Idea(s)?

gairym · Post by **gairym** » Tue Jun 10, 2014 8:17 pm

Evening folks,

I'm going to be back in the good old U of K in a week or so and I've bagged myself a 48 hour pass which I'd like to fill with some much needed bikepacking fun.

So.....

What should I do?

Here's some info to help you help me:

- I've got Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd and can do anything within those 48 hours.

- I'll be setting off from and returning to Londres (and the travel time will need to be taken out of my allotted 48 hours).

- I am happy to drive a fair distance but, like I said, it'll all be out of the total time available and so anything more than 4-5 hours driving each way would need to be massively worth it.

- I'm slow. I've said this before and it's ever so slightly less true this year than in the last few years but I'm still what you would call SLOW.

I'm thinking Wales but not settled on there as a destination.

On my wish-list is: wilderness, singletrack, adventure and a challenge (on an achievable scale).

What do you think?

One idea is to try the old BB200 route as I entered the last two years but never managed to attend.

If I did this then I'd likely not be setting off until midday and so which way round should I do in order to give myself the best chance to make it in under 24 hours?

Stuart, if you're looking for a guinea pig to test-ride the new course then I'd be up for that too (and would promise not to Strava the route so as not to give anything away).

Any other ideas, thoughts or suggestions?

Wales? The Peaks? The Lakes? Somewhere else?

Also, assuming I don't end up attempting the BB200 route, if anyone fancies something more social that weekend then let me know and maybe something less ambitious but more 'fun' could happen.

Ok, thanks in advance for any/all suggestions.

Cheers, Gairy.

Bearbonesnorm · Post by **Bearbonesnorm** » Tue Jun 10, 2014 8:28 pm

I'd have gone with you but Dee's off to France so I'm home alone with animals.

If you fancy a stab at the old BB 200 it's difficult to say which way to go ... there's nasty bits no matter what but I'd be tempted to go anti-clockwise. Obviously you're more than welcome to leave your motor here.

TCW (single or double) maybe?

Taylor · Post by **Taylor** » Tue Jun 10, 2014 8:40 pm

Friday's the 20th, Saturday's the 21st not Fri 21st/Sat 22nd.

Or is that european time?

gairym · Post by **gairym** » Tue Jun 10, 2014 8:44 pm

OK, smarty pants - it's the 20th and 21st.

Taylor · Post by **Taylor** » Tue Jun 10, 2014 8:47 pm

I'm at the Velodrome with jBay on the Friday so I'll not be available for manoeuvres.

TheBrownDog · Post by **TheBrownDog** » Tue Jun 10, 2014 9:34 pm

I did the Kinder Loop in the Peak District NP a few months ago at the suggestion of one of this parish. Really great couple of days with lovely views, some challenging riding, but nothing too tough. It's way-marked pretty well so I found progress a lot faster than usual as I wasnt stopping every 15 minutes to check a map

http://www.peakhorsepower.co.uk/#/kinde ... 4564966794

ericrobo · Post by **ericrobo** » Tue Jun 10, 2014 9:48 pm

My tuppence worth from a bit further north, which is a disadvantage because of time...
Mary Townely Loop - it's about 47 miles, quite a bit of climbing - I'm doing it this Thursday hopefully with a road friend of mine...
Good riding apart from all those gates north of Waterfoot...

ianfitz · Post by **ianfitz** » Wed Jun 11, 2014 12:19 am

Ohhhh. The gates, the gates :-/

FLV · Post by **FLV** » Wed Jun 11, 2014 1:18 am

Peak ITT?

Some of the Pennine bridleway?
Glossop, north round the Mary towneley would be nice. About 130mile maybe, maybe not, if have to check but have a gpx

Neither are all that 'wild' but have great scenery and riding.

You're welcome to park at my house in glossop and shower / drink coffee / use the garage etc.

Just pm if you fancy.

gairym · Post by **gairym** » Thu Jun 12, 2014 11:32 am

Thanks all and sorry for slow response time but I'm daft busy right now.

So.....I'm thinking that I might just have a pop at the BB200 route as I've been banging on about being miffed about not getting the chance and so I think it's time to put my money where my mouth is.

I really am hoping for a sub 24 hour finish but we'll have to see.

I'm unlikely to be well rested/prepared as I'm currently working 12+ hours a day desperately trying to finish a load of carpentry bits and pieces before we leave for the UK (which is physically destroying me) and that'll only end on Wednesday when I'll drive for two days with the family back to London and then I'll make my attempt the next day (after a 5 hour drive to Stu's).

Stu, of that's still cool then it'd be handy to leave the car at yours.

You can also have a laugh at the state of me when I get back the next day (or the day after).

Thanks all for the other suggestions and I've definitely got a few more ideas for next time now.

Right, where the hell is all my kit....?

Bearbonesnorm · Post by **Bearbonesnorm** » Thu Jun 12, 2014 11:52 am

Stu, of that's still cool then it'd be handy to leave the car at yours.

No trouble

gairym · Post by **gairym** » Thu Jun 12, 2014 9:41 pm

Sweet. Well give you a shout the day before just to confirm (it is me, anything could and likely will happen between now and then).

Hopefully see you soon fella.

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Sat Jun 14, 2014 2:48 pm

Gairy I could possibly be up for a night out under the tarp if u want a ride buddy will have to try n rearrange a few things. Have u thought about the wildcat 100 route also depending on if you wanna bust a gut or not though on bb200

gairym · Post by **gairym** » Sun Jun 15, 2014 8:49 am

Yetiman,

That could work. I went for a little (very little and with an uplift) ride yesterday and my recent heavy workload and child-caused lack of sleep have really taken their toll on my performance and energy levels.

I started thinking about actually trying to achieve the BB200 route feeling how I do now and slightly frightened myself!

The Wildcat 100 route, being a gravel-based route (much less technical and therefore hopefully more achievable whilst riding half-asleep), seems a little more manageable (though still tough with 4000m of ascent over 160km!).

Is the .gpx file available?

Has anyone ridden the whole thing (Ian?) and able to tell us how much (if at all) less challenging than the BB200 route it is?

Are there any bothy options? Seems there's not much by way of re-supply options (1 place at mile 65 if I remember correctly from just reading about it).

There'd also be no time pressures (though I'd still need to be back in London the following night) which would make things more leisurely.

Anyone know what are the road/trail conditions likely to be (based on recent and predicted weather)?

Sounds like a good alternative.

Fen-yak · Post by **Fen-yak** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 7:14 pm

Wildcat 100? Tell me more please...

johnnystorm · Post by **johnnystorm** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 9:39 pm

Composite has ridden the gravel route. I think you might want to 'manage your expectations' regarding how easy it is.....

gairym · Post by **gairym** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 9:44 pm

Thanks- I want imagining easy but only possibly comparitively easy compared to the BB200.

It's all irrelevant now anyway as my back's not good (Again!) after some serious heavy lifting work this last week.

Am now doing something less challenging (a ride with mates in Cornwall).

A shame but I can't do anything to make my back angry.

Thanks all for your help/info.

Gairy.

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