I normally bikepack on my own

I was considering in the future to maybe do a bikepacking event. However, what puts me off as they all seem to be on the ‘hardship’ side. You know, lots of suffering or type 2 fun.

Are there any that are a bit more laid back without the sufferfest?

This might be just me, but that’s how many of the bikepacking type events come across, so put me off doing them.

Check out the events organised by Charlie Hobbs. I did the Dorset Dirt Dash in 2018 and it was superb. 100 miles over 2 days. Wild camp with barbecue and beers.

?! WRT! Basically it's one big cafe and pub visit (*) with the distraction of a few short bike rides in between.

(*) Other WRT options are available

Oh, forgot, I would be doing it on a gravel bike with 2.0 650b wheels.

RIP wrote: ↑Mon May 25, 2020 7:24 pm ?! WRT! Basically it's one big cafe and pub visit (*) with the distraction of a few short bike rides in between.

(*) Other WRT options are available

The other option is one big pub and café visit

In the UK? Aside from WRT.. not many but Pannier put on some group tours, although you will pay more than an event entry fee you'll get way better food and coffee along the way by the look of it.
The Distance event maybe, or the Racing Collective events seem to have a good social element.

Both the WRT and Winter Event are both very much 'not hardcore' unless you want to make them such.

jameso wrote: ↑Mon May 25, 2020 7:31 pm In the UK? Aside from WRT.. not many but Pannier put on some group tours, although you will pay more than an event entry fee you'll get way better food and coffee along the way by the look of it.
The Distance event maybe, or the Racing Collective events seem to have a good social element.

Yes UK. But 200 to 300 for a weekend is too much for me.

The JennRide - can make it as hard or easy as you like, usually lots of options to shortcut bits and be a bit "economical with the route" Rich does tend to plot a route that goes past plenty of pubs and cafés

Not done it, but maybe the Moors 100? The organiser does post on here occasionally (as does Rich)

^ good mentions there Whitestone, heard great things about both.

However, what puts me off as they all seem to be on the ‘hardship’ side. You know, lots of suffering or type 2 fun.

Which events in particular seem like this? I'm having a hard time to think of many.

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Mon May 25, 2020 8:23 pm

However, what puts me off as they all seem to be on the ‘hardship’ side. You know, lots of suffering or type 2 fun.

Which events in particular seem like this? I'm having a hard time to think of many.

Most to be honest, the way they appear to me, is they are sleep in a ditch, hike a bike, stop being soft, sort of events. That’s my perception, I might be wrong.

It’s personal perception though. If a person had done loads and enjoys them, they might not consider them hardcore or not of a great challenge.
For some even the thought of sleeping outside would be a challenge. For many riding a bike more than 5 miles is considered too much.

I’ve done loads of extreme stuff, but that’s not what interests me at the moment.

I was just after some pointers or advice, maybe some aren't as bad as I thought.

jameso wrote: ↑Mon May 25, 2020 7:31 pm In the UK? Aside from WRT.. not many but Pannier put on some group tours, although you will pay more than an event entry fee you'll get way better food and coffee along the way by the look of it.
The Distance event maybe, or the Racing Collective events seem to have a good social element.

yeah, Pubduro nym is a fun option
https://www.theracingcollective.com/pub ... html#entry

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Mon May 25, 2020 8:23 pm

However, what puts me off as they all seem to be on the ‘hardship’ side. You know, lots of suffering or type 2 fun.

Which events in particular seem like this? I'm having a hard time to think of many.

I was thinking of reporting this post to the moderators for obvious trolling.

Don’t want to sound flippant but you could always organise one yourself. Just pick a meeting point and a route and invite people over one weekend.

Doesn’t have to be fancy, just tell people you’re riding from place A, to which pub/cafe etc and you’re away

voodoo_simon wrote: ↑Mon May 25, 2020 9:01 pm Don’t want to sound flippant but you could always organise one yourself. Just pick a meeting point and a route and invite people over one weekend.

Doesn’t have to be fancy, just tell people you’re riding from place A, to which pub/cafe etc and you’re away

I don’t want to get into it too much, but I’m struggling with mental health issues due to military/NHS so I was after an event I found reasonable without causing anxiety. So me organising something is probably not best,and I don’t have anyone to invite either.

I do stuff on my own normally, but I was just trying to maybe be a little more social. (Not easy)

OP - it depends what you are after but Andy Toop organised an "adventure" weekend up here in Aviemore last year and was going to do so again if it hadn't been for CV19. Basically, a camp site, lots of locals showing folks around, a chance to see and compare kit and setups. There are tons of routes in the area so easy to find something suitable. No fixed route. No fixed distance. JennRide seems like the closest sort of thing I've seen.

I guess the obvious question is - what do you want to get out of the event?

maybe some aren't as bad as I thought.

I think that's probably right. However, due to the duration of any bikepacking event (min 24 hours), routes tend to be reasonably long (although they often don't need to be ridden with any urgency) which will straight away make it too challenging for some. Add the navigation requirement and that's a few more not taking part. Now throw in the need to conduct them (mostly) somewhere with limited population and lots of potential overnight spots and the terrain will almost certainly become somewhat hilly and at times remote. Throw in some mixed weather and you've got a lot of potential for type 2 fun.

I'd say, look for any events which don't have a fixed route to follow as that will allow you to reduce the likelihood of type 2 fun.

do stuff on my own normally, but I was just trying to maybe be a little more social. (Not easy)

Does it have to be an event? The informal trips arranged here are a good way of meeting / riding with others.

The annual Winter "Bivvies" seem to be up your street then. Choose any route to get there, mingle, take a tent if you want your own space to crawl in to. There are other semi-organised rides too, though I appreciate how easy it is to be reluctant about joining these if it's folk you don't know and at a speed you might not manage/desire.

The WRT lonely hearts seems to be something you could consider. It usually has grand notions of covering over a hundred miles over the the 48 hours but usually drops some mileage and the the pace is to the slowest rider and the participants are very supportive. It's a good laugh with plenty of stops at cafes and pubs. Entries are still open for this year.

Give it a go.

If you’re anywhere in the shires I’m sure we could organise an very non-hardcore ‘event’ our record is 5 cafes and 2/3 pubs plus a bonus steam train

Adventurer wrote: ↑Mon May 25, 2020 7:38 pm

jameso wrote: ↑Mon May 25, 2020 7:31 pm In the UK? Aside from WRT.. not many but Pannier put on some group tours, although you will pay more than an event entry fee you'll get way better food and coffee along the way by the look of it.
The Distance event maybe, or the Racing Collective events seem to have a good social element.

Yes UK. But 200 to 300 for a weekend is too much for me.

Likewise!

The annual Winter "Bivvies" seem to be up your street then.

Spot on. Not events but a good social. Shame this current situ is stopping the summer bivis plans, hopefully local area early autumn seasonal trips will happen.

The Distance - too dangle mug, expensive gravel w@nker for many (who've not done it), but if you speak to those who have, it has always been a great weekend (but then I would say that, as one of the organisers).
https://advntr.cc/the-distance-2018/
Cancelled this year unfortunately. As above, Jennride and Moors 100.

Brother in the Wild - postponed until September (and tickets may not be available this year... ).

https://www.brothercycles.com/2019/12/b ... may-2020/

Very chilled out last year - riding from a campsite base with some stuff laid on.

OP - As someone who suffer with anxiety and panic attacks I know what you mean about trying to be a bit more social, I’d love a bimble-bike-packing-fest, no pressure and the option to ‘bug out’ if feeling crap without feeling as though I’ve left others down. Yeah bike-packing on your own is good but I do miss riding with mates.

Poor mental health is very isolating