A lot of good advice here and a lot of if's (weather, midges, etc...) In May and June plenty of hours of light. 7 days for the best 2 loops is realistic in good weather. I'd also miss the bottom one despite the great singletrack in Ben Alder and the ride on the West Highland Way (a bit crowded so lo...

I use 7mesh Revo 3/4. By far the best waterproofs ever had. Very good waist adjustment, pockets work and not on the way, come with drilled holes. Not the sleekest fit, super durable and reliable. Backed up by excellent customer service.
In the haunt for full wp trousers though.

https://ridewithgps.com/events/90042-se ... e-2-0-2019

Found it in googling 'second city divide gpx'

I did it recently and decided to use a running vest for first time and I was very happy about it, bike handling was much better and the vest didn't bounce an inch. I carried 1 litre bottle in the triangle, 2x500ml soft bottles + food, tools etc in the vest and some minimaliat sleeping kit on the sad...

Whatever the mounting, use a lanyard. I have the standard one with zero issues.

Maybe a bit short under 200km and 4000 metres climbing loop in Exmoor and Quantocks hills Lars put in bikepacking.com
https://bikepacking.com/routes/bikepack ... -quantock/
It looks good to me

Hey Mike, I think those TRP are the same I have on one of the bikes. Got on 15mm thru axle and the biggest tyre fitted so far are Schwalbe G One bite on 38mm and there's not much clearance left. I used them riding in winter in Epping forest singletrack and roots, going over logs, a few drops and sti...

Maybe she rode to Poolewe for food? It took her over 1 hour to get there

I only used sliding dropouts but must admit EBB is the best look. Don't think it's a big deal to readjust saddle when rotating the EBB. I have a problem and there are a lot of moving parts involved with SD and when pulling hard the lateral screws get a bit loose if the chain tension is not perfect. ...

I missed the registration time. 2nd attempt to participate and failed. Yes, 320a course.

Good luck. Get really preoared for rain and bad weather.

23 mm tyres? Ouchh!!

7Mesh Revo shorts. They are no waterproof trousers, but 3/4, generously covering the kness a good fit. By far the best shorts I've had and really helped me to go through HT this year. Had OMM waterproof trousers, nice and light (under 200grams) and chopped them for last summer heatwave but they were...

Oh Sean! Vey good news your wife is fine now. :-bd No chance to focus on the race with her problem going around in your head. Family first! Thanks for letting us know. It's a very nice write up. I felt I was very lucky again this year. That daunting stream on the way to Hydro bothy was non existent,...

Just seen James Hayden on the Group Start. Winner of several TCR's and cowinner of Italy Divide. Interesting!! :-bd :-bd History shows the last TCR winner attempting the HT550 getting beaten by ... a single speeder! :wink: ...And we are 6!!! You mean Josh Ibbett? He was way ahead of everyone else u...

First foray into the 29" world. Building a Santa Cruz Chameleon. Got a set of Hope Pro4 XC wheels which seem to have quite a narrow rim. Looking at the Maxxis Ikon for the rear and the Ardent race at the front, both in the TR EXO 3C MaxxSpeed 120 version. Both available in 2.2 or 2.35. Bike-di...

Just seen James Hayden on the Group Start. Winner of several TCR's and cowinner of Italy Divide. Interesting!!

Thanks I can see where you pinged trackleaders. Looks just like a SPOT. :lol: Yes...wrong place to ping :roll: Left it late with planning my possible re-supply stops. I see from past race reports that the Drumbeg stores opened especially on a Sunday for the front runners. Do people know if this is ...

Mariner wrote: ↑Fri May 17, 2019 4:51 pm Anyone using Inreach or is all SPOT trackers?

I'm using InReach Mini

Very nice write up, Sean. I thought I was reliving the day!
I don't know which tyres were you seeing but I could see yours from time to time.

Thanks Gian. Those are better data plans. I guess I'll have to separate tracking intervals and fiddle with the options to get it last for 1 week during HT550. Battery life: Up to 50 hours at 10-minute tracking with 5-minute logging (default); up to 30 hours at 10-minute tracking with 1-second loggin...

Following the race, too. Also there is Mike Sheldrake, whom I rode bits together in North Cape to Tarifa. Then he did Silk Mountain race on a gravel bike and he's going to do HT550. Really nice bloke. Sofiane Sehili's bike is more capable than James Hayden's, adding more comfort. I expected James fi...

Porlock, 30km and 2 big hills from Minehead. Shops still open + bars and restaurants. I was on a 22 hour ride and found the One stop store open until 10pm. Leaving Minehead before 7pm will get you in time.
After that, no more food

Real user experiences on battery life? I've read very bad reviews.

My SPOT membership is about to finish and may swap for a In REach Mini

Richard G wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2019 6:16 pm I see you barely stopped. That's one hell of an effort.

I had to change plans last minute and repack for a lighter set up, not having time to stop to sleep, leaving on Sunday morning instead of Saturday afternoon.

Did it over Easter and didn't notice the route going through any footpath. All legal for bicycles.

dlovett wrote: ↑Tue Apr 16, 2019 1:53 pm You must mean Jim Barrow’s Southern discomfort route as I never published mine. I’ll update it and put a link up to it shortly. Jim’s route looks good too.

Oppss! Didn't realize it was his route.