HISS Catalonia 2015

[dibbs]

Nice save (thumbs)

[Archie]

Simon,
You've made this point about 'them & us' a couple of times now in relation to Albarracin. From memory there were only 5 people staying in the cabins Jos & wife, Mickdb1, Chris Jethrodog and 4o'clock Jeff which represented ~33% of the attendees. It is a little one sided to say 'them and us'.
I stayed in my motorhome with my wife and that only left Iain, who bivvy'd up across from us and the young Latvian/Lithuanian lad who set up close to you and packed up and left early due to his off and Spanish Johnny. I may have missed someone can't remember now how many there were. It was not a large attendance, however I certainly never considered that there was a "them & us" If any divide existed it was more related to larger road bikes versus smaller trail bikes. I think you are making more of it than necessary!

Camping is not everyones bag over longer periods than a weekend and some comforts are a appreciated by older riders. So it should be possible to have people either camping, glamping, B&Bing or hoteling without affecting the overall aim of the HISS..!! Which is riding trails not camping per say!

Whilst I enjoyed the events challenges of riding in the Pyrenees I was not enthralled by the close proximity of a dozen blokes revelling at 1am and then snoring their heads off around my pitch, no offence to anyone, I snore too!! Whereas at Albarracin I was able to bale out and go to bed and didn't hear anyone snoring around me thankfully, albeit I was in my MH.

Similarly you had a divide in Collgats in the same way you are likely to at any HISS when you cater for varying bikes and riders who don't want to do the more challenging trails or are just there to enjoy a piss up with like minded folk.

Just my thoughts and hope you don't take offence.

Archie.

[BokitoJos]

We like to
1. ride
1. meet
1. join
1. explore

We take all discomfort when we choose bikers camping. Bikers benefit at HISS is much more as the discomfort.
Luckly the wash at the river nearly had the same frequency as me snoaring and my neighbours snoaring.
New to me, it isnt me only getting out at aprox 3.00hrs at night, lots did, sounding like a tentzipper concert, listning the night trying catch sleep again.

For me and my girl the meet and greet was fine, i like to mix, she also turned out to find her way flawless as me feedback told, flawless as her riding did, must say she had 1 year low frequency club trial obstacel traning and we did "Bilstain"in august and we did "Boade" Thursday and Friday before to get her used to the KTM.

Our goal, will ride HISS again, hope 2-stroking light both next year.

Albarrcin 2014 was OK for us, my wife stayed at the campsite so she was surprised by the cabin. Sensed. No annoyance. Part of it.

Think a campsite few miles from a village is a must. Essentials should be close.

First advise anybody take a years trials training.

Second visit Boade Senez France once, rent yourself a trials, dont need experience, you take the novice trails, explore the spacious pristine 600ha metric, its entrance of the Alps camping cabins and service.

[Simon_100]

Just my thoughts and hope you don't take offence.

Archie.

Hi Archie,

No offence taken at all and your thoughts are more than welcome - as indeed are everyone else's.

There is a lot to think about and digest after every HISS - otherwise it could stagnate so we're always open to new ideas and suggestions and try to incorporate them for next time. (thumbs)

Cheers

Simon

[Simon_100]

[quote="Are you still out there Kev?

Simon

Hi Simon

Sorry - been offline.
Decided - despite the fantastic offer to rv and ride down "escorted" by Dave R - to head back to Caen so set off early yesterday. I'm now reading the posts and have only just seen your post Simon re parts and the even more incredible offer from Steve which would have been a definite "yes please" !!!
Started stripping it down and will play it by ear but huge thanks to every-one for the offers of assistance - very much appreciated - just a shame I hadn't seen Steve's post before I set off from Angouleme.[/quote]

Better late than never department - we arrived back at Collegats today to find that GSKev had rolled in last Monday after returning to Britain to sort out his KTM! So HISS sticker with laurel leaves for him (thumbs)

Just said goodnight after highly convivial evening in the now almost deserted camping - Freek and Mo are still out in the wilds somewhere with minimal camping kit - and plotting a short trail ride tomorrow before i go to work in the afternoon ... :whistle:

Regs

Simon

[boboneleg]

But as always the devil is in the detail - Llavorsi is in the middle of the Parc Natural d'Alt Pirineu, where almost all of the trails are prohibited to anyone who isn't a resident, so just about any organised biker rally is totally illegal - I name no names - which is one reason why I won't go anywhere near that area for the HISS. The other being that the trails there are a bit boring as they are so short.

So you really do have to check you facts before sticking you oar in my friend.

Regs

Simon

Hi Simon,

I don't quite understand this, I have been based in Llavorsi and Sort many times and have ridden countless trails in that area. I have come across the rangers in their Suzuki Jeeps more than once and haven't had any problem, in fact I found them to be most helpful and never have they told us that we shouldn't be riding there.

I also have never found it to be boring or the trails too short?

Yours in confusion?

[SteveR]

Whilst I enjoyed the events challenges of riding in the Pyrenees I was not enthralled by the close proximity of a dozen blokes revelling at 1am and then snoring their heads off around my pitch, no offence to anyone, I snore too!! Whereas at Albarracin I was able to bale out and go to bed and didn't hear anyone snoring around me thankfully, albeit I was in my MH.

Archie makes some very valid points here!

Yes, it was our choice to squeeze in tight on the pitches, but I felt we were all VERY cramped with Jordi's new pitch regime and the noise and snoring was an issue for many. I slept with earplugs the whole event.

Last year was much better as we were spaced about more and TBH, we would not have hurt other campers arriving to be spread out a lot more, as it happened...?

I was tempted to up sticks and take another slot, but i know that would have pissed several folks, including Jordi... Not what I wanted.

Jordi showed some of us the cabins he has on-site, but we felt they were a tad pricey for very basic facilities and I think this was discussed last year? I have to say, that as a "ride to the event" type of person, a 2 man cabin would appeal, purely to save on carting loads of camping gear on a tiddler, but it's always a compromise.

What I really want is a F1 type Hotel 100yds from the event site

[moto al]

Cmon Steve ,you were camped right next to me, and the only complaint I heard from you was the firewood between our tents, as for value I think jordi was ecstatic , 5 euros a night fantastic . Re formula one type hotels great value.but I really dinae want to stay in a b&q industrial car park .Al your still a great chap xx (thumbs)

[moto al]

Cmon Steve ,you were camped right next to me, and the only complaint I heard from you was the firewood between our tents, as for value I think jordi was ecstatic , 5 euros a night fantastic . Re formula one type hotels great value.but I really dinae want to stay in a b&q industrial car park .Al your still a great chap xx (thumbs)

Ahhh, I'm not the moaning kind Al

I don't deny the value, but still feel that say 3 tents across the whole centre strip would have been better.... and safer.

I did say I wanted the hotel 100yds from the site, I know you are not a fan of the locations of the cheapies...

Points taken bud , the great thing is 4 guys who had never traveled before had just had a great laugh and nae fights , magic .thanks for asking after Callum my son he,s on the mend . I still feel guilty for being away when their was an accident. At home . Hope to see you soon .regards Al (thumbs)

[SteveR]

Cmon Steve ,you were camped right next to me, and the only complaint I heard from you was the firewood between our tents, as for value I think jordi was ecstatic , 5 euros a night fantastic . Re formula one type hotels great value.but I really dinae want to stay in a b&q industrial car park .Al your still a great chap xx (thumbs)

Ahhh, I'm not the moaning kind Al

I don't deny the value, but still feel that say 3 tents across the whole centre strip would have been better.... and safer.

I did say I wanted the hotel 100yds from the site, I know you are not a fan of the locations of the cheapies...