Congratulations to Ben Hudson on being the first person to complete Goldilocks. It took him around 6 days and 8 hours and I can't imagine it was done beneath blue skies

Sorry, forgot to mention that he was riding SS, so probably a reasonable amount of walking involved me thinks.

That's a brilliant achievement- some bits are type 3 fun I think.

If it helps I did it but it took 8 years spread over numerous rides.....

SS is ideal for that route as you're either going up a huge steep climb (and pushing) or going down a huge steep descent for which SS is fab. Or pushing across a tussock fest.

We could do with a writeup though - I'd like to hear about it....

We could do with a writeup though - I'd like to hear about it....

I only received the email last night Steve. I was a bit up to my ears but said I'd talk to him again after weekend, so will suggest / ask.

Which one is Goldilocks pls Stu. Is that all them BB200 routes amalgamated into one big sub standard-pile (no offence, but people get what I mean...maybe). Not that I could ever think to attempt it, whatever it may be

That's the one Shaf - one year until it meets another, then that one and so forth.

Was getting confused with BigBear and this. Lovely name (just checked the routes page ). Thanks again Stuart...

slarge wrote: ↑Sat May 04, 2024 8:36 pm We could do with a writeup though - I'd like to hear about it....

I finally got around to writing it up: https://medium.com/@benvbw/a-week-in-th ... 38e46d02c1

I thought I'd posted a comment here before but must have forgotten - thanks Stuart for an amazing route. Lots of pushing for sure but a very beautiful and remote-feeling ride in wonderful terrain. Physically definitely up there with the hardest long routes I've done.

That was a really good read Ben and well done for fighting your way through that lot!
I also enjoyed your alternative take on the Highland Trail, I think that all riders on the group start should lift at least one 130kg rock to get a finish time

Good effort! Enjoyed reading that

Enjoyed that write up - i was wondering where some horrid bits went, but you seem to have found some others, so we'll done on entering the spirit of the BB685....
That experience with the farmer- most of us have had one, it seems to be their problem not yours

Interesting to read about the re-routes.

As a regular participant of the 200 I do wonder just how many of those were the actual routes we ended up taking anyway.

vulcanbicycleworks wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 10:55 am

slarge wrote: ↑Sat May 04, 2024 8:36 pm We could do with a writeup though - I'd like to hear about it....

I finally got around to writing it up: https://medium.com/@benvbw/a-week-in-th ... 38e46d02c1

I thought I'd posted a comment here before but must have forgotten - thanks Stuart for an amazing route. Lots of pushing for sure but a very beautiful and remote-feeling ride in wonderful terrain. Physically definitely up there with the hardest long routes I've done.

"reaches Bishops Castle in Somerset." ...That'll be Shropshire ...

Great write up !

Well done Ben, enjoyed reading that.

The Dafarn Newydd: Village Stores, Takeaway & Fuel Station really is fantastic

godivatrailrider wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 3:28 pm

vulcanbicycleworks wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 10:55 am

slarge wrote: ↑Sat May 04, 2024 8:36 pm We could do with a writeup though - I'd like to hear about it....

I finally got around to writing it up: https://medium.com/@benvbw/a-week-in-th ... 38e46d02c1

I thought I'd posted a comment here before but must have forgotten - thanks Stuart for an amazing route. Lots of pushing for sure but a very beautiful and remote-feeling ride in wonderful terrain. Physically definitely up there with the hardest long routes I've done.

"reaches Bishops Castle in Somerset." ...That'll be Shropshire ...

Great write up !

That would have been a long detour - corrected it now.

Thanks all, glad you enjoyed reading it. Hopefully it will encourage some repeats - if it helps, my detours can be seen in the doublebacks on these days:

https://www.komoot.com/tour/1543146718
https://www.komoot.com/tour/1544400352

and it wasn't until the morning of https://www.komoot.com/tour/1549518815 that I got back onto the planned route.

slarge wrote: ↑Mon Feb 10, 2025 9:16 am Enjoyed that write up - i was wondering where some horrid bits went, but you seem to have found some others, so we'll done on entering the spirit of the BB685....

Always interesting what bits different people find difficult on any particular ride, for me it usually seems to have more to do with weather, state of mind and how hungry I am rather than how hard it really is!