HT550 - The Phil Simcock story.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Part 1 of Phils HT550 report can be found here ... don't panic, he hasn't called it 'The Phil Simcock Story' and it isn't an exclusive in todays soar-away sun either

http://teamjmc.jmc.it/2014/06/how-phil- ... chapter-1/

[fatbikephil]

A good read, but I'm slightly embarrassed to see that my pace on the first 40 miles upset Phils race plan! If I'd known I'd have said as I passed him 'Don't worry my plan is to blow up in 50 miles time and then scratch at the end of day 2....'

[Yorlin]

Part 2 has just popped up

http://bikepackersmagazine.com/highland ... eport-pt2/

[Ian]

Good read so far

[Ian]

Part 3 is here: http://bikepackersmagazine.com/highland ... port-pt-3/

This bit made me laugh:

I looked at my watch and I had been asleep for an hour, lay next to my bike, on my back, in the pouring rain. It must have looked as if I had been shot.

[Cheeky Monkey]

These last few miles just seemed to take forever. I made it to Bridge of Orchy, filled my water bottle for the last time and headed to the finish. I knew there would be no fanfare or grandstand finish. I just wanted to see my family. As I came down the trail towards Tyndrum, I saw my two daughters playing on their scooters and my wife soaking up the morning sun. I had ridden in some amazing places for the last four days, but this was the most beautiful sight of the whole trip. I reached the finish, climbed of the bike and straight away received my prize – a big family bear hug. The pain and suffering was all worth it!

After all that effort to be so happy with, what some might think, so "little".

Bravo

[Bearbonesnorm]

Fantastic stuff ... if reading that doesn't put you off, nothing will

[Zippy]

Fantastic stuff ... if reading that doesn't put you off, nothing will

Oh Bugger, that hasn't put me off

That's been a good read, I enjoyed that. Lets see what happens over the next couple of years and see if I can make it reality. Failing that, can always do it at a more leisurely pace...

[deejayen]

Amazing.

I just wonder if there'll ever be day when I see a rocky, steep and technical descent, am able to push my body and mind to the limit, and end up with a smile on my face!

I'd better start training my body in earnest - I'll start with fish and chips, a steak and kidney pie, mushy peas and a coffee.

[RayKickButts]

I like the sound of doing it …… but with mates at a nice comfortable pace

Great read

[fatbikephil]

Excellent story - interesting reading his comments on the weather - it looks like he missed Sundays rain as he was ahead of it!

[AlasdairMc]

Excellent story - interesting reading his comments on the weather - it looks like he missed Sundays rain as he was ahead of it!

Where were you when it hit? I woke up in my bivi a few miles beyond Blackburn and it rained for a few hours, but it was fine by the time I hit Cannich and was just mist on the climb to the reservoir. It turned into a nice day for a while too.

[fatbikephil]

Excellent story - interesting reading his comments on the weather - it looks like he missed Sundays rain as he was ahead of it!

Where were you when it hit? I woke up in my bivi a few miles beyond Blackburn and it rained for a few hours, but it was fine by the time I hit Cannich and was just mist on the climb to the reservoir. It turned into a nice day for a while too.

100m out of Fort Augustus at 545am on Sunday - I was chuffed to get me tent down dry - rained continuously until Contin at 1pm. Eased off a bit and the sun came out for a while but as I descended towards Deanich Lodge past Bear Gryll's extreme survival course (eh?) I ran straight into further high speed dreich, and then heavy rain - this is what finished me off in end and caused me to scratch just before Oykel Br.