How's your BB200 prep' going?

[GregMay]

i'm mostly going to eat pies and not worry about it.

promises, promises. It was a drinking challenge prior to the YD300

My prep is going well currently but I think the exertions of Rays Borders 350 (which is imperial and actually 540km!) may interfere with my training!

Sat on couch after curry and two pints in the local with a, now 3 month, Achilles injury - I sadly am very much not lying. Or riding much :(

[Single Speed George]

Did go on a pretty hard single speed cx ride on the new single speed cyclo cross torture device after work for the second time this week ... but also discovered a new favourite pie and where to get it when I was coming back haha

[Bearbonesnorm]

Apart from just awaiting the the imminent news on the BB Trekkertent.... (C'mon Stu, let's end the suspense!)

I promise I'm not doing it on purpose.

[lionelrik]

What the reserve list looking like Stu? After last years no show's, would it be worth pitching up anyway, if I don't get confirmed?

[Bearbonesnorm]

What the reserve list looking like Stu?

Reserve list is gradually dwindling.

http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB ... 979#p60979

After last years no show's, would it be worth pitching up anyway, if I don't get confirmed?

Sadly we won't be in a position to offer any places out on the day, if you haven't got a confirmed place prior to the start you won't get one on the day, sorry.

[Crazy English]

Anyone travelling from the Cambridge area?

[Richard G]

Was getting some more hardcore miles in around Rhayader when I found myself pushing up a near vertical, loose rocked hill. For a while I wondered to myself just who would have been crazy enough to think that pushing up something like this would lead to a good bit of riding.

Didn't take long to come up with an answer. :D

[johnnystorm]

Was getting some more hardcore miles in around Rhayader when I found myself pushing up a near vertical, loose rocked hill. For a while I wondered to myself just who would have been crazy enough to think that pushing up something like this would lead to a good bit of riding.

Didn't take long to come up with an answer. :D

Don't share the gpx with Stu!

[Single Speed George]

humm finally starting to feel kind of half fit haha CX bike is doing wonders 100 miles last week in after work rides so much easier than goin places to mountain bike and plenty of single speed off road fun still , having only one 20 mile cx ride this week as gona do the sand stone way at the weekend on the mountain bike , so ye going good

[Crazy English]

Hi All,

Looking forward to my first BB200.
Just looking into gps devices. Would a etrex 10(£50 used) do the job?
or, do i need to pay the extra for a 20(£90 Used)?
or, is there a different range i should be looking at?

Any info about this or anything else you guy's think i should know, would be vaguely exciting.

Cheers

[Bearbonesnorm]

I would go for a 20 (either eTrex or Dakota). You can't add sd cards to the 10 so will be following a breadcrumb trail on the screen rather than a highlighted trail on a map.

If you go the SH route try and buy one complete with a UK 1:50k sd card.

The Garmin mounts are a bit crap so make sure you use a lanyard and tie the unit to the bars or somewhere

[Scattamah]

I should add there that the proper Garmin mounts are good. The knockoff cheapies off Amazon are iffy. Lanyard use on either is a sensible move.
I ran the knockoff during TD2014 and found my Etrex 20 bashing against the side of the bike on bumpy stuff. I ran the real deal for TD2015 and it never budged once.

Greetz

S.

[Zippy]

I should add there that the proper Garmin mounts are good. The knockoff cheapies off Amazon are iffy. Lanyard use on either is a sensible move.
I ran the knockoff during TD2014 and found my Etrex 20 bashing against the side of the bike on bumpy stuff. I ran the real deal for TD2015 and it never budged once.

Greetz

S.

Interestingly I have 2 x knockoffs from bang good and the official one.

The official ones is good

1 x knockoff is pathetic

1 x knocokoff is a tighter fit than the official.

I have my own "improved" mount based on the original design being developed....just fiddling with the car has taken up my recent tinkering time instead

[Richard G]

I had the official, was awful. Lost my GPS a couple of times on rocky terrain.

Ended up getting a monstrous RAM mount. Nothing was touching that beast, but it weighed a ton.

[Pyro]

Go for the Josh Ibbett mount:

[HaYWiRe]

Sorry if this sounds like a daft thing to say, and to note: I've never used a GPS, but do use phones and the occasional tablet mounted..

If we use "soft luggage" and dry bags because racks are more prone to failure over rough and long distance, why do you use hard plastic/metal mounts and not have a bag made for it? Seeing as fabric and Velcro are more flexible and compliant over harsh terrain.
IE: I've seen many top tube bags with a vinyl window for a phone

[johnnystorm]

Sorry if this sounds like a daft thing to say, and to note: I've never used a GPS, but do use phones and the occasional tablet mounted..

If we use "soft luggage" and dry bags because racks are more prone to failure over rough and long distance, why do you use hard plastic/metal mounts and not have a bag made for it? Seeing as fabric and Velcro are more flexible and compliant over harsh terrain.
IE: I've seen many top tube bags with a vinyl window for a phone

Touchscreens, accessing small buttons, faff of changing batteries. Every soft case I've used for my phone, etc has been bulkier and less convenient than a dedicated hard mount. I've also found my £3 ebay garmin mount to work fine, doubt I'd get a dedicated soft one as cheaply.

[gairym]

After clocking up 16 consecutive weeks of century rides earlier in the year I've now been working so much that I've barely been on my bike in weeks (since my failed Etape attempt).

The job I'm doing should be done in a week or so and then I'll be back on it I promise!

I'm having to resort to trying to eat healthily in order to counteract the lack of exercise which isn't going well as I've recently found a phenomenal craft ale shop near where I'm working - bugger!

[Crazy English]

Thanks for all the info guys.
I will go for the etrex 20 and will try a hard mount with added safety lanyard.

arrrrghh not long now!

[GregMay]

arrrrghh not long now!

Ages away yet, chill :)

[atk]

When do we get the route again? Week before?

Have fitted some gears. Riding has been patchy. Looks like September will be mainly road-riding :/

[Crazy English]

So i went a lightly different route.

managed to get a pristine dakota 20 with full UK 1:50 maps.

i best get some practice using the thing.

Thanks for the suggestion s8tannorm, the dakota looks like a much nicer unit to use and the mapping will always come in useful.

[gairym]

I moved from an eTrex to Dakota and it's a much clearer and easier unit to use on the trail (especially when tired).

Still AA so all good there but I wasn't convinced by touchscreen but so far so good.

[FLV]

I've been using an etrex for yonks and its been great. It keep switching its self off now though and forgetting my routes, refusing to connect to the PC. I think its had enough.

I'm considering an Oregon 600. Mainly because as it has a bigger screen it will be better to use on the engined bike too than the etrex. My only worry is lower battery life but it should be acceptable with lithiums for longer trips and rechargable for local / less critical stuff

[Bearbonesnorm]

When do we get the route again? Week before?

Oct 5th