Highland Trail 2021... What worked, what didn't
Posted: Mon May 31, 2021 1:02 pm
I remember one of these threads from a few years ago and I found it really helpful, so here's my contribution from this year's event.
What worked
Dropper post - So glad I had this. It helped turn my XC hardtail geometry into something a bit more confidence-inspiring on steep ground. I also used it lots in the last 24hrs when I was too tired to lift my leg over a full height seat post Worked very well with the Apidura seatpost bag.
Bontrager XR4/XR3 tyres - Team Issue 2.4” set up tubeless with 21psi front, 24psi rear. These tyres fit really well on my No Stans rims. Grippy, corner well and the XR4 excels in loose over hard surfaces. No punctures even though they took a battering later in the ride when my concentration levels were receding fast. Had to put a bit of air in the XR4 on the middle day, but otherwise didn’t touch them.
No stove - Never regretted not packing a stove. Managed hot food most days at pub/cafe stops anyhow.
Cumulus 250 quilt - I’m new to quilts, but instantly fell in love with this. As a restless sleeper it’s way better than a bag and just stayed where it was supposed to inside my bivy bag. Thought I might miss a sleeping bag hood, but didn’t. Packs down tiny.
Arcteryx Nuclei synthetic hooded jacket - I bought this jacket almost 10 years ago and I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say it’s saved my life on more than one ride. This time it was the northern loop in heavy rain and wind. Wore it under my waterproof and it kept me just about warm enough all day even though it got soaked.
Proper mountain waterproofs - I witnessed a few people suffering in superlight cycling waterproof tops and shorts. I went for full length Goretex trousers and a Rab jacket and didn’t regret it.
Running hydration vest - This had about 10l of storage which I used for a small first aid/hygeine kit, midge kit, money, phone and all the food I could stuff in (quite a lot), with two 0.5l soft flasks for water on the shoulder straps.. I’m not a fan of backpacks, but this never felt heavy and most of the time I forgot I had it on.
Heavy duty latex gloves - I went back and forth on bad weather glove choices but in the end took my winter gloves and layered them over the latex gloves. They just about kept my hands warm enough on the northern loop and meant that when I took my big gloves off to fiddle with gear my hands weren’t completely exposed.
Garmin Etrex - Simple, just works and batteries last ages.
Bamboo toothbrush from Joe’s shop - Minty fresh teeth and it’s not plastic. Perfect.
What didn’t work
Close-fitting shoes - My feet swelled so much I had to take the footbeds out for the last couple of days. If I ever did a similar ride again I’d buy a half size up and start with a thicker sock - or fit flats and wear approach shoes. By the last day, my right ankle was so sore that unclipping was really painful. For a route with lots of on-off HaB, flats make sense.
Any sports nutrition - I took some recovery drinks and Cliff bars. Couldn’t bring myself to eat a Cliff bar by day two and I could never be bothered with the recovery drinks. Nuts, cheese and Creme Eggs turned out to be the things I really wanted, plus soup whenever it was available at food stops,
Flat tarp - I will own up to some poor pitching but it was dark, raining and I’d ridden 190km… On the second night my sleep kit got wet when I ended up too close to the side of the tarp and the water started to drip into my bivy bag. Not good. I think something like a Deschutes or Gatewood tarp would have been a better, more idiot-proof choice.
Alpkit Numo mat - Not insulated so not great when using a quilt. I didn’t notice when pitching on grass, but I spent one night in Fisherfield bivied on decking in front of a cabin and the airflow underneath chilled me to the bone. I think I got less than 2hrs sleep which did not set me up well for the final two days, possibly costing me the sub-six day finish I was going for.
Undecided
Revelate Designs Mag Tank 2000 - This top tube bag is totally solid, holds a huge amount of food and is easy to pack. But I’m not sold on the flappy lid. Opening it on bumpy terrain risks stuff flying out and I didn’t find the magnetic catch on mine that effective. Might return to a zippered top tube bag
What I didn’t use
Buffalo mitts - my emergency back-up handwear. I used every other item I took.
What I wished I had
Skills like Htrider when I saw him float his bike across the Loch na Stac boulder field like a butterfly
What worked
Dropper post - So glad I had this. It helped turn my XC hardtail geometry into something a bit more confidence-inspiring on steep ground. I also used it lots in the last 24hrs when I was too tired to lift my leg over a full height seat post Worked very well with the Apidura seatpost bag.
Bontrager XR4/XR3 tyres - Team Issue 2.4” set up tubeless with 21psi front, 24psi rear. These tyres fit really well on my No Stans rims. Grippy, corner well and the XR4 excels in loose over hard surfaces. No punctures even though they took a battering later in the ride when my concentration levels were receding fast. Had to put a bit of air in the XR4 on the middle day, but otherwise didn’t touch them.
No stove - Never regretted not packing a stove. Managed hot food most days at pub/cafe stops anyhow.
Cumulus 250 quilt - I’m new to quilts, but instantly fell in love with this. As a restless sleeper it’s way better than a bag and just stayed where it was supposed to inside my bivy bag. Thought I might miss a sleeping bag hood, but didn’t. Packs down tiny.
Arcteryx Nuclei synthetic hooded jacket - I bought this jacket almost 10 years ago and I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say it’s saved my life on more than one ride. This time it was the northern loop in heavy rain and wind. Wore it under my waterproof and it kept me just about warm enough all day even though it got soaked.
Proper mountain waterproofs - I witnessed a few people suffering in superlight cycling waterproof tops and shorts. I went for full length Goretex trousers and a Rab jacket and didn’t regret it.
Running hydration vest - This had about 10l of storage which I used for a small first aid/hygeine kit, midge kit, money, phone and all the food I could stuff in (quite a lot), with two 0.5l soft flasks for water on the shoulder straps.. I’m not a fan of backpacks, but this never felt heavy and most of the time I forgot I had it on.
Heavy duty latex gloves - I went back and forth on bad weather glove choices but in the end took my winter gloves and layered them over the latex gloves. They just about kept my hands warm enough on the northern loop and meant that when I took my big gloves off to fiddle with gear my hands weren’t completely exposed.
Garmin Etrex - Simple, just works and batteries last ages.
Bamboo toothbrush from Joe’s shop - Minty fresh teeth and it’s not plastic. Perfect.
What didn’t work
Close-fitting shoes - My feet swelled so much I had to take the footbeds out for the last couple of days. If I ever did a similar ride again I’d buy a half size up and start with a thicker sock - or fit flats and wear approach shoes. By the last day, my right ankle was so sore that unclipping was really painful. For a route with lots of on-off HaB, flats make sense.
Any sports nutrition - I took some recovery drinks and Cliff bars. Couldn’t bring myself to eat a Cliff bar by day two and I could never be bothered with the recovery drinks. Nuts, cheese and Creme Eggs turned out to be the things I really wanted, plus soup whenever it was available at food stops,
Flat tarp - I will own up to some poor pitching but it was dark, raining and I’d ridden 190km… On the second night my sleep kit got wet when I ended up too close to the side of the tarp and the water started to drip into my bivy bag. Not good. I think something like a Deschutes or Gatewood tarp would have been a better, more idiot-proof choice.
Alpkit Numo mat - Not insulated so not great when using a quilt. I didn’t notice when pitching on grass, but I spent one night in Fisherfield bivied on decking in front of a cabin and the airflow underneath chilled me to the bone. I think I got less than 2hrs sleep which did not set me up well for the final two days, possibly costing me the sub-six day finish I was going for.
Undecided
Revelate Designs Mag Tank 2000 - This top tube bag is totally solid, holds a huge amount of food and is easy to pack. But I’m not sold on the flappy lid. Opening it on bumpy terrain risks stuff flying out and I didn’t find the magnetic catch on mine that effective. Might return to a zippered top tube bag
What I didn’t use
Buffalo mitts - my emergency back-up handwear. I used every other item I took.
What I wished I had
Skills like Htrider when I saw him float his bike across the Loch na Stac boulder field like a butterfly