Highland Trail 550

Ah good, she’s on her way to Fort Og…

About 80 miles left all up.

Got word from Iona – FIRST OFF she’s not scratching, just going to be back a little later than planned. Yesterday was a bit of a nightmare apparently – but otherwise, she is doing well!

Great news. Don’t know why, never met the girl, but I’m here cheering her on. Fantastic effort.

Great news! Hope she makes it back in one piece.

Yay, keep going Iona!

good going!! all the best..

If it’s same Iona I’m thinking of, was in ER(o)C then moved N to Aviemore, extra cheer as another ex-Edinburgh that decamped for the bright northern lights..

Right – what bike is she riding? A part of my hopes that it is indeed a red post bike, but I feel that I will be disappointed. 😀

Through Ft Og now

I have no idea who Iona is or what she’s like as a rider but she must have balls off steel to still be going after this long.
Just brilliant that she still has the will to go on. 😀

What Stu said 🙂

🙂

Still moving towards Fort William.

Anyone able to post/link a decent piccy of Iona, my google search turned up a square headed BMC male pro rider.
Just curious like 🙂 see who we have been following.

Stalker alert!!!

She was training using these in March…..

Spectacular will power.

come on Iona!

At the head of Loch Lochy now.

Club stalk 🙂

Approaching Ft William.

Looks like today should be the last day of green dotwatching for us all 🙂

Until Tour Divide in two weeks.

Apparently Iona started with a taped up Achilles injury. A fantastic effort on such a tough route.

Yay! She’s on the move again.

Cross posted from Bikepacking.net from Stuart Rider

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/

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 🙂