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The alternative is peeling him off the ceiling each day where he hovers in a Coke (Cola thankfully at his age) and haribo cocktail induced flying session.
Just back from Tyndrum / Kinlochleven. Saw everyone off.
Can't believe that Josh Ibbett and Steve Headding are at the top of Corrieyairack!
One scratch already I'm afraid. I drove Steve Robbins back to Tyndrum from Kinlochleven. He had an OTB on the descent from Devil's Staircase, hand injured, can't hold onto bars 🙁 Some cuts, but he will be ok I think. Bad luck, having to scratch so soon.
That section is the most dangerous in the 1st day, [url= http://niksbikingblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/highland-fail-440-550.html ]as I said before[/url]. Also hearing from walkers of other OTB incidents there, plus numerous flats.
Pics up later today I hope.
Steve Heading is at Fort Augustus now. 7pm. That is 10 hours for nearly 100 miles, including some tough / slow sections. Racing!
I think the catch will be well before Crontin... The front runners are charging along. Is it just me or is this year faster?
Looks like the front two have now passed Rich and Tom.
Not sure about faster - Ian Barrington's account from last year had about eight stopping at the same point as Rich and Tom on the first night but the leaders were ahead by a while.
Official Scratch Update - sorry for the delay but I was riding back from the Lakes
OK, we had a DNS yesterday from Craig McGee who had and RTA in Glasgow before he got to the start, he's fine.
Todays scratches are:
1) Steve Robbins after a crash that may have caused a fracture in his hand/wrist.
2) Andrew Hutchenson is having some back issues and taking the smart route by stepping out.
Also, Pete Lumsden missed the start due to work and will be doing the route as an ITT in a few days! Good man 🙂
That's it until tomorrow.
Some [url= http://niksbikingblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/highland-trail-2015-1st-day-photos.html ]early photo rushes[/url]. I think I got photos of all the riders, and will post them when I have processed them all.
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After midnight. They're still going!
Tom is running second on a rigid SS. 🙂
Bonkers distances as ever!
Every year I think the leaders will blow up after such a huge first day, but they just keep on trucking mostly 😯
Incredible athletes some of these guys and gals.
24 hours in. Josh and Tom are at about 190 miles. Josh's SPOT hasn't updated for a while, I think he may be further on. That is a massive first day from both riders. Josh slept for 2 1/2 hours.
Tom is ahead now. Looks like Josh hasn't moved for a couple of hours.
Watching a few pixel dots on a screen is addictive. 😕
I remember that last year a few of the trackers didn't update occasionally, maybe that's what's happening.
Go Tom!
It's his stag do next weekend! 😯
As if to prove my point, on the last update Josh's tracker now puts him past Oykel Bridge and about 7 miles ahead of Tom. There's a few further back whose trackers haven't updated for a while as well.
The older trackers need to be reset every 24 hours, plus poor placement can result in loss of signal.
i like this pic, old giant, knackered rst forks, v-brakes, no gloves, not much kit, looks under prepared if anything, not much gear in that dry bag on the bike,
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http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y394/dansipods2/Screen%20Shot%202015-05-24%20at%2011.09.12_zpsa0xp7cgt.pn g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
Overnight Scratch Update:
Ashraf Kamel - Broken derauiler before Fort Augustus.
Kristan Rivers - possible return of Lymes Disease....urk!
Thats it for now.
Lets also clarify something with "SPOT issues" - a lot of the time it is user error. Ie, not turning them back on. Or forgetting to check if they are working at all.
Greg: Perhaps I could have worded it better as "no updates have been received from the trackers" which doesn't imply any fault with the units, not that I intended to imply anything in the first place.
Greg: Perhaps I could have worded it better as "no updates have been received from the trackers" which doesn't imply any fault with the units, not that I intended to imply anything in the first place.
Not taking a jab at you. It's something that irks me in general. Hardware is only as smart as it's user. When a SPOT is in open sky, like a GPS, and is set to signal - it will. It make take 20mins, but it will signal.
Now if someone has stopped for 30mins in a building, then gone outside, you're looking at about 50mins before it can update.
So not SPOT issue, user error. Hence why we ask riders to attach to their bike - facing the sky. Not in their pocket, facing the building.
i like this pic, old giant, knackered rst forks, v-brakes, no gloves, not much kit, looks under prepared if anything, not much gear in that dry bag on the bike,
Does anyone know which rider it is in that photo??
I know what you mean - Tom's tracker was being shown as greyed out but his position was at Oykel Bridge so just possibly maybe he might be inside the hotel tucking in to one of their breakfasts 😛
Similarly if someone has a mechanical they could have the Spot covered or pointing to the ground for a couple of updates, potentially thirty minutes between the system/website being updated.
Back on track (sorry), I wonder just how far Josh will get today - another ten hours of daylight though on increasingly tired legs and there's Bealach Horn to contend with.
Have you met Josh? If he's back riding like he used to it'll be no issue. I really hope he sets a record time.
Sorry Phil, looks like you may need to go back buddy 🙂
27 hours in, Josh at 220 miles, just on the climb from the power station now.
Does anyone know which rider it is in that photo?
I don't know his name. I chatted with him and another rider briefly at the Kinlochleven Spar.
A bloke in 2 photos up there, for some strange reason a character from spaced comes to mind "wheels" 🙂
Is the giant rider this years underdog hero 🙂
Does anyone know which rider it is in that photo??
I think it's Chuck Norris.
Well impressed by this. My guess is even doing it in 7 days would be not quite "fun" for most of us.
Looks like there's a few bits of tarmac, correct? Offset buy the bog-pushes no doubt 😛
I think someone reckoned 10-15% walking Al. And the tarmac section includes the Drumbeg road 😆
this makes more sense to me than that double double south downs thing 😕
Have to say I didn't find the Drumbeg road that bad.
It's about 5% of the distance walking, but could be 25% of the time.
I enjoyed the Drumbeg road a lot last year. I was rested up, it was blazing sunshine, and I stopped in the store for a lot of food. If you are feeling on form, it is a great rolling cruse that section, an easy part of the course.
My guess is even doing it in 7 days would be not quite "fun" for most of us.
My feeling is that it is better to do it either as fast as you possibly can push yourself to do it, or to really tour it with lots of stops over 12 or more days.
7 days is still excellent going, and tough as hell. But to be honest, it is 'finishing it' that is the hard part, not how many days it takes. Dealing with the physical and mental strain is hard.
as Nick said, finishing the route is hard. It has some serious riding in it mixed with long distances and not great resupply if you're going slow.
I'd say the walking is closer to 10% minimum - more for less capable riders.
Any idea what the tarmac % is?
Probably about 10% if you include the Drumbeg road. Quite a bit of gravel and access roads though.
Ilan Rubinstein appears to be going the wrong way?
Or has had enough?
I would suspect the latter.
He's not officially scratched yet.
Every year, someone has taken that wrong turn though....
There appears to be a party going on in Crontin, or the cafe service is really slow.
When I first had a look at the route there's a few small bits of tarmac here and there like in Kinlochleven and Fort Augustus but the biggest sections appear to be the Drumbeg road; Ledmore Junction back to Oykel Bridge and Loch Maree to Torridon.
Ledmore comes after the hike-a-bike section through Glen Canisp and the Torridon section comes just before the climb up from Annat.
There's a few other bits and pieces like riding out of Ullapool
do****cher - Member
There appears to be a party going on in Crontin, or the cafe service is really slow.
It's one of the last food stops for a long time. Tiny shop, sporadic opening hours.
Rich has just tweeted: "Mile 157 Contin. Food resupplied. Onwards....."
Ledmore comes after the hike-a-bike section through Glen Canisp and the Torridon section comes just before the climb up from Annat.
I hated the Ledmore section last year. On paper, an easy roll. In reality, I was very fed up after the Lochinver / Glen Canisp trudge, there was a 15mph headwind, and I had a slow flat that I didn't notice the whole section. Hard going!
riding out of Ullapool
That is another least favorite section. Busy main road near the only major town in the area, I hate getting buzzed by cars, even less by lorries. Also it is the section where both times I have been struggling with an injury that would see me throw the race a few miles further on... both times... I am not bitter or anything 🙂
The road out of Ullapool blows.
It's one of the last food stops for a long time. Tiny shop, sporadic opening hours.
Haven't they heard of Ocardo? That is the last time I am letting Rich take Tom out on a pootle around Scotland. It is bad enough that he left the underwear I carefully ironed for them behind. 😉
Yeah..
"Hi I'm standing on the side of the trail at Bealach Horn can you deliver?"
Just before entering Contin, if they hang a right up a farm track which is a shortcut to Strathpeffer, in less than a mile you're at a shop called Deli in the Square with heaps of nice food. Also a shop next door to it.. or a barber. If you're planning on taking your time on route ;o)
The service has gone downhill since they started doing for Morrisons
I have put up photos of the individual riders as they passed the Glencoe ski centre
http://niksbikingblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/highland-trail-race-2015-riders-as-they.html
Thought I'd be able to fill in more names, but track leaders board is not that accurate, plus many riders didn't put in what they are riding, so impossible to tell :-/
"I am on a (colour) (brand) (model) (any distinguishing features)" would have helped 🙂
Here is the leader at the moment, Josh Ibbett, photographed yesterday as he passed:
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Apparently, he is fueled by "6 Hot Cross Buns" 🙂
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Thanks Nick! Posted these to the Twitter feed
Surprised to see Josh taking a roll mat TBH!
Rickie Cotter is in Okyel Bridge. She had her tracking turned off. All is well.
Tallboy in front on this
Tallboy doing a quad SDW
Nick - this is Phil Fraser T
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Karl Booth
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Thanks all, I have added the names, and also updated the order as the upload had put them all out of order :-/
So, Josh is just coming down the Northern Loop descent to Achfary - the best part of the route IMHO 🙂
he is chased by Tom Rowntree
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and Steve Heading
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There is only 7 miles between these three, looks like it is going to be a three man race home. They may or may not be aware they are so close to each other. A lot rides on who can stop for the shortest time tonight, yet still keep riding strong tomorrow.
If you look at Josh's SPOT history you can see that he's roughly 2 hours ahead of Tom with Steve a further hour behind, so seven miles doesn't quite tell the whole story. Basically Tom and Steve have to finish the hike a bike to the summit of Bealach Horn.
However since no-one else has yet reached CP2 at Duchally, I think your three man race is about right. There's going to be some tired bodies up there. It's quite possible that Josh could reach Suleag bothy just after Lochinver tonight, it would be logical stopping point before the hike-a-bike of Glen Canisp.
!! they're not carrying much kit are they??!
I have a short video of the start of the race up at
If you look at Josh's SPOT history you can see that he's roughly 2 hours ahead of Tom with Steve a further hour behind, so seven miles doesn't quite tell the whole story. Basically Tom and Steve have to finish the hike a bike to the summit of Bealach Horn.
For sure, and Josh is looking strong still. But they still have 2 nights out there. 2 or 3 hours can be made or lost just on how long you sleep for, or even how long you spend eating, or having a mechanical, or an injury, or... there are a lot of variables 🙂
What I am saying is it is quite exciting watching these guys!
It is quite awe inspiring - I can't go without my 8 hours sleep. Let alone ride a bike while sleep deprived (some would argue that I can't ride a bike at all). The distances they are covering day after day are huge even for a single day.
Nerd moment.
Phils place from last year vs Josh this year.
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do****cher - Member
It is quite awe inspiring - I can't go without my 8 hours sleep. Let alone ride a bike while sleep deprived (some would argue that I can't ride a bike at all). The distances they are covering day after day are huge even for a single day.
Oddly, the sleep deprivation isn't the worst part. It's the fall out from the race that sucks the most. Mental and physical.
I'm just in from a spin into Loch Fannich. Passed four riders at Contin shop on the way out and four at the filly on the way back.
The 'moderate breeze' in the weather forecast turns into a howling hoolie once up over 150M and in the glens. Must be incredibly tough up the North West tonight. Blustery rain too.
True - Rich was wrecked when he got back last year. Apparently even the smackheads outside Glasgow station avoided him. It took me a couple of looks to realise the skeleton getting off the train was him. If Tom didn't make him do it this year I doubt he would have put himself through it again.
Scratch Update:
Ed Procter with a calf injury - can't walk uphill :/ Off to a B&B in Lairg.
Oh dear - has Marcus decided enough is enough or is there a comfy bed up th Ullerpool Rd?
has Marcus decided enough is enough or is there a comfy bed up th Ullerpool Rd?
🙂
Tough conditions over Bealach Horn apparently. Heard from Tom who is now in the pub.
"Hailing and blowing a gale that was hard to stand up in and impossible to ride in. Windchill was off the scale"
I'm certainly going to relish my warm bed tonight.
Josh Ibbet is now half way round 😯
I can see the attraction of the Inn.
I'm currently playing "Drink your way along the HT550 route"
I am also currently off route some where in Orkney.
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What's Josh doing on the B869? Doesn't appear to be anything there (pub, hostel etc).
Refresh. It's a SPOT bounce. He's en route.
Ah yes.
Mind of their own these SPOTs.
They only refresh every 10 mins - at that they need clear sky. They are more for safety than anything. Also, the waiting makes it better 🙂
I rode a loop from Dingwall today and passed a bunch of the mid pack riders between Croick and Garve. It was pretty dreich most of the day but almost everyone seemed in good spirits. I tried to get photos of everyone that went by. Gloves and cameraphone means some arent great quality but if anyone wants to tag them or repost them anywhere then feel free.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/78348928@N00/sets/72157653397407275
NICE ONE!
[quote=uistboy]I rode a loop from Dingwall today and passed a bunch of the mid pack riders between Croick and Garve. It was pretty dreich most of the day but almost everyone seemed in good spirits. I tried to get photos of everyone that went by. Gloves and cameraphone means some arent great quality but if anyone wants to tag them or repost them anywhere then feel free.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/78348928@N00/sets/72157653397407275
Awesome! Good to see smiles. Looks more like the Scotland I know as well. Sunshine, pah!
[quote=pt0608]What's Josh doing on the B869? Doesn't appear to be anything there (pub, hostel etc).
He missed the turnoff to the off road singletrack approach to Lochinver. Easy to do, I did that last year. That road is kinda hypnotic, churning up the rise, coasting down, repeat x 30. As I said, "there are a lot of variables" 🙂
I'm currently playing "Drink your way along the HT550 route"I am also currently off route some where in Orkney.
In that case, I have been to Denmark, then Mexico tonight 🙂
Ive been watching this with a keen eye. For anyone that has done it already, what sort of training did you do? Is it a mile munching exercise or specific endurance training with the road bike too? Impressed with the pace the guys are going at so far.
Huge respect to richpips and minipips in particular, nothing short of amazing at that age.