Search found 70 matches

by Mandicky
Sun Jan 23, 2022 9:39 am
Forum: Your Trips & Adventures
Topic: Bivvy a month 2022
Replies: 828
Views: 218953

Re: Bivvy a month 2022

It's been several years since I last posted on this forum - amazed I remembered my username and password first try! Especially when you consider how often you'll find me stood in a supermarket aisle looking blankly at the shelves trying to remember what I've come in for... Anyway, myself, my partner...
by Mandicky
Wed Jan 06, 2016 2:50 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: "Llanbrynmair mentioned on BBC News" shocker!
Replies: 1
Views: 765

"Llanbrynmair mentioned on BBC News" shocker!

The possibility of Carno train station reopening could bring the 21st century scarily close to BB HQ. Apparently :smile:
by Mandicky
Tue Nov 17, 2015 9:11 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Foel Fadian decsents - advice please :)
Replies: 3
Views: 997

Re: Foel Fadian decsents - advice please :)

Memorial track it is then! :smile:

Thanks, Rich
by Mandicky
Tue Nov 17, 2015 7:59 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Foel Fadian decsents - advice please :)
Replies: 3
Views: 997

Foel Fadian decsents - advice please :)

Hi All, I'm planning a short bikepacking trip with a mate and we will be coming up past Glaslyn onto Foel Fadian. From there we want to head west and there are 2 obvious descents; down Glyndwr's Way or the track from the memorial down to Aberhosan. I've never ridden either so wondered which would yo...
by Mandicky
Thu Nov 05, 2015 3:31 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: show me your light solutions......
Replies: 8
Views: 1863

Re: show me your light solutions......

Here's what I did in the MYOG section of this forum:

http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB ... =13&t=4293

Still using this whenever I go bikepacking :smile:

Rich
by Mandicky
Fri Oct 30, 2015 6:58 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: European routes for bikepacking
Replies: 6
Views: 1603

European routes for bikepacking

Hi all, I've got an itch to head over to Europe next year for a week or two's bikepacking. The internet throws up a lot of web sites - most of them in French/Spanish. I wondered if anyone here might have a favourite resource they'd be willing to share? Ideally something with maps and GPS files :) Ch...
by Mandicky
Mon Oct 19, 2015 11:03 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: Entries for Bach to Bach are now closed.
Replies: 79
Views: 10573

Re: Entries for Bach to Bach are now open.

Strangely I cycled past my bivvy spot from last year's event just yesterday. What a miserable night that was. No sleeping mat so I made a bed of wet, frozen sticks to increase my suffering :grin:

I think I'll be packing my mat this time...
by Mandicky
Thu Sep 24, 2015 2:36 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Bivvying .... ever get unwanted guests?
Replies: 33
Views: 5025

Re: Bivvying .... ever get unwanted guests?

I did bivvy next to a remote car park during the There 'n Back Winter Event. It was lovely and quiet around 10pm when I arrived and settled down for the night. Around 1am I was woken from my slumber by either a) Drug dealers, b) Illegal ravers or c) Doggers. As it was around -4C I decided to stay wh...
by Mandicky
Mon Sep 21, 2015 10:39 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: New for Loop bar users.
Replies: 24
Views: 2525

Re: New for Loop bar users.

After thinking up the idea before I saw this post :oops: :roll: I found that the metal on the bar ends was malleable enough to stretch over the wrapped bars and I closed them up with longer bolts. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/651/20896442474_d6ace12a85_z.jpg Test ride tomorrow John, I'd check the...
by Mandicky
Thu Oct 23, 2014 9:43 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: Dynamo hub USB device - have your say!
Replies: 22
Views: 2902

Re: Dynamo hub USB device - have your say!

2. USB connector. I've sourced an IP67 rated (1m submerged for 30 minutes*) connector that comes with a screw-on cover. It is more expensive that a standard USB but I like the security it gives against unexpected drownings. Obviously anything plugged into the USB may suffer... Won't a properly wate...
by Mandicky
Tue Oct 21, 2014 8:43 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Dynamo hub USB device - have your say!
Replies: 22
Views: 2902

Re: Dynamo hub USB device - have your say!

Thanks for all the replies folks. I'll get some photos up in the next few days to answer some of the comments. The cover for the USB connector is attached by a (removable) lanyard. It is useful as it stops the connector becoming contaminated when it isn't being used. The prototype sat in my food bag...
by Mandicky
Tue Oct 21, 2014 12:11 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Dynamo hub USB device - have your say!
Replies: 22
Views: 2902

Dynamo hub USB device - have your say!

Hi All, I'm developing a device to work with dynamo hubs to give a USB output. I'm happy with the circuit and have tested it thoroughly - including BB200. So far so good. :smile: The next stage is to package it and this is where I'd like the opinions of the forum members as you're the typical end-us...
by Mandicky
Thu Oct 16, 2014 8:45 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: Cold feet - hints and tips here
Replies: 30
Views: 4511

Re: Cold feet - hints and tips here

In the coldest conditions I always wrap silver foil over the toes of my socks. It keeps the heat in and the wind out.

Always handy to have a bit of 'emergency' foil for cooking too - albeit a bit sweaty! :wink:
by Mandicky
Wed Oct 15, 2014 10:44 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: gpx files/downloadable routes
Replies: 9
Views: 1629

Re: gpx files/downloadable routes

The Garmin should show up on your PC as another drive. There is a directory on it called "New files" Just drag the GPX file you want into that directory.

Unplug the Garmin and switch it on.

Press 'MENU' on the Garmin and then 'COURSES' - hopefully your track is listed there. :smile:
by Mandicky
Tue Oct 14, 2014 12:38 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: BB200 - Spectators Corner
Replies: 145
Views: 29813

Re: BB200 - Spectators Corner

In the meantime, here's a quick analysis on different routes taken over the first hike a bike section west of Coedy, and times taken from leaving the track to the gate on the far side: Steve Large (pink line) - 52 mins Me (green line) - 54 mins Alan Goldsmith (red line) - 1hr 9 mins Dave Barter (bl...
by Mandicky
Tue Oct 14, 2014 12:27 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Your bb200 bike
Replies: 27
Views: 4223

Re: Your bb200 bike

This was mine - Giant Anthem 29er. In hindsight I should've left the cement mixer at home - it was an unnecessary luxury :wink: http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af360/mandicky/DSC_1007.jpg Thanks for the company Ben :smile: You might have had to get off and push up some of the hills with your sin...
by Mandicky
Tue Oct 14, 2014 10:28 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: BB200 2014 - congratulations and thank you
Replies: 71
Views: 11137

Re: BB200 2014 - congratulations and thank you

mountainbaker wrote:I just took the dog for a walk around the fields
Now that is just showing off! I'm still clutching the bannister to get up and down stairs, let alone go outside....walking... :smile:
by Mandicky
Fri Oct 10, 2014 10:12 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: how excited
Replies: 40
Views: 6217

Re: how excited

I'm excited about hallucinating about geometric sheep at 3am. Something like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQO-aOdJLiw Something of "The Thing" about that video :) It did make me laugh though - and spend an hour of my life going through the rest of Cyriak's videos... An hour well s...
by Mandicky
Wed Oct 08, 2014 1:38 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: 1 week to go...
Replies: 151
Views: 23063

Re: 1 week to go...

ZeroDarkBivi wrote:Presumably there are no hot food outlets north of there?
The Rhiw Goch Inn, Bronaber is at 96km - just off the route. They serve food until 9pm.

Trawsfynynn is the next village at 100km. They should have a shop / pub although I haven't confirmed what Google says! :smile:
by Mandicky
Sun Oct 05, 2014 2:37 pm
Forum: MYOG
Topic: Bar ends in the middle - BB200 preparations
Replies: 3
Views: 3405

Re: Bar ends in the middle - BB200 preparations

Hi, Copy away - that's the idea of the forum :smile: The conduit was knocking around at work. Anything that is a bit flexible and fits inside / outside the bar ends would be fine. I tried a piece of rigid pipe to join them up first but getting the curve right without putting strain on the fixing poi...
by Mandicky
Sat Oct 04, 2014 8:10 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: Fat bike - anyone regret it?
Replies: 40
Views: 8803

Re: Fat bike - anyone regret it?

I'm another with a finger hovering over 'checkout'. Surly have a demo day today in Pembrey (South Wales) as part of the Tide2tide event so I'm hoping to get my leg over :smile:

Another video of typical fat bike capability :wink: http://vimeo.com/107826210
by Mandicky
Thu Sep 25, 2014 11:24 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: anyone bikepacking on a bouncy bike?
Replies: 7
Views: 1951

Re: anyone bikepacking on a bouncy bike?

I'll be using my Anthem 29er for the BB200. I usually take a hardtail as I've got a nice, big framebag for it but I'm not planning on taking much on the BB200. I've test ridden the Anthem with a small drybag up front, a feedbag on the crossbar and a drybag saddlebag. I'm thinking I'll appreciate the...
by Mandicky
Mon Sep 22, 2014 11:35 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Bar ends
Replies: 22
Views: 4661

Re: Bar ends

I've just fitted some bar ends...... in the middle of my bars. I guess I should call them something else?! :smile:

http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB ... =13&t=4293
by Mandicky
Thu Sep 18, 2014 4:56 pm
Forum: MYOG
Topic: Bar ends in the middle - BB200 preparations
Replies: 3
Views: 3405

Bar ends in the middle - BB200 preparations

Here's a fairy simple mod I've made to my standard bars. I've added a couple of aluminium bar ends inboard of all the controls - for that aero-tuck position :wink: I found some flexible conduit that fitted inside these bar ends to close the 'loop'. This was a slight nod towards H&S but primarily...
by Mandicky
Thu Sep 18, 2014 1:27 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: BB200 - 2 Weeks to Go
Replies: 134
Views: 21610

Re: BB200 - 4 Weeks to Go

Hi All,

What is the minimum kit you have to take on this event? I know it was listed on the website but I didn't pay any attention to it and now its hiding! Mobile phone, sleeping bag....?

I'll probably take one or two extra 'luxury' items - food, spares, lights :smile:

Thanks,

Richard