There were a few showers this afternoon further out North and West and in the Contin area. Another cracking evening though. It'll easily be light enough for riding without lights at 11pm.
I have a drive to Kylesku tomorrow afternoon. I'll see if I can spot any riders.
And Fisherfield looks dry at the moment!
Just done an evening ride around Fisherfield on the motorbike. As I dropped down into Kinlochewe, a rider loaded up was coming out of Incheril. Someone scratched and chose to take a direct route from Shenavall to Lochan Fada?
It's like chalk and cheese between the Letterewe estate and Fisherfield Estate (north) weatherwise this eve. Beautiful around Slioch but north of Gairloch its low cloud/misty and very scenic. Nice temperature though so it's all good for them.
None of the HTR riders has got anywhere near there yet.
So I see! I guessed they were coming through that area when I spotted the guy all loaded up.
Lots of people bikepacking up here this year, great to see. Low cload and mist has only been inland. Been mostly sunny out here on the coast.
And right now, Lee IS IN THE LEAD!
Looks like Stuart is in the lead, Lee close 2nd.
Lee seems to have missed out the off road section coming into Lochinver this morning. She tweeted that she was having Garmin issues last night and was using her phone to navigate.
Yep, looks like she was on a fast road rather than off road. That's a crying shame.
Here are some pics from around Ben Alder on Saturday. Fantastic conditions.
[url= https://flic.kr/s/aHskxp8UVX ]Ben Alder HT550[/url] - album here
[img][url= https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7379/27060325990_9e56db5d6c_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7379/27060325990_9e56db5d6c_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Heef9E ]Zbyneck and Adam[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/130951075@N03/ ]Andy Williamson[/url], on Flickr[/img]
NewRetroTom - Member
Lee seems to have missed out the off road section coming into Lochinver this morning. She tweeted that she was having Garmin issues last night and was using her phone to navigate.
How much time do you think that would that save?
Oops. I think Alan has made concessions in the past for similar lapses of concentration. Both that section and the off-road section into Ullapool. Otherwise that makes Jenny the "leading lady".
Decisions are made afterwards by Alan - please let's assume Lee went back for now, the SPOT trace is not fine enough for anyone to make assumptions. This is going to be a GPX to prove you didn't moment I fear :/ Hard if your phone has crapped out and not tracking you.
Steve Heading has had a mechanical - one of the Al's is having gastric issues (assuming Goldsmith) and they've bailed to the road.
Not Goldsmith - as he's started to move, looks like Alan Sheldon.
How much time do you think that would that save?
Probably about 25 mins.
Historical Split Update from Matt C.
Ledmore Jct
2014: Phil Simcock 1:22:34
2015: Tom Roundtree 2:00:42
2016: Stuart Cowperthwaite 2:00:32
Bloody hell.
Don't forget Josh was about 2.5 hours ahead of me in 2015 at Ledmore.
Not much between the first 4 at this stage (Oykel Bridge return bit)
Indeed, but plenty left to come yet. Much, much HAB in the next day.
Yes, it's always the last bit that's the killer in anything this long. 🙂
[img][url= https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7327/27238231502_4fe058c035_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7327/27238231502_4fe058c035_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/HuX4g5 ]Liam[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/130951075@N03/ ]Andy Williamson[/url], on Flickr[/img]
Is this Liam? He's riding strongly since Sat p.m.
If a tag on the spot tracker is greyed out has the rider pulled out? Or is it just waiting for an update? Our lad Scott hasn't moved in a while...
I think that after a certain number of missed updates the tag becomes greyed out. Greg will answer definitively. It seems that he's currently in the vicinity of the Oykel Bridge Hotel so might be getting refreshments 😀
Grey tag means they haven't registered in a SPOT chirp in 30mins - nothing else.
Not Goldsmith - as he's started to move, looks like Alan Sheldon
Showing Alan Sheldon as scratched now. Hope he's OK as he's a good mate who I ride with regularly.
I bumped into Phil Addyman in Ullapool Tesco. Talk about a man on a mission!!!! It's hard to explain just how focussed he was in getting in, getting food and drink, using the toilet and getting out again. 😆
I've seen a couple of comments regarding the fisherfield section coming up so it's "about to get interesting". What's the deal with this, is it a difficult, hilly, hike, remote, all of the above, kinda section?
Fisherfield is a very wide river crossing, I think
Fisherfield river crossings can be serious, but there's very little water in the rivers at the moment - so no problem.
bigmandh - Member
I've seen a couple of comments regarding the fisherfield section coming up so it's "about to get interesting". What's the deal with this, is it a difficult, hilly, hike, remote, all of the above, kinda section?Yes!
Showing Alan Sheldon as scratched now. Hope he's OK as he's a good mate who I ride with regularly.
Gastric issues. He's with Steve Heading - who's had a mechanical.
The Fisherfield can have a big river crossing, there's lots of tricky riding and a big hill in the middle. It's an amazing place to be on a bicycle, but most will question what the hell they are doing there on one at some point, even in benign conditions.
I'm in awe of these riders, I have no idea how they can keep up this pace over such difficult terrain. I fancy doing it as [s]an ITT[/s] a holiday ride sometime, perhaps over a leisurely fortnight rather than a few days.
Anyway, here are a few photos of a ride through the Fisherfield a few years ago to keep us entertained as we wait for the [url= http://trackleaders.com/highland16 ]Spot dots[/url] to update...
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ooft. Just realised this years route goes down the Slioch side of Loch Maree 😯
I've seen a couple of comments regarding the fisherfield section coming up so it's "about to get interesting". What's the deal with this, is it a difficult, hilly, hike, remote, all of the above, kinda section?
Fisherfield, AKA the last great wilderness, a long section between roads where the route itself is the easiest and quickest way out. I've only been in to Carnmore and a little bit beyond which is a four to five hour walk, the leaders have a bit of hike a bike to get over to the bothy there. There's a river crossing here http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=205352&Y=881622&A=Y&Z=120 which if it's too deep/dangerous means backtracking and going round by the coast road but there's not been much rain in the area recently - last year one competitor took over a day to get across it. After Carnmore they've the postman's path alongside Loch Maree which, according to a Greek goat I know, is "interesting".
It's also the only place I've ever seen a Scottish wildcat.
That side of Loch Maree is a pain in the ass rode there 2 months ago never friggin ending!
A friend of mine Paul Horabin has scratched bad knee he has been riding with 2 broken ribs from the Jennride 3 weeks ago, his girlfriend is still going Fi Massey 🙂
For me the route from Corrie Hallie (near Dundonnell) to Poolewe is one of THE classic rides in the UK - but it's also one of the most serious.
I'm curious to see how long it takes for people to get from Letterewe to Kinlochewe. I've walked out, but not been tempted into a ride. Perhaps Postierich did so out of professional interest? I deliver the post to Letterewe twice a week, but unfortunately the days wobbly take it as far as the roadside on the opposite side of Loch Maree. Every time I see an item addressed to Carnmore I'm SO tempted to deliver it by bike!
You genuinely see post addressed to Carnmore? I thought the house there was only ever a shooting lodge for the estate.
Just seen this shot of the crossing of the Abhainn Strath na Sealga
very much lower than other shots I've seen which have been waist deep.
Yep, and one or two other addresses in Fisherfield! As you say though, apart from Letterewe nowhere is permanently occupied.
I went through Fisherfield (The Trans Fisherfield a couple of weeks ago, and the rivers were only ankle deep. Slightly annoyin really, as I managed to go though deep in an oozing, aromatic black blog between the two crossings!
Phil Addyman is obviously a bit of a night owl 🙂
What sort of time do the slower folk take - those that are looking to get round rather than race?
And is there a good source of info and advice or is it a case of just going through old threads on here?
Could be interested in plodding round. Though I'm guessing I've missed what looks like perfect weather this year!
Cheers
Fraser
Fraser - time is not a problem, you can ride the route whenever - what you want to do, is just that.
Info on here (search tool) from 2013 and 2014 races in digital form, some in the mag, some in threads. Bikepacking.net and the bearbones forum are other sources.
I'll be back next year - TOur DIvide this year - 2013 was good, but I yern for longer now.
Wow, I also hadn't clocked that the route was on the north loch Maree 'path'. I don't think I could do that again without weeping pathetically into the bogs as I dragged my bike along. Cruel.
