Re: BB200 2020
Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2020 3:34 pm
https://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB3/
https://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=18021
Will be interesting to hear your thoughts. No shame in not being mentally "on it", sounds like you've had a bit of a year since that massive stack. Least you had a goRichard G wrote: ↑Tue Oct 20, 2020 3:22 pm So having had a few days to mull it over, I'm pretty embarrassed / annoyed at my decision to bail. To my knowledge I was still on track for sub 24, I just couldn't be arsed any more (I think partially because of being harangued by farmers, partially because I was burned out on stress from the descents / fear of crashing, partially because of ground conditions).
I've never failed one of these before, and I didn't ever expect my first failure to come from not being able to handle it mentally. I'm going to try and write something up tomorrow on it.
Oh, and I seem to have got a serious case of the squits again post ride, so I assume I must have been eating sheep sh*t during the event. Yay, injury to insult.
I think you've dealt with a reasonable amount over the last 12 months Richard, so all things considered .....I've never failed one of these before, and I didn't ever expect my first failure to come from not being able to handle it mentally. I'm going to try and write something up tomorrow on it.
I skipped through that and realised that we both took the same wrong path at some point.Alexinthepeaks wrote: ↑Tue Oct 20, 2020 3:55 pm And here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW4SH7W ... yAUWi-%3A6
Yeah, I know. The one major positive I took out of this is I never once felt like my hip was holding me back. I do know that I'm still not as fit / strong as pre-COVID though, so there's work to do there.Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Tue Oct 20, 2020 3:52 pm I think you've dealt with a reasonable amount over the last 12 months Richard, so all things considered .....
Yeah, definitely. Not least a massive lack of time in the saddle. Trainer fitness will only get you so far.Cheeky Monkey wrote: ↑Tue Oct 20, 2020 3:52 pm Do you think you set off under a mental cloud? You seemed to be fighting uphill against various things from the posts you made on here before you had even set off?
Nowt wrong with scratching, and at least you made it to the start line!Richard G wrote: ↑Tue Oct 20, 2020 4:15 pmI skipped through that and realised that we both took the same wrong path at some point.Alexinthepeaks wrote: ↑Tue Oct 20, 2020 3:55 pm And here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW4SH7W ... yAUWi-%3A6
Yeah, I know. The one major positive I took out of this is I never once felt like my hip was holding me back. I do know that I'm still not as fit / strong as pre-COVID though, so there's work to do there.Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Tue Oct 20, 2020 3:52 pm I think you've dealt with a reasonable amount over the last 12 months Richard, so all things considered .....
Yeah, definitely. Not least a massive lack of time in the saddle. Trainer fitness will only get you so far.Cheeky Monkey wrote: ↑Tue Oct 20, 2020 3:52 pm Do you think you set off under a mental cloud? You seemed to be fighting uphill against various things from the posts you made on here before you had even set off?
But yeah, mental resilience has been reduced to almost nothing, and it's usually one of my strengths.
Good effort from her, she's a very strong rider and wasn't on the ideal bike for it. Another person cursing the toughness of the route, is that mission accomplished Stu?Alexinthepeaks wrote: ↑Tue Oct 20, 2020 3:55 pm And here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW4SH7W ... yAUWi-%3A6
No, not really. I never begin with the intention of making any one year easier or harder (let's just skirt round 2014 shall we). There's often certain tracks that I want to include and from there it kind of builds itself ... remember that you're aiming to produce a long circular route to the nearest km, which in itself dictates the outcome to a degree.is that mission accomplished Stu?
Absolutely fella.also feel that a lot of people make it harder for themselves, thinking that 24 hours is the target, underestimating how hard that is, and then bail when it seems unachievable.
If people set off with the mindset to just complete the route, there would be a lot more finishers.
Good point - I'm just happy to finish, not at all bothered about when.Chew wrote: ↑Tue Oct 20, 2020 6:59 pm I also feel that a lot of people make it harder for themselves, thinking that 24 hours is the target, underestimating how hard that is, and then bail when it seems unachievable.
If people set off with the mindset to just complete the route, there would be a lot more finishers.
Sure, I don't doubt it's difficult to come up with a route of the right length etc.Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Tue Oct 20, 2020 6:22 pmNo, not really. I never begin with the intention of making any one year easier or harder (let's just skirt round 2014 shall we). There's often certain tracks that I want to include and from there it kind of builds itself ... remember that you're aiming to produce a long circular route to the nearest km, which in itself dictates the outcome to a degree.is that mission accomplished Stu?
ITT/event wise I've not had a good year so was just aiming to actually finish something this year. Obviously having done two BB200s in under 24hrs I've an idea of what to do.Chew wrote: ↑Tue Oct 20, 2020 6:59 pm I also feel that a lot of people make it harder for themselves, thinking that 24 hours is the target, underestimating how hard that is, and then bail when it seems unachievable.
If people set off with the mindset to just complete the route, there would be a lot more finishers.
Si, so is this the first year you've missed one?? I was hoping to have an interrupted CV of completions too but unfortunately after 20 miles (very poor do I know!) I chucked in that towel... But had a nice bivvy to make up for it before heading back to the car...darbeze wrote: ↑Wed Oct 21, 2020 7:11 am The 200 is a definitely a mental game, rather than the physical for me.
Most days of the week, I know I could ride 200km. However, add Wales, Stuart Wright and a clock and it's a different story!
I love the event and the challenge it gives me, but I experience the biggest extremes of emotion when I do it. From total elation to a complete snivelling wreck (I'm thinking 1am, Snowdonia 2014 in particular)...
I know there are harder and longer events out there, but the 200 is the daddy for me.
Who knows, I may even enter again in 2021...
Si
Si, so is this the first year you've missed one?? I was hoping to have an interrupted CV of completions too but unfortunately after 20 miles (very poor do I know!) I chucked in that towel... But had a nice bivvy to make up for it before heading back to the car...
I think I agree Stu, but now you’re making me question what I am. I’ve joined a cycling club - does that make me a roadie cyclist? I’ve put bags on my bike but not bivvied, slept in a van not under a tarp, and am now looking outside wondering what indoor jobs I can do todayBearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Wed Oct 21, 2020 9:05 am Re Juliet's video ... I think she did a good job with that and I think it will perhaps put quite a few folk off attempting it in the future. Why is that good? Simply because the BB200 runs smoother and produces more finishers when it's frequented by bikepackers rather than cyclists. I know that may sound weird but give it some thought.
I think you're safe Steve ... I've not figured it out 100% yet but I reckon you can be a bikepacker and a cyclist but been a cyclist doesn't make you a bikepacker ... or something like that.think I agree Stu, but now you’re making me question what I am. I’ve joined a cycling club - does that make me a roadie cyclist? I’ve put bags on my bike but not bivvied, slept in a van not under a tarp, and am now looking outside wondering what indoor jobs I can do today