BB200

[mh24]

Hi all, I am new to this bike packing thing but am keen to do BB200. Enjoying the banter and look forward to my first event! MH

[Bearbonesnorm]

You are keen ... entries won't open for another couple of months

[mh24]

I guess that should give me time to lose 20kg and buy some bike packing kit!!!

[Richard G]

That's the spirit!

[Bearbonesnorm]

I guess that should give me time to lose 20kg and buy some bike packing kit!!!

Don't buy too much. On something like the BB200, less certainly is more.

[mh24]

Just working out how much training I need to do each week - work, wife and 3 kids adds up to mucho juggling! Anyone got any useful tips for a mere novice like me!! m

[Zippy]

! Anyone got any useful tips for a mere novice like me!! m

It's all in the head

[mh24]

Best study psyology then!

[whitestone]

BB200 tips? Pedal, pedal some more, eat, pedal uphill, pedal downhill, pedal some more, hike-a-bike

[Bearbonesnorm]

Zippy's right. While a level of physical fitness is certainly required, whether you finish is largely goverened by your head. Set out believing you'll finish and with no other option or contigency in place and chances are you will. Go out doubting or with a headful of potential bailout options, it's unlikely you'll finish no matter what your fitness.

Let this be your motto.

'The ability to suffer and the willingness to accept it'

[mh24]

Sounds quite easy - if not a bit repetitive! I may put a break or two in somewhere just to stop any risk of RSI!

[mh24]

So looking forward - will be so chuffed to complete it and the kids can bring me in to school for a "Show and Tell" morning!! May even tell the local papers - not much happens down here in Sleepy Devon!! M

[Mariner]

Wha someone mention Devon?

[Matt]

Whatever you do don't chuck you bike chain down a ravine

[Richard G]

Or do it backwards.

[voodoo_simon]

Tips for training? Only have the one mini-voodoo, so not quite the same.

Don't train on my days off! Keep Sunday as a family day as that's the only day all of us are off and I like to get out early to beat the crowds with my family. Sometimes get the odd ride in during the evening.

Most of my training is done before work. Up before 6 and I go the long way into work, so that gives 2-3 hours training. Same at the night,2-3 hours after work depending on child care. Will generally do one of these sessions this 2 or 3 times a week (either morning or evening, never both!).

Personally I find frequency on the bike is better than distance of that make sense for fitness (I.e 3x 2 hour rides rather than 1x 6 hour ride, also better for my mind too!).

Helps having a sporty wife too as we take it in turns to go out. Also, Friday or Saturday nights are good training days as I skip on the pub visits, so double training in one session

[Single Speed George]

'The ability to suffer and the willingness to accept it'

i recon this is the real key , BB200 was my first "real bikepacking event" and i had done a couple of ITT style rides that year but the mass start is both a blessing and a curse as you get dragged allong by interesting people to chat to at the back or in the middle tbh (never been at the front dunno if they chat and drag each other allong) so you go faster than normal i think, so you can get knakered quicker , but when you are alone nearly in tears trying for sub 24 hrs and halucinating in a feild as the sun comes up with 10 miles left, and you realise you are probably not gong to make that black bage,despite nearly killing your self with efort .... someone might come allong to chat to atleast and get you to the end ! so ye dead good ... just get a few long weekend rides in you so ur happy with the distaince and kit and get dragged allong on ur first one i recon.
(sadly im missing this years to go to Nepal sorry stu :( .... )

[mh24]

Thanks for all the replies groovers...All in the head, a bit of training and hey presto, tiddly ho, back before I know it! Off to Wales now to see some puffins!

[Ben98]

Zippy's right. While a level of physical fitness is certainly required, whether you finish is largely goverened by your head. Set out believing you'll finish and with no other option or contingency in place and chances are you will. Go out doubting or with a headful of potential bailout options, it's unlikely you'll finish no matter what your fitness.

Let this be your motto.

'The ability to suffer and the willingness to accept it'

My advice is all of the above, plus:
Set off with the intention of riding alone, riding in a [pre-agreed] group allows you to talk each other out of finishing when it gets tough (2/4 of my attempts have ended this way).

And another motto I took from the late Mike Hall:
"Nothing that's worth anything is ever easy"

[Mariner]

It’s not about how far you go. It’s more about how you go far.

Josh Kato on training.

He has an interesting take on training for long rides specifically the TD.
http://www.bikepacking.com/plog/adventu ... -training/

[Bearbonesnorm]

Set off with the intention of riding alone

Very good advice and very true. Doing so doesn't mean that you won't ride with others but it will come and go and be much more casual. You'll have no emotional tie to them and be much more prepared to do your own thing ... such as leave them behind, not stop when they might want, etc*

*not in a nasty way.

[Richard G]

F those people.

THEY'RE ALL LOSERS!

[mh24]

Thanks groovers - some great advice - I quite like riding alone so should be handy as I "take it slow and easy"! (i.e. go at my own slow pace!!). Planning a longish (90 mile) ride on nearby dartmoor in a couple of weeks time. That should give me an idea of how unfit I really am!! m