Bivvy a month 2014 thread.

[Charliecres]

6/6 for me - a trip to the Forest of Dean and a bivy among the boar. Woke up to a bright moon in the early hours and the sound of something heavy running towards us through the trees. It stopped a little way off and then started walking slowly closer until suddenly there was a blood curdling roar-grunt-growl from the other side of us. I thought we were going to be caught in the middle of battling boars. Or at least that they'd stroll menacingly into camp in a pincer movement and guzzle my emergency Snickers while challenging me to protest with their malevolent piggy eyes.

As it was, it all went quiet and I got quite a good night's sleep.

[Ian]

6/6 for me - a night under the Trailstar with Beth at the Teddy Bear Bones weekend. Kids in the laser photon to keep away from the midges.

[TheBrownDog]

5/6 for me. I engineered a Father's Day bivvy with my son (daughter away on a netball tour). We rode out about 10 miles to a spot I found last weekend in a nearby wood, stowed the gear under some bushes and spent a few hours on the local trails. Dinner was steaks and chips at a pub we will go back to as they were not in the least bothered by two mud-encrusted mountain bikers. Back to the bivvy spot, 15 minutes of panic trying to find the kit under the wrong bushes and then a very pleasant night under my tarp. We upped stakes early and were home by 9 for brekky, followed by three hours of jumps and general mucking around at Swinley. Best Father's Day ever.

[Mike]

My latest bivy saw me leaving sunny worcestershire and heading for N Wales with my full susser. My plan was to ride up Snowdon and Cadair over two days. My trip started off really good i got to the summit of Snowdon on Thurs at around 945 as the sun was just going down. I set out my stuff on the South facing side of the cafe ( nice and sheltered and flat!). There were only a handfull of people up there so all was good. By 11 i had the place to myself it was so still and quiet you could of heard a pin drop till 12 when a group of walkers appeared for an hour? Having had about two hrs sleep i got up at 4am to see the sun come up with about ten others! My descent was via the Rhyd Ddu path as ive never ridden this before, abit of a carry across Bwlch Main then all was good! Having got down i went for breaky then drove to Coed y Brenin and rode the Mbr/Dragons back route ( i mixed it up taking in all the good downhills ). Being pretty spent i chilled till it cooled off abit then took on the climb up to the summit of Cadair Idris around 7pm. It took me just under two hrs to ride /push up. Having got to the summit there were people everywhere still at 9 so i found a small hide away for the night under the tarp due to the wind. Again only having three hrs sleep by morning ( 430am actually ) i was feeling pretty tired to say the least. The descent was to come though and as ive done it before i know its mostly ridable and fast so what could possibly go wrong......

I know ill split the tired side wall! GREAT realising that my old pump was knackered i had no other option than to walk back down what i had walked up the night before. You can imagine my choice of words that came out my mouth!!! SENSE OF HUMOUR GONE so what should of took me about 30mins to descend took around hr n half. Time to go home for sure

Heres some pics


Night one bivy


A morning coffee at 430


Cadair summit in the setting sun was amazing

More coffee this time at 530 just before the sense of humour failed me!

[Bearbonesnorm]

I think it's got summat to do with that new coat you've got yourself ... looking at the (very nice pics) I was starting to wonder whether they were sponsoring you

[Mike]

It was a xmas prezzie that i ended up having to pay for and i love it. It packs down small and weighs next to nothing, did i mention its warm to

[Zippy]

Being above the clouds their looks ace

[99percentchimp]

Brilliant pics and sunrises/sunset looks ace - knackered photographer but ace pictures - cheers for posting

[JohnClimber]

Only managed 4 this year but Barney on here and in this photos is on 6/6.

https://vimeo.com/98821579

[Ian]

Second bivvy of June for me with the Longstaff Cycles bunch on their Less is More weekend.

Packed light but sensible - dry weight was about 2.7kg.

Bivvy:


New sport - stove racing, at which I won


It was so exciting, we nearly missed this (apologies for below average iPhone pic...):

#sunset #solstice by ianbarrington, on Flickr

[Bearbonesnorm]

Were people interested / surprised to see just how little it's possible to carry and still remain warm, dry and comfortable?

[Ian]

Yes, I think it was an eye-opener for all those there. Lots of comments like;
"where's your sleeping bag then"
"a cuben what?"
"don't you take spare shoes then?"
"how is that a stove?"

and so on...

They could all see the benefit that packing light was going to have on bike handling and general comfort/ reduced fatigue and how that would translate to either covering more distance each day, or as the general consensus appeared to be, getting to the pub earlier

[composite]

June - 6/6. Did my first local, "school night" bivi after work. Was great to be able to get this one in as I didn't think my knee was going to allow me too but it seems to have healed so alls good. I headed out towards Henley in Arden direction in the Midlands. Pub dinner, couple of pints of Guinness then off into the woods for a very nice peaceful evening. Got away with just the bivi bag as well which was nice.

Full ride report here with full gallery: http://www.composite-projects.co.uk/201 ... de-report/

[Mike]

Which woods were u in pal they look nice. I have to also correct u neil they r narrow boats mate barges r on the wide canals only

[composite]

Which woods were u in pal they look nice. I have to also correct u neil they r narrow boats mate barges r on the wide canals only

Correction noted and report updated.

I think it was Thirstly Wood which is just next to Austy Woods.

[barney]

6 out of 6 for me

A nice trip to the Clwyds with John and Paul (no Beatles puns)

Great weather and a cracking spot, pictures didn't do it justice...









https://vimeo.com/98821579

[slowupslowdown-under]

managed to sneak in two in one week (sunny birmingam / Litchfield and the Peak) making me a very happy camper regardless of a last minute let down!

bloomin' midgies though! thank god for noseeum mesh!

[composite]

managed to sneak in two in one week (sunny birmingam / Litchfield and the Peak) making me a very happy camper regardless of a last minute let down!

bloomin' midgies though! thank god for noseeum mesh!

Where are you based?

[slowupslowdown-under]

Sheffield but get around a bit with work so can work adventures around things.

You?

[composite]

Sheffield but get around a bit with work so can work adventures around things.

You?

Ahhh OK from this post and your post in the Winter bivi thread I thought you might be in Birmingham. :)

I'm in Kings Heath which is South Birmingham.

[Mike]

Im im brum neil, if u can catch me here that is ill be up for another outing as long as its not 75miles on the hottest day of the yr

[Mart]

managed to sneak in two in one week (sunny birmingam / Litchfield and the Peak) making me a very happy camper regardless of a last minute let down!

bloomin' midgies though! thank god for noseeum mesh!

You can always gove me a shout (in Burton) so not far from Lichfield, and always up for getting out on the bike
Recently on Friday and Sat nights, Ive been over to Cannock Chase... leaving late evening after work and getting back for brekkie. Ive been scouting other possible location

[composite]

Im im brum neil, if u can catch me here that is ill be up for another outing as long as its not 75miles on the hottest day of the yr

When are you about late July mate? I'll be looking for a mid week bivi if you are up for it?

[chris n]

managed to sneak in two in one week (sunny birmingam / Litchfield and the Peak) making me a very happy camper regardless of a last minute let down!

bloomin' midgies though! thank god for noseeum mesh!

You can always gove me a shout (in Burton) so not far from Lichfield, and always up for getting out on the bike
Recently on Friday and Sat nights, Ive been over to Cannock Chase... leaving late evening after work and getting back for brekkie. Ive been scouting other possible location

Found anywhere good? I'm not far from you - other side of Swad - and need to get back into bivvying. Wondered if the Chase would be any good, and on a trip over towards Castle Ring yesterday looked like there might be some good spots around Beaudesert.

[ScotRoutes]

An alternative (shorter) Cairngorm Loop on Saturday/Sunday

It's easy to forget how exposed, cold and wet you can get in Scotland even at midsummer.





http://www.blog.scotroutes.com/