothy to myself the following night!

Ian wrote:

Richard G wrote:Look at all that alcohol.

You should have been at Nant Syddion

Watching Wenchie pour an entire bottle of red wine into one of her bike bottles the following morning was amusing. I never knew bike bottles were that size for a reason - must have been a french invention

Now we're talking. Though probably best to stay away from the bubbly!

s8tannorm wrote:Were those women flown in for the occasion? ... that's not the easiest bothy to reach while wearing a full face of slap and they really don't look like your 'normal' bothy dweller.

What could you possibly be suggesting?!?

I think there may have been a comment in 2012 about me decanting bottles of wine into water bottles - that was on a very soggy welsh ride thing too . . . I can see a pattern developing. In my defense it makes you feel young . . . . Well sitting on a bench in the rain and cold sharing a bottle between a group of us definitely made me feel 15 again!

I think it might have been Special Brew back when I was 15.

They were from a "south wales fat club" to use their words, there was a lot of booze and food, very hospitable. They even had cake and chocolate...

And they are far to generous with their Gin as my head discovered the next morning. Still 106 miles and 10,200 off feet of climbing, so the hangover wasn't too bad!

Thanks to Stu and Dee for another great weekend. Cheers also to Darbeeze for another great route around Wales.
Highlights included the bivvy in the old woods, Strata Florida and just getting into the trail cafe before the rain lashed down.
Stu making us a cuppa at the end was most welcome too.
See you all next year, Rob

Even though i didn't ride this year it was great to come along & see the usual suspects, plus some new faces
Was worth the trip alone to see Ians new Shand!

Big thanks as always to Stu & Dee