[Closed] can`t see a puffer weather thread so here it is

Solid ice on the main climb.
Wet earlier today but below freezing now.
Snow already falling lying in various parts of the Highlands tonight.
More expected over the next few days.
Warmer again over the weekend (too far out to say when).
Spiked tyres are currently looking mandatory for at least the start.

I believe there are lots of places now available 😆

Saturday was slithery and I was on ice tyres, but I only did one lap, and that was the old course. There were folk getting around with ordinary tyres, but from what I heard they'd nearly all had falls.

It's warmer now and most of the ice will be gone.

However, it's wet, the ground is still very cold, so if we get more rain followed by a freeze, we could see some of the best slick ice ever. However, there's nearly always a line without ice after a couple of laps.

That will be coupled with awesome mud in the sheltered "warm" hollow bits.

Which is why I have built up a bike specifically for ice - just in case.

If you have ice tyres, take them, and hopefully you won't need them.

I suggest comprehensive mudguards rather than splashguards - it'll help stop slushy spray sucking all the heat out of you. Every watt lost to keeping warm is a watt not turning the pedals.

I’m about 15 miles away.

Turned white outside since getting back home about 7pm... just sayin....

So fitting winter's to the van and procuring snow chains was sensible ? 🙂

I’d keep them handy! Felt the car skite a wee it despite it being +1 deg C on the way up the road....

It's turned white here since my last post. Quite a drop in a short time.

Woo Hoo! Could be fatbike funday tomorrow.

If your roomsters skitibg. On my current tiresi wouldn't even get into the bottom carpark with the van.

3.5 ton and 1 all terrain tire atm......

So fitted 4 bfg all terrains to alieviate this minor issue

It was pretty much clear on my way home, just a wee bit of ‘huh’ going round an exposed corner. Temp was dropping and rain had washed the grit off I guess.
Not that much here, just enough to cover things white 😀

Forecast looks like snow all day and more tomorrow.

It's looking like it's going to be a good 'Puffer.

Don't miss it. 🙂

scotroutes - Member

...................

I believe there are lots of places now available

Noooooooooooo don't say that. I now want to enter it again!

TJ - their website was saying last week that everything was sold out.

Loads of places going on their Facebook pages over the weekend there

*puts fingers in ears*

Get excited! It's going to be snowmageddon strathpuffer!

'Puffer #13 was always going to be special.

I live about 10 miles East of Puffer central. IT's worserer as you head West apparently 🙂

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Well where I live I can look across the firth and up the strath to Strathpeffer/ swivel seat area, looks awwfy white on ground and nice heavy snow clouds heading in from the west!

I bedded in my ice spikers at the weekend. I was going to switch back to normal tyres but now I'm not so sure! I'd forgotten just how horrible and draggy schwalbe ice spikes are, even on the road it always feels like uphill. Not overly excited about 24 hours on them.

If it stays like that you'll want plus tyres. Glad I have my Stache ready to go as well as my normal bike.

For folk travelling up the A9

https://trafficscotland.org/livetrafficcameras/

And if you Facebook

Poke plus. If its a decent amount of snow it's mud tires you'll want 🙂

Will have to be a fair amount of snow before I consider taking the fatty to a race.

trail_rat - Member
Poke plus. If its a decent amount of snow it's mud tires you'll want

Will have to be a fair amount of snow before I consider taking the fatty to a race.

I intended to set up a plus bike but the rims still haven't arrived.

I suppose I could ride my Surly 1x1 which has Dirt Wizards, but it's a heavy bit of iron to push around for 24 hours.

Plenty snow here in the higher parts of Dingwall and it's still coming down. I'm heading out on the fatbike now - won't be going near the 'Puffer though, there's more fun higher up on the Ben when it's like this. 🙂

Been more snow overnight (way in was fun - all seasons as opposed to winters). Been snowing in the Sneckie most of the am. That wet 'quaver' flake kinda thing...

youd be better with my merida brian.... unltra light weight walking bike. easy to lift over the bumps. terribly unfashionable too 😀

way in was fun - all seasons as opposed to winters

when i said i put winters on the van..... i went the whole hog.

[img] [/img]

(disclaimer - not my van thats far too posh looking)

I think the Adventure Show are covering it again this year.

They cover it every year. TBH they should give it a rest and spend their time on something else. I suppose it's relatively cheap for them as it's in such a confined area. I don't think they've ever beaten the year they had the drone coverage.

Didn't see the adventure show there in the last 2 years.
I think the 10th anniversary was the last one they covered

trail_rat - Member
youd be better with my merida brian.... unltra light weight walking bike. easy to lift over the bumps. terribly unfashionable too

Cock and bother.

Tires have been delayed.

Which in turn means my snow chains won't fit.

Oh well.... The bottom of the hill it is 🙂

scotroutes - Member
They cover it every year. TBH they should give it a rest and spend their time on something else.

I don't think they've been there for the last couple of years for just that reason.

Looks like it could be a fun one, I shall enjoy watching it live with a beer in my hand 😈

Has TJ entered yet?

trail_rat - bottom of the hill is where we're partying 8)

Swavis - are you "watching it live" with Devs and Roberta, or watching the results at home?

TJ - Big Al was offering to pit bitch if you do enter.

Local conditions.

Snow perfectly rideable on normal bike at the moment.

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Another few inches last night since this pic was taken. Very fluffy light powder and I'd be more inclined to get the ski's or board out 😀

I've posted on the 'puffer' facebook page but just to let anyone looking for a warm refuge before or during the event, I'll be putting on a chilli and a chinese curry with any local bottle of beer for £8.50 on Friday night. Log burner always on. Beer garden might be a bit chilly at the moment. [url= http://www.inchbaelodgeinn.co.uk ]Inchbae Lodge Inn[/url]

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I must have driven past Inchbae Lodge a hundred times or more, it's so close to my folks' house I've never stopped though. Quite a place to live, do you run the place? There's a ruined house a bit further west that I've always thought would be nice to do up.

Hi bigjim. We have just taken over in the past month and one of the things we are trying to do do is get people to come in instead driving past 😉 Signage has seen better days (on the urgent to do list) but inside is now very cosy with a snug bar and log burner in the lounge. Draught beer will be here in a few weeks but we have a very good selection of local beers, a Guinness surger unit, 50+ whiskeys and 15 gins. It's ace!

Hi bigjim. We have just taken over in the past month and one of the things we are trying to do do is get people to come in instead driving past Signage has seen better days (on the urgent to do list) but inside is now very cosy with a snug bar and log burner in the lounge. Draught beer will be here in a few weeks but we have a very good selection of local beers, a Guinness surger unit, 50+ whiskeys and 15 gins. It's ace!

I don't think we'll call in this weekend, but we'll endeavour to call in (again) when we do the Highland Trail 550 in May.

Excellent. Look forward to seeing you then.

Cool well good luck with your new venture, if you can cream off some of the horrible NW500 traffic that should help and they seem to have quite a lot of disposable income! I will try to pop in some time on the way back from Assynt

Any updates from the locals? I see there are more snow showers forecast for the next 24 hours....

9cm forecast on sat night now......

It looks like just getting there from England is going to be an adventure. Is it a fool's errand?

Probably. But when has that ever stopped anyone

Where are you seeing that forecast trail_rat?

Met office is currently showing <5% chance of precipitation from noon Saturday through to midnight and then 10% or 20% chance through to noon Sunday.

Met office is shit, check MWIS, yr.no or raintoday instead.

Was going to say that avalanches in the woods don't seem very likely, but see you have edited your post Nobeeer!

yr.no agrees with the met office about precipitation.

MWIS only goes up to midnight on Saturday, but says showers dying out on Sat AM.

Raintoday seems to show only today, so no use for looking at Saturday and Sunday.

Walked around the top half of the course this morning with the dog.

Snow ankle deep, crisp.

Looks to me like it will be a fatbike course for the first few laps until a groove is established. That might happen during practise though.

If you're on skinnies you won't have a problem initially. However subzero in the night could mean random bits of slick ice in the grooves and descents. Ice tyres might be a good insurance policy.

One bonus - all the snow means even those of us using 8 year old lights won't be too disadvantaged.

It's looking to be the best 'Puffer yet. 🙂

yr.no agrees with the met office about precipitation.

MWIS only goes up to midnight on Saturday, but says showers dying out on Sat AM.

Raintoday seems to show only today, so no use for looking at Saturday and Sunday.

I try to use all 3 for a bit of a concensus, but never earlier than the day before - at the very earliest. It's so unpredictable up here, especially at this time of year.

Road are all completely clear now, M74, M8, M9 and A9 so no problems there. Roads around Strathpeffer will be fine. The forest road on the otherhand might not be. I'd advise snow chains as once it gets compacted by the first few vehicles.....

Mike Atkinson posted screenshot on puffer page on Facebook. Showed 6.8cm of precipitation between 1-2 am and a bit more before that

I'm almost tempted to do it now. Wait.........I'm over it. I'll be the heavy metal party with the cowbell cheering you all on with a beer (maybe a hot drink) during the night. First time in years I've not done it and I'm looking forward to not doing it 🙂

devs - Member
...First time in years I've not done it and I'm looking forward to not doing it

Enough snow to lighten the landscape but not clog the wheels. Cold enough, but not nasty with it. And dry.

You'll regret it if you miss it - there's team holes to be filled and a few solo places for sale.

Go on, next year might be back to the recent run of tropical 'Puffers. 🙂

I'd advise snow chains as once it gets compacted by the first few vehicles.....

If only someone was selling a set of Thule CB-12 090 chains 😉
Oh wait, I am. email in profile.

on the telly here this year,

Will have to make sure they get my best side!

I took a run round this afternoon.

Fire road climb looks like this
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and this
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There's a fair bit of snow up on the course, up to 6 - 8" on a fair bit of it.
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At the moment, a fatbike is an advantage. By raceday though, I think enough people will have gone through to pack down a line. The snow is nice and firm.
No real need for spikes currently, but I'd take them if I had them. Forecast is proper cold.

I'd seriously consider SS. It's going to be real cassette/mech/cable jamming conditions if the forecast is correct.

Parking could be a potential nightmare. Take a shovel, sand or grit, snow chains, socks, ..anything that may help really. The fireroad climb is probably going to polish up nicely.
I'm selling some unused chains which don't fit the car or van I now have, email in profile. 😉

One thing rarely mentioned is using a dropper. I'd definitely leave it on. The course is very uppy downy, dropping the seat on the slithery descents makes them much more fun, as well as safer and faster. It's also good just to have that bit of ball room on the rocky slippy pedally bits at the top of the course.

So bfg ats and snow chains might come in handy after all......even if it is just for if I venture off the fire road into something slightly green with a hint of moisture...... My bus doesn't do slippy shit.

Packing the fat bike. I guess the whole team might end up riding it if the snow comes as forecast.

I think it will be a mud tires year with possibly a front spike at certain times 🙂

If anyone needs a pair of 26" half-spiked Contis and is heading up the A9, let me know. I've a pair to get rid of for some beer tokens.

Ventured outside a few minutes ago.

Teeny bit more snow has fallen. Freezing on to the car.

Air feels lovely.

Just heard there's a lorry jacknifed on the A82 just North of Fort Augustus. Worth keeping an eye on trafficscotland and listening to MFR if you are heading up that way.

Loads of snow currently falling in South Loch Ness area this morning so the A82 looks like best avoided at the moment.

Also fresh snow on the A9 at Dalwhinnie.

Lorry only blocking one lane now.

I always enjoy the puffer talk on here every year. I'll take a look at the fb live feed above if I'm free. Good luck everyone.

munrobiker - Member

Swavis - are you "watching it live" with Devs and Roberta, or watching the results at home?

I'll be there with Devs and Rob to dispense moob rubs and/or abuse 😀

I also am looking forward to not doing it 8)

epicyclo - Member

You'll regret it if you miss it - there's team holes to be filled and a few solo places for sale.

Go on, next year might be back to the recent run of tropical 'Puffers.

I'm not fit enough this year, have injuries that need to rest and no suitable bikes. I think that covers it. I'm off to get beer 🙂

Is that live feed site safe. It's asking for a credit card for sign up and the site is giving off a dodgy vibe

Any photos from it yet to show conditions?

I'll be watching for Rich & Tom (richpips / Minipips) in the results.

Best Puffer ever.

More comment when sanity returns. 🙂

Crazy legs I put some on Instagram under hashtag strathpuffer24

Also. Agreed Brian best ever.

Not gonna lie was glad to have he van as a quad would have been a cold night huddled round a fire.

The truma never went off after dark. . Water pipes still froze up under the van.

Hit -13 outside at our camp and plus 20 inside 🙂 .... And thanks to adaquate ventilation very minimal condensation. 🙂

[img] [/img]

Superb day

Few Random Snaps

New course looked great!

Well done all!

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That looks like amazing conditions! I've seen the pics over the years of gazebos being blown away in the wind, hub deep mud, horizontal rain...

But crisp clear sub zero + snow... Fantastic!

My 6th Puffer and definitely the best. The new course is a great improvement, particularly the finish, and the weather was as about as close to perfect "Puffer weather" as it's possible to get. Fabulous weekend.

I still think they need to bring the numbers competing down a bit, but that's a minor point (slight constructive criticism if anyone's reading this). Overall the thing ran like clockwork. As usual, a massive thank you to all the marshals, volunteers and other folk who bring the thing together. It must be a huge amount of work.

Oh, and to top it all we squeezed our quad team into the top 30 for (I think) the first ever time, plus two top 30s for solo riders.

Anyone know what the story was with the mountain rescue helicopter that was buzzing around in the afternoon? Hope it wasn't someone badly hurt.

I drove up in the morning on Sat just to hang out with some friends, may have snuck in a lap too. It was amazing weather and the atmosphere was really good too. Well worth the trip - might even race next year...

Tbh I can see why they let so many competitors in. Course hardly gets crowded it seems a large proportion sack it after a short period 2-3 laps .

More sack it at dark

More sack it at midnight

Between 1-5am ....the number of bikes passing our pits drastically reduced. Nothing more depressing than a 24 hour racecourse with no one on it.

Stunning photos. That looks a great event and love the age range getting stuck in.

pedlad - Member
Stunning photos. That looks a great event and love the age range getting stuck in.

(I'm in Kbrembo's pics - rider with big yellow pogies, not a kid 🙂 )

Looks fantastic. I was in a quad last year and at the time I don't think I enjoyed too much of it after the excitement wore off after a few hours. Last years conditions were great but the snow this year just makes it look a bit more special. The pain of last year was soon forgotten as the jealousy of everyone competing this year kicked in.

Was tough, my first time up there. In a quad. Did the start and 2 laps, then out again at 1900 for 2 more, totally bonked on the second lap of that stint and became incredibly cold, and had to get a lift down with the med van. Learnt a lot!
A team member did 4 till 7 day and night, burnt 1200 calories doing 2 laps early on. Then 1200 cals doing one lap at 4am.
Well done to Marshalls, med teams especially, the kids banging out laps for fun! Just wow. And the solo guys..... I'm totally in awe.
I'll be back though!

I managed 13 laps up to 1.30 am and was feeling quite good until I had a nasty crash on a rock slab and landed hard on my coccyx. That completely took the wind out of my sails and I decided to bail.
Really enjoyed the event, although I thought that singlespeeding was especially hard this year. I would keep catching people up, but couldn't get round due to there only being one viable line (deep snow at the sides) then lose traction and end up pushing. Almost everything was rideable as long as I could get a run at it...
The snow consistency changed a lot during the night - it stopped balling up on my cleats and became very dry. This sugary snow seemed to form a nice lubricating layer on top of the ice and rocks which meant I had a lot of trouble keeping rubber side down. Maybe worn out non-spiked tyres were not the ideal choice!

It was an amazing event this year. Done it many times, and it’s always great, but this was the best. Conditions were unbelievable once the snow packed down. The opening lap was a bit interesting and binned it a couple of times in the soft snow. We managed 21st in the quads (best result so far), despite being a man down after he crashed on the icy water splash on the second lap and limped home without a chain and sprained wrist.

Massive thanks to the marshalls and all others involved in putting on such a great event. Looking forward to seeing what the Adventure Show coverage look like.