Dave Barter wrote:I may downgrade my race strategy to "bimble"

Don't think I need to buy anything else now, just make some maps and drive a long way.

Good luck Dave hope you enjoy it! Did you get the chance to do that sd card?

Ian, it is rendering in the office today and will be posted tomorrow. Had to learn Portugese first (Red Dwarf joke)

Dave Barter wrote:Ian, it is rendering in the office today and will be posted tomorrow. Had to learn Portugese first (Red Dwarf joke)

Thanks Dave much appreciated

I'm getting to grips with my new (to me) Garmin and will be sure to give you some feedback.

Just wondering how many people carry cooksets/fuel on a race like this or do people eat food that doesn't require heating and then take advantage of take aways and cafes etc?

Just wondering how many people carry cooksets/fuel on a race like this or do people eat food that doesn't require heating and then take advantage of take aways and cafes etc?

I had at least one hot meal everyday.

No stove though.

Ray Young wrote:Just wondering how many people carry cooksets/fuel on a race like this or do people eat food that doesn't require heating and then take advantage of take aways and cafes etc?

Grab and go en route, loads of options. But, warm food generally = time wasted.

I phoned the Oykel Bridge hotel today, as last year it was closed on my return trip, and they were really helpful and keen to help those doing the race! If the bar is closed (opening is something like 12:30 to 2:30, then6:00 to 9:30pm), then the main hotel is open and the guy said they would be able to rustle something up between 7 am and late evening! They felt bad last year making people sit in some drying room or out of the way room as people came in a bit too soggy for their leather armchairs!

Brilliant option for food as this place is passed twice in the race, and as they know we're coming I am sure they will be happy to see us.

ZeroDarkBivi wrote:Any advice on what chain lube to bring that might get my geared drive train through a week of wet trails, with minimal TLC? I don't anticipate Squirt being up to the job...

In case of emergency good old cooking oil will do.

Our fearless (Evil) leader asked me to post this:



That was breakfast at the Oykel Bridge Hotel last year :)

GregMay wrote:Our fearless (Evil) leader asked me to post this:



That was breakfast at the Oykel Bridge Hotel last year :)

wow - they really do look after people there don't they

I am so glad they brought the best china out. It would be so disappointing otherwise!

Who nicked the sausages and bacon?

What was the main course?

Ray Young wrote:Just wondering how many people carry cooksets/fuel on a race like this or do people eat food that doesn't require heating and then take advantage of take aways and cafes etc?

I'm probably carrying a 650mm titanium mug, spork, 8gr stove and 60mm fuel. It's used only for boiling water, then I can add soup, porridge, cous cous...it I'll see

OK, here's our setups for the HTR.

All luggage courtesy of Alpkit some of which turned up today.

I'm carrying as much of the weight as possible.

There's 11,000 calories in my front triangle. :)

Any reason you didn't go for a full frame bag Rich? Water bottle?

Any reason you didn't go for a full frame bag Rich? Water bottle?

It's actually one made for the tandem, I wasn't planning on using these bikes. Annoyingly there isn't room for a waterbottle in the space left.

(I've just realised one of the other tandem bags will fit better and have room for a bottle)

slarge wrote:I phoned the Oykel Bridge hotel today, as last year it was closed on my return trip, and they were really helpful and keen to help those doing the race! If the bar is closed (opening is something like 12:30 to 2:30, then6:00 to 9:30pm), then the main hotel is open and the guy said they would be able to rustle something up between 7 am and late evening! They felt bad last year making people sit in some drying room or out of the way room as people came in a bit too soggy for their leather armchairs!

Brilliant option for food as this place is passed twice in the race, and as they know we're coming I am sure they will be happy to see us.

Nice one Steve - I'd had a look on their website and they didn't seem to advertise bar meals. Thats defo a stopping off point for me either tea on day 2 (optimism) or breaky on day 3 (realism).

I'll be carrying a gas stove as I will need countless brews to keep going plus I'll also have the option of cooking porridge and my emergency freeze dried meal. Well worth the weight I reckon.

(I've just realised one of the other tandem bags will fit better and have room for a bottle)

Cheers Stu, sorted now.

Cheers Stu, sorted now.

Brilliant ... that's like stealth helping out

Good luck Rich and Tom, I hope to see you on the trail at some point! (Maybe near the end). I think it's brilliant the pair of you doing this, certainly something to talk about at school - not many kids have a proper adventure in their life, and it will beat the "which Xbox game is best" argument, as this is a real life game (hopefully without guns and stuff)....

Good luck Rich and Tom, I hope to see you on the trail at some point! (Maybe near the end). I think it's brilliant the pair of you doing this, certainly something to talk about at school - not many kids have a proper adventure in their life, and it will beat the "which Xbox game is best" argument, as this is a real life game (hopefully without guns and stuff)....

Thanks mate. It's a great route, and hopefully he'll enjoy most of it.

He'll learn a lot.

We'll not be taking chances though.

PS He's a good shot on Medal of Honor.

Is there some kind of pre race meeting on Friday?

Is there some kind of pre race meeting on Friday?

You'll see (some) people at the "Real Food Cafe" early evening, or the "Tyndrum Inn" later.

Thanks. I'll see who I see then.