Big Bear group start next year?

[Mariner]

On the practical side where would this mass start take place?
According to my route file the official start is a junction of two A roads just off the centre of Knighton.

[gairym]

Provisionally, potentially, possibly interested.

I mean definitely interested, provisionally possible and potentially could happen.

Or something like that.

[Bearbonesnorm]

On the practical side where would this mass start take place?

Undecided yet but it would be somewhere with decent road / rail links and parking provision. I wouldn't expect everyone to simply abandon their cars at a road junction in the middle of Knighton

[Karl]

I'd be up for this. As Mr Large said April would be great as a training ride for the Highland Trail.

[Dyffers]

I would've been all over this before my BB300 DNF, now I'm a bit more cautious. Still, I could well be interested in an April start if my early 2019 plans work out.

[larsmars]

Any further thoughts on a date?

+1 what Mr Large and Karl said above! April is also fine for me!

But I guess that's a bit short notice to organise?

[ianfitz]

Any further thoughts on a date?

+1 what Mr Large and Karl said above! April is also fine for me!

But I guess that's a bit short notice to organise?

If I know Stuart then there wouldn't be much organsation for a Big Bear group start. Just turn up and go...

[Mike]

As Ian says not much organisation needed just a date and a start. The offas dyke visitors centre has plenty of parking I'm sure they would let us park there. Although I think where mark n i started from is a good call. Knighton is a good dinner stop.

[lune ranger]

Does anyone have a gpx for the route. I'd like to have look at it. Looks like the mass start would be good reason to stay fit over winter.

[Mark E]

I’d be interested in this if it was in April and coincided with the Easter holidays.

[ianpv]

I'd be very interested in an April start to recover in time for HT550.

[HUX]

Im in........leave permitting and providing I havnt already had an attempt at it

[ctznsmith]

Interested if it's late enough in the year.

Might be a good motivation to:
1. ride it
2. ride more to get the fitness back to do 1.

[larsmars]

Any of the first three weekends in April would suit me, including bank holiday weekend. I am flexible on start point, but would prefer starting somewhere on East side of the route.

[ianpv]

April is good apart from 12-13th which is Dirty Reiver weekend...

[Bearbonesnorm]

People keep talking about 'weekends'. I assume those interested know that the chances of riding it over a weekend is pretty much zero ... it's not to be underestimated.

[whitestone]

People keep talking about 'weekends'. I assume those interested know that the chances of riding it over a weekend is pretty much zero ... it's not to be underestimated.

Now there's a challenge

I was reading it as: group start on a weekend.

[Bearbonesnorm]

It could certainly start on a Fri night / Sat morning Bob but just so long as folk realise what the chances of finishing by Sun are. I recall Mike saying something along the lines of thinking it was probably similar to the HT in regard to difficulty.

[ianpv]

I've got no chance of even attempting it in a weekend! But the only event I've got on in April that would clash is on a weekend

[Richard G]

What's the current record on this anyway?

[whitestone]

What's the current record on this anyway?

On the basis that to date only Mike has completed it - 4 days and 16hrs (ish)

[middleagedmadness]

What's the current record on this anyway?

I may be wrong but I think there's only Mike completed it can't remember exactly but it was somewhere around 4 1/2days ,I think
Edit Bob beat me to it , bloody slow fat fingers

[Richard G]

Cheers.

[Jurassic pusher]

Can I assume there would be a cut off time to beat to be considered to be a "finisher"?
Is it too early in the event planning to think of such details yet?

[Bearbonesnorm]

Can I assume there would be a cut off time to beat to be considered to be a "finisher"?

There would probably need to be something to encourage people to ride it with a certain spirit. However, any cut-off would be generous to hopefully allow more people the opportunity to complete.