I was wondering if ice was an issue climbing away from Ben Alder?

Dave Barter wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2019 12:32 pm I was wondering if ice was an issue climbing away from Ben Alder?

Possibly. It's a balmy 5C and pissing down here at the moment after temperatures soared overnight. Running water on cold ground can be the worst of conditions.

Uhm, maybe the newsletter jinxed the job - hopefully not.

The dot is heading to Rannoch Station

ScotRoutes wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2019 1:56 pm The dot is heading to Rannoch Station

Just looking now. I wonder if he hurt himself yesterday?

I'm gonna be a back seat driver here and say some 2 pennies...

Basically that it remains a challenge worthy of being called "a challenge"...

A few more failed winter attampts and everyone (thats worthy of being called 'wel ard' will be on the bandwagon). Well done to Rich Pips for giving it the shot and (again speculation) when lots of ice gets involved, especially on water trails, it does become a bit 'impossible' i s'pose...

Bloomin amazing

I know of one other who is possibly going to give it a go. And for the avoidance of doubt it is NOT me.

As I only found out on twitter recently, Rich and Shona have 'sort' of done it.

@keep_pedalling

We did it between Xmas and new year a couple of years back-it was lovely (well -6) saw one person in a week lived on chickpeas and chapatis as nothing was open and played darts in a bothy for the last piece of stollen. Rich won

I asked

Did you ride the whole route? If so that would be the first winter completion

@keep_pedalling

Mostly but we got sidetracked by some other trails and freestyled a bit did find some interesting bits that could be added though...

we also did the old400 on singlespeeds one Xmas- that was ‘interesting...’

So it is possible

Just looked at the train times. Next one from Rannoch is 18.38, he's got a few hours to kill.

Or - train to FW, eat, train back south. Warmer than hanging around Rannoch for a few hours.

sean_iow wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2019 2:35 pm Mostly but we got sidetracked by some other trails and freestyled a bit did find some interesting bits that could be added though...

- Sounds like a great effort, but - as you suggest - unlikely to pass Alan's strict route scrutineering.

In true winter conditions it seems like Microspikes and potentially a lot of pushing would be required. I would also suggest an Ice Axe, but cannot picture how that would be deployed whilst holding a very heavily loaded bike!

ScotRoutes wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2019 3:05 pm Or - train to FW, eat, train back south. Warmer than hanging around Rannoch for a few hours.

Good thinking.

Heading home today. Had contemplated riding back to Tyndrum but my knee is still giving me pain.
I shall do a write up soon.