Another page change and I dont care wot u fink stu. 😛
Taylor good work there fella 😉
It's very windy and peeing it down like crazy here. Can't last for 4 days can it?
Well update from weatherman:
[b]It's Sunny!!!!![/b]
🙂
bit overcast, a few dark clouds, bit windy but Sunny and I'm off out on the bike for a warm up.
[TIGER6791 - Got them printed off and all on PDF on the iPhone
Happy to share the PDFs if anybody wants them]
Can you send me a copy plzzzzzzzz 🙂
Itsallgottago@hotmail.com
I'm off out on the bike for a warm up
D'ya fancy nipping up to B1 and letting us know what it's like?
@ Ian, I can possibly tell you now without leaving home 😉
@ flatfish ... whatever makes you happy is fine by me. Will you be bringing your ultralite gimp mask and bag of oranges with you?
Nearly ready! Hope the weather is kind to us. See you all tomorrow! 😕
Cemmaes for sun dinner (may be a bit posh)
Country cabin 😉
Nice idea Tiger, they do a decent breakfast.
While on the subject of food, the Railway at Abergynolwyn is serving food tomorrow night from 6 until 9. No other cafe or shop in the village, the landlord is kindly getting me some milk in for breakfast, ring him if you want likewise.01654 782279, I've warned him about our potential state of disrepair 😯 Is it possible to cheat in a game with no rules?
Surely as long as you pedal/push to each of the CPs then anything else is up to you?
If some people want to prentend that the're are in the wilds of Montana, 100 miles from anything, then thats up to them. 🙂
My sentiments entirely, now stop calling me shirley
From hence forth the 2011 WRT shall be known to all in the kingdom as 'The Easy Year' 😉
Where are people likely to be staying tonight and is there a planned pub outing ???
From hence forth the 2011 WRT shall be known to all in the kingdom as 'The Easy Year'
I thought it looked harder tbh. Getting everything in a clockwise direction, avoiding roads where possible looks about the same distance as last year but with 6000ft more climbing...
To Paul78, I looked for somewhere to stay local the nearest campsite is a overpriced caravan park, gave up so driving up early in the morning, looks like a wet front is blowing in tonight anyway.
Currently sat on top of a hill looking at the ridge of B1, just testing fully loaded bike photos should be in my Flickr but on iPhone so too much hassle to add.
It's a beautiful day in Dyfi valley
It looked a lot flatter on the map! 🙂
Back...
See that big old ridge in the top left of the photo? well tomorrow....
[url= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/5765328782_f23c063227_z.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/fantasticmrmatt/5765328782/ ]photo[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/fantasticmrmatt/ ]fantasticmrmatt[/url], on Flickr
[url= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2397/5764897567_68e2d58853_z.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/fantasticmrmatt/5764897567/ ]photo[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/fantasticmrmatt/ ]fantasticmrmatt[/url], on Flickr
[url= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3523/5765492818_78f91016c8_z.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/fantasticmrmatt/5765492818/ ]Bara Brith[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/fantasticmrmatt/ ]fantasticmrmatt[/url], on Flickr
Pubs, Cafes, Bara Brith??
right sorted 29er ready to roll, frame bag fits leaving room to fit a bottle cage which is great.
@steve - running 26" tubes so we'll be ok between us 😉
frame bag fits leaving room to fit a bottle cage which is great
Ah, that's interesting - it was made for a medium Pegasus, so worth knowing that it is compatible with a large Swift...
Ian yes it fits well towards the front end of the frame leaving a big enough gap to fit the water bottle cage, or I could get my Jandd pack to fit in the gap 😉
The only thing is as you probably gather the straps at the back aren't long enough to go around the seat post but it is secure enough without them tbh.
You can have a gander tomorrow 😀
I have the water bottle there at the moment which will probably stay for WRT.
Right, bike fully loaded and ready to rock 🙂
Complete bike and luggage weight of 39.2lb to include everything except water. This is a fully self sufficient set-up so includes all food, tools, fuel, additional clothing etc.
Bike weighs about 21.5lb bare so 17.lb of luggage (dot over 8kg). Quite pleased with that as my food list is huge!
I'm waiting for the official weigh in 😕
Bike and gear all set up ready to throw in the car first thing for the drive down. I'mgetting quite excited/apprehensive/shitscared. Have gone with the bivvy/tarp combo in the end rather than the tent, managed to get most of the kit on the bike so just need a small rucksack with some spare clothes/water/JD in. Not too sure on weight but it doesn't feel too bad on the ride up and down the garden test.
Have gone with gears on the bike in the end rather than ss, running an 11-34 cassette and 22/36 on the front, should be more than enough.
Quite looking forward to having a look over some of the other riders kit to get a few ideas for setup in the future.
See you tomorrow.
Yes, I admit that is a bathroom scales measurement. Plus the bike as usual is carrying about lb of mud!!
Pretty sure I could loose another kg if the weather could be relied on.
Southern Yeti, I have put you a red-bull stove in so if you need it then come and say hi at the raffle. Ill be on this-
[IMG] 
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Wow can't believe that setup came in at nearly 40lb! 😯
!! That picture doesn't include my bar harness nor camelbak.
Looking forward to some pics and ride reports. Weather is looking a little better as well.
Bikepacking - www.bikeandbivi.co.uk
I thought I was going belt and braces kit-wise, but total not including water comes out as 6.5 kg / 14.4lb without water. Happy with that.
Sadly my 28lb Inbred means all up it's over 42lb.
Had a test run with most of the kit (frame bag not quite fully packed, but saddlebag and bar drybag ready for the weekend). A bit disppointed to find my Ortlieb saddlebag full of clothes (1.2kg) unclipped it self 3 times on small drops (~6"). It's now compression strapped for extra support.
Driving up tomorrow, meeting the rest of my 'team' at Rhayader at 10am then should be at the start for a solid hour of essential faffing.
I've just chucked 20m of webbing and buckles in the car so if anyone needs a last minute strap come over and say hi 🙂
Just a quick message to say that I'll have five [url= http://wildcatgear.co.uk/products/handlebar-harness/ ]Mountain Lion harnesses[/url] to sell at the event tomorrow.
Should be there from about 10.30am 😀
That's good to know as I'm not favouring the bracket on my Altura saddle bag. I wish I'd bitten the bullet and ordered a revelate one and I would have been totally sorted - oh well too late now 😉
@Wildcat(Beth) - perhaps you may have time to measure up my large Swift and give me a quote for a frame bag.
See you and the family tomorrow 😉
I dropped 200m today in a few minutes with a Mountain Lion harness on the bars and it was awesome. Held the handlebar roll nice and solid.
Can't recommend Beth's Seamstress skills enough. It's a great bit of kit.
fingers crossed I win one in the raffle 😛
Go to bed Pete, big day tomorrow 🙂
See you in the 'morrow
so much for getting an early night 😕
Oh well got my chores done to keep the Doris happy 😉
MORNING 🙂
Last 5am check of the thread before setting off! Best wishes to all
Monsoon!!!!!!!!
Pob lwc
Okay people bring your Pac a macs. This view normally includes a hill. 😐
Still it's only rain and as they say in Yorkshire, "Why do you care about rain, you're not made of salt"
[url= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3470/5767548778_75bdbb1d4d_z.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/fantasticmrmatt/5767548778/ ]photo[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/fantasticmrmatt/ ]fantasticmrmatt[/url], on Flickr
Still so excited, feel like a kid at Christmas 🙂 and I think I can see the sun poking through
Well ... everyone got underway. The rain cleared and the sun came out too 😀
There's a few pics from this mornings start over on the WRT blog for anyone interested.
Wet, cold, grinning like a loon.
You found some signal then Tiger? Glad you're enjoying yourself.
I can report 7 bailers so far as of 4.15pm.
Any more news or gossip?
@ plodtv Second helping of start pics on the blog this morning. Had reports of heavy rain and very high winds on the higher points last night and this morning but the weather's taken a turn for the better ... at the moment 😉
weather can do what it wants, we have found somewhere well suited to high winds and have settled in for the night. Top weekend so far, despite the weather.
cheers Stu we had a great time will be back next year to complete the challenge.
Good luck to the folk still out there tonight, it was grim last night where we were and this morning 🙁
Well sat under a tarp, raining a bit, need my wits about me to fend off a coordinated slug attack!
Turns out Slugs are more prolific and twice as deadly as bears.
2 more checkpoints in the morning and we're done!
"home and anything but dry!"
Here's the pics from Saturday and Sunday. Had the pleasure of Aidan's company almost throughout. 140km ridden, many metres climbed and explored loads of good singletrack and bridleway. Lots of fun.
[url= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5063/5776034684_b6dd95b234.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/15512491@N08/5776034684/ ]Can you tell what it is yet?[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/15512491@N08/ ]ianbarrington[/url], on Flickr
Full set here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/15512491@N08/sets/72157626840394998/
Some great pics there Ian I'll get mine up tonight, just need to get them off my phone.
What was the weather like last night and this morning?
Ive been in such a bad mood all weekend thinking of you chaps out there enjoying your trip..GUTTED I had to pull out, KIDS Who's have'em!!!!
Great picture's so far, keep em coming?
Who won what in the raffle???
I won nowt but there again I wouldn't would I? 😉
Everyone back safe and sound ... I assume everyone's safe a sound, a few haven't signed off but there's no cars left? Weather cleared up today late morning so lots of sitting around, supping tea and eating cake and flapjack 😀
Ooooh, sorry to hear you missed it... had a fantastic time. Cold... wet... hungry... what's not to like?! Roll on 2012.
I only went and won me a Wildcat handlebar harness. Brilliant bit of kit, absolutely made up with it, simple and performed faultlessly.
Cheers guys. 😀
Nice prize that, Think I need to order myself a frame bag from them, Really look smart in the pics
AS I didnt go its only right I get post #700 😆
Thanks Stu, we had a great time again this year, although performance wise we slipped a bit and failed the 9+3 target (9+2) we did manage to get trashed in the Slaters Arms in Corris on Saturday night.
I used a wildcat harness, really good bit of kit.
Think I've managed to get all the sheep poo off everything, those things can't half defecate.
Talking of kids, I'd just like to mention Josh who rolled in with his dad this afternoon ... AGE 10, well done!. He also went home with a nice new Rab down jacket
On the subject of prizes,at the raffle on Saturday I won what I thought was a Singletrack water bottle, imagine my surprise when I looked at the bit of paper inside and found a free Subscription. Well chuffed!!Thanks again to Stuart and Dee for their seamless organising. Weather made it pretty tough this year 4,500m of climbing and 110 miles to get the 15 controls, legs stiffening up nicely.
My pics here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/27907257@N08/sets/72157626714452287/
Think I have a pic of Josh's dad in there, we bumped into each other Saturday. Must admit I bailed Saturday tea time, must try harder next year! Thanks again Stuart.
Here are my photos
[url= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5310/5777550608_35ef40c812_m.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/48247502@N07/5777550608/ ]WRT8[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/48247502@N07/ ]valley daddy[/url], on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48247502@N07/sets/72157626843336338/
Pics are super small, is there anyway to make em bigger?
www.bikeandbivi.co.uk
Cracking event, big thanks to Stuart and Dee for organising it all. Really nice atmosphere with everyone taking part there just to enjoy themselves rather than taking it too seriously. I teamed up with slugwash part way through sunday and the rest of today, had a great nights kip last night inside one of the scrap wind turbine masts up out the back of Cemeas, it's almost as if they were custom made for camping in...
Sorted all my stuff out, don't think there was any of it that didn't have sheepshit on it.
Think tomorrow will mostly involve having a good lie down.
Photos [url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/30537475@N03/sets/72157626718962543/ ]here[/url]
Would anyone be willing to allow me to post some of your images on www.bikeandbivi.co.uk to show load-outs? Or post yourself?
Brilliant weekend! A million thanks to Stu & Dee for organising it all. Looking forwards to the next one. Great to meet and ride with a few more names from the STW forum 🙂
The descent from checkpoint A9....
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Chew & Alfachippy riding west along the Tarren Ridge...
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Saturday night's campsite...
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Monday morning inside the wind turbine bivi (with a slight beer & Jack Daniels hangover)...
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Markenduro climbing somewhere near the finish...
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More here ......
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/8308384@N06/sets/72157626844561290/ ]Flickr Set - WRT 2011[/url]
Looks like we met too then Slugwash 🙂
Identify yerself 🙂
I'm the one in the blue OnOne jersey... with an outstanding ability for getting lost 🙂
I'm the one in the blue OnOne jersey... with an outstanding ability for getting lost
Ah yes, the one I made a cruel taunt to about being lost yet again before markenduro and myself exited the Dyfi Forest some seven miles from where we thought we actually were!
unsponsored - Member
Would anyone be willing to allow me to post some of your images on http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk to show load-outs? Or post yourself?
Done as requested 😆
http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk/php/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12&p=146#p146
All these pictures of nice campsites on Saturday and I suffered one of the worst nights I've ever had on a mountain, with a Laser Comp trying to take flight with me inside. Managed about half hours kip before all hell broke loose near the summit of Tarrenhendre.
Was fun and chaos in one, I'll be back 😯
@slugwash - good to meet you at the start and chat.... Please can I pinch a copy of the photo of me at the finish from your Flickr set... I ran out of memory card space part way through the final day.
Looks like you had a really good few days. Video to follow once I get some time to bolt it together and edit some crap out.
It was a nice ride out there. Weather was a bit "Wales" 🙂 but I expected that! It was certainly nice to go round with IanB's company.
Here are some photos:
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The complete set [url= http://www.aidanharding.com/gallery/?album=1&gallery=8 ]here[/url]
Cheers Aidan - conditions look grim in that shot - more tolerable in good company though. The Tarrenhendre Ridge was a lot harder down than I expected.
@DNF - what possessed you to try and camp up there 😕
It was where I wound up when night came in, the weather was getting bad and I had no idea what was ahead on the ridge so decided better to be below summit than on the summit! Was a miserable night, two guys tarped near me, but were gone when I stuck my head out next morning, although in the early hours one of the tarps was looking a little dodgy.
Based on you thinking the ridge was harder than you thought, maybe not tackling it in the dark was a wise move?? 😕 Was in my top 5 bad nights on a mountain. Slope, badly pitched tent, storm!