• BB200 2020

Posted: **Tue Oct 06, 2020 5:43 pm**

does the route have a finisher yet?

Not as far as I'm aware Shaf.

Posted: **Tue Oct 06, 2020 6:01 pm**

I am committed now to starting from the Fforest Inn at first light on Saturday.

Hopefully, I will be meeting up with Alex for dinner at the pub on the Friday evening.

My target is to get round in less that 24 hours if I can stay awake and not get too bogged down!

Really looking forward to it ! - Despite climbing, mountaineering and mountain biking for 35 years, I have never been to the Brecon Beacons nor to the Black Mountains although I did do a few of the Merida MTB events from Builth Wells and have galloped a cob horse across The Begwns:

P1020577.JPG: (53.94 KiB) Downloaded 452 times

Posted: **Tue Oct 06, 2020 6:55 pm**

Just for the sake of posteriority; I'm really enjoying the terror, fomo and insecurity of this year's mobile start date scenario.

It's really added an element of personal responsibility and inevitable erroneousness to the whole proceedings (which was obviously lacking!

)

Posted: **Tue Oct 06, 2020 8:24 pm**

Following the line exactly probably isn't the best idea (I've seen it go through rivers and forests on long turns)... but it'll give you a vague idea.

Posted: **Tue Oct 06, 2020 8:34 pm**

If I have enough dry weather to finish the job I am doing at the moment I hope to set off towards the end of next week from Builth Wells early morning in the wildly optimistic hope that I might get to Crickhowell for late food . I know most of the route after the much discussed track/river to beyond the gap so if I end up there in the dark it should help !
Any ideas on a place to leave the Van in Builth .

Good luck to everyone out there and heading out this weekend

Posted: **Tue Oct 06, 2020 8:41 pm**

Raggedstone wrote: ↑Tue Oct 06, 2020 8:34 pm If I have enough dry weather to finish the job I am doing at the moment I hope to set off towards the end of next week from Builth Wells early morning in the wildly optimistic hope that I might get to Crickhowell for late food . I know most of the route after the much discussed track/river to beyond the gap so if I end up there in the dark it should help !
Any ideas on a place to leave the Van in Builth .

Good luck to everyone out there and heading out this weekend

The Groe car park is £4 a day for a car. You can get a ticket for multiple days.

Posted: **Tue Oct 06, 2020 8:42 pm**

stevewaters wrote: ↑Tue Oct 06, 2020 6:01 pm I am committed now to starting from the Fforest Inn at first light on Saturday.

Hopefully, I will be meeting up with Alex for dinner at the pub on the Friday evening.

My target is to get round in less that 24 hours if I can stay awake and not get too bogged down!

Really looking forward to it ! - Despite climbing, mountaineering and mountain biking for 35 years, I have never been to the Brecon Beacons nor to the Black Mountains although I did do a few of the Merida MTB events from Builth Wells and have galloped a cob horse across The Begwns:
P1020577.JPG

Nice looking Cob, you may regret not riding him this time!

Posted: **Tue Oct 06, 2020 8:49 pm**

Thanks macinblack I feel a plan coming together oh hell

Posted: **Tue Oct 06, 2020 10:05 pm**

I'm starting in Kington on Friday afternoon on the 300 route. It's possible that either the Sat AM starters will be in my tyre tracks or the other way round (depending where we overlap and split)

Posted: **Tue Oct 06, 2020 11:06 pm**

I do like the concept of an afternoon start for the 300. Definitely like the idea of most things still being open when you're utterly knackered in the back half of the ride (and being more alert for the sections in the dark).

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 1:36 am**

I have some unexpected time off from work over the next few days, not back until next Tuesday. I would really like to do this, but my problem is that I don't have a GPS nav thing, as I didn't end up getting one a couple of months back.

Is there an Old Skool version of being able to do this with grid references for an OS map? No stress if there is isn't, I was just going to give my ride a general sense of purpose!

Cheers

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:04 am**

I've seen it done with paper maps, but it was slow going.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 7:40 am**

Cheddar Man wrote: ↑Wed Oct 07, 2020 1:36 am I have some unexpected time off from work over the next few days, not back until next Tuesday. I would really like to do this, but my problem is that I don't have a GPS nav thing, as I didn't end up getting one a couple of months back.

Is there an Old Skool version of being able to do this with grid references for an OS map? No stress if there is isn't, I was just going to give my ride a general sense of purpose!

Cheers

Download The OS maps to your phone and use that? Youll need a usb battery pack too though.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:26 am**

Cheddar Man wrote: ↑Wed Oct 07, 2020 1:36 am I have some unexpected time off from work over the next few days, not back until next Tuesday. I would really like to do this, but my problem is that I don't have a GPS nav thing, as I didn't end up getting one a couple of months back.

Is there an Old Skool version of being able to do this with grid references for an OS map? No stress if there is isn't, I was just going to give my ride a general sense of purpose!

Cheers

your welcome to use my Edge 1030, I live in Banbury just off the M40

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:43 am**

I have some unexpected time off from work over the next few days, not back until next Tuesday. I would really like to do this

Perhaps that's a little unfair on those who paid to enter and ride?

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 10:54 am**

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:43 am
I have some unexpected time off from work over the next few days, not back until next Tuesday. I would really like to do this
Perhaps that's a little unfair on those who paid to enter and ride?

Eh, what is that about? Obviously I would have paid to enter! That is why I was asking if there was another way of getting the route.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 11:00 am**

Eh, what is that about? Obviously I would have paid to enter!

In that case my first question would likely have been "I realise entries closed at the end of last month but is it still possible to enter?"

I have some unexpected time off from work over the next few days, not back until next Tuesday. I would really like to do this

Doesn't make that intent clear.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 11:02 am**

Weather looking a little more promising on Saturday now. However, heavy rain on Thursday means it's still likely to be pretty soggy by then I'd have thought.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 11:41 am**

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Wed Oct 07, 2020 11:00 am
Eh, what is that about? Obviously I would have paid to enter!
In that case my first question would likely have been "I realise entries closed at the end of last month but is it still possible to enter?"

Ah. TBF, I'd assumed that the nature of this years event didn't mandate a closed entry list as there was less of a problem with numbers.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 11:53 am**

Richard G wrote: ↑Wed Oct 07, 2020 11:02 am Weather looking a little more promising on Saturday now. However, heavy rain on Thursday means it's still likely to be pretty soggy by then I'd have thought.

Yep. The "gentle breeze" part of the forecast is very good at least. Navigating through substanbdard muddy trails is part and parcel but doing it into a headwind for 12 hours really takes the gloss off the experience imo

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 11:57 am**

Yeah, as someone on the lighter side of the weight scale, wind is a huge issue for me. I'd rather it be hammering down than windy.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 12:04 pm**

Ah. TBF, I'd assumed that the nature of this years event didn't mandate a closed entry list as there was less of a problem with numbers.

Perhaps so Colin but in the current situation, it's still a numbers game ... reduced amenities, parking and maybe even a reduction in that usual, warm Welsh welcome (amongst certain members of the population) mean that it can't be open season entirely. I appreciate that people might think I'm simply a miserable tw@t but generally there's a good reason behind things. Why is it folk are encouraged not to ride the HT last week in May?

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 12:09 pm**

The midges and biblical weather?

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 12:24 pm**

The midges and biblical weather?

Apart from those.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 12:34 pm**

FFS, managed to get my bike into the shop (not had a lot of use in last year and a half) and the front brake lever is toast (lever doesn't return). Second time I've had it happen. First time with XT, this time with XTR.

Don't know if I'm going to be able to get it sorted in time to get out on Monday. Plus the small matter of the £200 to replace it.

Edit - Magnificent, there's no stock anywhere that I can see. At least not if I want to do the ride next Monday / Tuesday.

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