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Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 11:57 am
by Alexinthepeaks
Anyone else thinking that a gravel bike may be more appropriate? If only i had one!

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 11:59 am
by ssnowman
Alexinthepeaks wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2019 11:57 am Anyone else thinking that a gravel bike may be more appropriate? If only i had one!
I was planning on taking my fatbike. Having reviewed the amount of road, I think I'll be taking my xc mtb.

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 1:23 pm
by JohnClimber
You'd wanna do this section in the daylight and that's for sure

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LzTHjODRd ... e=youtu.be

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 1:45 pm
by Asposium
Alexinthepeaks wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2019 11:57 am Anyone else thinking that a gravel bike may be more appropriate? If only i had one!
I hoping a gravel bike is “appropriate” as I don’t own a mountain bike
Though the gravel bike does have mountain bike gearing.
If last year is anything by which to go sometimes I will be cursing the gravel bike, other times whizzing along.
A gravel bike is a compromise, much like any other bike.

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 2:31 pm
by Escape Goat
Route is looking great!

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 2:35 pm
by Dave Barter
Asposium wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2019 1:45 pm
Alexinthepeaks wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2019 11:57 am Anyone else thinking that a gravel bike may be more appropriate? If only i had one!
I hoping a gravel bike is “appropriate” as I don’t own a mountain bike
Though the gravel bike does have mountain bike gearing.
If last year is anything by which to go sometimes I will be cursing the gravel bike, other times whizzing along.
A gravel bike is a compromise, much like any other bike.
This. I'm torn between my Cutthroat and the Burls. Cutthroat might win as it is built up

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 2:37 pm
by Richard G
I guess one advantage of not doing it is that I'm not going to have to scour the thing to work out where the deathmarches are. Although I'm tempted to do so as I could then go out and take photos of the miserable faces coming out of them... :lol:

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 2:42 pm
by dlovett
Richard G wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2019 2:37 pm I guess one advantage of not doing it is that I'm not going to have to scour the thing to work out where the deathmarches are. Although I'm tempted to do so as I could then go out and take photos of the miserable faces coming out of them... :lol:
Great, just what we will need in the middle of nowhere, you looking slightly smug, taking pictures of our worse side!

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 2:45 pm
by dlovett
JohnClimber wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2019 1:23 pm You'd wanna do this section in the daylight and that's for sure

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LzTHjODRd ... e=youtu.be
Sometimes its best not to be able to see what's coming!

Still so of my best times DH have been in the dark. What you can't see can't scare you.

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 2:49 pm
by Alexinthepeaks
Ditto, i did a 3 peaks CX practice run on my Ti Road Bike with 50mm deep section Carbon Clinchers down Jacobs Ladder at 10pm in the dark a few weeks ago....didnt even dab! Prospect of doing it in the day would not be good, as the exposure would prob put me off! That descent doesnt took technical at all, just fast and flowing and very fun! Bring it on!

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 3:07 pm
by Bearbonesnorm
That descent doesnt took technical at all, just fast and flowing and very fun!
You know how video has the ability to 'flatten' things ..... :wink:

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 3:53 pm
by Asposium
JohnClimber wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2019 1:23 pm You'd wanna do this section in the daylight and that's for sure

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LzTHjODRd ... e=youtu.be
Looks fairly “smooth”, no grass or bog in sight.

Oh wait, it’s a trail centre.

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 4:00 pm
by Bearbonesnorm
Oh wait, it’s a trail centre.
it's not and you know how video can 'smooth' things off :wink:

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 4:06 pm
by dlovett
Bearbonesnorm wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2019 4:00 pm
Oh wait, it’s a trail centre.
it's not and you know how video can 'smooth' things off :wink:
The mini gap jump looks very smooth.

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 5:25 pm
by Asposium
Both SPAR and Coop on Barmouth close at 23:00 on a Sat
Routhly 110km
Should be fine for most doing a 24 hour

https://www.spar.co.uk/store-locator/af ... r-barmouth
52.72264, -4.05529

https://finder.coop.co.uk/food/store/LL ... ation-road
52.72317, -4.05724

Tempted to take a cable lock. Unless meet a fellow boner to watch bikes. :o

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 5:27 pm
by Escape Goat
Interested if anyone has a link to a video of river crossings that they've found informative?

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 5:45 pm
by Bearbonesnorm
Interested if anyone has a link to a video of river crossings that they've found informative?
I really wouldn't worry too much about them. Most have bridges and last year was (a) exceptional with regards to the amount of rainfall in the 2 days prior and (b) unlucky that one of the bridges was destroyed a week before.

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 5:48 pm
by Escape Goat
Rodger that.

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 5:56 pm
by dlovett
Nope but I might have 8 pairs of waterproof socks for sale!!
Escape Goat wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2019 5:27 pm Interested if anyone has a link to a video of river crossings that they've found informative?

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 5:57 pm
by dlovett
But on a serious side there were some good tips on a thread a while back on how to cross a river. Main one is stay up river of the bike so you can let it go if needed.

I’m sure some others can give you more tips.
Escape Goat wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2019 5:27 pm Interested if anyone has a link to a video of river crossings that they've found informative?

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 6:00 pm
by Escape Goat
Yeah good call... It will he harbouring my jam butties so I may be death gripping it...

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 7:02 pm
by Richard G
Asposium wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2019 5:25 pm Tempted to take a cable lock. Unless meet a fellow boner to watch bikes. :o
I'm likely to be hanging around there a bit, but hard to say at what times.

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 7:34 pm
by redefined_cycles
Escape Goat wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2019 5:27 pm Interested if anyone has a link to a video of river crossings that they've found informative?
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=15042&p=186855#p186855

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 8:32 pm
by Ian
Just got a first look at the route.

Funny thing, I've never actually ridden the Afon Hengwm "track" - perhaps with good reason :wink:
That road decent to Arthog - be careful here - the bottom section is really steep, shaded and very slippery on entry to the main road. Junction is blind on approach for cars on the A-road. Someone overshot this in 2014, iirc.

Other than that, it looks a bit like 2014 with all the nasty bits removed. Quite a bit of road, but that doesn't necessarily imply it's going to be easy as the tricky bits are in the first half :wink:

Re: BB200 route on the way.

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 9:16 pm
by Escape Goat
Ian wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2019 8:32 pm Ju
That road decent to Arthog - be careful here - the bottom section is really steep, shaded and very slippery on entry to the main road. Junction is blind on approach for cars on the A-road. Someone overshot this in 2014, iirc.


Thanks Ian.