I did once look at creating a route that stuck as close to the HT550, but went on the road.
This was before the invention of gravel bikes, so road means road.
https://www.strava.com/routes/13580284

Stove : I was going to get an AlpKit Kraku but they've disappeared from the website, can anyone recommend anything similar? I don't like meths, so would prefer a gas canister based system of some sort. Like most things Alpkit, they just bought the "Kraku stove" direct from China and didn'...

Early 1980's period red Colnago with Columbus SL tubes and Campagnolo Croce D'Aune groupset.

I'll get my coat ....

Edit: the "broken" online route creator was Bikehike.co.uk. Just checked and it's back up and running. I had a problem with it in that I couldn't upload existing routes to have a look at them but that seems to have been fixed as well. Yep, had a check of bikehike last week, Bob and notice...

Like many of these free online maps, the detail is fine on road and even tracks, but not really useable off-road compared to 1:50,000 OS, let alone 1:25,000.
From a quick look, you couldn't use it to navigate to a bothy in Kielder forest.

Here's R J Sauer's account of his HT550 from 2016 - https://bikepacking.com/plog/highland-insomnia/ along with some stunning shots. And this ... The Highlands always seem to have an encore. A never-ending setlist of scenery. Only a short distance along the trail, the plateau squeezes into a deep va...

What do people consider the must do routes to prove your competency ...? If you need to ask .... :| True, but as I'm coming from a standing start, so to speak, it's nice to know what I should be looking at attempting first. Well if you're coming from a standing start, give yourself 3 years. That's ...

K1100T wrote: ↑Sun Nov 24, 2019 11:45 pm What do people consider the must do routes to prove your competency...?

If you need to ask ....

Why is there a 1A port if it is so lame? I was told that while you can use the 2.1A on mobile phones for a quicker charge, long term use harms the phone's battery and leads to shorter battery life. So charge on 1A if you have time and use 2.1A if you are pushed for time. Seemed sensible to me at th...

Oh dear. This is depressing. What I don't understand is that I only used bikehike to plot stuff gpx using OS 1:50,000 and never used google maps. Pity there isn't a way to make it usable in just OS. For info: Bing maps allow you to zoom to OS 1:25000 and if you use strava route planner as run mode, ...

Ask yourself some simple questions to help decide. Is there livestock on land nearby? Yes - filter Am I downstream of a path / track / road that crosses the water? Yes - filter Am I downstream of a dwelling? Yes - filter Is the water fast flowing or still? Still - filter Am I near a previously used...

postierich wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2019 7:27 pm Look forward to riding with you all don't hate me for the ups the downs are so much worth it!

Who could hate anyone for 4200m in 160km? Seems perfectly reasonable.

Scott: message Rich R, he's not on here but he did CTR last year.

Richard G wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2019 11:57 am Seam sealing went on mine during the BB300, but I'm happy enough with them to be honest.

Thanks also Richard

These are the trousers I have Phil too. Definitely not totally “waterproof” anymore as they do wet out in downpours but keep me damp rather than soaked, they do a good job of adding warmth for the weight. Light and small packing. The ankle strap makes the bottom tight but I tend to use a little add...

Ace feedback. Thanks Sean. I'm awaiting reply from Alpkit too, but what you say sounds positive.

Cheers Sean. Don't suppose you had them with you on HT? Be interested to know how they performed in that extreme wet?

Thanks Johnny. That's one positive review for them then. Not interested in zip off capabilty though as I have Endura waterproof shorts for less severe conditions.

Anyone got any experience of these for MTB/cycling? They are not specifically designed for cycling, so I suspect that they may not be tough enough in the seat, (I'm assuming they wear as quickly in that area as Goretex Paclite trousers have done in the past). But the fit seems quite good, although a...

The paper it comes from (linked in the BBC article) was interesting too. I wonder if the adaption to elevated energy consumption and expenditure for very extended periods during pregnancy is part of the reason for a narrowing of the performance gap between male and female athletes as events increas...

Very well done Cath and Bob for getting to the birthplace of 1984. I've tried and failed the same number of times as I've read the book: twice

Hozelock around the seatpost will prevent it slipping into the frame, it will still rotate, but rideable and won't damage the bike.

Hi Sean, good to see you up there. I had exactly same sleep combo as you: Cumulus 150 and Klymit 3/4 skeleton mattress. I knew I wouldn't warm up, even if stripped out of soaking clothes, on the cold floor of Hydro on night #1, so I quit at Cannich. After hearing about Alex's dangerous encounter wit...

Very well done Mart.

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...