Highland Trail Race

[AlanG]

25 riders have already signed up for the group start next May!

[keywee]

Hi Alan,

Not sure if you got my entry. Are you updating the startlist soon?

david.

[dgjessee]

To anyone coming from the US, this is how Andy and I did our logistics. First of all, I looked into renting a bike but it was going to be very expensive and I also didn't want to be worrying about making sizing adjustments right before and during the race. So I really think you should try to bring whatever you normally ride (FYI, if I was designing a bike for this race it would be a hardtail trail bike 29er with at least 120mm of travel and a dropper seat post with no more than 11 gears, haha)

Flights: we both flew BA mainly because they don't charge for bicycles. Andy had his in a plastic hard case and I got the triangular cardboard bike caddy. Both did really well on the trip over. We shared a room at the HI express literally across the parking lot from the airport. We'd both emailed ahead and asked if we could leave our bike boxes there and they were really nice to let us do so (both of us would be leaving them for about 2 weeks). However I will say that a) they didn't know how big bike boxes were, and b) if there had been more than just our two, woulda been trouble.

Getting to Tyndrum: Alan picked us up from our hotel (just make sure you ask him if his bike racks are installed yet, haha) and as he said, there are lots of other local racers that will be passing through. Andy took the train back to Glasgow from Tyndrum and I picked up a ride with another racer. You can also ride some nice easy roads for a day or two from Glasgow as Alan told us and Arno did.

After the race: having never been to the UK I stayed after for about a week with my wife, who met me there. I took my bike back to the HI express and put it back in the box and prayed it would still be there when I returned a week later. It was and so was Andy's. I do think if you can talk with a local shop they might be better suited for keeping your bike/box than the hotel, but the hotel was just too easy logistically.

Do whatever you can to do this race! I really wish I had the time to do this race next year, especially since it sounds like Alan has made some great improvements.

[GregMay]

Don't forget to bring a sleeping bag is always a bonus tip...ehy Dan

[AlasdairMc]

I thought the 'no sleeping bag' was a strategy and not an oversight?

I'm going to be doing the PDF maps for this again - will post up the link when I have done so. 50k Ordnance Survey onto A4 PDFs if anyone wants them.

Al

[GregMay]

I suppose suffering can be a strategy yes.... it worked for Dan anyway

[AlasdairMc]

I know. My strategy of carrying everything including the kitchen sink did not so there is definitely merit in his approach...

[AlanG]

The current start list is now up on the Highland Trail website. I haven't vetted any entrants. I'm assuming everyone has done their research, knows what they are getting into and can look after themselves out there. If you have emailed me for an entry you should be on the list. If you're not on it and think you should be, get in touch.

[wunnspeed]

Wow.... that list is growing fast. I even know a couple of the others on the list. I didn't know that either of them were even considering it. Cool!

[drjon]

great! and thanks for the hard work alan! better watch there arent too many hip flasks this year... :-)~

[dgjessee]

It woulda worked better if I'd done Aidan's "sleep during the day" plan....live and learn! Interestingly, the only thing I wish I'd brought was a sleeping bag instead of the e-bivy. Other than that some whisky woulda been nice.

[richpips]

I can't decide which

http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/practical/PD104.html

or

http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/practical/PD105.html

[wunnspeed]

great! and thanks for the hard work alan! better watch there arent too many hip flasks this year... :-)~

Is there any such thing as "too many" hip flasks?

[AlanG]

Entries for the Highland Trail group start 2014 are now closed.
There are 62 riders signed up which I think is enough to leave us with about 40 lining up for the grand depart in Tyndrum next May. This year saw 40% drop out before the start so I'm expecting about the same again.

[IanB]

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

[vistaed]

I would truly of loved to have been out there again in 2014 but my second child is due on the 19th May. So I'll be doing my own battle with sleepless nights at the same time.

[AlanG]

Unless there are a significant number of objections, I'm going to move the start time to 9.am.

Too bad you can't be there next year James, I added the 130 miles and got rid of the carry down to Shenavall bothy just for you!

[wunnspeed]

I don't know if I knew what time the previous start was... earlier the better in my world but 9:00 is typical work start in Germany... used to it.

[richpips]

Sounds good to me. Not so much of a rush to make Fort A for supper.

[GregMay]

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.