[Closed] Highland Trail 550

twinklydave - Member
These supposed 'backmarkers' are actually flying round...

That's true.

I like the idea of a civilised version, but if it's your pace, I'm not sure how civilised that will be... 🙂

When is the Pootle 550? 😆

I'd sign up for that 😉

Where's the fun in that 🙂 No suffering, no trench foot... wait...maybe I'm in.

scandal42 - Member
When is the Pootle 550?

Great name for it, and seeing Dave suggested it first, I vote for the Twinkly Pootle 550. 🙂

Hehe, I'm in for the pies, fish & chips and pubs Pootle 550.

Having ridden bits of this in holiday bikepacking mode – and some bits just on day rides – I am in awe of the folk covering the terrain at such a pace.

Looks like Iona is heading into the Fisherfield and AlasdairMc is about to hit the Drochaid Coire Lair descent. Both amazing places to ride, but with and 340 and 400 miles behind them respectively it's, well, just… wow.

Cannot quite believe how engaging a spectator sport this is.

So... looks like Jonathan Edwards is back in Tyndrum. As his SPOT was off I'll leave it up to Alan to check his GPS. Hopefully he went the whole way round!

When is the Pootle 550?

In all seriousness, I think that is a fair question. The thing is though, for this route (certainly some of the sections), doing it slower just prolongs the hike a bike to the point that you won't be riding at least half the day, and some of the rest is not possible to ride 'relaxed', you have to commit if you want to stay on. So 'taking it easy' can potentially make it less fun (!) and harder.

I'm at home now licking my physical and metaphorical wounds. I am happy I tried my best for this, but it wasn't enough. I doubt I'll attempt it again as I found the commitment in terms of time spent training and away from friends and other fun activities a big sacrifice. On the positive side, I feel the fittest I have ever felt, and I think my riding ability has come on a bit.

In all seriousness, I think that is a fair question. The thing is though, for this route (certainly some of the sections), doing it slower just prolongs the hike a bike to the point that you won't be riding at least half the day, and some of the rest is not possible to ride 'relaxed', you have to commit if you want to stay on. So 'taking it easy' can potentially make it less fun (!) and harder.

This. 100% this.

Faster also keeps you out of the weather and gets you between food stops quicker, so you can carry less. On this route...I'd rather go light and fast, than slow and heavy.

5th Gary
6th Dave Buckden
7th Alan

Assuming Jonathan didn't 'stealth' the lot.
Accumulator anyone?

5th Gary
6th Dave Buckden
7th Alan

You are forgetting about Keith! His SPOT tracker has been intermittent. I'm sure he will have left Fort Augustus by now.

Sadly confirming that Jonathan did not finish the whole route. He had some mechanicals then managed to get across to Ullapool and go from there. He rode with AlanG for a bit and Gary today.

Amazing effort to complete and the only advantage I can see of a s/s is less weight to push and carry.

I wondered about this, I figured any hill where you needed low gears was probably just as easy/fast to walk, which gives your bum a rest from the saddle!

Also not sure how many long fast downhills there are where a big gear would really be an advantage.

In the little fantasy pipedream world where I'm entering this race in 2016 and have already specced a bike, it would be a singlespeed, rigid 29er with a Cane Creek Thudbuster 8)

I think Gary is shooting for Tyndrum pre 10pm; that way, he can eat something other than cereal bars 🙂

I wondered about this, I figured any hill where you needed low gears was probably just as easy/fast to walk, which gives your bum a rest from the saddle!

I'd have thought the main disadvantage would be the flat pedally bits and roads. I guess the reduced chance of disastrous mechanicals could outweigh this though if you weren't bothered about doing it 'fast'. Or choose a gearing which favours making progress on the flats and resign yourself to walking the uphills. In my fantasy pipedream I think I'd go for gears and be careful not to smash the mech against any rocks 🙂

I reckon dinglespeed would be the best option.

Again, in the fantasy pipedream world, if I had any chance of completing in a respectable time I wouldn't be worried about outright speed, I think any gear I chose (probably 32x18 or even 32x20?) would be sufficient to get me along the roads at a reasonable pace, and I would just focus on long days, rather than trying to go particularly fast.

Slow and steady rules apply!

Or yes, dinglespeed.

David Buckden is gaining on Gaz.

Gary's getting closer to Glencoe Ski center, maybe 30-45mins

Davids doing 8.8mph and bearing down on Kinlochleven, should finish before midnight.

Alans about 5 miles behind David running at 7mph, should also get to the finish.

Keith appears to still be in Fort William and several miles behind Alan.

Might have 4 more in before midnight 🙂

Alan sleeping in Kinlochleven tonight. He will get an early start tomorrow to finish in under 6 days.

Come on Gary. 90 mins to the finish!

Coming round to Orchy and the final run down to the finish, might be sat in the bar just after 10 🙂

Johan through check point 8 and still rolling, will he pull an allnighter for an early morning finish ? or lay up for a bit, either way he should finish Friday.

Davids about 14miles behind Gary, still got to climb up to the Ski center but still moving.

Iona is just over 7miles from checkpoint 6 going by the times, she is in a hike-a-bike section.

🙂

[quote=acehtn ]Johan through check point 8 and still rolling, will he pull an allnighter for an early morning finish ? or lay up for a bit, either way he should finish Friday.
Davids about 14miles behind Gary, still got to climb up to the Ski center but still moving.
Iona is just over 7miles from checkpoint 6 going by the times, she is in a hike-a-bike section.
Johan isn't in the race. He missed out a major section between Ullapool and Torridon. We had him in the shop getting new brake pads fitted (he'd worn them right down). Kudos to him for heading back to finish off what he could though!

Iona may have decided to stick at Shenaval for the evening though.

I think, barring tragedy, the GT-1000 is gonna be 5th 🙂

Is Gary stopped ?

At the Bridge of Orchy Hotel. Probably just making sure his water bottles are full for that last stretch 🙂

Are you out on the course Colin ?

Pub at bridge of Orchy, maybe a swift pie and pint ?

He might be getting his end of ride nosh up at the pub at the bridge of orchy...... Tracker could be inside hence no update for 25 mins?

[quote=rickmeister ]Are you out on the course Colin ?
Nah. Just hypothesising.

Bridge of Orchy hotel is probably a better option for a decent feed at this time of night to be honest.

[quote=large418 ]Tracker could be inside hence no update for 25 mins?
The V2 trackers only update when you move, even if still outdoors.

Iona is on the move again. [b]GO GIRL!!![/b]

So Johan is out but still riding as still in 🙂 nuts

Iona's about 5miles from CP6

Gt rolling again...

Trackleaders says he finished at 9:48. We should get a more accurate figure some time though.

Garys status says finished 9.58pm

Pie and pint must have done him some good then 🙂

Davids through the ski center and rolling to Tulla and Orchy

Well done GT. Fantastic ride, just wish I was there to shake your hand!

Still on course on my version of track leaders

[quote=rickmeister ]Still on course on my version of track leaders
Scroll down to the Leaderboard and refresh it

I think the tracker might be a bit out- Gaz is still riding.

Got it, thanks..

The tracking system has it quirks and isn't quite 100% for live following 🙂

That or Gary had a pint of speed at the Bridge of Orchy pub 🙂

Text from GT:

"It is done".

🙂

he has energy to text 🙂

Big up Mr T.
Now wash those socks and helmet pads before you give them back......

Johans making good time and almost to Gairlochy

David is over the A82 at Orchy and running for the finish

Keith is about to drop down to A82 then grind up to GlenCoe ski center, be a late finish but should get a 5day time bracket finish.

If Alan has an early start he might get in under 6 days, 10 hours left before the clock rolls into day 6

Davids in 5days 14hours 39mins

Johans around Fort William now.

David did a fantastic job to make up so much time given he was 17-18 hours behind Gary at times.

Looks like Keith is still rolling with about 20 miles to go.

We'll done Bucky - good garn for a l'aal lad.

1:30am and it looks like Keith is still going!

Iona may have decided to stick at Shenaval for the evening though.

1:30am and it looks like Keith is still going!

It's clearer and a bit chillier than last night but really nice out there. Just went around Loch Ness (11pm) on the motorbike and he's not going to have many issues with light if he wants to keep on riding!

It's clearer and a bit chillier than last night but really nice out there. Just went around Loch Ness (11pm) on the motorbike and he's not going to have many issues with light if he wants to keep on riding!

Richpips was still riding at about 11pm as well, he’s back on the move already this morning.

Richpips was still riding at about 11pm as well, he’s back on the move already this morning.

Someone get kettle and toaster fired up for Alan.

So trackers. Presume the Spot ones are costly as they transmit. What are the best options for cheaper loggers with decent battery life?

Looks like Alan has finished. Awesome effort - sub 6 days, with a cold.

5 days, 22 hours, 59 mins

Hope there's some birthday cake left for him at the Cafe

do****cher

Very appropriate username by the sounds of it! 🙂

Boxelder - the riders will also be using a GPS for navigation and logging. However, the race rules include the use of a Spot tracker.

nice one alan!

Scratch Updates: No one!

So trackers. Presume the Spot ones are costly as they transmit. What are the best options for cheaper loggers with decent battery life?

They are not that expensive - with tracking and the yearly subscription ~£250. If you ride a lot on your own, like I tend to, they are worth it for piece of mind of others if nothing.

Garmin has another option in the GTU10, which is smaller but its a bit less predictable as it works via SMS -the SPOT is via satalite comms so a lot more dependable in the arse end of no where.

SPOTs also have another use...the big "help me" and "999" buttons should you get into proper bother....real bother. Not I can't get a latte bother.

Very appropriate username by the sounds of it!

Yes - I am slightly obsessed. I have a similar look to a cat watching goldfish.

I am pleased to see Rich has remembered the bakers run out of a garden shed in Ardelve - she cranks the ovens up at about 4am and opens the door to cranks at about the same time. I suspect she & her husband will be making him a pot of coffee - they like stories of madness.

Good to see Alan back.

I am gunning for Alasdair to get it done. We rode together for a few sections, and I rode with him last year as well for a day. Also gunning for Rich, who I met on the course this year and rode about 15 miles with up into the Corrieyairack, and also saw him in Ullapool at the chip shop.

And really, for everyone still out on the course, bring it home folks!

Alasdair has put a lot of work in this year, we were chatting on and off in the lead in. I'm happy he's going to get round 🙂

Absolutely fascinating stuff!! I think I'll go out on a bivi tonight in honour of all you mad crazy fools 😀

Just refreshed, Hutch is rolling on for the finish line then

Damn i think i would have stopped, but i assume he doesn't know how much lead he has on the next rider, would be shocking to stop for a bacon roll and get passed so close to the finish !

Didn't even occur to me that the ski centre was there for food. By that stage you feel like you're on the home straight, turns out it's still quite a long way though!

That was an amazing race, I was still enjoying it by the end. For my first proper ride on the bike as a singlespeed and first multi-day bikepacking ride, i'm quite pleased with how well it went!

Good fun reading back through the forums too, surprising how many people were actually watching. Looking forward to see the last folks making it to the finish, it's an achievement just doing that in this race and they certainly have it tougher being out there for more nights!

Andrew H

Good show Alan in under 6 days 🙂

Johans rolling out of Kinlochleven, although out of the race he should be done by early afternoon.

Could Al make it by midnight ? should do it before 7 days roll over.

A question on the time clock, does the offical race time limit halt when it rolls onto 8days 0minutes 0seconds ?

Still rooting for the others as there times are easier to relate to us normal people 🙂

Andrew - great effort you totally kicked arse!
Did you drop a lezyne rear light? I picked one up coming over the last hill into Tyndrum.
So are you a convert to singlespeeding then?

Tom - well done fella. Sent you an email, might have ended up in your Junk folder.

Tom, ask Nikk also as he came in a few mins ahead of Andy. Do you have their emails? (I will email your finishing pics to you oncer I have downloaded them etc)
Steve

Only just discovered this thread and read it all. Very impressive stuff! I wonder how many hundreds, nay thousands of times each competitor has asked himself WTF were they thinking of when they entered it? 🙁

Still, will all be forgotten as they cross the finish line. 😀

edit: think Richpips may not get the warm welcome home he is hoping for! 😯

edit: think Richpips may not get the warm welcome home he is hoping for!

He will.... it is all bluster to keep him on his bike and peddling.

If he's stopping and selling stuff, no wonder he's a little off the pace.....
{pedant}

Andrew - great effort you totally kicked arse!
Did you drop a lezyne rear light? I picked one up coming over the last hill into Tyndrum.
So are you a convert to singlespeeding then?

Looks like Iona has made it through Fisherfield and into Poolewe. Hopefully she's found the campsite and all the ice-cream!

He has to pay for his jolly jaunt somehow.... 😉

Quite right Do****cher, the weather's improved so he may be a while yet!

Looking at Iona it looks like she's got a tarmac run on the A832/A896 past Kinlochewe coming up. How long is that stretch?