Highland Trail 550 - 2018

[AlasdairMc]

Thanks. If I’m not going around the route this year at least my kit might...

[fatbikephil]

Yousers just checked out the weather forecast again - custard pie central for the north west, maybe some thunderstorms later in the week but yous will be finished by then. Enjoy it, the weather won't be like this for another 20 years.

[Howard]

I thought that starting an ITT the day before the group start was pretty insensitive. It looks like someone has started 4 hours before the Group start and added their dot to Trackleaders, which is just taking the p*ss. Anyway, best of luck to all the group start riders and the dot-watchers trying to work out who is who!

[ScotRoutes]

Yellow marker = ITT, no?

[ianfitz]

Yellow marker = ITT, no?

Yes. Phillipa started yesterday and stayed in Ben alder cottage.

Matt started at 5am this morning, yes ITTs on group start day are not encouraged.

[AlasdairMc]

I thought that starting an ITT the day before the group start was pretty insensitive. It looks like someone has started 4 hours before the Group start and added their dot to Trackleaders, which is just taking the p*ss. Anyway, best of luck to all the group start riders and the dot-watchers trying to work out who is who!

Yep, agreed, a pisstake. Those two will be overtaken by many of the field, especially if Ben Alder Cottage is a first night stop for one, so will be contending for the already limited resources

[ScotRoutes]

They're already at Loch Pattack. I guess there's little issue if it remains at one or two. There's not really that much more contention for resources than might be expected on a sunny Bank Holiday week in the Highlands. If it became a much larger number though.....

[fatbikephil]

Just compared times with last year - the leaders need to pick up the pace

[AlasdairMc]

They're already at Loch Pattack. I guess there's little issue if it remains at one or two. There's not really that much more contention for resources than might be expected on a sunny Bank Holiday week in the Highlands. If it became a much larger number though.....

Like the last room in the Oykel Bridge hotel?

[jam bo]

Yep, agreed, a pisstake. Those two will be overtaken by many of the field, especially if Ben Alder Cottage is a first night stop for one, so will be contending for the already limited resources

Didn’t realise it was closed course racing.

[ianfitz]

Yep, agreed, a pisstake. Those two will be overtaken by many of the field, especially if Ben Alder Cottage is a first night stop for one, so will be contending for the already limited resources

Didn’t realise it was closed course racing.

It isn’t. But there are 364 days every year when there isn’t a group start.

The group is limited in numbers to reduce the impact a large number of riders can have. The general request is that people avoid ITTs that may coincide with the group start.

This is frowned upon because otherwise there may be 50 in the group and how-ever many starting them too.

[Howard]

... and of course the hills are open every day of the year, but these are people who know about the event, know when the group start is, know they’re not part of it and yet have paid their money to put their dot on Trackeaders.... it is just disrespectful to the event.

[psling]

Well, I hope Rich (Postierich) gets back on track where he left it, he seems to have taken a wrong turn?

[Howard]

....looks like Lee Craigie did the same, had to reverse it and it cost her half an hour - ouch!!

[pistonbroke]

Did she reverse it? That's not what her Spot is saying. Looks like she cut across to the route and missed a couple of miles, or am i reading it wrong, hard to tell when the interval is 15 minutes, hope I'm wrong after last year.

[psling]

And looks like Bob has wandered off course too.

[psling]

Did she reverse it? That's not what her Spot is saying. Looks like she cut across to the route and missed a couple of miles, or am i reading it wrong, hard to tell when the interval is 15 minutes, hope I'm wrong after last year.

Thought the same but hopefully her GPS will show differently. Looking at the zig-zags on her straight line Spot track I reckon she did go back but there's a big gap between going back to the head of the loch and the next point on the correct route; like you, I hope so after last year.

[Dave Barter]

I cannot fathom what Bob is doing going down where he has? I don't remember any tracks that way

[ianfitz]

I cannot fathom what Bob is doing going down where he has? I don't remember any tracks that way

Hmm. Heading for corour station?

[ianfitz]

Did she reverse it? That's not what her Spot is saying. Looks like she cut across to the route and missed a couple of miles, or am i reading it wrong, hard to tell when the interval is 15 minutes, hope I'm wrong after last year.

There’s a 20 minute gap before (hopefully) rejoining the route. That would be enough time to ride back to the bridge and get back in it.

[Mariner]

I cannot fathom what Bob is doing going down where he has? I don't remember any tracks that way

Hmm. Heading for corour station?

Just had a look on OS as I remember the area below that path as featureless bolder strewn nothingness but there is a path shown on the other side of the river which will take him to the end of Loch Ossian and then at the other end is the SYH and the station. Very steep descent though to the river.

[Chicken Legs]

I don't remember any tracks that way

Thats probably because last time you were up there we were knee deep in snow

[psling]

Just had a look on OS as I remember the area below that path as featureless bolder strewn nothingness but there is a path shown on the other side of the river which will take him to the end of Loch Ossian and then at the other end is the SYH and the station. Very steep descent though to the river.

Well, it looks like he's made the track that leads down to Corrour Shooting Lodge and like ianfitz suggests, bailing out to the station?

[middleagedmadness]

Just had a quick look , looks like Mike has stopped to keep the Scottish restaurant economy growing

[Wotsits]

Anybody know where Stu Cowp might be going?

Hope he's not bailed..