I rode up the Pattack this morning on the way to Culra bothy. The rickety old bridge has gone and been replaced by a brand spanking new one

Also the bit between there and the stone pillars is as dry as I’ve seen it

Angus is back on the front....i recon this is him on thr front the remainder of the way now, unless he has a mechanical or other big issue.

scratched in Fort Augustus.

Sorry to hear that , always next year ,and at least it was a mechanical rather than a lack of willpower or legs.

I’m trying to work out who’s the leading lady?
Due to timing of tracker updates it’s hard to work out?

Is it Alice or Philippa

Mart wrote: ↑Sun May 28, 2023 10:04 pm I’m trying to work out who’s the leading lady?
Due to timing of tracker updates it’s hard to work out?

Is it Alice or Philippa

They're probably riding together.

From IG looks like Alex has scratched due to mechanicals...punctures! Its pretty rough out there!

Sorry to hear that. Can't see exactly where Phil C (fatbikephil on his SS) is but I just spotted Cath W at route mile 241. Almost half way round... Go Cath (Bob, would you pass that on if you decide/manage to message her)...

Can't see exactly where Phil C (fatbikephil on his SS)

He's PJ on the tracker. Riding near Alan G - approaching Oykel Bridge just now, though too late for venison lasagne.

boxelder wrote: ↑Mon May 29, 2023 9:32 pm

Can't see exactly where Phil C (fatbikephil on his SS)

He's PJ on the tracker. Riding near Alan G - approaching Oykel Bridge just now, though too late for venison lasagne.

Yes, off course. Phil J Clarke... Found 'im thanks Boxelder. Find it interesting that after over 48H Sofiane is still behind Josh and lots of others. Does that mean his 'I won't sleep cos it's not gonna screw my body up after, and the race is well worth it' isn't working for him. Or have they all adopted the same strategy

redefined_cycles wrote: ↑Mon May 29, 2023 10:11 pm Find it interesting that after over 48H Sofiane is still behind Josh and lots of others. Does that mean his 'I won't sleep cos it's not gonna screw my body up after, and the race is well worth it' isn't working for him. Or have they all adopted the same strategy

Sofiane said on Instagram that technical MTB is not his thing and he didn't think he would be at the very front. I also think he is riding a FS for the first time in a race (?).
The routes he excels at are high% rideable and on better quality surfaces.

Dean wrote: ↑Mon May 29, 2023 11:45 pm

redefined_cycles wrote: ↑Mon May 29, 2023 10:11 pm Find it interesting that after over 48H Sofiane is still behind Josh and lots of others. Does that mean his 'I won't sleep cos it's not gonna screw my body up after, and the race is well worth it' isn't working for him. Or have they all adopted the same strategy

Sofiane said on Instagram that technical MTB is not his thing and he didn't think he would be at the very front. I also think he is riding a FS for the first time in a race (?).
The routes he excels at are high% rideable and on better quality surfaces.

Thanks very much for that update Dean. Maybe in the coming years he'll get closer to the (crazy) front runners. I think it's DotWatcher.cc that described this as the 'toughest bikepacking race in the world'. It means they'll all keep coming back for a while yet until they start hitting #1 or #2 spot (Josh, James H, Sofiane and a few others from the road/gravel scenes).

What’s the record/FKT for the route?

So tight at the front, 3 miles in it. It's gonna be a spring finish

voodoo_simon wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 7:19 am What’s the record/FKT for the route?

Per Dotwatcher, 'Neil Beltchenko’s 2017 record of 3D 10H 22M'

Dave Barter wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 8:40 am So tight at the front, 3 miles in it. It's gonna be a spring finish

7 mins between them from check point 8 timings!

landel wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 8:43 am

voodoo_simon wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 7:19 am What’s the record/FKT for the route?

Per Dotwatcher, 'Neil Beltchenko’s 2017 record of 3D 10H 22M'

Ta

These two are going to shave 2 or 3 hours off that record, surely? Probably not fair to compare year to year mind.

dry and dusty is going to be much faster than wet and muddy [ not that this should diminish their achievement]

Stunning the speeds and distance the pointy end of the race can do.

Angus is saying he needs to change his chain in Fort W......

Kurt refsnider has scratched it appears and Josh I is overtaking Sofiane Sehili as we speak 441.1 miles in...

Hi, I'm not sure if you realize but we have another 'boner racing. My hard as nails 60 year old wife "LT". Liz has been yo-yoing the "Isla group" most of the way. She's way up on her expectations of where she'd be. Only another easy downhill 150 miles to go...

Polisherman wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 10:08 am Hi, I'm not sure if you realize but we have another 'boner racing. My hard as nails 60 year old wife "LT". Liz has been yo-yoing the "Isla group" most of the way. She's way up on her expectations of where she'd be. Only another easy downhill 150 miles to go...

Oh wow... That's epic. What's her name on the trackleaders pls polisherman. 150 miles to go, most people (including me) can't even comprehend that... Well done Liz (erm, the T doesn't stand for Truss does it ).

Looks like the leaders are about to roll down to Kinlochleven which was my stop over point for my easy day and a half roll back to the start from my scratch at Fort Augustus.

Richpips wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 9:34 am Angus is saying he needs to change his chain in Fort W......

Where did you see this info Rich? I wasn't watching closely but I think he (understandably) shot straight through FW?

Dyffers wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 10:57 am

Richpips wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 9:34 am Angus is saying he needs to change his chain in Fort W......

Where did you see this info Rich? I wasn't watching closely but I think he (understandably) shot straight through FW?

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