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Needs must if Ocardo won't deliver.
do****cher - Member
Rich knows that if Tom comes back in bits we will be getting a BOGOF deal at the undertakers...
The way he passed me in the 'Puffer, I don't think you have anything to worry about. That's a gifted young lad with a great future..
Looks like he'll meet the other Tom fuelling up at Oykel Bridge Hotel.
We will find out in the next hour or so if Minipips is going for the full 550 or will decide that the top loop will get him a unauthorised absence from school.
Oh eh....
Scratch Update:
Tom Gibbs confirmed as a scratch, is all fine and is going to spin home nice and easy.
Rich and Tom are going down the HT440 route.
Oh eh....
It is one of the planned get out clauses. See how he is doing at Oykle Bridge, if he won't make it back for school on Monday morning then turn south. They weren't too impressed when he took a day off for Strathpuffer. Having said that the top loop looks as if it is a goer on his times so far.
I am always the last to know.....
Scratch Update:
Darren Koslicki - cold, wet, not enough kit.
Amanda Brooks - GPS failure
Two riders are together and ok
do****cher - Member
I am always the last to know.....
Twitter innit'
Luddite moi...
On an aside is a remedial Twitter user = a Twit?
re fuelling at Oykell Bridge Hotel. Stayed there one night, all you can eat buffet, by lord it was immense (and great). Great hotel if not cheap.
It is going to be a bit of a head swivel moment for the field as they pas Team Pips for a second time....
More photos up on my blog http://niksbikingblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/highland-trail-race-2015-riders-as-they_25.html - this set are on the first day, the other side of the Devils Staircase.
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Not that I want to worry anyone, but it looks like the pips took a wrong turn off towards Seana Braigh but now seem to have corrected themselves.
it looks like the pips took a wrong turn off
A case of take the right turn.... no the other right! Or Rich was ahead with the tracker and had to go back and find the boy...
Great to see the pics nikk, good work getting them up as they ride.
Looks like Josh has 12 miles up on Tom. Tom has yet to hit Braemore which is Scottish for effing big hill.
It looks as if it is going to be tight to the end - who can stay awake the longest?
I am so impressed by the back markers too... Jenny G looks to be having a hard day, but she is still going and Chris A is plugging away. I don't have that sort of will power.
Official Scratch Update:
Dave Barter (@citizenfishy) with some serious knee pain. Otherwise ok.
Hated to scratch, but as mentioned started the race (with doctor's OK I will add, for the benefit of my wife looking over my shoulder just now...) with suspected Lymes disease and on meds. That might have been the reason, or it could just be a lack of manliness. Was feeling good until Struy, then lost all energy.
Anyway - will try again next year, and wanted to say a big thank you to Alan and Greg.
@nik - for what it's worth, I'm photo 38 in the section around Glencoe ski center, and 32 on back side of Devil's Staircase. Not sure if you caught me before or after my stack, but in any case was nowhere near as bad as Steve's.
Is it my imagination, or have there been less scratches so far this year. Better weather?
epicyclo - Member
Is it my imagination, or have there been less scratches so far this year. Better weather?
Not your imagination - but not better weather. Less wet, but way colder and windier
[quote=krixmeister]@nik - for what it's worth, I'm photo 38 in the section around Glencoe ski center, and 32 on back side of Devil's Staircase. Not sure if you caught me before or after my stack, but in any case was nowhere near as bad as Steve's.
I tagged the photos, hope it is correct!
Mark McPhillips is currently tucking into a nice pie at the Lochinver Pie Shop. Planning on a few more miles before biving
Glad I got an early start from Glen Cassley and got the last b+b in town. Enjoyed my pies in a hot bath.
Last bit before bed.
We have another starter tomorrow - ITT rider start John Fettis - due to go at 8am.
[url= http://trackleaders.com/highland15i.php?name=John_Fettis ]http://trackleaders.com/highland15i.php?name=John_Fettis[/url]
First time I've really looked at this race WOW! big respect to them all out there! Interested how easy is it to navigate a course like this just with a garmin? Also what type are most using? battery life must be a nightmare for so many days?
An update on Rich & Tom's detour. Apparently Rich went wrong around there last year too.... so all the fault of Pips the Elder.
Tom is looking forward to the steep hill push
The river crossing (Rich is going to take his bike across first and then spot Tom so he isn't eaten by a Loch Monster) and then
The Fisherfield section of doom that seems to take ages to cross, but is flat(ish)on a well ironed map so has us armchair dot watchers screaming at the screen.
They are loving all the support they are getting here and on Twitter - even better than the May Queen entourage doing a pre teen scream (at Tom thankfully) as they passed by the other day.
Funny that, as Rickie Cotter and Steven Sloof did exactly the same thing this morning on the Ullapool track...
Looking forward to see how Rich and Tom go today 🙂
Carnmore bothy might make a good target, given the severity of the terrain.
Brilliant stuff.
Surprisingly, no scratches over night.
We will see what happens when people get into signal around Ullapool.
Now they are at the bottom of The Inverbroom push would it be wrong to shout "Push! Push! Push! just PUSH!!!". I seem to remember something similar being said to me 10 years ago.
Great photos nikk! But why are so many of them smiling? I suspect there are lots of folk like me watching this, who have done bits of the course at some time but not in one massive heave. respect to all.
One equipment choice question though, I notice most if not all have opted for SPDs rather than flats. If there is so much pushing would there be any advantage in non -cleat footwear? Or does the advantage gained by clipping in for the road and easier sections outweigh any better grip pushing up big climbs?
The things I do for you lot... rushed, but you get the idea.
2014 on the LHS - 2015 on the RHS. It'll take a HUGE effort for Josh or Tom to catch Phils pace knowing what's coming next speed wise from Phils race.
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It looks like the gap at the front is diminishing. About seven miles of tarmac between them right now.
Steve Large has stopped - not scratched - as he has had to order a new freehub. He will get going again tomorrow.
Steve Large has stopped - not scratched - as he has had to order a new freehub. He will get going again tomorrow.
I would suspect Josh has stopped at the cafe on the way to Torridon, good spot before a long push and really technical traverse.
Nah, zoom in further and you'll see he's in the facilities next to the campsite. Perhaps he's considered not subjecting fellow cafe users to four days of race sweat and taking a swift shower.
Anyone know what Ilan Rubinstein is doing? Assume he's got some very different plans or is very, very lost!
It was mentioned somewhere that he was using the HT550 as a basis for riding round the Highlands if he didn't feel like continued participation.
Looks like Josh has just started the ascent from Annat.
Wonder why he changed his mind?
I'm routing for Mark McPhillip's, he's a local to me. I've told his wife to tell him that he's got to be back and in shape for the local midweek XC series, starting tomorrow...
r8jimbob88 - Member
Wonder why he changed his mind?
Lets go with fear. Fear is always a good reason 🙂
Scratch Update:
Really sorry to announce that Steve Heading is pulling the plug. Head not in it.
love this. Just properly bonkers.
<edit> not the bit about your man dropping out, just the whole thing I mean </edit>