Last week? Am far from local but happy to provide gentle reminder that this was 2 weeks ago and it's presumably teed it down ever since! Still, look on the bright side, no risk of suffering from dehydration

BaM - Machynlleth 27/9/19 by Richard Picton, on Flickr

RIP wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2019 8:38 pm Am far from local but happy to provide gentle reminder that this was 2 weeks ago and it's teed it down ever since! Still, look on the bright side, no risk of suffering from dehydration

BaM - Machynlleth 27/9/19 by Richard Picton, on Flickr

I have the pack raft ready

Good point! Had forgotten that. "We're saved! Well a couple of us anyway"

Shaping up to give 2018's a good run for its money I reckon.

Alexinthepeaks wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2019 7:46 pm oh god.....

Thought the same!!

Escape Goat wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2019 10:12 pm

Alexinthepeaks wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2019 7:46 pm oh god.....

Thought the same!!

It's only rain though. Last year what made it hard was the wind. At one point I thought I was going to have to get off and push on the flat as the headwind was so strong I could barely pedal against it on the singlespeed. Not only did it make the riding hard but it made the rain horizontal and drove it through your clothes to soak (and chill) you to the bone.

This year will be pleasant in comparison deposite the rain.

Yeah last year looked tough. Promised myself I'd never sign up for it...

sean_iow wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2019 10:22 pm

Escape Goat wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2019 10:12 pm

Alexinthepeaks wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2019 7:46 pm oh god.....

Thought the same!!

It's only rain though. Last year what made it hard was the wind. At one point I thought I was going to have to get off and push on the flat as the headwind was so strong I could barely pedal against it on the singlespeed. Not only did it make the riding hard but it made the rain horizontal and drove it through your clothes to soak (and chill) you to the bone.

This year will be pleasant in comparison deposite the rain.

Exactly this. It's going to be wet and, in places, boggy. Not really any wind and pretty mild temperatures - overnight forecasts don't look to be dropping much below 10°.

Nobody should be disheartened at this stage - it's standard autumnal mtb weather and we're going to be out in the middle of nowhere riding our bikes up and down big hills. If this weekend isn't up amongst the highlights of our year we're not doing it right.

Warm and wet are things most men like to hear ,just not sure if it's in the same context as when talking about a BB event

That brought me back down to earth. Thanks.

Now I'm worrying weather or not to take a bar bag with a down jacket in and a winter bag instead of a 250 down quilt and tent. Gah.

I was happy last night.... Now I'm at the checkout wondering should I have picked up the steak instead if the chicken.

Escape Goat wrote: ↑Fri Oct 11, 2019 7:01 am That brought me back down to earth. Thanks.

Now I'm worrying weather or not to take a bar bag with a down jacket in and a winter bag instead of a 250 down quilt and tent. Gah.

I was happy last night.... Now I'm at the checkout wondering should I have picked up the steak instead if the chicken.

Allen... I'm not sure whether the weathers gotten to you or it was just a typo ....

Anyway... in the face of optimism, I'm gonna go ahead and say it? for us standard (ie. not full retard*) rider, its gonna be substandard.... now, do we want it any other way and come back feeling undersatisfied ?.... NOPE.... which concludes.

its gonna be lovely regardless inshaAllah...

*https://youtu.be/X6WHBO_Qc-Q

Escape Goat wrote: ↑Fri Oct 11, 2019 7:01 am That brought me back down to earth. Thanks.

Now I'm worrying weather or not to take a bar bag with a down jacket in and a winter bag instead of a 250 down quilt and tent. Gah.

I was happy last night.... Now I'm at the checkout wondering should I have picked up the steak instead if the chicken.

The 250 quilts are warmer than you may think ,I use mine 10 months of the year last year

Just got on the ferry at the start of my long trek to Wales. Should I ask one of the crew if I can borrow one of the life-jackets for the weekend?

middleagedmadness wrote: ↑Fri Oct 11, 2019 7:01 am Warm and wet are things most men like to hear ,just not sure if it's in the same context as when talking about a BB event

Stobbit Stu! I can feel a whole profanisaurus's worth of responses building up already. It's when it gets juxtaposed with some of the other well-known riding predictions like - well let's leave those to our/my warped sense of humour shall we - that I start to back off!

Andy's right though - surely highlight if doing it right. Wish I had the stamina to enjoy it. Hmm.

sean_iow wrote: ↑Fri Oct 11, 2019 8:59 am Just got on the ferry at the start of my long trek to Wales. Should I ask one of the crew if I can borrow one of the life-jackets for the weekend?

Race yah!!

Well good luck to everyone taking part in the 200 and 300. Back when the entries were open I really didn't think I would be back to where I am already and thought it would be 1 step too far for this year. Turns out I really should have entered, so actually quite jealous of you all... even given the predicted weather.

DOG SPEED EVERYBODY!

If the temps stay the same then it's going to be pretty warm - I've just walked up from the station at a steady pace and I'd got a bit of a sweat on so was getting damp from the inside of my jacket rather than the outside.

Good luck to everyone, somewhat jealous I'm not doing it this year.

I'm hoping I can actually get there. Last time was a nightmare in Wales getting around all the floods.

Richard G wrote: ↑Fri Oct 11, 2019 11:54 am I'm hoping I can actually get there. Last time was a nightmare in Wales getting around all the floods.

This is one thing I'm really worried about. Already knackered one car from flood water... anyone able to advise a sfrategy of getting detours around floods?? I'm coming from north (west yorkshire/leeds way)

redefined_cycles wrote: ↑Fri Oct 11, 2019 12:33 pm

Richard G wrote: ↑Fri Oct 11, 2019 11:54 am I'm hoping I can actually get there. Last time was a nightmare in Wales getting around all the floods.

This is one thing I'm really worried about. Already knackered one car from flood water... anyone able to advise a strategy of getting detours around floods?? I'm coming from north (west yorkshire/leeds way)

Shouldn't be too bad Shaf. Go Oswestry - Welshpool - Newtown - Caersws - Carno - Llanbrynmawr. Main roads all the way. Sat nav might have you take one of the mountain roads from just after Oswestry direct to Carno, supposedly it's a couple of minutes quicker but there are one or two spots that can be damp!

Thanks Bob... my cars pistons salute you...

Aye, as Bob rightly says, just stick to the main road and ignore your satnav ... they don't know everything

20191011_140131 by alexberry1, on Flickr

Ready to Rock and Roll! See you soon :)

Just to check

Is it spar or Coop for the unofficial meeting point tomorrow night?

Coop's further of route than the Spar .... does that help?

Asposium wrote: ↑Fri Oct 11, 2019 6:53 pm Just to check

Is it spar or Coop for the unofficial meeting point tomorrow night?

I've got 3 quick release zipties on my bike... Happy to bring a few more if you want a few... if that helps (for ziplocking dash n grab duties at Spar/Coop)...