Horrible stuff? Where? I'm deeply hurt!

Last year I hated the Abhainn Rath section (as Greg May will testify). This year it was a breeze as I knew it was coming and what to expect.

I think if you put it to the popular vote, Lochinver to Ledmore Junction would rate as the worst bit, but applying the same logic as Abhainn Rath, I think it would be easier next time.

To change topic slightly, this section has also made me to have a rethink on gear/weight distribution. I've always been keen to load the bike and keep the weight off me, but for sections like this a proportion of the weight on me would be a distinct advantage to make the bike easier to handle over such difficult terrain. It took about 4% of the total time for less than 2% of the distance, whether that pays off over the whole route is another matter, though it would also benefit other sections too.

New rule if you scratch next year - you have to take a selfie after you've made the decision and then Alan can judge who looks the most pissed off, I reckon I might of beaten you Ian cos my face was tripping me all the way down the hill to ullapool!

Ha, maybe, though when you set out to make a film of the race and you don't get to tell the story you intended OR finish the race, you come away with not having achieved two things...

That said, the response to the video has been amazing - thanks for everyone's comments here and elsewhere. Perhaps I've still be able to tell a good story, just not the one that I set out to do 

Video now online here: https://vimeo.com/97765701

Enjoy!

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

Also includes a few stills from the video, which is currently uploading to Vimeo as I type...

I think there's some merit in running both the 440 and 550 routes as two options. The 440 route is a touch more accessible for some people I imagine, while the 550 sits up there as the biggie. You'd possibly get some overlap between the fast 550 riders and the slower 440 riders.

As for reversing the northern loop - the Bealach Horn ascent followed by burning your brake pads to nothing back down to An Dubh-loch, then crawling back up through the peat hags...

Help: driving to the train station this morning my bike partially fell off the bike rack. Could have been worse, but I've written off a Jones H-bar. On train anyway, but is there anyone in/ near Glasgow with one of the same I could buy or borrow please?

Thanks!

Fwiw, I don't think it matters which you take. Myself and Alan Sheldon finished about an hour apart last year. I was on a SS hard tail and he on a geared Spearfish.

Also, if you have a decent headlight and you're planning on pushing the last 24 hours straight - bring it. The descent into Bridge of Orky is ... interesting at speed with no real lights

The descent into Bridge of Orchy is interesting at speed in the daylight, especially in a sleep deprived state. I still have the scars from it...

I believe the key to events such as this is not to attempt to ride fast, but to move efficiently. Maximise moving time, consolidate off-bike activities at fewer stops etc. While there are some sections that are distinct in their difficulty, where a slower pace might leave you feeling like you're making precious little progress, remember it's the same for everyone. I expect if you were to analyse the moving time between last years finishers through the Fisherfield section they would be broadly similar. The difference lies in how long people were stopped to do stuff - eating, sorting gear, staring at the view, reflecting on how fcking hard it feels etc. I did all these things when I was there. Don't let these sections grind you down (or indeed put you off entirely) - much of the route is very rideable. Committing, remote and not to be underestimated, but rideable.

I've not ridden the northern loop so can't comment on its difficulty, but the two crux sections for me on last years route were the descent into Fisherfield (re-routed to easier tracks for this year) and the climb over into Glen Affric - both were done in the dark. Torridon, which I did late afternoon was the highlight of the course in my opinion.

Entries are in - all signed up after only 15 hours
Got some good names down for both distances, so looking forward to an exciting ITT.

Hey Folks,

I've put together a 100 mile and 200 mile gravel grinder ITT event with a group start on 5 April 2014 - the "Wildcat Grr-avel 100" and the "Two Ton'O Gravel"

Although the 200 mile route is quite big miles early in the year, the idea is that it would serve as good preparation for the HT550. Anyone not up to the 200 will have the still challenging 100 mile route to go at. It runs on the many miles of generally excellent Welsh forest roads and stoned moorland tracks to offer good variety of riding.

It's a bit hilly - approximately 400m/1300ft climbing per 10 miles, so 4,000m for the Wildcat 100 and the 8,000m for the Two Ton route:



There's already good interest from a core UK riders who like this sort of thing, but the event is open to anyone from overseas who'd be looking to experience a bit of Welsh wilderness

All the info you need on the route and details for entry from 1 January 2014 available here: http://www.wildcatgear.co.uk/events

Cheers,

Ian

Beware the grumpiest pizza men in the world if you arrive at 9.50pm and order 5 pizzas, chips and drinks. They close at 10pm.

Also a shortage of 12" pizzas at that time of night

Hi Everyone,

AlanG asked me to post up the links to the write up I did for this race. It turned into a bit of an epic in itself (much like the event), and is split over several posts.

Enjoy.

http://ianbarrington.com/2013/06/01/highland-trail-race-an-introduction/

http://ianbarrington.com/2013/06/02/highland-trail-race-day-1/

http://ianbarrington.com/2013/06/02/highland-trail-race-day-2/

http://ianbarrington.com/2013/06/03/highland-trail-race-day-3/

http://ianbarrington.com/2013/06/04/highland-trail-race-the-final-push/

http://ianbarrington.com/2013/07/17/highland-trail-race-epilogue/


Cheers,

Ian

I generally agree. Most of the push to 10 speed is to get everyone on a double crankset which allows better shifting in the front. Supposedly, shifting of a triple crankset has been the Achilles heel of road and mountain bikes. Now, with the double and a larger cassette you can keep the same gearing range as a triple for the most part.

I think this is very true. I would add too that double cranksets will probably also have a reduced q-factor compared to their triple ringed equivalents, which would address one of the negatives of the external bottom bracket cranks, IMO. But, as others have pointed out - you could still do this with 8 or 9sp cassettes and get better durability or reliability in adverse conditions - the latter being important for me as the UK is renowned for being a bit muddy...

Hi,

My name's Ian, I'm a thirty-something mountain biker from Wales, UK. I got in to mountain biking about 19 years ago to do some off road cycle touring (as it was known back then). I had numerous excursions in Wales and the Lake District during the early nineties before turning my attention to navigation events with a camping element, known here as the Polaris Challenge. University came and went (degree in Forestry), I got married, got into endurance racing, 24hr races and then 24hr solo's. I'm just coming back into more regular riding after taking some time out from racing while we raise our first boy, who's nearly two.

The Polaris Challenge events are interesting, and of course fun, with navigation against the clock, but they have a mandatory kit list which includes things that seem to be missing from some kits lists I see here; like stove and tent. Anyway, the challenge is always to keep the weight as low as possible without compromising function, which fits with the ethos of much of what I read here. I currently cram all my gear into a tiny 20 litre backpack that weighs about 4kg (9lbs) without water. I'm looking at (my wife) making me a  frame pack at the moment to redistribute weight from me to the bike. She say's she'll only do it if I post a picture of the sewing machine up on here - it's a bit of an antique and you have to wide a wheel round by hand to make the needle go up and down.

Anyway, I digress. I found this site while researching the Tour Divide, which is on my list of things to do. I've found some great tips and inspiration on here so far - hopefully I have something to share in due course too.

I have two bikes - both MTB's. One a 26" wheeled Cotic Soda (titanium hardtail), and a 29er Singular Swift (steel hardtail, rigid fork) which runs in either SS or with a 4 or 5sp range of cogs on the SS rear hub.

Diolch yn fawr,

Ian

Took a bit of finding, but Shaggy's blog is here:

http://www.dazeoftundra.com/

Great blog title