A few more
61905211_10157453993721474_628106668885934080_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
61303824_10157453993626474_8639337148379561984_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
61103195_2442258212498251_8303433880782766080_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

61375340_2442258305831575_7784609377683505152_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
61053311_10156351720107135_6808778308222713856_o by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
61208990_10157451210671474_5618347643039121408_o by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
61142769_10157449205961474_5929567896794562560_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
61572353_10157449147491474_8799967671119511552_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
61275959_10157451199221474_4083590549246836736_o by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
61572353_10157449147491474_8799967671119511552_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

What an amazing week scratched after 130 miles and decided to tour it back at my pace back to Tyndrum. Got to Fort Augustus and was feeling ok be it a bit damp and about an hour faster than last year, the rain was not heavy just a persistent light rain but descending really took the wind out of the sails. Some desperate faces in the Pizza Place met up with some friends and decided to head to a hotel hoping to keep gear dry for the next day big mistake leaving that hotel the next morning really did put you on a downer and the ride over to loch stack was a miserable 3 hours arrived in Cannich cafe and the talk was of big river crossings and multiple scratches including the race director using the words pretty dangerous! Hopes of a under 5 day finish were no longer an option and after a hearty lunch decide to bail as the family were meeting me for a family holiday on the Wednesday. A route back catching the return loop down Glen Feshie visting the many fine pubs on the way back! A night in Fort William and then blue skies appeared so a steady ride back dot watching was the entertainment in the evenings. Knowing what the first two days were like i was hoping for really good weather for the lads and lassies out there but it was not be and i was pretty worried for the rest carrying on most of which had not completed a HT550 loop and probably did not realise how tough it was going to be with a fairly exhausted body after days of dampness. Made it back in time to greet the winner Dustin with fellow scratchers and the man is hard as nails is body was in bits he reckoned he had lost 20lbs in weight!!!!
Living in the lakes and be fairly use to riding in the rain thought I would be ok but the Highlands is a total different kettle of fish you have to respect the hills.
Till next year! maybe Rich
61339148_10157453993511474_8198378061599604736_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

There are a few routes you could do that would look good on your palmares, including a decent-timed solo loop of the northern section of the HT550.

Found the Northern Loop to be ok Fisherfield and the friggin Postmans Path did my head in Middle Loop would probably give you a good insight into the whole trip!

Looking forward to a moist one after last years furnace! bike set up roughly the same. After losing the feeling in the tops of my fingers in both hands thought I would dabble with suspension on the front but after a few big rides felt like far to much effort on the ups so gone back to the rigid god have mercy on my wrists.Heading up tomorrow and having a session on the ale Thursday night unlike last year when I got hammered the night before and suffered the following day.
http://trackleaders.com/highland19?fbclid=IwAR0ZPrQz0mKy1TAi_fVquOEmH1WuD9OxUYgo7rFKgECCwMgKEJ_Fm6Tnpdg
https://dotwatcher.cc/races
60965106_10157435904741474_4272316729402589184_o by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

Loughrigg Tarn Campsite no showers but cheap as chips in a stunning location 5 min ride to the Brit. Turner Hall campsite is great. But the best campsites are the wild ones James if you need any bike packing gear let me know and come up and visit!

Great vid done quite a few trail centres with my daughter in a Burley Solo trailer so not as stealth as that one, rolled it a few times no harm done always had a helmet on scary bits were the boardwalk especially the bit at langdegla

Don’t get on with quilts not paying for a custom and regular ones I’ve tried I always pull up in the night and end up with my feet out.

Thats what I wanted the quilt for quick 3 hr snooze with my stinky shoes on sticking out of the bottom I,ve never suffered with cold feet

Just purchased a quilt from Alpkit yesterday, used it last night with a down jkt and it worked well half the weight of my sleeping bag I only suffered in the head shoulders dept as there is no hood on my down jkt. It was colder than forecast last night

Was out last night got a bit midgie around Blea Tarn not horrific though!

Dales Divide is a good shout for 3 to4 days

Due to lots of the trails being closed do we get some money back on the permits #notworththemoney

Will probably be there if I get round the HT550 in one piece!

75 mile ride through the Dales cracking ride!

60526877_10157407750141474_7805113036158533632_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
60090523_10157407749796474_5624323269692751872_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
60282314_10157407059411474_4163059148008718336_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

Rigid Carbon Travers Prongs !

Good to hear people are buying, proper test for my gear in a couple of weeks on the HT550
56770471_10157334527501474_92836967938523136_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

Never been a great downhiller but the cane creek combination gives me loads of confidence 54525401_10157268963806474_3159899545240862720_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

YES!!!

Just do the Highland 550 its free :-)

Had a mooch around Dolwyddelan on Friday after missing the turn for Penmachno :-(
Antur Stinog on Saturday for a play :-)

Enjoyed these rides just recently
https://www.strava.com/activities/2302509962
https://www.strava.com/activities/2221127132

Missed the Nan Bield ride due to work but managed 65 miles the following day
pics on the link
https://www.strava.com/activities/2326294372

Ps The chap who demoed my evol bought the same set up, and is totally made up with it
55826946_10157295318031474_2918728116434108416_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

Trying to forget about this days riding as it was so good :-) might have to buy a frame now

Weather is just Lakeish for the Lakes :-)

Give me the Tollie path over the Postmans Path any day!!

I would have been impressed Tom but there is not Tarp or tent in any of your pictures!

so 6km not worth the detour then! caught the mtbcafe at Laggan just!!

Colin how far from the HT550 route is Laggan Stores

Saturday night after a 25 mile pub crawl
58376614_10157353692261474_4986516357039259648_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
Sunday Night
58462135_10157356338916474_3007191562124787712_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
57852550_10157354947066474_604390250319446016_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

there is a lady doing it but she is cadgying a lift on a tandem :-)

NorthLakes today hot and hard work but the cheeky descents rocked!
57226443_10157349821771474_7167274765948813312_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

57303302_10157349822491474_5182220037984878592_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

Bike Packing tomorrow

Sonder Evol

A few beers in The Factory Tap walked up to The Brewery catch a film/show/band The Fleece is fleecing its customers avoid £4.50 plus for a pint avoid Masons is ok and try the Fell Bar for a half. A few nice restaurants down the side yards.

Rich

When I go again I,m going to ride in I reckon the ferry was ok but felt to touristy for me had hoped to get the ferry over to Tarbet to do the Loch Morar singletrarck but was not running until Friday
57004821_10157328855586474_4782671213396754432_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
56679526_10157328881366474_1705306959466463232_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
56673081_10157328881576474_8343461412613390336_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

Barry Godin does some great films :-)

This one Hodge
https://www.strava.com/activities/2284460582

And Glen Coe was immense as ever
57154493_10157337077506474_3816659963888009216_o by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
57154671_10157336302281474_2274919158783148032_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

The beaches on the coast were superb :-)
56942553_10157331138121474_6850978517979496448_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
57052374_10157331145531474_89187263644172288_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
56883569_10157330843376474_5082732094145167360_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
56800729_10157330843296474_8805537702536544256_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
57081016_10157329477591474_8166452564666089472_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
56696884_10157329787916474_6643055655076757504_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

Did I miss the daffodil thread! No Bluebells in Cumbria
55932407_10157303374886474_2528681095239565312_n by Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

Postman Path is a must do both ways :-)