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Cross posted from Bikepacking.net from Stuart Rider
[i]What an event. Spent far to much time preparing and realising I had not prepared properly. Made Fort Augustus in 12hrs only to be sick whilst feeding my face. A wet Sunday and unable to stomach any food resulted in a hard 60 miles to Strathpeffer and a warm dry room. With virgin and uncharted territory to come and with the racing head down the toilet I relieved myself of the race baggage and unwilling to climb off the bike and onto the Chigwell train back to Tyndrum I planned a tour west to rejoin the race route at the bottom of Torridon. Result, 4 days of wonderful cycling. 400 miles of views and vistas which blew me away. Bothys and trail side camping. Rain and sunshine followed me back to Tyndrum. Mike Davies joined me for a while as we climbed and cycled through Glen Affric and onto Fort Bill. Thanks for the company Mike. After a small diversion to explore a valley near Glen Coe, Tyndrum awaited.
I knew the HT550 would teach me a few lessons. Prep is everything. Experience is essential. Eating is life itself. Bring on 2015.
Link to my pics on Flickr.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/yorkshirebiking/sets/72157644973666285/ [/i]
Oh well, work sent me home via the doctor's, so will have to spend the day dot watching 🙂
Iona's rolling to Kinlochleven, might all be over by teatime.
Might check out that deathrace on trackleaders next 🙂
Come on Iona. What an absolute legend to be nearly there now!!!
Still the wrong side of Kinlochleven, been there about an hour, lunch rest time ? or tracker stuck ?
🙂 nearly there
Some great pics from Stuart.
Rolling again.
Through Kinlochleven and heading to Glencoe ski center 🙂
Excellent. Once you hit the top of the Devil's Staircase, the climbing is pretty much complete as the one onto Rannoch Moor is quite gentle and all rideable. Hopefully she'll get back to Tyndrum in time for dinner.
And hopefully there will be a reception committee to reward that effort. 🙂
Iona's just coming down the Devil's Staircase now.
She's past Glencoe Ski center and halfway to the end of Loch Tulla, then it's bridge of Orchy over the A82 and final bit to Tyndrum
🙂 nearly over, should be well over before closing time.
Been looking about, seen Scotroutes blog, and started going through a similar thread to this on Bearbones bikepacking forum, some more technical detail over there, and some snippets of rider hell and bail outs with the aid of some long distance walkers.
It really is hard going out there !
acehtn - Member
...Been looking about, seen Scotroutes blog, and started going through a similar thread to this on Bearbones bikepacking forum, some more technical detail over there, and some snippets of rider hell and bail outs with the aid of some long distance walkers.
It really is hard going out there !
Proper mountain biking. 🙂
ohhh sodding trackers slow to update....
Close to rounding the bottom of loch Tulla now 🙂
3 miles to go!
Come on Iona.
running at 5.6mph 5mins ago, not long now 🙂
On my screen she has stopped just up the road from the pub at Bridge at Orchy, been stationary for 30mins now.
Tracker not updating
Has she stopped for a pie and pint 🙂
Has she stopped for a pie and pint
She deserves an entire round of drinks from everyone in the pub!
Come on Iona! 🙂
But is she in the pub ?
my screen puts her about 350m up the road, hasn't made it to the pub yet.
It is a well used overnight wildcamp spot, by the river, short walk to pub, maybe shes getting smashed and pootling down to the finish in the morning..... 🙂
maybe shes getting smashed and pootling down to the finish in the morning.....
That would be precisely the correct way to do it. None of this battering round in 4 days and heading home for work pish. Full value is best.
It's always an option when i am up that way to get off the main road at the pub, park the car, pitch tent and vist pub, does get busy there at times 🙂
According to my screen Iona's been still for 1 1/2 hours i reckon she's pubbing it 🙂
Maybe she's sat in the pub reading this and having a good laugh at how we're all watching a stationary dot a few miles from the finish 🙂
Being fashionably late 🙂
Don't see too much chance of her losing the ladies record time round the course.
Oh well, will look in tomorrow night now, after work see if it's all over.
Good show Iona 🙂
Word on the street is she has just finished, update to follow
🙂
haha, did wonder if the ****ing tracker was stalled.
Brilliant effort. I'm impressed.
And she's finished. Brilliant display of tenacity, endurance and stamina! Even my other half has been watching the dots religiously and cheering Ione along!
Whoop! Well done Iona.
Yay, well done Iona! Whoever you are 🙂
Tracker site has updated now 🙂
Well done to those that entered and had a go.
Well done to those that finished.
🙂
Yes, well done all - very inspiring! I did a tiny part of the route last month and I'd love to have a crack at the whole thing. Not going to kid myself I'd be up to racing it though.
Brilliant, been following the dots and willing everyone on from the comfort of my sofa/office chair.
Everyone that rode, had a go, finished or not is an absolute legend in my book.
Glad iona's back safe and sound, I don't know her, but following the pink dot around Scotland and hearing of her attitude and spirit through this thread and on bearbones I have total respect for her.
Well done indeed. Brilliant show. I hope we get to read some accounts of those that ventured. I might need something of a reality check to temper the inspiration and stop me getting any silly ideas about taking part next year.
Awsome event, addictive viewing, to all those involved and that took part,well done... nuts the lot of you - best wishes.
Kunstler - Member
...I might need something of a reality check to temper the inspiration and stop me getting any silly ideas about taking part next year.
On the other hand the Twinkly Pootle 550 may be more civilised....
The TP550 sounds like a motor powered bum cleaning solution.
Well done to all and well done Iona. Put some words to keyboard and a short vid here.
[url= http://riderscyclecentre.com/?p=2186 ]Highlandtrail blog and vid.[/url]
So overall 12 finishers out of 36 starters - an attrition rate of 2/3.
The trackleaders page is still showing Johan de Keukelaere as a finisher but if you look at his log he didn't do the Fisherfield and Torridon sections.
Great effort to all who had a go!
Didn't he do the permitted diversion or was that somebody/somewhere else.
Gunther Desmedt went in to Shenavall and then back out again, but scratched after that. Don't think anyone did the permitted diversion.
My Highland Trail race in words and pictures.
http://sometimesridesbikes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/highland-trail-550-race-overview.html
HT550 was ace. Thanks for the support. I have a long challenge planned with mates this summer, and it might make STW forum threadage. You'll like it, and hopefully it's something that both racers and bikepackers (or the hybrid packer-racer 😉 can use as a stepping stone to a full-core ITT.
My ramblings and photos from the race are here:
[url] http://newretrotom.blogspot.fr/2014/06/highland-trail-550.html [/url]
Epic stuff - thanks for sharing Tom.
Nice read that tom
Well done Tom. That was a good read.
brilliant. you make it sound easy 🙂