[Closed] Highland Trail 550 2015

This race must be followed by loads:
Riding into Fisherfield an on oncoming walker said "I think it's fantastic what you are all doing" (my reply was that it wasn't fantastic until we finished)

- after I scratched I was riding the road from Dornie to Invergarry and an oncoming truck stopped and shouted "are you doing the Highland Trail? I've been following you all!"

Turns out he's done the Rovaneimi last year and is doing the Cairngorms Loop this year. Lifted my spirits somewhat!

It's a brilliant "race" (it isn't a race really I know), just so easy to get caught out or underestimate. The vastness of the scenery makes you very insignificant. But even with rubbish weather, the scenery is truly epic. Fantastic!

noted a lot of folk seem to be on Stooge cycles - look very interesting..

Overnight update.

No scratches.

Three finishers including our oldest ever at 58.
And Javi the postman
And Markus the talkative one.

kcal - Member
noted a lot of folk seem to be on Stooge cycles - look very interesting..

I know of two that scratched on Stooges too 🙂

It's not about the bike. It really isn't.

boxelder - Member
Now who has a cure for 'Nana ankles'?

My normal "fix" is to sit down beside a wall. Lie down with my legs parallel to it, then swing them up, get my ass right against the wall.Then, laptop on belly, watch a film for 90mins. Helps stretch hamstrings too.

[img] [/img]

I then spend most of the next few hours peeing. But it works for me. Also, compression tights/socks and walking lots.

 

Ta Greg - you have nice legs.

They look better from other angles too 🙂

Brilliant stuff.
I am starting to wind myself up that this could be a good touring off-road ride as well, with a couple of adjustments...

This is amazing. I am in awe at everyone who took part.

How's Jenny doing?

Yahoo!!!

What an epic race!! Nearly scratched after my rear hub didn't engage after 1 hour ride from Fort Augustus along the canal and had to limp for hours with swollen ankles to Nevis bikes in Inverlochi,before Fort William, who kindly let me use all tools.[img] [/img]

ononeorange - Member
This is amazing. I am in awe at everyone who took part.

How's Jenny doing?

Jenny is doing well, still trucking along - that woman is really tough. Awesome.

Two more to finish in the next few hours, which would leave us with two on course - one group start and two ITT riders.

Ilan has vanished into the mist.

Jenny is doing well, still trucking along

Someone tell her that the public loos at Dornie are warm, dry, clean and left open at night.

Greg, sorry for the numpty question, but what's ITT?

Cheers - sadly came to this late.

Ps is that actually a picture of you above doing your hamstring exercises?!!

Greg, sorry for the numpty question, but what's ITT?

Individual time trial. Start when you want, and finish likewise.

Jenny's doing braw. It's a pity she never left the tyre on the front that she had last week. Could have paddled across the river laid across the bike like a surfboard!

Really sad to announce that Jenny has scratched.

Feet won't go in shoes, ankles are not working. Game over.

🙁

That's a real shame

[quote=sarpullido]

Yahoo!!!

Well done! Looks like a well deserved beer 🙂

[quote=GregMay]Really sad to announce that Jenny has scratched.

Sorry to hear that. That whole ankle swelling thing is a really common problem. Great effort anyway!

Pictures here: [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/reizkultur/sets/72157653787919485 ]https://www.flickr.com/photos/reizkultur/sets/72157653787919485[/url] - epic one this year, next time I'll concentrate on the racing (:

Last ITT rider is in Strathcarron at the moment - Pete Lumsden.

We have one other who scratched and is working his way back.

And Ilan. Oh Ilan.

Could someone clarify classes please?
I understand Men Women but why are ITT shown separately?
I thought the everyone was ITT.

It just means that they weren't in the group start. For the few who are racing in the group start, you've started together, under the same weather and trail conditions. ITT is different time and conditions. For the vast majority, this isn't a race.

It's just to show who is part of the group start and who has set off separately. So yes, it's an ITT for everyone but having the group start as "one class" lets you compare those all at once.

So how long after can ITT start?
How do they get their SPOT registered?
Does the tracker remain open so that anyone doing route in say August could be tracked?
Sorry for all the questions just wondered.

Could be the ultimate mid winter fat bike challenge. Wow, imagine that

You could start an ITT with the group start - as someone did this time.
A SPOT will track you on your own page, available to anyone you share the link with.
Trackleaders won't be open.
Check stalking, etc for access in August.

I can rent a Gen 3 spot to anyone interested for the safety it offers. Email in profile.

r8jimbob88 - Member
Could be the ultimate mid winter fat bike challenge. Wow, imagine that

I'll be in for that. I've been talking about a local version of the great snow races for years. The only problem being trying to arrange it for a time when there is actually snow.

But I think there may be have to be a different route simply because we don't want any exposure deaths (that's self-interest talking 🙂 )

[quote=mariner ]So how long after can ITT start?
How do they get their SPOT registered?
Does the tracker remain open so that anyone doing route in say August could be tracked?
Sorry for all the questions just wondered.
The Trackleaders page won't be available but you can create your own equivalent using Spotwalla. You just upload a GPX track of your proposed route before you set off and then Spotwalla will show your actual track. Here's one I did on Saturday

https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=d54d5567aa1b1679e

Sorry - my post above was misleading. You COULD start an ITT with the group start, but it's very poor form. No-one profits from the challenge, but a lot of work has gone into creating it. That should be respected by starting ITTs on another day.

Blog of our ride now done.

http://minipips.blogspot.com/2015/06/highland-trail-2015-overview.html

What a fantastic adventure for you both. Looking forward to catching up and hearing more about it. 🙂

richpips

Bloody brilliant. Well done to both of you.

that is a lovely write-up for a fantastic adventure !!

[url]

Some very crude (in all senses) video featuring the Pips's about halfway through

Right, looks like our last ITT rider is home.

So that is me done with the Twitter feed unless someone else contests it later in the year.

It's been emotional.

Thanks Greg. Good work.

Very inspiring all that did it but especially to rich and mini pips hats off. My little lad want to follow in minis footsteps despite being 6 🙂

That's the Olympics sorted in 10 years time then. 🙂

....and here's some video we shot. Apologies about the sound. 🙂

Great blog Rich, what an inspiring ride. High five Minipipps!

firestarter - Cheers

epicyclo - Let's hope bikepacking will be a new event. 🙂

Thanks Peter.

Some bloggage from me:
[url] http://newretrotom.blogspot.com/2015/06/highland-trail-550-2015.html [/url]

Family pips for president.... 😀

Loved the video richpips!

@NewRetroTom - Loved the blog post! I like how you get up, cycle for 7 hours, then stop for a spot of breakfast 😮

Question - how did you find the new Specialized Rime shoes? Also, how the heck to you ride for so many hours a day on rough terrain on rigid forks?

Some fantastic accounts here. Really enjoyed them, as I have done following the whole event. Is that your heart beat I can hear on the video Rich? It seemed a bit elevated on the Devil's Staircase and on river crossing. Well done minipips!

Lovely write up Tom and an amazing effort to get round that quick. I'd need to be in some state to contemplate sleeping on one of those damp, mouldy mattresses at Carnmore.

Nikk - The shoes worked well - I've had two pairs of the previous version with the Boa. These ones have just velcro which means less to go wrong.
The velcro did block up with cack and stop working at one point but a couple of minutes scraping made it work again.
The rubber rand has started to peel back from the toe box which is a bit worrying when they are only 3 weeks old. Admittedly I have done more riding on them in 5 days than many folks would do in a year.

Riding all day on rigid - you just adapt your riding style to absorb the trail and flow over it rather than smashing the bike into it.
Having said that 9 days after finishing the tips of my ring and little fingers are still numb....

Thanks Tom! I am getting some Rime's now.

Does anyone in the Edinburgh area fancy meeting for a post-HT550 drink and blather? NewRetroTom? AlasdairMc? My round...

[url= http://tracksterman.tumblr.com/ ]It's hard, but not as hard as the quantocks![/url]

Careless talk like that may lead you into trouble tracksterman..

I reckon he's more than capable though, looking back through his blog. I really like the his er, direct, style 😉

Does no one take their socks/shoes off for river crossings?

Or is it not worth it given the boggy walking?

Some riders stripped off, but to be honest with the rain and wind we were going through half a dozen wet/dry cycles a day. Wouldn't be keen to do it in bare feet mind, so socks are likely to be wet anyway.

Haven't done the HTR but have ridden much of the trails it uses plenty times. Even in summer, feet always seem to end up wet within a few hours. My policy now is to wear summer shoes with plenty mesh which will let water in easier but also dry out that wee bit quicker. I'd use SPD crocs if there were such a thing.

tracksterman (if it's the same one) is a bit of a legend - think he used to post on here many moons ago.

Nikk - The shoes worked well - I've had two pairs of the previous version with the Boa. These ones have just velcro which means less to go wrong.
The velcro did block up with cack and stop working at one point but a couple of minutes scraping made it work again.
The rubber rand has started to peel back from the toe box which is a bit worrying when they are only 3 weeks old. Admittedly I have done more riding on them in 5 days than many folks would do in a year.

Tom, I used Specialized Tahoe Sport, also vibram sole and stifness index 6.0. Been using them for 4 or 5 months before the race. I think it´s a factor of doing more hike a bike and pushing, or hiking on steep terrain so tendons around the ankle get used to it. I just did a little bit of hike a bike before the race. Still I think my ankles got too bad for what I did and I find that problem was crucial for the race.
[url= http://www.specialized.com/us/en/ftr/shoes/recreational-fitness-shoes/tahoe-sport ]Specialized tahoe sport[/url]

Is anyone using compression clothing or socks or calf supports?

NikK

Blether for HT550 sounds good - this week is looking pretty busy. I'll be at the Inspired to Ride showing on Friday, so a drink after that could be good? Capital Trail folks may want to get an early night though!

Definitely worth a read..
http://rickiesolo24hr.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/highland-550.html

That's brilliant. A great read indeed.

I'm very drawn to this challenge but would prefer to ride it in July. More compelled by the event than doing it as an ITT though.

July is worse weather (usually), less daylight and much midgier. It's also into stalking season..... Oh, and the accommodation is more likely to be booked up.

Though I'd give this a go last week with my girlfriend, or part of it at least. Did very little research about the route other than reading a bit of this thread and a few blogs. Brought a few bits from alpkit and off we went. Aim was to start from Fort Augustus and see how we got on. Weather was pretty wet for the first day and a half, so by the time we swam into Oykel Bridge it didn't take too much persuasion to sack of the Northern Loop. Probably could have done with one extra warm layer.

Though we were moving pretty well until we realised how much the terrain changes after Ullapool. Big pushes, tough single track, slow going. The forecast for day 4-5 was pretty dire, so as this was 'just a holiday' we called it a day (or 3) after Poolewe and headed for the train line.

Great reccie of about 1/3 the route and good to understand what might be needed for a successful 550 attempt. Hope to post a blog in the near future.

PS, first night in a barn near Struy, 2nd in the School House bothy (no rooms available in Oykel Bridge as fishing season in full swing), 3rd in Shenavall.

Thanks to all those who have contributed to this thread in the past, some of the advice was very helpful.

Hi,

A bit of thread resurrection.

Anybody got GPS track for whole/part of the trail?

Cheers!
I.

drop me a pm and i will send 2016 route

Available @ bear bones bike packing too.

Thanks Chaps!

PM sent.

Cheers!
I.