Highland Trail Race

[GregMay]

Dave Kane has scratched as of last night.

[phil_rad]

Looks like Dave Kane missed the turn, he's going backwards on the course.

[parkysouthlondon]

Hi Greg
Alan Parkinson here. I came off this morning descending into Fort Augustus. I missing seeing a gate across the track until too close and swerved to stop in time. I didn't hit the gate but my LH shoulder to a hard knock. Bryan Dawson and Mike Davies were a few minutes behind and got me back on the bike and we set off into town for a second breakfast after all of us staying in Melgarve bothy last night. It had rained all morning so were difficult conditions but I guess I just wasn't concentrating enough. I'm holed up in the hostel in FA to see how I feel in the morning.

[phil_rad]

Sorry to hear about Dave. Michael Cleveland is also having a rough time of it, looks like he's headed to Fort William.

[parkysouthlondon]

Walked into Fort Augustas earlier to see if I could see the tail Enders but must have just missed them. The weather has cleared a bit since this morning. After getting a few provisions I found Martin Rutherford who was having issues with his tracker and didn't enjoy the bog yesterday. Well who did?
Anyway we was heading further along the route perhaps doing a bit of night riding to catch up a bit. His bike was fine but like me had too much food with him loading him down. Lessons learnt.

[drjon]

I'm probably not reading things correctly, so can anyone explain why it looks like steve is generally moving a bit faster than phil, admittedly stopped for an hour or so longer, but he is way behind? Seems weird.

[Chew]

I'm probably not reading things correctly, so can anyone explain why it looks like steve is generally moving a bit faster than phil, admittedly stopped for an hour or so longer, but he is way behind? Seems weird.

Is that current/average speed?
Phils Spot didnt register for most of the first day which could be messing up the stats. Also depends on the surface. Steve my be on the road at this point where Phil is pushing?


Worth looking at the CP times
Phil was 4 hours clear at CP2, but Steve caught up by 20 mins to CP3. We'll what the gap is when Steve gets to CP4.

[GregMay]

Update from Ed Proctor:

This is Ed Procter, I've scratched from the HT 550

I decided to pull this morning, I was riding at the time with Ian Barrington in Contin and that's were I finished.

This is one of the first times I've done one of these races and I'm so under prepared. Mentally, physically and what I'm capable of, it's been a massive learning experience!

Yesterday ranks as one of my hardest in the saddle, just over 120miles in 17 hours, getting to a bothy at just after 2am. I think I did too much! The thought of 5 days more did not compute

I hope the rest of the race goes well and I'll be following it avidly.

[drjon]

well, phils spot came on just north of fort A right? and at this stage everyone was real close toegether, but phil is showing as 11.40 to the CP1, corrieyairack pass and steve is showing 9.17, which sounds more accurate given that they were into fort A at around 10 hours+ or so. then phil got to CP2 at 1 day and change and steve was 4 hours slower. then as you say CP2 - CP3, steve was 20 mins quicker….
steve stopped for just over 5 hours overnight and phil for around 4 i think, so im just struggling to see where phil ganed 4 hours in between check point 1 and 2….thats 100 miles….4 hours quicker in 100 miles? thats nuts! so this doesnt add up to me UNLESS phil got to fort A MUCH quicker than stever, but again, that seems kind of weird….

dunno…im probably missing something. no doubt he (indeed the top 4 or 5) have been covering ground extremely rapidly…that north loop is not easy by any stretch, even if you consider the amount of road in it….

[shand]

Yeah, I also don't get how Phil can be so far ahead? The gap between him and Steve seems fairly consistent but somehow he managed a huge gap in the first 100 miles. 

[drjon]

tom is kicking ass on his shand as well, awesome riding.

[GregMay]

More people list of people who have scratched over the last 12 hours:

Andy Toop - with a mechanical.
Phil Clarke - wet and knackered.
Stuart Rider - turning for home at Strethpeffer.
Mike Davies - wetter than an otters pocket in traditional local weather.
Phil Fraser-Thomson - exhausted and cold to the bone.
Matt Slater:

I broke my derailleur and tried to SS to Fort Augustus.  I managed to break or bend at least 4 cogs on my cassette, but have made it back to Kinlochleven after crossing "The Bog" twice. 

I'm going to see if I can find an open bike shop somewhere close by tomorrow, but am definitely out of the race.  Thanks to everyone who helped with this, but especially Alan!  Hopefully the hike-a-bike gets easier, but it doesn't sound like it.  What a gorgeous route; but the only thing nicer than the scenery is the people.  If you ever have the possibility to get to Scotland, jump on it!

Thanks again, and maybe someday I'll get this endurance racing thing figured out.

Matt Slater

I'll update more as they come in.The weather is doing what it does best this year it would appear.

[shand]

Text message from Bryan Dawson this morning :

Weather grim and deteriorating - not willing to sit in ullapool till forecast improves to take on torridon. This Shand going home😞

So that's another scratch.

[GregMay]

Yeah, I also don't get how Phil can be so far ahead? The gap between him and Steve seems fairly consistent but somehow he managed a huge gap in the first 100 miles.  

Phil is a machine that is why He's applying 24hour racing tactics to the first day - SMASH IT, then see where you are.

[GregMay]

Alan Parkinson (not Partridge) has now scratched.

He had a crash two days ago, took a day out, it's not right so he's pulled out.

Shand - I can only call scratches when people contact me directly, he has my number.

[shand]

Phil is a machine that is why He's applying 24hour racing tactics to the first day - SMASH IT, then see where you are.

Well it worked! F'in awesome riding.

[shand]

Shand - I can only call scratches when people contact me directly, he has my number.

ah, cool.

[ScotRoutes]

well, phils spot came on just north of fort A right? and at this stage everyone was real close toegether, but phil is showing as 11.40 to the CP1, corrieyairack pass and steve is showing 9.17, which sounds more accurate given that they were into fort A at around 10 hours+ or so. then phil got to CP2 at 1 day and change and steve was 4 hours slower. then as you say CP2 - CP3, steve was 20 mins quicker….
steve stopped for just over 5 hours overnight and phil for around 4 i think, so im just struggling to see where phil ganed 4 hours in between check point 1 and 2….thats 100 miles….4 hours quicker in 100 miles? thats nuts! so this doesnt add up to me UNLESS phil got to fort A MUCH quicker than stever, but again, that seems kind of weird….

dunno…im probably missing something. no doubt he (indeed the top 4 or 5) have been covering ground extremely rapidly…that north loop is not easy by any stretch, even if you consider the amount of road in it….

Phils CP1 time is when his tracker came on, so you can basically ignore it.

[ScotRoutes]

I bumped into Ian Barrington yesterday lunchtime just past Garve (I was on my way to Torridon and saw he was about to pass). He was feeling very tired, not having had much sleep in the bothy on account of arriving late and everyone else getting up early. He had planned a wee bivi in the woods but the midge were horrendous.

I think the fastest guys are getting the best of the weather too. It was drier in the more northerly reaches yesterday and better way out west today.

[chainagent]

Hi,
I am out, definitly. I am sitting in the train back to Tyndrum. Hope to get there in the evening.
The why question? If I am starting in a race like this I expect to make some progess. First day 100 miles in almost 15 hours. Yesterday 60 miles in just about 10 hours in real nasty weather. Fitness for my personal level was quite good. But maybe not good enough for this countless boggy sections. I've got the notion I was more pushing my bike than riding it. And I don't expect any improvement for the next days. My deepest respect to all those who are going to finish the race under those really bad conditions.

Michael Gruenert