So I'm back and figured it might be worth revisting this...
It appears - yes, indeed - I did take too much junk.
[u]I didn't need:-[/u]
The second water bottle (never actually filled it). Weather ranged from tolerable to minging, so I was never sweating that hard. If it had been proper hot, I think I'd have been glad of the extra capacity though. (I also now know, there's plenty of streams and rivers, although I'm slightly wary about drinking from them - seen enough sheep corpses in them!)
The power pack. Genuinely surprised by this after this years Jennride. I was down to about 20% on the Garmin at the end of the first day, so it would have started complaining very shortly. Managed to get it on charge at the lunch stop on the second (longest) day, so that was OK. Last day was only 6hrs, so that was fine. Would still take a power pack, but would use a smaller one.
Tubes, although a close call. The back tyre randomly went flat half way UP the Corrieyairack and as I was pumping it back up air was bubbling out in about 20 locations (really!). But it then stayed up fine for the rest of the trip. Strange. I'd also pumped both tyres up proper hard, which made grip and comfort a lot more marginal than I'd like. As a result coming down the Corrieyairack, was an exercise in keeping my eyeballs in place rather than actually riding the bike properly. A bit annoying after turning myself inside out to clean the climb. Maybe just the 1 tube next time.
Brake pads. I was genuninely worried the first day as I was basically riding up and down streams which would have been disastrous on local trails, but the relative lack of traffic and very little silt in the water seemed to keep things pretty clean.
Second pair of bibshorts. Both B&Bs had good drying facilities, so that would have been OK.
Baselayer, emergency fleece, buff. The baselayer took up next to no space or weight, so Meh. Could have ditched the fleece, as it never got that cold, but arguably better safe than sorry.
Could probably have got away without the lock. Probably.
I took too much snacky stuff. After a bowl of porridge and a full english brekky each day, I ate far less whilst riding than I normally do.
[u]What I DID use[/u]
Both chargers. A dual outlet one would have been a "better" answer, but would be £20 rather than £6 for the second single outlet one.
Waterproof shorts were a godsend the first day. Pissing it down as I started, running wet trails most of the morning, then I got caught in a proper powershower type storm for 20mins just after starting up the Corrieyairack. Jacket and shorts meant my torso and thighs just about stayed dry. (ended up wearing them all of day 1, not at all days 2&3)
Gilet was invaluable - never took it off. Likewise kneewarmers. Armwarmers were up and down, on & off.
I used the phone quite a bit at stops for the (offline) OS map app, so I could see more info about where I was and what I was passing, rather than just following the line on the Garmin which gives sod all info about the area. Was getting through 50-60% battery each day doing that in airplane mode plus photos.
Pressure gauge - used because I could.
Oil - used each day. It was only a 7ml sample tube, so no weight. I'll take the point about Putoline for that kind of riding. Otherwise, happy as I am.
Cool. So you took photos.
WHERE THE HELL ARE THEY?
Excellent.
For posterity, I'll say it again. Head North. That way you do the Corrieyairack in the right direction 🙂
(and who the hell wants to ride to Glasgow?)
Exactly!
Glad you had a good trip. Hoping to do the Badger next year.
What B&Bs did you use?
I’ll say it again. Head North
Not entirely sold on that TBH. Yes, you'll get a nicer descent of the CYAK but I'd be bloody impressed with myself if I managed to clean the climb up the Laggan side, luggage or no luggage. BUT, you miss the stunning hairpinny descent on the "High Route" Great Glen Way, and the looong fast fireroad down Rannoch Moor. While I can see Loch Rannoch to Glen Lyon being good either way, I think Brig'o'Turk to Aberfoyle is best N->S (bumpier climb, gravel mag ad descent). While Glasgow isn't a great place to arrive at - neither is Inverness! Also not convinced I'd want to have the hardest, lumpiest day at the end. I'll admit I was lucky with the wind, as it always had a northerly component to it - I could see a typical southerly getting pretty dull pretty quick.
@robbo1234biking
Laggan Hotel and Ardlochay in Killin
Why lights – its Scotland in summer so its hardly ever dark.
Also it's Scotland in summer so a wet cloudy day and a road segment... Lights are a worthwhile weight investment......
