Damn shame. Steve has been so committed.

Maybe he has stuck his Tracker on the roof of a local courier van.

Such is the lure of the chips and beer in the Seaforth Inn, Ullapool.

How do you photograph your own mental breakdown?

So generally I'm known to be mindlessly positive.. But also creative. And occassionally pessimistic. So, for HT550, Greg please can you arrange for a huge projection of a fallen rider, up onto the gloaming clouds of the Scottish sky, for every time a riders scratches? Just like Hunger Games. But that links to everyone's Twitter etc feeds. So that we know when to look out the window, northwards, and then wish them an enjoyable recovery/repatriation journey, back to Tyndrum. Thanks.

A generation team? You are (and will be) amazing, amazed and accomplished.

I had to Google Crazy Larry. Should I hire an american muscle car for Saturday? See you soon (I assume you'll be at Tyndrum Greg)

I was never going to ride the HT550 again! (I'm still not). But that's because HT 2014 was SO GOOD! So, wishing you all an amazing adventure. I intend to be there on Friday eve, or at least Saturday morning, so if anyone needs a hand with anything (packing, fixing, fettling, counselling ;-) then please don't panic - give me a shout and I'll try and help. Just shout "Gary!!". In some ways it's returning the favour when I rocked up at 8am having forgotten ALL my riding gear, and I borrowed kit* from the kind assembly of HT participants (aspirants ;-) and their friends. I am ever thankful. I thought .... "If I can't solve this, then I can't solve the other challenges that the event will throw at me." So, that's how you'll all be thinking right?! Yes, GET IT DONE! It's sooooo worth it. (* cross-contaminated with pubes, snot, chamois pads, scalps, all manner of dried bodily fluids etc etc blagged tourist polythene ponchos and other cheap tatt... but hey, it got me round the majesty of Alan G's creation. Don't get anxious, just take a deep breath, and appreciate that you are going on the most magnificent MTB journey in Europe - AT YOUR PACE.