BC 8 - The Welsh Beast 10th-12th June 2016.

First topic message reminder :

Hi Folks,

It's that time of year again, to pencil in the BC dates for 2016.

This year we have secured all 19 beds at a lovely Motorcycle orientated B&B called Bikers retreat in Dolgellau, Mid Wales, run by Nigel & Tiv, two fellow bikers. It's a place I have been considering for the last couple of years.

The beds range from £39 - £45 per person per night B&B for doubles, twins and triples (all en-suite) and one single with a private bathroom.

Deposit is paid direct to the B&B and is £30 per person, the phone number is 01341 423192, please mention Nick Shuker as it's booked in my name.

There is a bar with local beer and lagers and a bar menu, I will be visiting over the winter to establish what's best for the group with eating arrangements.

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There is secure bike parking behind gates, a drying room for wet gear, and a workshop with tools and Nigel is very helpful and knowledgeable apparently.

There will be other accommodation available in the area, if required.

Feel free to ask any questions.

Nick

Sounds good. Menu orders in
Can't wait. See you all tomorrow and ride safe

I found the email ( in my junk email ) and replied with choices for tomorrow night.

See you all tomorrow.

Cheers Ross! I hope you don't get too wet on the way down?!

BC packing checklist -

Make-up packed ✔️
Nails painted to match bike ✔️
Umbrella for coffee stops ✔️


Anything else I need!


See y'all soon!

Menu choices sent. Himself has decided he needs a change of scenery so will be joining us in the four wheeled thingy - hope that's OK with y'all.

Lone'cat wrote:Menu choices sent. Himself has decided he needs a change of scenery so will be joining us in the four wheeled thingy - hope that's OK with y'all.

Not a problem at all & it is gorgeous scenery (if it stops raining)!!

Ride safe everyone and we both hope you all have a great time.

We tried to get accommodation nearby to break up our journey home but there's nothing available, so we'll wave on our way past Wales.  

We are on the ferry to Portsmouth, just left St Malo. We obviously adopted plan C for our euro route due to weather..

ellie wrote:BC packing checklist -

Make-up packed
Nails painted to match bike
Umbrella for coffee stops


Anything else I need!


See y'all soon!

I haven't even washed the bike let alone thought about what to pack

Gillybaby wrote:Ride safe everyone and we both hope you all have a great time.

We tried to get accommodation nearby to break up our journey home but there's nothing available, so we'll wave on our way past Wales.  

We are on the ferry to Portsmouth, just left St Malo. We obviously adopted plan C for our euro route due to weather..

Actually...I might have been able to book somewhere close by... Just don't ask me to pronounce it. So we may see you all tomorrow if we wake up in time...

Ride Safe and have a blast everyone. Well done FatCat & Gillybaby, hope you enjoy BC on top of your Euro Trip.

Sorry I'm missing this years BC hop   , but perhaps next year hey  

Looking forward to the BC pics. Who's doing the write up now Tony's not attending ?

Cheers
Tel

I think that might be Ellies baby this year Tel....
We are all in attendance now & giving the drying room some service, piss wet through describes it well lol

hi guys & gals tc & be safe have a great time there never mind the weather it the people who count enjoy
pete

Have a great time folks (despite the weather as it is the fantastic company that makes these weekends so enjoyable). Sorry we couldn't join you.

Linz and Rob

Hope your days riding through Wales went well & lots of fun had by all. Enjoy the evenings shenanigans.
I look forward to the pics & write up.

So far, fairly dry in Belgium. Moving on to Germany & Luxembourg tomorrow. Weather forecast looks to be questionable to kin shitty.

Despite crappy weather & one or two very minor concerns I think BC has possibly found a new home?
I'm giving Bikers Retreat some consideration for next year, I'd very much appreciate some very honest feedback about BC8 please, positive or negative thoughts will be taken on board

Good points

Great Hosts
Excellent location
Has a bar
Has a drying area for gear
Covered bike storage area
Relatively secure location.
Nige has a big van incase of any incidents
He also has a tyre machine ( for Rosco)

Bad points
Food/drinks expensive and not really much alternative close by.
Bar is too small
Decor is looking a bit dated and tired.

I'd be happy to go back there Nick.
Nige and Tiv were great hosts and very friendly.
Although on the expensive side as I mentioned for food and drinks it wasn't too bad.

That's my tuppenceworth.

Much appreciated Dave, echoes my thoughts
I had issues with Welsh mosquitos too!!!

I'm well up for going back. Some unfinished business on those roads

I'd echo Dave and add in the water pressure issue as a negative. I think the good outweigh the niggles and town is just a short walk away so there are other eateries/drinkeries to try. I personally didn't have a problem with the size of the bar - there was plenty of space once the children had gone to bed

As you'll have noticed, I wasn't there so can't comment on the venue.  I'll mention my thoughts on the format though, as I have before - my personal feeling is I prefer a weekend where I can get some space to myself and so am not keen on sharing.  Call it selfish, call it petty, whatever - I like to be able to spread out, have a shower, Facetime my family and generally just chill at some point during the weekend and having a room to myself offers this.  Where needs must I will share (and have) but it's not my preference.

If the format stays as it is I'll have to think about if and how I attend.  I know this sounds somehow aloof and I would be cutting off my nose to spite my face, since I really enjoy the time with you lot, having thoroughly enjoyed previous BCs, ToLs and others - but at all of these I found and booked my own accommodation.

There - said it.  I sincerely do not want this to be taken as a moan; I know organising these things is difficult and is always done well.  I was sad to miss BC8 but I knew that it was my own decision not to attend, for my own reasons, and that I was the overall loser (aside from there being one less Thundercat there!).  I would also not expect the format to be changed on my behalf - if the majority enjoy it then it should continue to evolve and grow.

Or maybe I'm getting grumpy in my old age.

Paul,
Bob,Pete and gang found their own accommodation In the town nearby (Dogleg or whatever it's called )which is about a 15-20 min walk from Bikers retreat. I think there is possibly an option for a single room? Maybe nick knows.

Paul, I agree with you & it's fully understandable why you feel BC has suited you better in the past,
I've had to make some different decisions in recent years, some had been forced upon me & some were through my own choice.
Those who are close to me know I very nearly pulled the plug once this years BC was over, logistics & time are difficult but once I got to the venue & met up with all these fantastic people I've met & who I now call good friends I reconsidered & I'm so glad I have.
Bishops Castle was a great place & I do believe BC needs a permanent home rather than a different venue each year.
My personal view on Bikers Retreat is that it's a little tired, a little cramped at times & has a few niggles but I warmed to the place & the hosts as the weekend wore on.
Thank you everyone for honest opinions as it's exactly what I'm looking for & will listen to.
As a side note Paul there was a single room this year but I'm informed that it will be converted into an office soon so won't be available next year, I guess other than the obvious cost involved & one less place available that you could book a double room to yourself?
Alternatively a group of four stayed locally in a different b&b but still met up for the ride.
Cheers Nick

Appreciate the reply and taking my comments as they were intended.

My concern about booking a double room to myself in a group setting is that I would effectively reduce the available beds for anyone wanting to come.  At other meets I have only done this if I knew it wouldn't cause a capacity challenge.

As for staying nearby and walking - only if there's a barmaid taxi service to get back again.

My thoughts on the bikers retreat.

From the moment you ride in you are greeted and made to feel welcome by two people who share in your own passion  for you being there.  Nig and tiv will go out of their way to help and serve you. You were made to feel like your friends of theirs not customers.

Admittedly the place could do with a tart up here and there but it also gives you a homely feel unlike some more modern places where you wouldn't want to say something or sit somewhere in case your in the wrong.

The rooms were spacious enough. Me and rich shared a triple room and yet it wasn't overly cramped. The bathrooms were a good size and they had the heating on cause they understand what it's like after a long ride.

The hot water yeah was a bit lapse. But if you consider every room was back in one go and I'm sure everyone wanted that all important shower after a day in the saddle then I'm sure alot of hotels would struffle to provide alot of hot water in one go. I myself didn't find this an issue.

Dinners were lovely. Complaints were only that if you ordered one specific meal. The veg for your meal were also put into the middle of the table for everyone to help themselves to. So you may not get quite what your ordered. But as we were a large group if we asked for more chips they soon fetched them. Also at breakfast they were more than willing to keep stuff coming and topping up the coffee and teas and toast.  Prices were a little higher than expected. The beer prices for a b and b were only just on the higher end. But if you consider what you pay in a pub then it's not over the top. Plus he stocked local beers which to my taste were damn good.

I wouldn't have any problems with attending another weekend here. The owners were great and that made the difference.

Secure and covered parking for so many bikes is a bonus too.

I mean absolutely no disrespect to your post Mark but I just love the word 'struffle' - I shall be using that regularly from now on  

TT_mark wrote:...... I'm sure everyone wanted that all important shower after a day in the saddle then I'm sure alot of hotels would struffle to provide alot of hot water in one go.

P.S. I had a bath, it was fine

My thoughts -

Water pressures crap but I managed!
Steph and I were the last ones standing in the bar so space wasn't an issue

Tired decor but we were wet and dirty so it was appropriate. Drying facilities a bonus.

I wouldn't want a load of mucky bikers ruining my carpets.

Food was fine, not cheap but only 17 covers & 3 staff to employ?!  


I'd stay there again - no problem.

If you want a room to yourself - book early.

E X