Sorry folks, I'm very late to the game but thought I'd add myself to the list!
It was a mad year, with very little free time to even browse the forums but I did manage some big rides and a whole set of BAMs at least. I only managed to get up to March posted initially so here's my catch up:
April
Took part in TransEngland (Very tough!) which was a through the night job without stops, so got my bivy later on with a local ride out to Durris Forest to see if I could get a nice sunrise view before riding in to work.
First tarpless bivy of the year
The view obliged nicely
Enjoyed the sunshine before dropping into the mist along Deeside
May
Wanted to go a bit further again, so headed out past Banchory and kipped in the forest next to the back road past Knockburn Loch before a pleasant road ride into work again.
That time of year when it never gets properly dark
Dry and quiet on the way back to town
June
Had TransScotland at the start of the month, but managed to do it right the way through, so no overnight bivy (4th fastest!). I had also finally finished the build of the Titus Silk Road I got on sale the previous year, so decided to give it its inaugural BAM ride right at the end of the month. I headed for the wind farm in Fetteresso Forest, but the weather was getting wetter the higher I got, so I went up and over before dropping into thick forestry to get some weather protection for the night.
Deep in the trees with a casually slung tarp
Morning turned out nice at least
July
On holiday in Nethy Bridge with very patchy weather, but managed to get out on the one dry night and found myself a cosy little hut in the the hills, which was more tempting than my planned summit bivy. Even enjoyed the increasingly soggy ride back to the cottage through some of my favourite bits of Abernethy.
Beautiful evening out past Dorback
Plush accommodation
August
Another down to the wire BAM, riding up to the wind farm at Meikle Carewe to try and get that sunrise hit I craved before rolling in to work again.
Back on the ground for this one
The sunrise obliged nicely
September
At the last minute I got myself signed up for Scotduro, which is a ride down the Badger Divide with timed segments that you can race on and add up at the end. I joined my mate Jon, who was keen to have a friend along, with the format meaning we could ride together for most of the time and just split up over the segments at our own pace. Our bivy spot was the shelter on Corrour Station to keep out of the wind - we were also sadly too late to get dinner at the Station House, which was the low point! It was a very tough ride, but I ended up 2nd fastest overall, which attribute solely to my choice of doing it on the Silk Road rather than a gravel bike.
The now and future fastest time I will ever ride up the Corrieyairack Pass - evil segment choice!
Halfway point accommodation - photo doesn't convey the incredibly loud noise emanating from the information board inside
Some lovely views further south in areas I don't normally ride
October
Atrocious weather and no free time resulted in a very close to home bivy in Countesswells Forest
Soggy forest
November
Very late 11pm start on the last night of the month to get an even closer to home BAM at the far end of the local park at -6, which was a great chance to test out my birthday gift underquilt. Cosy as anything, so the quilt is a winner!
Tucked up cosy in the trees
Nice chilly sunrise coming, but had to head back for work
December
Managed to get out post-Christmas, the night after a storm blew over a 30m tree at the end of our garden - if it had been blowing the other way, I might not be typing this. Got the mudguards fitted to the road bike and picked a forestry spot at random after riding for an hour.
Precautionary tarp for the odd rain flurry
Easy ride home on wet roads
So that was the calendar year completed for my 4th full set of BAMs. I'll be back this year and hope to get better at posting again!
, I always have a mental list way longer than there are months....
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