Thanks Bob for updating.

Hope you enjoy it when it gets built up! I built up a whyte M109 to replace it and to be honest I'm not sure it was the right move

Good effort Bob, sounds like you made some sensible decisions, and well done to Cath for carrying on up to Aviemore when Glen Tilt must have been tempting. Sounds like difficult conditions.

Well done Pete!

Sounds a good ride but tougher than when I did it this time last year - nice write up! The fords of Avon were only ankle deep then...


I was signed up but let Steve know I wasn't going to make it a couple of weeks ago. Too tired after a long year on the bike.

Not sure whether I'll try and get a place again this next year. It was the highlight of this year's riding for me, so far, but it did pretty much fill 6 months to prepare and do enough long rides to be ready (managed the TCW, Braunton 150, & LL200 before the HT550 this year). Think it may be a b...

Addidas terrex trail cross are great - it's what I wore for the Lakeland 200 and HT550, great combination of walkability, rideability and dryability. I've got a pair of INOV8 roclites but I don't like them on the bike, they don't grip well and aren't stiff enough. Teva links are ok to ride in but he...

Hi Bob,

let me know! It's still built up but I'll get some more pictures taken...

Mariner - the wheels will depend on selling the frame, but I'll let you know!

Ian

interested in the rab bivi - how does it compare in size to the Alpkit Hunka XL?

Considering selling my spearfish and going back to a HT for bikepacking. It's a great bike, I've done the HT550, Braunton 150, Lakeland 200 & transcambrian way on it as well as bit of marathon and XC racing. It's a 2012, 135mm QR backend. It would come with a headset, seat collar, spare monarch ...

I've got a trekker tent stealth. I've not had any condensation problems with it, and always stayed dry as long as the pitch was good (had one problem on the HT550 when I pitched under extreme midge pressure and the outer touched the inner overnight). It benefits from using the two extra tie outs on ...

I don't think being fast or slow has any bearing on whether you use power, as long as you're committed to improvement. I'm fast-ish enough to podium local XC races/team 24 events etc./ride with the fast local chain gang, but I'm not genuinely fast - compared to 'proper' riders I'm rubbish. And I'm a...

Hi Bob,

I went XR3 as I like a bit of grip on the front on descents and the rolling penalty seems worth it. It's still a pretty fast tyre. I've got my eye out for a lighter pack - the salomon trail 20 looks good... the OMM ones look decent, but are still around 700g.

What worked for me on HT550: 1. flat pedals, addidas terrex trail SL shoes, woolie boolies * 2 . My feet didn't look bad at the end - the shoes were fantastic. I'm ambi-pedalous (equally happy on flats or clips) but I normally ride clipless for bikepacking/racing and flats on the trail bike for fun....

For the HT550 I took an exposure diablo, and a 3 cell piggy back battery for it. Etrex with lithiums for nav. 10,000 mAh battery pack for inefficient iphone, and a USB cable that meant I could direct run the GPS/backup GPS/charge the lights etc. As I was very lazy and finished in 5 1/2 days, I only ...

Great so far on a biking front. HT550 entry meant that everything has been frontloaded. Highlights: Transcambrian way in a day Braunton 150 Lakeland 200 HT550 plus LVIS audax in Bristol, a scott mtb marathon, and a bit of XC racing, and some chaingang riding desperately holding on to the fast lads i...

Great write up Phil, you put in two incredible days at the end there! Pleasure riding with you!

Great write up Bob. Sub five days would be my target next time I think...

I enjoyed that Pete - thanks for writing it! See you again soon I hope!

Just back in Bristol after a long drive home today. Slightly numb hands, sore arse, but otherwise in one piece. Had an absolutely fantastic time - thanks to everyone I rode with for making it such a brilliant experience (Petes G & M, Jenny, Bob, Craig, & Phil C mainly, and even the grumpy cz...

Got meeting I can't get out of tomorrow morning - so I'll be leaving bristol at 1ish - not the best preparation

Having a few last minute bike issues to, so hoping I get a bit of time to fix it at some point

Looking forward to it though!

Rich and Tom are approaching the river crossing - hope the water is low!

I've just got my rented spot for the HT550, but I'm struggling to get it to register a prestart position. My tracking page shows me in Bristol (that's correct!) and it seemed to successfully track a short test ride this evening. http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0TRQqQKWLJo...

I'm just relieved no one got me!

too much pressure!

Great write up - very honest and straightforward - your packing doesn't look that heavy (did you have a big rucksack as well?!). It's a great route. i was one of the ones that didn't show up for the mass start, I did the Lakeland 200 instead. It's a tougher route but the conditions were better I thi...

I'm about 71KG most of the time, sometimes going out to 73KG during high booze/low exercise periods and very occasionally dropping to high 60s when in race shape. I notice a pretty big difference between 71 and 69 kg, but I expect that is because the amount of training I'm doing to get to 69kg leads...

nice trip! Keep meaning to do a dartmoor/exmoor coast to coast...