So which would you choose, Glasto or Glencoe? [Archive] - SV650.org

View Full Version : So which would you choose, Glasto or Glencoe?

missyburd

21-03-09, 11:44 PM

Ok so I have stumbled across a SLIGHT problem. This summer I have the chance to steward at Glastonbury festival. Great, fantastic, fabulous, what an experience it will be.... however: I have just come back from the training session after having paid £47 to get the train down to Bristol. On the journey down the dates of the festival came up in conversation and it suddenly dawned on me...

....the dates clash horribly with Glencoe Massacre II*!!!! :(:(:(:(:( * Glencoe Massacre II being a bike rideout in bonnie Scotland for anyone wondering, a few days of much riding in fantastic scenery with equally fab people....

Yes I am a COMPER-LETE TWIT and can't for the life in me understand why I didn't realize this sooner (I think I got it into my head the festival will be in July :rolleyes::cry:)....

So, almighty .org, what do I do? Here's my thinking so far:

I have been thinking about the pros and cons of each almost the entire journey back from Bristol (6 hours worth of blood, sweat and ultimately some level of brain power lol), chatted with my friends who have been trying to convince me Glasto is of no contest, of course I should forsake a few days of bike riding yaddyyaddyyadda...

PROS + CONS
Glasto:
:) Will be my first festival :oops:
:) an experience that HAS to be had (at some point in my lifetime, not necessarily this summer though?)
:) Training session as steward done, £50 travel expenses already....
:( Not a great fan of huge crowds and randomness, don't know if I'd be a festival person?
:( Really not as enthused about the whole thing as I thought I would be :smt017
:( The lineup isn't amazing so far, nothing has really jumped out at me, apart from Madness lol.

SV rideout:

:) Went last year, thoroughly enjoyed every minute, great people
:) Chance to spend more time with Chris and the bike (always a good point)
:) I KNOW I'll enjoy the rideout whereas I'm just not sure about Glastonbury...
:( #shrugs# Achey bum (from riding the bike :-P) ?

Now you may say my mind's made up, no real cons to the rideout so what's the problem? But am I going to really regret it or should I just go next year?

Also, if the dates didn't clash I'd be going to Glastonbury without really thinking about it, but suddenly I'm thinking about it loads and I really don't want to be at Glasto wishing I was the other end of the UK! But if I was in Scotland I know I wouldn't be wishing I was at Glasto cos I've not got anything to compare it with! :rolleyes:

I'm thinking Glasto is something I ought to go to, just for the experience if anything, whereas I know I'm going to enjoy the rideout....if that makes sense :smt017 And the festival will be on next year. And the one after that.

Now I know this is a biking forum, so I am fully expecting this to be a biased vote but I also know there are sensible people on this 'ere .org (just humour me here :p) who may also have sensible points of view. Maybe. Possibly. Ok well just humour me here too ok? :D

I'm assuming that at least some of you will have been to Glasto so I'm hoping a poll may help as I'm still undecided....currently things are swaying towards the rideout :cry:

suzsv650

22-03-09, 12:00 AM

Glasto! I'm there this year altho i only live 10 miles away from the festival site;)

missyburd

22-03-09, 12:15 AM

Wow just reread that post a bit later, I do apologize, I don't half babble :oops:

10 miles away you say? Will remember that #potential future garden kippage on the cards...# :-P

El Saxo

22-03-09, 12:37 AM

I vote Glastonbury. If you have everything in place already to go and have already spent money on it then deffo do it. I went a few years ago and it is definitely worth it, - one of the best weekends I've ever had!

Also, there may not be many more Glastonbury's as every year there seems to be more and more publicity about how it's getting harder to organise, more restrictions etc etc.

Go while you have the chance, there will be other rideouts and the roads in Scotland will still be there for a lot longer than Glastonbury might be...

pawl

22-03-09, 12:48 AM

havent done either, yet!

but i reckon if i were to do Glasto, i personaly would not like to be a steward, as i would definately want to get caught up in it all.

i would probably be rocking up front with a tinny and cheeky woodbine!

lol

what i mean is prehaps if Glasto is something you have wanted to do for a while, then maybe being a steward could take the fun element out of the experience.

22-03-09, 12:50 AM

petevtwin650

22-03-09, 12:53 AM

Hmmm, what a dilemma.

El Saxo makes a good point about how much longer Glastonbury may be held. Think of the surprise on your grandkids faces when you tell you once worked at that historic festival.

Although I'm sure it will be hard work, and the living conditions might be poor.

Downside is YC will be even quicker without you on the back :mad:

It might rain all GM weekend in Scotland:cry:

Bluefish

22-03-09, 02:11 AM

glencoe, say no more.

kitkat

22-03-09, 07:40 AM

glencoe without a doubt. yes it will prob rain and you will get eaten by midges but think of those sweeping bends, whisky and great company - a muddy field with doped up yuppies pales into insignificance

davepreston

22-03-09, 08:01 AM

i'd do glas if i were you babe for the fact ov youve never done a festival before , you have done rideouts and weekend missions. now dont get me wrong im with the org in jockland but whichever you choose forget the other and just enjoy where you are

Swin

22-03-09, 08:54 AM

Do glencoe and then go to a decent festival afterwards :)

Don't forget wellies, for the sea of mud!

Tiger 55

22-03-09, 09:56 AM

If you're not going to be out of your nut on drugs and cider I wouldn't bother with Glastonbury. Come to Scotland and get off your nut on a natural high!

And lager. :-)

MR UKI (1)

22-03-09, 10:25 AM

How can it even be a question, rideout all the way :D. However, if it is the Glasto weekend I reckon we're guaranteed it will **** it down for GM2 :(.

dizzyblonde

22-03-09, 10:36 AM

I said on Friday, there probably won't be many Glastonbury fests left. Festivals are a right laugh.
Your getting in free to Glastonbury, a bonus considering how much it is to get in these days, unless you hop over the fence....which is also getting more difficult:rolleyes: you won't be stewarding all the time, so theres time to enjoy yourself. You've also wasted 50 quid if you don't go(we all know how stingy and tight you students are with your money)
Ed says its full of yuppy students(or words to that effect) you spend all your time with yuppy students anyways so whats the difference:smt017(BTW I'd noticed the student accent had come back on the phone....you toff:smt081:---))

Of course I'd be fibbing if I didn't say that the GM would be better, you don't get much time to spend with YC, and you'll get more chance to see the scenery sat on the back:p it may be cheaper, than the festival, but then again your a stingy student so won't part with your brass up there either:D

I dunno, only you can decide.....but best to have a chat with your mucky half;)

missyburd

22-03-09, 11:50 AM

what i mean is prehaps if Glasto is something you have wanted to do for a while, then maybe being a steward could take the fun element out of the experience.
If you're not going to be out of your nut on drugs and cider I wouldn't bother with Glastonbury. Come to Scotland and get off your nut on a natural high!

And lager. :-)
The idea with stewarding: you do 3 6-hour shifts which pays for your ticket and the rest of the time you can play. However as Tiger has said, if am not out of my head (which I won't be as I don't wanna risk turning up to shifts pi$$ed and I don't do drugs anyway) then perhaps the full experience won't be had. Although I know there won't be any other way of attending Glasto other than stewarding as I wouldn't be spending or affording £185 for a ticket.

I vote Glastonbury. If you have everything in place already to go and have already spent money on it then deffo do it. I went a few years ago and it is definitely worth it, - one of the best weekends I've ever had!

Also, there may not be many more Glastonbury's as every year there seems to be more and more publicity about how it's getting harder to organise, more restrictions etc etc.

Glasto will be on next year and the year after (foot and mouth permitting). £50 isn't much in the big scale of things, I'm still gonna have to pay transport costs to get down to Bristol from Yorkshire, probably gonna be almost as much as a ticket lol!

I'd rather my money was paying for fuel and fab scenery, how stupid does that sound :(

now dont get me wrong im with the org in jockland but whichever you choose forget the other and just enjoy where you are
I just don't want to get to Glastonbury, be sat on shifts thinking "I could be up in Scotland having oodles more fun!" And if festivals aren't my thing (which I'm thinking they're not really, kind of on a par with what Ed was saying) then I'm gonna be spending 5 days in a pi$$ and drunk filled field...

If the weather's crap then the rideout will be spoilt a little, however but I'll be camping in a field either way so that doesn't sway my decision...Tbh, it's the company that I'm thinking about, I'm gonna be going with my nest mate at uni and someone I know pretty well and that's it, I'm wondering if I should go with a larger group of mates, or should I be getting out there and meeting as many knew peeps as I can?

Thanks for the replies ladies and gents, all much appreciated. GAH I hate making decisions!

maviczap

22-03-09, 12:55 PM

If you don't want to do Glasto, I will gladly take your place so long as you're stewarding job requires you to be at the front when Springsteen or Neil Young plays.

This is a once in a lifetime to see Springsteen at Glasto, he'll never play there again. So go along to see him, you won't be disapointed even if you don't particularly know his music, as his shows are great. Hey but I'm biaised.

I won't be bothering with Glasto, as you had to pre register in October not knowing who was on the bill. Plus it usually rains!

I've got tickets for 2 other shows and hopefully Glasto will be on the BBC.

But if I had this opportunity, I know where I'd be going................ Glasto

fizzwheel

22-03-09, 01:00 PM

Glastonbury is one of the single most over rated events I've ever been to. I'm only glad that I've never actually paid more than £15 to get into it.

I've never enjoyed it the 3 times I've been, its to busy, you cant get to see any bands decently unless you are prepared to be squashed at the front. If you are stewarding, you might be OK but if your shifts conincide with the bands you want to see you'll be screwed. My mates did stewarding a few years ago and alot of the stewards b*gger off so they end up being short of stewards so you might get asked to pull extra shifts.

The upside of being a steward though IIRC is that you get your own campsite which is less likely to flood than the main campsites are.

Oh and if it rains forget it the pictures of mud on the TV dont do it justice, It really is cr*p. Go on the rideout.

missyburd

22-03-09, 01:03 PM

This is a once in a lifetime to see Springsteen at Glasto, he'll never play there again. So go along to see him, you won't be disapointed even if you don't particularly know his music, as his shows are great. Hey but I'm biaised.

Chances are one of my shifts would be on then and I'd be somewhere else. That's the other thing, if there are people I want to see then I might not even get to see them cos I might be working somewhere else! Perhaps I'll leave it a few years till I can afford a ticket for myself?

dizzyblonde

22-03-09, 01:06 PM

Neil Young plays.

and stuff

The godfather of grunge playing, that'd be a treat in itself:p

maviczap

22-03-09, 02:28 PM

Chances are one of my shifts would be on then and I'd be somewhere else. That's the other thing, if there are people I want to see then I might not even get to see them cos I might be working somewhere else! Perhaps I'll leave it a few years till I can afford a ticket for myself?

Yes, I'd be gutted if I was elsewhere dealing with drunks and scrotes.

All the top stewarding jobs would have been stitched up.

i think I'll watch Glasto from the comfort of my armchair, i've been to a couple of festivals in the past and the headline acts are usually ok, but the warm up acts are usually missable.

It'll be interesting to see how long Springsteen plays for, as he never has a warm up band and plays for 3hours with short refreshment breaks. He's good value for money. I can't see him doing this at Glasto

Plus Glasto's not his usual crowd so that'll be interesting too, as he might not get the usual reception as one of his giggs, but Jay Z went down a storm last year despite the doom and gloom merchants,

Sorry to derail your thread, excuse the rambling's of a self confessed Springsteen nut :smt038

missyburd

22-03-09, 02:43 PM

Hehe no worries :-D

I've never been a "gig" person, don't get me wrong I love music, lots of it... but for some reason, watching popular bands live has never attracted me :rolleyes: so really the whole business seems an odd concept. I really enjoy watching the less well known bands in pubs but something about larger venues just doesn't appeal. I do want to experience it and might even surprise myself but when it come to choosing something I might enjoy over something I'm positive I will enjoy...well as you can probably tell I'm liking the rideout option more and more...Oh dear, what a fool I be...

shonadoll

22-03-09, 04:19 PM

I hate festivals- honestly, if I were flown in by helicopter it'd be fine, but all this captive audience thing does my nut in. Crap overpriced food, crap *alternative* people who can afford the exorbitant cost, and hordes of people.

Redeout!

Seggons

22-03-09, 04:38 PM

Best of both worlds is to do the Isle of Skye trip that Haggis is organising and then go and do Glasto. :D

missyburd

22-03-09, 04:39 PM

Best of both worlds is to do the Isle of Skye trip that Haggis is organising and then go and do Glasto. :D
Hmm yes I did hear about that one. Will have to speak to m'lord first though :)

clanger

22-03-09, 07:12 PM

Glastonbury...go to Glencoe next year...

Sally

22-03-09, 07:42 PM

Glencoe..

Then come to something like Rockness, which gives you the lovely Scottish roads, and the festival experience :) Bad toilets..(have you ever seen them??), filthy campsites, walking miles from campsite to main arena.. Getting ripped off on drink, and they dont even serve spirits(wtf??), stuck with beer, cider or wine whole weekend..

Cant stroll back to you're tent for some more drink, as its bloody miles away..

But if you dont drink, its all good :)

Or you could be in a nice warm pub getting ratted with you're Northernly Neighbours...
Hard choice.. haha

Stewarding..
No thanks :)

Magnum

22-03-09, 07:43 PM

Asking this question on a bike forum, you will only get one answer :D

missyburd

22-03-09, 08:23 PM

Asking this question on a bike forum, you will only get one answer :D
Lol ye anno that, I suppose in a way I wanted to be reassured I was making the "right" decision. I think my mind's made up really but...oh...gah....ffs....I don't flippin know!!!!

suzsv650

22-03-09, 08:37 PM

You know Glasto is gona be awesome! Ride out yea sure its gona be fun but you missy out on a lot more not going to Glasto... Altho you are a stuard soo not to sure you miss some of the fun by working lol

Paul the 6th

22-03-09, 11:47 PM

Rideout, no contest. Glastonbury seems to me to be full of rich posers from Bristol all thinking they're so hip and trendy, walking around in a sea of mud listening to bands that can't sing, hideous noise and overpriced rip off food and drink. I can't think of much worse TBH, I have never been and have zero desire to go either.

+1 billion.

Go to snowbombing (http://www.snowbombing.com/) instead.... (just ignore dizzee rascal)

gruntygiggles

23-03-09, 12:08 AM

Paul the 6th

23-03-09, 12:09 AM

missyburd

23-03-09, 12:12 AM

grunty giggles knows the score maria :)
Indeed she does :-)

You make a few good points GG, voicing what I'm thinking.

Oh and YC hates the thought of a festival, don't blame him really. Except Download, I could get him to go to that :D

Lissa

23-03-09, 06:45 AM

You've got to come to GM2, Maria. As it's my birthday weekend I get to throw all the guys into a Loch...............I'll need you and Dizz to help me:D

gruntygiggles

23-03-09, 08:15 AM

Indeed she does :-)

You make a few good points GG, voicing what I'm thinking.

Oh and YC hates the thought of a festival, don't blame him really. Except Download, I could get him to go to that :D

YC is a wise man. I can't think of a worse way to spend my time. It's a bit like going to see MotoGP or Superbikes live......

You get there, have to put up with crowds of people, most of whom are off their face and annoying (festivals), get cold and wet or hot and smeally depending on the weather and you only really get to hear the music/bikes.....you never really get a good look at what is happening unless you are right at the front.

I prefer to watch on TV if I'm not doing anything more important as at least that way, you can see and hear everything properly and go get a brew without losing your precious position in the crowd!

Really though, the deal breaker for me is that I cannot stand to be in crowds of people.

fizzwheel

23-03-09, 08:33 AM

You're going to be a steward at Glasto, so you're not going to be in control of which bands you get to see, where you can go all the time and how much you can drink, kick back and have fun.....if indeed you would have fun given that you don't like crowds that much.

In Scotland, you know you're going to have a good time regardless of the weather and you'll be spendign time with YC.

Why not wait a year or two, save up to go to Glasto with YC or with other friends as a regular gal, not having to steward or anything. That way, you get to share the experience with someone the whole time, do what you want, when you want and if you really hate it, you can leave.

Up to you chick, but as you've never been to a festival......would you not prefer to be able to go to one properly with YC or friends and be able to have fun while you're there???

Totally agree, especially on the "if you dont like crowds" bit. I hated it and I ended up wanting to punch people in the face by the end of the day and went home and then back the next day. I'm lucky I can do that as I only live 30 minutes from the festival site you wont be able to...

Personally I'd keep the £185 quid, and use it to go and see bands I liked in a smaller venue. Also at Glastonbury unless they're a big band they dont get much stage time for their set so they normall do a greatest hits set list which sometimes isnt what I want to hear and also the sound quality can be variable especially if you're at the back and its windy...

Swin

23-03-09, 09:20 AM

Also at Glastonbury unless they're a big band they dont get much stage time for their set so they normall do a greatest hits set list which sometimes isnt what I want to hear and also the sound quality can be variable especially if you're at the back and its windy...

Echo and the Bunnymen, Glastonbury 2005 I think - wasn't good soundwise

missyburd

23-03-09, 09:28 AM

YC is a wise man

Lol sometimes :rolleyes::kiss:

Really though, the deal breaker for me is that I cannot stand to be in crowds of people.

Yeah this is my problem. Although I've not been to a festival before so I guess I can't really make a proper opinion, I know I don't fancy the idea of thousands of people in one area lol! I have a funny feeling I'd get there and rather go and explore the countryside while off shift LOL (tis what i tend to do when out and about, I get fidgety :rolleyes: )

But how can I say if I've never been? Instinct I suppose. Tbh, I think I rushed into the whole stewarding thing, I should have thought about it more, but I think I just thought I might as well seeing as the opportunity arose. But I do know what I'd prefer. Guess that's one of the reasons why I'm on this forum in the first place lol.

Lissa, yo're right, I sure wouldn't want to miss the antics, someone's got to take tons of photographic evidence eh? :mrgreen:

suzsv650

23-03-09, 09:36 AM

Rideout, no contest. Glastonbury seems to me to be full of rich posers from Bristol all thinking they're so hip and trendy, walking around in a sea of mud listening to bands that can't sing, hideous noise and overpriced rip off food and drink. I can't think of much worse TBH, I have never been and have zero desire to go either.

You think People from Bristol are posh! :shock: Its the Chunts of Bath or Barf

As for the mud its part of the experiance just like any other festival in the UK

Dappa D

23-03-09, 10:04 AM

Hey MYC, IMO it would have to be the rideout.........

if the options were 1, go to glasto with mates partying or 2, go on ride out you know is ace but have already done...then glasto may win...

but working there? nah sod that for a laugh...ok im sure a tipple or 2 could and would be had aswell as whatever substances - but at the end of the day your still there WORKING...foook that mate!

if your not a fan of crowds then its unlikely ud enjoy it also (unless with lots of your own mates/on one)

entirely your choice but personally id say if your gonna do glasto for the first time....then the experience you would get whilst working would be much less than if you werent

missyburd

23-03-09, 10:22 AM

Cheers Dappa :-) I think the attraction with working there was mainly to do with the money situation. I couldn't actually afford to go otherwise so working seemed a good idea and to be fair there's still plenty of time to go and play and if you get night shifts (whoch of course are not guaranteed) then you have next to no work to do as everywhere is so packed you're basically just telling people to smoke and such. I think what I'm bothered about also is the level of responsibility, apparently you get people trying to fob their kids off on you, there's risks of gtting accosted by drunks and even heard tales of people actually manhandling you to get a hold of your tabard lol! Tbh, it sounds TOO much like hard work.

I'd only be going with 2 people I know quite well, not a big enough group for my liking, especially as we all like different things, so we probably won't even be going about together, again not ideal.

Rideout is winning the more I think about it! Thanks for the replies guys, keep 'em coming, all advice and opinions much appreciated! :-D

gruntygiggles

23-03-09, 11:10 AM

Sounds like your mind is made up MYC. I think it's a no brainer for your personal safety, enjoyment and the experience you'll have......or not!

yorkie_chris

23-03-09, 11:27 PM

missyburd

23-03-09, 11:28 PM

:rolleyes: Geez I've missed you hun :-P

yorkie_chris

23-03-09, 11:31 PM

I'd only be going with 2 people I know quite well,

With what most of your mates are like I wouldn't trust them to feed the cat, never mind look after you. And I don't even like cats.

missyburd

23-03-09, 11:41 PM

:smt026:smt026:smt026:smt026:smt026Roll on GM2!! :smt026:smt026:smt026:smt026:smt026

:D

dizzyblonde

23-03-09, 11:44 PM

THank chuff fer than:kiss::smt038

skeetly

23-03-09, 11:46 PM

middle aged wierdos wanting to relive their youth

/waves

BanannaMan

24-03-09, 01:33 AM

Why the f##k would you want to stand in a wet field full of excrement with a load of middle aged wierdos wanting to relive their youth and worthless potheads, listening to crap music when you could be going around corners at high speed on some of the worlds best roads?

You should have just asked YC first. ;)
(Couldn't have said it better myself)

See ladies.....
When it comes to matters of importance, men really do know it all. :lol:

I'll get my coat...
(runs away quickly)

missyburd

24-03-09, 01:53 AM

Lol! Well I knew what he'd say anyway, hence why I thought to ask possibly more unbiased people :-P

Lissa

24-03-09, 06:33 AM

Lol! Well I knew what he'd say anyway, hence why I thought to ask possibly more unbiased people :-P

Well, I'm hardly unbiased! I don't like loud music, I don't like crowds, I don't like camping and I don't like mud. I do like hooning around on the bike! :D

Frank

24-03-09, 07:52 AM

I for one will be keeping well clear of the place.Dont live to far away and the traffic ,on windy narrow roads is an absolute nightmare

missyburd

24-03-09, 08:21 AM

Well, I'm hardly unbiased! I don't like loud music, I don't like crowds, I don't like camping and I don't like mud. I do like hooning around on the bike! :D
Hence the stickoftonngueout smiley, clearly me popping this on a biking forum was going to get me a biased opinion, perhaps this was what I was secretly aiming for...ahem....:mrgreen:

shonadoll

24-03-09, 07:44 PM

Lady GaGa is now playing Glasto, does that help?

24-03-09, 07:50 PM

Why the f##k would you want to stand in a wet field full of excrement with a load of middle aged wierdos wanting to relive their youth and worthless potheads, listening to crap music when you could be going around corners at high speed on some of the worlds best roads?

I'm not clear what you're saying Chris, you're not making your meaning plain:D

dizzyblonde

24-03-09, 07:51 PM

Lady GaGa is now playing Glasto, does that help?

who:confused:

yorkie_chris

24-03-09, 07:52 PM

I'm not clear what you're saying Chris, you're not making your meaning plain:D

Perhaps I should elaborate...

appollo1

24-03-09, 09:03 PM

Standing in a muddy filed with drunks puking and using anywhere as a toilet as all the thunderboxes are full and smell does not sound like fun. Ok you may be into the sort of music that gets played there but just remember back to last year and how much fun you had (apart from the midges).

Ride out has to win!!

shonadoll

24-03-09, 09:18 PM

who:confused:

It's a pop star, that electricky type music:rolleyes:;)

suzsv650

24-03-09, 10:31 PM

Paul the 6th

24-03-09, 10:35 PM

I say, those drugs are a bit moreish dear.

missyburd

25-03-09, 10:17 AM

Lady GaGa is now playing Glasto, does that help?

Not in the slightest, most of the "stars" playing there are just modern day crap. Sorry if ya like her lol.

I say, those drugs are a bit moreish dear.

:-D

yorkie_chris

25-03-09, 04:37 PM

What I want to know is who are the 6 eejits and what are they doing on a biking forum?

Sally

25-03-09, 04:48 PM

Make that 7... :(

shonadoll

25-03-09, 05:06 PM

Not in the slightest, most of the "stars" playing there are just modern day crap. Sorry if ya like her lol.

:-D

Naw, just thought she might put you off;)

suzsv650

25-03-09, 06:34 PM

What I want to know is who are the 6 eejits and what are they doing on a biking forum?

Its 8 now 1 was me :)

missyburd

25-03-09, 09:05 PM

Lol keep voting although my mind's pretty much made up now....I haven't yet emailed the organisers though...

suzsv650

25-03-09, 10:30 PM

Lol keep voting although my mind's pretty much made up now....I haven't yet emailed the organisers though...

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooo:rolleyes: