Bearbonesnorm wrote: Edit: I've just been thinking and I'm wondering what the 'issue' is with this. As far as I know, no one enters the Highland Trail, Braunton, YD300, etc, etc thinking 'be alright, I'll just take my time, have a bimble and see the sights'. Really can't see why the BB200 should be any different? Do folk entering the HT plan to finish in 7 days, 23 hours and 59 minutes knowing there's an 8 day cut-off? Do they bollox.

Sorry to further hijack this thread Stu but......

As I already wrote on the deleted thread, that was exactly my strategy on last years BB200. I had no intention of driving a round trip of almost 1,000 miles to cycle through half of Wales in the dark. A ride of the HT550 route in 8 days is in my plans for a similar reason. I know that makes me a bad person and I now feel guilty about depriving someone else more worthy of a place at last years BB200. I'm sure my name will forever be mud (probably the brown Welsh kind full of cowshit ).

I know I've mentioned this previously but there does seem to be a disconnect between me (and maybe a few others) and the impression given on this forum that everything is some sort of race, that every ride has to be done in the shortest time possible and that simply experiencing the world around you as you ride isn't a goal in its own right. I "get" that some folk think like that but it's interesting that some of those folk can't see the other viewpoint.

ScotRoutes wrote:I know I've mentioned this previously but there does seem to be a disconnect between me (and maybe a few others) and the impression given on this forum that everything is some sort of race, that every ride has to be done in the shortest time possible and that simply experiencing the world around you as you ride isn't a goal in its own right. I "get" that some folk think like that but it's interesting that some of those folk can't see the other viewpoint.

Which forum are you reading?

I'd admit that theres currently a "racing" slant on the forum at the minute, but thats just because its thats time of year (TD, HT, etc...), but theres plenty of stuff around people going out for a BAM trip or another 'relaxed' trip.

Its just the type of event.
It would be like someone turning up to the WRT with the intention of visiting every GR in the quickest possible time and encouraging others to do so. Its just not what that event is about.

I think Chew's summed it up nicely ... There's a time and a place for everything. With regard to events, they're not all the same and they don't always attract the same riders but the fact remains, there's virtually no 'bikepacking events' that don't have a performance bias.

People will post what they like on the forum and if a lot of people happen to be 'racing', that's likely what's going to get posted. However, there's still a lot of stuff which isn't related to fasted, longest or hardest. Maybe it's like that blemish on a perfect paint job, you're eye's drawn to it and after a while it's all you can see?

I've said before that I'll mix things up, sometimes it's an ITT, sometimes it's a bimble to see where things take me. Neither's better than the other, they're just different, I enjoy both.

As Chew says, it's just that time of year, autumn, winter and spring the "focus" will be elsewhere.

Asposium wrote:failure is permanent.

Glad nobody told Churchill that!

I used to be involved in training events that involved two national organisations and tested their ability to respond to a challenging, dynamic scenario. One of the organisations went to great lengths to cheat - rehearsing the scenario, conducting recces of the area, setting up in advance, etc, because risking failure was too embarrassing and they couldn't live with the potential repetitional damage. The other organisation just waited for the activation and went at it blind (as was intended), treating each serial as an opportunity to test innovative ideas for achieving the aim in the most effective manner. This often exposed shortcomings and sometimes 'failed' when pushing up against the 'edge of the envelope' in demanding circumstances. However this was embraced as an opportunity to identify what needs to be changed in order to optimise capability; a proper learning and improving culture.

Fear of failure can be a big limiter, and whilst good preparation is the best way to ensure success, great rewards require great risks!

So, back to the BB200... It's not a race, but neither is it just another bimble; it's a challenge, and I believe that's how it should be approached, and where the greatest rewards are to be found. Just hopefully not a 2014 style challenge...

This is a very interesting read for me as an "innocent bystander". It seems to be probing quite deeply into the whole psyche of this place, possibly near the cliff-edge, so it's pleasant to see people playing nicely with it so far . The only race I'm interested in is how long I can stay in the pub/cafe but still have my entry qualifying for whatever the event is, so my view is marginal compared to that of some of the "top table" ones. Or is it? I'm right at the two-wheeled tramp end of the room. I feel much empathy with Scottie's points, but at the same time perhaps BB200 is "obviously a race" whereas, say, WRT obviously ain't. Is a wish to finish one minute before the "deadline" in the spirit of a "race"? Probably not. But does that make the entry any more or less valid? It's not in the list of [hopefully not many] rules is it? By what authority do people moralise? (Apart from Stu who has every right as proprietor). Then again what authority do I have to prevent moralising?! None. That hasn't helped anyone at all but at least it's off my chest, so thank you .

R

[edit, Oh. I typed this while Stu/Chew/Whitestone replied but before I saw theirs. Ho hum]

Bearbonesnorm wrote:Maybe it's like that blemish on a perfect paint job, you're eye's drawn to it and after a while it's all you can see?

Are you my wife?

Are you my wife?

I thought we agreed to keep that quiet?

RIP wrote:This is a very interesting read for me as an "innocent bystander". It seems to be probing quite deeply into the whole psyche of this place, possibly near the cliff-edge, so it's pleasant to see people playing nicely with it so far . The only race I'm interested in is how long I can stay in the pub/cafe but still have my entry qualifying for whatever the event is, so my view is marginal compared to that of some of the "top table" ones. Or is it? I'm right at the two-wheeled tramp end of the room. I feel much empathy with Scottie's points, but at the same time perhaps BB200 is "obviously a race" whereas, say, WRT obviously ain't. Is a wish to finish one minute before the "deadline" in the spirit of a "race"? Probably not. But does that make the entry any more or less valid? It's not in the list of [hopefully not many] rules is it? By what authority do people moralise? (Apart from Stu who has every right as proprietor). Then again what authority do I have to prevent moralising?! None. That hasn't helped anyone at all but at least it's off my chest, so thank you .

R

[edit, Oh. I typed this while Stu/Chew/Whitestone replied but before I saw theirs. Ho hum]

I came last in the YD300.

What does that say about me....?
I'm slow and stubborn.
I had two objectives; to finish, and on the Sunday.

I was hoping to qualify for the 2018 HT550, now not sure if I should.

Last is still better than a ton of people have managed.

I would have walked the last 30k if I had to.

Last or first? Who cares ... did you give it your best shot? That's what really matters.

Is it time for a Panda yet?

No.

I blame JC...

Jeremy Corbyn?
Jesus Christ?
Jerry Cornelius?
Ahh...