Forum search & shortcuts

The 2016 Highland T...
 

[Closed] The 2016 Highland Trail 550

Posts: 17396
Full Member
 

paul4stones - Member
Phil Addyman is obviously a bit of a night owl

I wonder if this is where they all pull out their strongest coffee and ride all night.

Lee has just shown she can do that in the NC500 - 36 hours nonstop. Maybe it was a practice run.


 
Posted : 30/05/2016 11:24 pm
Posts: 43999
Full Member
 

Fraser pulled a non-stop overnighter at the end of last year. I reckon a decent nights sleep in Shenavall could see him do the same again, in which case those ahead might need to be looking over their shoulders.


 
Posted : 30/05/2016 11:51 pm
Posts: 162
Free Member
 

Lee has just shown she can do that in the NC500 - 36 hours nonstop. Maybe it was a practice run.

She didn't do the full 36, had stops/sleeps in the van and supported 3 of the riders that did the full thing non stop


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 6:43 am
Posts: 1311
Full Member
 

GregMay - if I did it I'd probably like to do the event, for the sociable aspect. Or does it just get filled with the super quick guys and girls? I notice the limit is 40 entrants or thereabouts.


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 6:57 am
Posts: 37
Free Member
 

This Liam Glen chap is amazing. If you replay everyone's ride so far, he was a million miles behind after the first day. Actually they're all amazing for getting round!


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 7:07 am
Posts: 46179
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Just stunningly hot weather for them now this dot watching is addictive...


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 7:13 am
 Yak
Posts: 6941
Full Member
 

Good to see sarpullido in the mix right now. Good stuff 🙂
Just checked - 2nd at the mo.


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 7:55 am
Posts: 91173
Free Member
 

IanB up from 18th to 13th - I'd thought he was struggling but he tweeted and sounded fine. Amuses me to watch sleeping riders being passed 🙂


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 8:12 am
Posts: 6855
Full Member
 

It's not a race for most. It's about completing and enjoying the experience. The lead 5 here are racing though.


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 8:34 am
Posts: 43999
Full Member
 

[quote=fatmax ]GregMay - if I did it I'd probably like to do the event, for the sociable aspect. Or does it just get filled with the super quick guys and girls? I notice the limit is 40 entrants or thereabouts.

As the event has become more popular, Alan has been able to set some qualifying criteria (mostly regarding experience of other, similar, bikepacking events and trips). That's probably contributing to the relatively low attrition rate we're seeing this year, though general preparedness and the fantastic weather/conditions are undoubtedly helping.

It's interesting to see that many of the riders are now in little clumps of 4/5. I guess sparsity of accommodation and restock means a lot of folk trying to reach the same point within certain time windows. However, there always seems to be someone who completes the event without seeing another competitor after day 1 🙂


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 8:50 am
Posts: 17396
Full Member
 

Whistlestop Cafe in Kinlochewe seems to be popular right now. 🙂

Liam has opened up 10 mile lead.


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 9:31 am
Posts: 39744
Free Member
 

liam was already up and rolling when i logged in at 5am this morning - the others were still stationary.

i did have to look back and make sure he stopped - as he was still riding when i went to sleep.

I can confirm he did turn into a little tent icon at one point.


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 9:34 am
Posts: 91173
Free Member
 

How does the website know you're camping to make you into a tent?


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 9:52 am
Posts: 41932
Free Member
 

IIRC Spot's have a motion sensor, so know the difference between stopped for lunch (walking around a small area with spot in pocket) and sleeping (even if the GPS error thinks you're not still).


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 10:30 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

It's automated to the Trackleaders site - nothing to do with SPOT.

It just means you've been stopped for more than 4 hours.


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 10:42 am
Posts: 1488
Full Member
 

IIRC Spot's have a motion sensor

From the Spot website: "A vibration sensor tells your SPOT to send track updates when you are moving and to stop when you do. (This is a great new battery-saving feature!) "


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 11:37 am
Posts: 1488
Full Member
 

That's only on the Gen 3 by the way.


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 11:38 am
Posts: 17396
Full Member
 

Anyone got a prediction for when we'll see a finish?


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 1:37 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Tom - they do, but that's not how it's processed by the Trackleaders page as far as I know.

Epicyclo - probably tonight for the leaders, if Liam can hold it together with no sleep, if Javi is on a gear that doesn't suck down the C.Canal (singlespeed), if no on has a better plan coming 🙂


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 2:56 pm
Posts: 91173
Free Member
 

Liam Glen has not stopped all day, by the look of it!


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 4:43 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

He stopped in Dornie for about half an hour but even so ...


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 4:47 pm
Posts: 41932
Free Member
 

Surely Liam has to sleep at some point? Looks like he's been going since about 5!

Actually, having said that, 110miles to go, 14 hours? Only just longer than a 24h race, just a bit more fatigued!

What's the longest last day anyone's done?


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 5:03 pm
Posts: 37
Free Member
 

Could it be won or lost on who can do the best 40 mile time trial between Fort A and Fort W??


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 5:15 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Scratch Update: Confirming Matt Orton - all well. Is eating ice-cream.


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 5:36 pm
Posts: 17396
Full Member
 

Just over 100 miles left for Liam, but it's not a huge gap over the next 4 for that distance.

Maybe it's going to be who bonks first, but they're all experienced, so that is unlikely.


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 5:40 pm
Posts: 39744
Free Member
 

As expected loks like major headwinds down glen afric. Liams slowed right down on what should be a fast downhill.

Will see what speed the others take down it at and that will tell if its wind or bonk.


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 5:45 pm
Posts: 6855
Full Member
 

What's the longest last day anyone's done?

24 hours 🙂

fraser MacBeath pulled a 32 hr stint from Fisherfield to finish last year I think. He looked asleep on his feet in Strathcarron at tea time, but kept plodding.


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 6:17 pm
Posts: 37
Free Member
 

Liam Glen having his last meal before the finish at The Tomich Hotel?


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 7:17 pm
Posts: 91173
Free Member
 

Ian Barrington and Brian Singleton fighting for 12th! Gripping!


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 7:22 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Confirmed Scratch Update: Stu Cowperthwaite is out - Achilles is toast.


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 8:54 pm
Posts: 43999
Full Member
 

Bugger!


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 8:55 pm
Posts: 37
Free Member
 

🙁


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 8:56 pm
Posts: 39744
Free Member
 

Ow bugger. Get well soon. He found a way out ?


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 9:23 pm
Posts: 3076
Full Member
 

Can you contact Stu Greg? Could possibly help tonight if required


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 9:30 pm
Posts: 43999
Full Member
 

[quote=bedmaker ]Can you contact Stu Greg? Could possibly help tonight if required
Try calling the Tomich 🙂


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 9:38 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Bedmaker - have emailed stu and you.

Make magic happen.


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 9:59 pm
Posts: 3076
Full Member
 

Ah yes, should have zoomed in before asking 🙂

Took a tandem ride to Cannich today. Sat on the riverbank at Struy bridge enjoying a coffee and a loaded rider pootled past.
Weird coincidence thought I, what with the HT on and all these racers passing through a couple of days ago.

Checked when I got home and it was Matt Orton, going at the sort of civilised pace I'd like to do the HTR at, taking a fortnight or thereabouts 🙂


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 10:02 pm
Posts: 17396
Full Member
 

GregMay - Member
Confirmed Scratch Update: Stu Cowperthwaite is out - Achilles is toast.

What a shame after a great effort.

Now the lead group are going to quickly knock off when knackered what the rest of us would think of as an epic when fresh.


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 10:14 pm
Posts: 11617
Full Member
 

I've become addicted to watching the dots as well...properly impressive stuff...


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 10:23 pm
Posts: 91173
Free Member
 

I realised when dot watching that not everyone's tracker is updating at the same time so it's quite hard to get a closer picture of position.


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 10:34 pm
Posts: 1488
Full Member
 

Yes, if two people are riding close together you tend to get the effect of them leap-frogging each other. Impossible to tell who is actually in front.


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 10:43 pm
Posts: 17396
Full Member
 

molgrips - Member
I realised when dot watching that not everyone's tracker is updating at the same time so it's quite hard to get a closer picture of position.

That's what makes it fun. I calculate the time differences in the updates, compare speeds and try to work out who is actually where.

I can see a late night coming up and an early morning - it is truly addictive. 🙂


 
Posted : 31/05/2016 10:51 pm
Posts: 17396
Full Member
 

If you snooze, you lose.

Happening in a nearby glen right now...


 
Posted : 01/06/2016 1:16 am
Posts: 17396
Full Member
 

Wake up Liam!
Wake up Javier!
Wake up Lee!

New leader Phil Addyman, and Ian Fitzpatrick coming through.


 
Posted : 01/06/2016 1:47 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

So long as two riders aren't very close, say less than ten minutes riding time, then I find it's easiest to open the full history of the leading rider and find the SPOT point closest to where the other rider is and work it out from there. Not completely accurate due to the different reporting times of each riders' device and the difference in location of each SPOT point but it gives a rough indication of the gap. Doesn't work if the lead rider's had a nap in the intervening period either 😳


 
Posted : 01/06/2016 6:52 am
Page 4 / 7