I'll be at the By the Way campground/hostel from Friday afternoon and at the Real Food Cafe in the evening.
Does anyone know if the Real Food Cafe will be open early for breakfast on Saturday like last year? Their website says 11a.m. but that may be winter hours.

Worst case, the Green Welly Stop opens at 7 for bacon rolls, and they probably don't have the same half hour wait for food, so it's an alternative option.

I'm coming up on the train on Friday night so will be in Tyndrum around 8ish, staying at the Pine Trees camp site (they have hiker huts and I snore)

Whilst I'm not taking part, I plan to be at the by the way campsite later afternoon (best hope there is space - I'll phone and book now ) and shall wander down to real food cafe and where everyone else is fri evening / sat morning and see you all off

Not 100% if I'll make the start or not yet. I'll either be there or won't. I'll sleep somewhere if I get up :)

GregMay wrote:Not 100% if I'll make the start or not yet. I'll either be there or won't. I'll sleep somewhere if I get up :)

Same ;-)

Won't make it for the Grand Depart but I'll be riding up the WHW/with a few deviation's on Wednesday/Thursday, so I'll hopefully see a few of you with the obligatory 1000yard state.

Good luck to all.

I am feeling a wee bit nervous today. Fell asleep studying the maps last night. A nightmare ensued with 70 mile a day rides just to finish in time...oh wait that is really whats gonna happen. The nightmare is real.

I'm excited too.

As the water levels may be up, I thought I might mention that the ford just below Loch Liath (2nd res. after FortA) needs care if you are going to ride across.

Both Markus and I nearly lost our front wheels in it last year. It is particularly fast as you approach the far side.

Anyone considering scratching mid way through the race should consider the fact that there are no useful trains running on Monday and Tuesday.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-32811054

You may be able to get the bus though.
http://www.inverness-durness-highland-bike-bus.co.uk/

...

You may be able to get the bus though.
http://www.inverness-durness-highland-b ... bus.co.uk/

Iirc Nikk caught that last year from Ullapool.

Richpips wrote:As the water levels may be up, I thought I might mention that the ford just below Loch Liath (2nd res. after FortA) needs care if you are going to ride across.

Both Markus and I nearly lost our front wheels in it last year. It is particularly fast as you approach the far side.

If its any help, we finished the outer cairngorms loop yesterday and the water levels were all fairly low - all below knee level at least.

rudedog wrote:

Richpips wrote:As the water levels may be up, I thought I might mention that the ford just below Loch Liath (2nd res. after FortA) needs care if you are going to ride across.

Both Markus and I nearly lost our front wheels in it last year. It is particularly fast as you approach the far side.

If its any help, we finished the outer cairngorms loop yesterday and the water levels were all fairly low - all below knee level at least.

Thankyou sir

Although the Ford of Avon refuge is on the inner loop

Weather forecast for Cairngorms that weekend is looking promising too

AlasdairMc wrote:Anyone considering scratching mid way through the race should consider the fact that there are no useful trains running on Monday and Tuesday.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-32811054

Good call Alasdair, posted that to the Twitter feed. Thanks.

Weather predictions are improving.

From mwis.org.uk:

A mixed weekend: Saturday likely the better day, staying dry with cloud breaking up, but risk by Sunday of low cloud and occasional rain. Generally warmer than recently, with freezing levels mostly above or just above the highest summits.
Next week: high pressure trying to build may bring fairly settled conditions, albeit still a risk of occasional low cloud and patchy rain in western Scotland.

I knew if I kept looking long enough I would find a weather forecast I liked!

touch wrote:You may be able to get the bus though.
http://www.inverness-durness-highland-bike-bus.co.uk/

To Inverness only though. Any travel South will be considerably harder. There are worse places to be stranded admittedly, and unless you're a racer you wouldn't be getting back to Tyndrum until Thursday or Friday anyway.

AlanG wrote:I'll be at the By the Way campground/hostel from Friday afternoon and at the Real Food Cafe in the evening.
Does anyone know if the Real Food Cafe will be open early for breakfast on Saturday like last year? Their website says 11a.m. but that may be winter hours.

It opens at 8am on Saturday. I'm in Tyndrum now and asked the owners.

Has anyone arranged a piper this year?

https://vimeo.com/97154105

Well the lack of trains on monday or tuesday are good motivation to keep going!

As a further update, the bunkhouse at Achnashellach is shut as the owner died recently.

Thanks Javi. Let's gather as usual at the Real Food Cafe/parking from 8 a.m.on Saturday and roll up to the start at around 8.45.

The hotel at Achnasheen has a bunkhouse, I was there last week having a coffee and he gave me a card for next time I was passing!
Ledgowan Lodge. Only any use if you've bailed or are happy to make quite a diversion though I guess.

Last minute faffing done (apart from some stuff I need to buy tomorrow).

We're getting a lift up to arrive tomorrow afternoon. Camping at By the Way.

We're hoping to be away somewhere between 7 and 8 on Friday morning.

Have a good ride folks.

No surrender eh?

Richpips wrote:Last minute faffing done (apart from some stuff I need to buy tomorrow).

We're getting a lift up to arrive tomorrow afternoon. Camping at By the Way.

We're hoping to be away somewhere between 7 and 8 on Friday morning.

Have a good ride folks.

No surrender eh?

Have a good one Rich. Ride swift, ride safe

I tried a newish H/B harness the last few week, thought I was happy, but then I took it off road and it started to touch the front wheel. I tied it up with straps and it was sort of fine but not 100%.
Another company product dropped through the letterbox tonight and I love it
It just fits better, more clearance and is super wide and looks quality. In fact as wide as my bars and so it's got the trip without me even going out with it, well a short commute tomorrow..
Am I stating the obvious but fitted new brake blocks too tonight