Highland trail 550!!

Talk about anything.

Moderators: Bearbonesnorm, Taylor, Chew

User avatar
fatbikephil
Posts: 6511
Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2014 10:51 pm
Location: Fife
Contact:

Re: Highland trail 550!!

Post by fatbikephil »

User avatar
Ian
Posts: 4652
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:10 pm
Location: Scotlandshire
Contact:

Re: Highland trail 550!!

Post by Ian »

Here's my write up: http://ianbarrington.com/2014/06/09/hig ... -race-550/

Also includes a few stills from the video, which is currently uploading to Vimeo as I type...
User avatar
FLV
Posts: 4245
Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:12 am
Location: Northern Edge of the Peak - Mostly

Re: Highland trail 550!!

Post by FLV »

good and interesting write up Ian, hope you're on the mend and feeling better.

Look forward to the vid.
User avatar
Ian
Posts: 4652
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:10 pm
Location: Scotlandshire
Contact:

Re: Highland trail 550!!

Post by Ian »

I posted the video in the Trips and Adventures forum. Perhaps I should have put it here for sake if continuity... :???:
User avatar
FLV
Posts: 4245
Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:12 am
Location: Northern Edge of the Peak - Mostly

Re: Highland trail 550!!

Post by FLV »

s'alright, I got a mail from the blog too.

I'll be viewing at lunch time over a brew. :grin:
Chew
Posts: 2602
Joined: Sun Jun 19, 2011 8:46 pm
Location: Halifax

Re: Highland trail 550!!

Post by Chew »

EPIC video Ian :cool:

Difficult decision to bail, but theres always next year :wink:
User avatar
Bearbonesnorm
Posts: 23904
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
Location: my own little world

Re: Highland trail 550!!

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

Really, really enjoyed that, superb.

I know it doesn't help but you really couldn't have picked a more iconic backdrop to telling everyone you were pulling out :-bd
May the bridges you burn light your way
deejayen
Posts: 83
Joined: Fri May 23, 2014 8:54 pm

Re: Highland trail 550!!

Post by deejayen »

I really enjoyed reading that. Some fab photos as well - it's great to see some of the trails. I'll try to have a look at the video later.

Was your Shand designed with the Jones bars in mind, Ian? I've ridden a Jones, and love the complete package, but haven't been sure that the bars would work with a 'normal' mountain bike - in terms of top tube length etc.
u02sgb
Posts: 240
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 3:14 pm

Re: Highland trail 550!!

Post by u02sgb »

Thanks, really enjoyed the vid. Beautiful scenery. We were out doing a 4 day trip about a day behind you up to the Devils Staircase. Descent down to Kinlochleven raised a smile from familiar grin inducing terrain. Sounds like the prep for next year is starting already!

Stu.
User avatar
Ian
Posts: 4652
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:10 pm
Location: Scotlandshire
Contact:

Re: Highland trail 550!!

Post by Ian »

Chew wrote:EPIC video Ian :cool:

Difficult decision to bail, but theres always next year :wink:
Thanks Chew. There is, and will be, next year. :cool:
s8tannorm wrote:Really, really enjoyed that, superb.

I know it doesn't help but you really couldn't have picked a more iconic backdrop to telling everyone you were pulling out :-bd
Thanks. I guess shooting that bit outside Tesco's in Ullapool wouldn't have had quite the same impact ;)
deejayen wrote:Was your Shand designed with the Jones bars in mind, Ian? I've ridden a Jones, and love the complete package, but haven't been sure that the bars would work with a 'normal' mountain bike - in terms of top tube length etc.
It had a slightly longer top tube than my previous bike (the Shand is 600mm, effective), and I run a 90mm stem and the handling is spot on. The front end of the Shand is a touch higher than a "normal" 29er, I guess somewhere between that and, say, a drop-bar 29er. It works really well with the 80mm fork up front.
u02sgb wrote:Thanks, really enjoyed the vid. Beautiful scenery. We were out doing a 4 day trip about a day behind you up to the Devils Staircase. Descent down to Kinlochleven raised a smile from familiar grin inducing terrain. Sounds like the prep for next year is starting already!
Took me a while to get into the descents, with emphasis always on not going flat out and risk a puncture (or ripped tyre, for instance...) resulting in more lost time than you'd gained by (trying) to ride fast. Still, very enjoyable descents. Bealach Horn was just amazing though. 18 mins of going downhill :cool:
slarge
Posts: 2641
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2011 4:49 pm
Location: MTB mecca (Warwickshire)

Re: Highland trail 550!!

Post by slarge »

Excellent video Ian, most of that I seem to remember! And some of it I want to forget. Your bit about jacking it in were almost certainly echoed by 25 or so others!
And bits of me are famous!!
deejayen
Posts: 83
Joined: Fri May 23, 2014 8:54 pm

Re: Highland trail 550!!

Post by deejayen »

Thanks, Ian. That's helpful.

Sadly, my internet connection is too slow to watch your video, even when I select the non HD option. Vimeo never works for me. I did see a little bit at the start, which looked great. You seemed to be blasting over the rough terrain - I don't think I'd ever have the skill or bottle for that!
User avatar
Zippy
Posts: 3059
Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2012 6:43 pm
Location: Suffolk
Contact:

Re: Highland trail 550!!

Post by Zippy »

deejayen wrote: Sadly, my internet connection is too slow to watch your video, even when I select the non HD option.
Ditto :???: And I live in the crowded part of the UK where the infrastructure should cope :roll:

Read the blog Ian, saw 20 juddery seconds of your video, shall attempt to download and then watch one evening :cool: I'm liking all the HT550 stories.
Calzzak
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri May 30, 2014 12:26 pm

Re: Highland trail 550!!

Post by Calzzak »

Finally got round to putting some words to an epic race: http://wp.me/p4Ew0r-R

It's a long one!
slarge
Posts: 2641
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2011 4:49 pm
Location: MTB mecca (Warwickshire)

Re: Highland trail 550!!

Post by slarge »

Nice one Andy, really interesting write up. I can't believe how driven you were and the distances travelled and time on the bike!
User avatar
Ian
Posts: 4652
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:10 pm
Location: Scotlandshire
Contact:

Re: Highland trail 550!!

Post by Ian »

Enjoyed that. Knowing someone might only be an hour or less behind can drive you to pull some pretty incredible efforts out of the bag.
User avatar
Richpips
Posts: 2140
Joined: Fri Oct 25, 2013 2:57 pm
Location: Peak District

Re: Highland trail 550!!

Post by Richpips »

It looks like Dries Brouckaert will be done later today.

http://trackleaders.com/highland14i.php ... ckaert_ITT
Post Reply