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Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2022 5:59 pm
by fatbikephil
I'll do an end of year summary with awards after New years day.

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2022 8:12 pm
by slarge
I still need to do my December bivvy. I want to go further afield but time pressure might mean a local one. I am looking for local bird hides but they seem to be non existent or very secure.....

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2022 8:52 pm
by fatbikephil
There are a couple near me but I wonder if the twitchers will turn up early doors....

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2022 12:08 am
by JimmyG
fatbikephil wrote: Fri Dec 23, 2022 3:27 pm In the back room, now wood paneled and with bunks - I'd humpfed up three (3!) fire logs so these went in my own fire rather than the stove as the others had brought plenty coal with them (I told them of Bridget aka Borderer's efforts to drag 15kg of coal up from Eskdale muir to here in 2019)
An epic feat indeed Phil and I remember it well! :-bd

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2022 4:31 pm
by slarge
And in the nick of time I bagged my December BAM. Deciding to collect a bunch of veloviewer squares and my December bivvy in one go I set off at 7pm last night and headed south west. Eventually I found some woods that looked promising near the Cotswold village of Batsford and set up in a grassy clearing. It was fairly sheltered but quite soggy, but I got settled in around 10pm and drifted off to sleep. I couldn't get comfortable though, so had a restless night without much sleep, until the rain started around 6am. Deciding to lie in until the rain stopped I gave that idea up at 7.30 and packed up in the rain and got going. A garage 1km away meant I could have breakfast (hot chocolate and a sausage baguette), then off into a stiff headwind with added rain. Lots of meandering to collect squares, and by the time I'd done 60km I was knackered. The rain stopped and I wandered in to Evesham for food, big slice of chocolate cake and a large coffee and I ditched the last few squares and headed home with a good tailwind. 120km that felt like 160.....
That's 12 months out of 12, and 19 bivvies this year.

My first BAM badge!!!!

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2022 7:23 pm
by benp1
I got back from my final BAM of the year this morning

Left it a little late but was either busy or shocking weather

In the end the ride over was pretty nice and the evening was cold and clear. The forecast said rain from about 9-10am so I'd planned to be up and home before then. In the end it rained harder than forecast and much earlier. I was sleeping in a bird hide with no windows or door. The rain was blowing in and I was woken up by rain on my face, by which point rain was everywhere. Packed up and started riding back about 7:15, got home absolutely drenched. My house and garage is now a giant drying area with kit hung up everywhere (didn't have a waterproof bag) and newspaper in my shoes

Pleased to have made it through a full year though. Finally done it, third time lucky!

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2022 10:02 am
by Blackhound
Well done Steve and Ben, left it late but they all count. @Ben must be particularly pleasing to achieve 12 months after a couple of years when it did not work out.

Looking forward to final score, looks to be around 10 of us.

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2022 11:03 am
by GoneCaving
Got my final BAM done this week. I was down in Wicklow visiting my parents, and the wife was heading on down to Wexford afterwards, so I packed the bike. I set off late on Thursday, with a plan to head up into the Wicklow mountains, pick up the Wicklow Way trail, and follow that back to Dublin, pick up a train back to Dundalk and then cycle home. The weather forecast was for a wild and wet night, so I wasn't expecting the best of nights.The first bit of the ride was lovely, picking up some nice backroads I'd not travelled before, and then onwards into the dark. THere was the expected hike-a-bike on the N side of Douce mountain (hill? I suspect only Lugnaquilla really counts as a mountain). I did pass one lovely spot for camping, but it was littered with private land/no camping signs (sigh). So in the end I found myself, once again, on the side of a forest track in the dark trying to pitch my tent in less that ideal conditions. It might be just me, but it's hard to get a decent pitch on a lanshan 1-person tents unless you have a nice flat spot; might need an upgrade at some point! While expecting a fairly rough night, it turned out I'd managed to find good shlter from the wind, and the predicted downpours never arrived. So not so bad. The Xmas cake and whiskey certainly helped!

Up at 6am, and after a short section of road, back into a nasty section of hike a bike. Well, more like carry a bike, straight up the contours. Once past that section, the rest of the ride into Dublin was pretty pleasant. Some more hike a bike where the folks doing trail management have dug ditches across the trail every 30m or so. Fine if you have the skills and a light bike. Less so with a laden bike. I'd planned to get a nice photo looking out across Dublin from the final summit, but at that point the rain had arrived, and there wasn't muchg to be seen. So just a quick spin across the city to catch a train to Dundalk, and then the final 20km home.

So that's 12/12 for 2022. When I look back at the first bivvy in Jan, and recall how miserable that was, I'm pleased to see that it is getting better/easier (a decent sleeping bag was the best investment I could have made). Roll on 2023!

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2022 1:23 pm
by NeilA
30 December...BAM no 12 for 2022...
It was now or never, the forecast for 31st was rain all the way.

That day spent ages preparing my Whyte. Fitted my rear wheel complete with new Hope Pro 4 hub and faffed around to fit less kit to luggage that allowed use of a handlebar mounted bike light. I still can't better my Alpkit Kanga for carrying capacity and stability (need to use a helmet mounted light with this set up). As a result I left home at 2200, no rain and the moon still visible. Slow progress on my ascent to Malverns, not cycled much at all recently, what with suffering Covid pre Chrimbo and the event that is oft quoted!!.
My intention, to stare out the weather on the hilltops, thus testing my Kloke to the limit never happened.
I snuck into a small quarry on a track above West Malvern. Set up 2320 ish. Nice and flat, sheltered from the wind, I enjoyed the warmish fresh air, Maker's Mark whisky and a bar of exquisite organic hazelnut and currant 60% cocoa chocolate while settled in the Kloke. I knew the rain would arrive, but at least it took its time, then it bucketed down for hours, testing my set up far greater than in the last twelve months. I was starting to wish for a 5000mm HH roof above me but I must say the Kloke performed admirably, the only drips appearing through the minimal opening of the zip. To qualify it does get damp inside from condensation.
As usual I did sleep eventually, affording me a lateish lay in.
My only real problem, and its taken 12 months to discover, the pillow I use does not support my neck properly. Time to splash the cash on an inflatable me thinks.

Am well pleased, my first BAM...286 miles and 18269' of ascent I would not have achieved otherwise. Yes the procrastination is still there but the discipline overcomes!

Looking forward to seeing some of you next week :-bd

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Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2022 2:21 pm
by RIP
Good effort surviving in the b'bag in the pissing rain there, takes a bit of bottle that.

10hrs 39mins to go for any desperate last-minute departures :smile: .

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2022 5:07 pm
by Wotsits
11/12 (With a paid for accom last Jan)

Manage to push through the procrastination & drag myself out into a wet-one last night.
Took the lunar instead of the bivi to try & keep some of the rain off. Wasn't the best pitch due to space, but survived!

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 5:05 pm
by Kumquat
Just managed to get 12/12 in last night. Phew.
Woke up this morning and the manflu had all but evaporated.
It was a local one but they nearly all were last year.
Am really gonna try to post more details this year.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm3qwt7MpJF ... _copy_link

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 5:42 pm
by Nick
BAM 2022 - Sam and Nick

We managed to follow all the rules apart from the one about a post a month, I spend all my working life on bloody computers so try to avoid them in my social/personal life.

January
Local ride over to Haughmond Hill and back to Grinshill Hill for the night, slept on some flag stones in a deflating mat, which was nice
https://www.strava.com/activities/6530554096
https://www.strava.com/activities/6530563703

February
Keeping it local, but this time took the tents and slept in Corbet Beech Wood, very windy, should have bivvied.
https://www.strava.com/activities/6709331350
https://www.strava.com/activities/6709671611

March
A really nice ride over to the Stiperstones, pushed the limit on my PD400 as it was well below freezing, evidenced by the amount of frost on Sam’s bag (PD600) vs mine showing just how much heat I was losing compared to him, but we didn’t die!
https://www.strava.com/activities/6852021127
https://www.strava.com/activities/6852048888
https://www.strava.com/activities/6852049860

April
Headed over to Rodney’s pillar for a bit of an explore but ended up coming back to Nesscliffe for the night and sleeping under the rocks by Kynnastons Cave.
https://www.strava.com/activities/7067344004
https://www.strava.com/activities/7068227797

May
Jennride time, and what a ride, one of the hardest I’ve ever done, don’t think I’ll be carrying my bike up to Styhead Tarn and then down to Wasdale Head again anytime soon! Bivvied just before the really boggy bit nr Burnmoor Tarn. Fantastic weekend though.
https://www.strava.com/activities/7223462853
https://www.strava.com/activities/7068227797

June
Left it a bit late (again) because of the family holiday, but squeezed out a Monday night mini-adventure and another night on Grinshill, Monday’s are not a good night if you want to find an open pub for a pint btw.
https://www.strava.com/activities/7380068946
https://www.strava.com/activities/7380026423

July
A nice warm night, sleeping on Pim Hill this time.
https://www.strava.com/activities/7502965019
https://www.strava.com/activities/7503775115

August
We decided to go a bit further afield and headed over to Ironbridge, nice couple of pints in the Coracle micro-pub before nipping over the bridge and lying down on the old railway line, woken by a very interested walker in the morning before heading over to the Riverside Inn for Breakfast.
https://www.strava.com/activities/7708292314
https://www.strava.com/activities/7708172522

September
We had planned to do King Alfreds Way and grab September and October in one trip but the weather was horrible so we stayed local but wet and headed to Nesscliffe again, this time with Will as well.
https://www.strava.com/activities/7892911296
https://www.strava.com/activities/7892971615
https://www.strava.com/activities/7892972591
https://www.strava.com/activities/7892973097

October
Only a week after our September trip we headed over to Church Stretton and after a couple of pints and a burger in Cardington we bivvied between Hope Bowdler and Caer Caradoc.
https://www.strava.com/activities/7935596083
https://www.strava.com/activities/7935695232

November
Left this one really late, and again another Monday night, and it was cold, really cold! A short ride and our final night on Grinshill, although actually slept really well and overslept in the end!
https://www.strava.com/activities/8183256364
https://www.strava.com/activities/8183330023

December
It’s in the bag, its also bloody wet, but anyway we had to get our Christmas ride and final BAM in whatever, so through Shrewsbury and over Lyth Hill before sheltering in the Red Lion at Longden Common. We debated getting the Stiperstones Inn in but scrapped that idea as the rain lashed down and instead headed down to Bridges. Bivvying in the garden of the YHA (we declined the offer of a room, but did sneak a Lasagne), only to find the pub closed at 8pm! We still managed to grab a couple of pints of course.
https://www.strava.com/activities/8299139572
https://www.strava.com/activities/8299134064

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2023 5:09 pm
by fatbikerbill
Do I need to post here all my BAMs to get a badge? I hope not as I have just sent Stuart my 3.50!!

But 2022 was the first year I have managed all 12. It did involve a few local bivvys for local riders and December was a real close call thanks to covid.

Managed to start 2023 in good style with a camp at kinder reservoir last night. Great night and good test for the new sleeping bag.

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2023 4:57 pm
by Bearlegged
Just totted up my rides for 2022.
14 bivvies, in 8 different locations.
538m the highest, 22m the lowest, combined spot heights of 3,314m, 10,821m climbed to get to them all.
Half of them on my tod, Trep and Sean tie for best bivvy buddies, with 2 each.

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2023 7:35 pm
by fatbikephil
Final scores on the doors then:-

Full 2022 BAM:-
Sean_iow
Verena
jimmy G
RIP
Blackhound
Frog
Bearlegged
FatbikePhil
Benp1
GoneCaving
Kumquat
JohnAllan
NeilA
SLarge
Raggedstone
Nick & Sam
Fatbikerbill (NOT phil :grin: )

Any others I've missed please shout at me.

Final Awards:-
Early bath goes to NeilA for a dip in the canal on his October Bivvy
Caveman award - Frogatthefarriers (Nov)
Do a quick machining job on bike to be able to get BAM in award - Sean (Nov)
Frosty award - Bearlegged (Nov)
Coldest bivvy - me = -6 back in March ironically
Stupidest place to Bivvy - Reg's with his bivvy on the side of a canal in full view of half of Wales, and then in someone's garden shed (without asking first, or indeed without knowing he had which gains bonus marks)
Best Organ recital (Bachs Tocata and fugue in D minor I believe, clearly designed to inspire Reg to get up another huge Welsh climb) - Frog aka Lu
Best breakfast (and perfectly poured pint) John Allan on his Feb bivvy.
Daftest behaviour is Reg and Muddypete (predictably) with their solstice druidic celebration
Dodgy coastal path / near death award goes to gone caving on his May bivvy
Providing valuable food for Scotlands ecosystem on a bivvy - me (my blood to lots of mosquitoes and midges)
Bivvy furthest away from Wales (spiritual home of bikepacking) award inevitably goes to Steve large who went all the way to that America to get away from the bogs and tussocks. Looks like America provided something almost as bad though...
Lightweight award goes to Verena (As in stuff carried)
Most introspective look on a bivvy - Bearlegged (and Trepid)
Highest ice cream - Gone caving
Most ridiculously epic Bivvy, of course goes to Jimmy G with his 'Royal' visit to Glas Alt Shiel Bothy via a bit of snow :grin:

See you all on the '23 thread :-bd

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2023 9:40 pm
by RIP
Excellent review that Phil, love the awards :-bd .

Congrats to all who stuck with it!

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2023 9:44 pm
by summittoppler
Love the BAM awards night :-bd
Gutted the dreaded covid bite ripped my attempt to pieces. Was still a great year though!

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2023 9:47 pm
by fatbikephil
Jeff I'll give you the honorary high altitude catering award as none of the others came close!
Steak au poivre on a piece of hand cut Welsh slate :-bd

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2023 10:10 pm
by Bearlegged
Cheers for the round up, Phil! And virtual high fives to everyone who got out there and enjoyed themselves.

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2023 10:22 pm
by RIP
fatbikephil wrote: Tue Jan 03, 2023 9:47 pm Jeff I'll give you the honorary high altitude catering award as none of the others came close!
Steak au poivre on a piece of hand cut Welsh slate :-bd
Yeah that was good that Jeff! MasterChef contestant I reckon...

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2023 10:57 pm
by summittoppler
:-bd

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2023 11:09 pm
by NeilA
Great stuff Phil, your awards are the icing on the cake, and to get a credit is for me as good as the BAM badge for a first timer :-bd

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2023 11:53 pm
by Verena
Yay!! What a year it's been, congratulations to all of us, thanks Phil for the write up and the awards :-bd

Looking forward to giving this another go this year, and there's a few points of inspiration here for new things to try...go higher, colder, wetter, dafter, cook better, find some caves and coastal paths .... :mrgreen:

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2023 9:35 am
by Johnallan
Great round up! I really enjoyed taking part in this :grin:
Verena wrote: Tue Jan 03, 2023 11:53 pm go higher, colder, wetter, dafter
I thought a single 12-month stint would be enough but this sounds like a fair challenge :lol: :lol: