Highland Trail 550 - 2018
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- whitestone
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018
Now home.
When I was attempting to fix my mechanical on the Ben Alder single track I was passed by the two Italians who weren't happy and less than complimentary about the hike-a-bike along Loch Ericht. I thought it best not to mention that it's the easiest such bit
Looks like Javi intends getting the Ledmore traverse out of the way tonight.
When I was attempting to fix my mechanical on the Ben Alder single track I was passed by the two Italians who weren't happy and less than complimentary about the hike-a-bike along Loch Ericht. I thought it best not to mention that it's the easiest such bit
Looks like Javi intends getting the Ledmore traverse out of the way tonight.
Better weight than wisdom, a traveller cannot carry
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018
I thought it was about time the Scottish weather made it's presence more felt during the HTR. I wasn't expecting it to be quite like this though.
27C forecast for Fort Augustus today. Maybe riding at night and having a siesta will be the survival strategy.
27C forecast for Fort Augustus today. Maybe riding at night and having a siesta will be the survival strategy.
- fatbikephil
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018
Bob, just checked my other inner tube and its got a nice big cut in it, probably due to rubbing against something in my bag, just as well you got the other onewhitestone wrote:Now home.
When I was attempting to fix my mechanical on the Ben Alder single track I was passed by the two Italians who weren't happy and less than complimentary about the hike-a-bike along Loch Ericht. I thought it best not to mention that it's the easiest such bit
Looks like Javi intends getting the Ledmore traverse out of the way tonight.
I think that foreign riders aren't used to seeing paths that aren't paths (if you get me). When I rode it on sunday I would say its nearly the driest its ever been.
- ZeroDarkBivi
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018
Astonished by the number of scratches when conditions are so 'good'.
Karl, Bob - TINAT next weekend then? Bound to be some spare places going...
Karl, Bob - TINAT next weekend then? Bound to be some spare places going...
Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018
So the bearbones events are good training for us.htrider wrote:...riders aren't used to seeing paths that aren't paths...
- whitestone
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018
I take it you rode back via Ben Alder and Culra rather than Loch Garry then Phil? That's the third time I've done the lochside trail to Benalder Cottage and it was by far the driest with just a couple of trenches of indeterminate depth. Even the last bit down to the bridge was ridable without risking sinking.
I was riding with Sean for the section along Loch Lyon and we were aiming for puddles in order to cool ourselves down!
Apart from Karl "bovine" Booth and Stu Cowperthwaite (mechanical) I think everyone else has scratched because of the heat. Sarah Caylor has done the Tour Divide but she said she was struggling to keep her head up and was just plodding along and it was becoming unpleasant.
I was riding with Sean for the section along Loch Lyon and we were aiming for puddles in order to cool ourselves down!
Apart from Karl "bovine" Booth and Stu Cowperthwaite (mechanical) I think everyone else has scratched because of the heat. Sarah Caylor has done the Tour Divide but she said she was struggling to keep her head up and was just plodding along and it was becoming unpleasant.
Better weight than wisdom, a traveller cannot carry
- Bearlegged
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018
Please can someone explain what it means when a rider's dot is transparent?
- whitestone
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018
It means that their SPOT hasn't transmitted their position for a while, I think it's thirty minutesLandslide wrote:Please can someone explain what it means when a rider's dot is transparent?
Better weight than wisdom, a traveller cannot carry
- Bearlegged
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018
Weird - trackleaders shows Javi doubling back to Kinlochewe.
Lee plodding on and now closing the gap
Lee plodding on and now closing the gap
2924 miles per Gallon
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018
Left something at the Whistlestop?Mart wrote:Weird - trackleaders shows Javi doubling back to Kinlochewe.
Lee plodding on and now closing the gap
- fatbikephil
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018
Hmm - forgot something? Given the high drop out due to the heat riding at night does seem like a good idea. Who'd have thought that would be a problem in ScotlandMart wrote:Weird - trackleaders shows Javi doubling back to Kinlochewe.
Lee plodding on and now closing the gap
Bob - yeah I went back over the Bealach dhu (why wouldn't you ) cos I knew my mate Rob was in the vicinity and wanted to try and meet up.
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018
The pace of the whole pack this year is astonishing. I remember in 2015 sharing Suileaig bothy with Alan G and Phil C on the 3rd night, but now it seems that most of the pack has hit Ullapool and Fisherfield by then.
Phil Fraser-Thomson looks to be staying in the porch of Larachantivore, a day ahead of me when I used it last year!
Phil Fraser-Thomson looks to be staying in the porch of Larachantivore, a day ahead of me when I used it last year!
Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018
Looks like Javi rested/slept at Linlochewe and will push for a finish now? When did Lee or Alex rest?
Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018
Doesn’t look like Alex rested at all overnight!! It’s so hot up here that maybe he’ll stop fur a couple of hours during the day. Surely he can’t ride nonstop to the end?
Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018
Javi has an issue to do with the sliding dropouts on his singlespeed. He has it zip tied together just now but i don't think he's expecting it to last until tyndrum.boxelder wrote:Looks like Javi rested/slept at Linlochewe and will push for a finish now? When did Lee or Alex rest?
I'm sitting outside strathcarron hotel and pretty sure I'm going to scratch. I'm just not enjoying riding today.
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018
29c recorded in Achnasheen and Fort William yesterday, widely 28c.. Same forecast today. Possibility of thunderstorms from later tomorrow.
- whitestone
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018
Fraser, take an hour or so, have breakfast, then make your decision.touch wrote:Javi has an issue to do with the sliding dropouts on his singlespeed. He has it zip tied together just now but i don't think he's expecting it to last until tyndrum.boxelder wrote:Looks like Javi rested/slept at Linlochewe and will push for a finish now? When did Lee or Alex rest?
I'm sitting outside strathcarron hotel and pretty sure I'm going to scratch. I'm just not enjoying riding today.
Better weight than wisdom, a traveller cannot carry
Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018
Such a shame for Javi, he looked ‘on it’. Alex resting now at the bothy?
Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018
Yes, don't scratch yet, give yourself to think and feed yourself. Then get back on the bike. Remember it is just riding a bike.
Javi, keep going fella, just try a bit less power, but it looks this morning like you are riding with Lee.
Javi, keep going fella, just try a bit less power, but it looks this morning like you are riding with Lee.
Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018
For just 1 hourboxelder wrote:Alex resting now at the bothy?
2924 miles per Gallon
- Dave Barter
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018
Our Mike has done a backtrack and gone off route, I hope all is OK?
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018
Bugger - Now coming down the Dundonnell Rd. Noticed he'd stopped for a bit on the descent coming down the last humpDave Barter wrote:Our Mike has done a backtrack and gone off route, I hope all is OK?
Hope its not him scratching, doing so well up to that point
2924 miles per Gallon
- whitestone
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Re: Highland Trail 550 - 2018
Looks like a scratch http://trackleaders.com/highland18i.php ... ike_Clarke Like you say, doing well up to that point. That road is uphill all the way to the bend near the loch so definitely not something you'd do by accident, also he'd followed the route up the bottom half of Corrie Hallie in towards Fisherfield then turned round.Mart wrote:Bugger - Now coming down the Dundonnell Rd. Noticed he'd stopped for a bit on the descent coming down the last humpDave Barter wrote:Our Mike has done a backtrack and gone off route, I hope all is OK?
Hope its not him scratching, doing so well up to that point
From a post on STW:
Javi is having tracker problems, since it fell off his bike and got damaged…. He lost the nut from his rear axle just before Kinlochewe. Carried on with a proper trailside bodge of DT RWS cable tied to frame, to stop the axle falling out. Hopefully he has managed to sort a more secure fix now!
Better weight than wisdom, a traveller cannot carry