Highland Trail Race

[McNik]

Yeh the clegs in July up at Ardnamurchan were crazy, never seen so many come at me at once when I had to stop to fix wheel.

The Soltan suncream http://www.boots.com/en/Soltan-Moisturising-Suncare-Lotion-With-Insect-Repellent-SPF50-200ml_1207060/ has insect repellent in it, I like that because you are protected from the sun and from insects. Also, covering legs with it not only stops burnt legs, but also IMHO stops tics, which I think are the things to really watch out for.

[htrider]

Some photos of the southern section here....
http://www.blog.scotroutes.com/2014/04/count-me-out.html

Good trip and write up - Nice to see that the Abhain rath is doable after the snow melt and will hopefully be a bit lower come the end of May. I got midged in fort Augustus last week so they will be out in force come the end of May. Easy to forget that this time last year we were still getting hard frosts over night....

[hikernks]

I'm passing Glasgow Airport on Friday 23rd. You are welcome to have a ride up to Tyndrum.

Sounds great to me.  Any idea of what time you were planning on coming through?  If it's later than 4-5 err, 1600-1700,    I'll just take a train up so I can get some good sleep the night before.  Long flights tend to knock me out for a while, haha.

[McNik]

I made the call on the shoes and kept the Project-X 1.0. I ordered the 2.0 as well, but the ventilation on them isn't as much, so decided to deal with crank-arm rubbing for the sake of ventilation. Tested on Saturday and did ok with Woolie Boolies. Get them soaked, and after initial cold, feet emptied of excess water and were just 'damp' but warm. Bit of heal lift walking, going to take long studs out + hope they break in a bit.

Finally got back to riding this weekend after 2+ weeks off due to chest infection. Struggling on Saturday and HR was all over the place, at least 10 BPM more that is was before I stopped. Very pissed off as I was really on top before I got the bug, had been feeling great, best I had ever felt, was ready to go   Feeling a bit better today but legs feel a bit more sore than they should do after this weekends riding.

I have another week long trip coming up in 2 weeks. I am gonna make the call this week, but I may very well pull out of the Cairngorms Loop and just focus on trying to get back to where I was for the HTR. I kinda feel that training + recovery (IOW good nights sleep in my own bed in between days riding + lots of choco milk and good food) may be better than smashing myself to bits in the Cairngorms with little sleep or much recovery. I am gonna make the call this week, probably by Thursday.

[kbrembo]

I did the very far North section yesterday in fine weather!....We did it the opposite way from the actual HT route

 I have to say that it was absolutely stunning but fairly hard going with some long steep up's and some super fast steep downs! I had a big off as it was so loose on the downs.

The hike a bike ain't too bad until you reach the peat hags and marshy bit! The terrain was incredibly dry but this being Scotland can change at very short notice!

Its tough terrain but very spectacular.







More Pics..
http://s800.photobucket.com/user/kbrembo/library/Far%20North?sort=3&page=1

Strava link herehttp://www.strava.com/activities/134781510

[McNik]

Great pics!

Did you do the route clockwise? I thought it ran anticlockwise?

[kbrembo]

Doh! Ignore my post but enjoy the pictures!

Yeah we did it other way round from the HT...either way lots of big ups!

[McNik]

Ah no bother :-)

Am I right in thinking the middle hike-a-bike section in the peat hags is downhill (in the counterclockwise direction) but still hike-a-bike? And also the section after the river crossing (how was that BTW?) is hike-a-bike to the top?

I think this section is gonna be a test. Your time looked good, but fresh legs etc etc... I think it's gonna be tough after 2+ days riding...

[kbrembo]

Yes the hike a bike will be downhill and it is not too bad until near the end....it does get boggy near the end with some big "holes"..be careful

The River crossing was easy but again will change quick and its a long & steep "up" afterwards but it is on a fairly good condition track....then its followed by a real fast,steep down.....

I also think this section will be possibly the toughest...there are big climbs before and straight after this section .
Its also very remote with little shelter and no bothys...nearest food potential would be Kylesku or Rosehall.

[chainagent]

Hi,

do you think the loop can be done in one day? Assumed the weather isn't too bad. It's about 110mi, isn't it? 

    Michael

[kbrembo]

Yeah I think it could...Plenty day light....again the weather could be the biggest factor

The tar road from Lochinver to Kylesku via Drumbeg is also pretty tough with lots of big ups and downs!

There is a great little store in Drumbeg and also a fab campsite near Lochinver at Achmelvich..we go right past it....They open a small fish and chip shop,have a small shop and even Wi-Fi

Lochinver has a bank/shop/food store/cafe etc

Picture of Achmelvich!

[htrider]

Did you suss out the access to the trail over to Kylesku from Loch stack? Alan Goldsmith posted a while back that it had changed from the original ROW behind the lodge to a new track up by the power lines.

Good pics - it would be nice to think that the weather will be similar when the race gets there....

[drjon]

I must have seen your tyre tracks. Came back yesterday from a contin around the northern loop and back to contin from ledburn over the last 2 days. It was a very hard ride. Taught me a lot, not least that I will be bowing out of racing. The trail is ( for the most part) in spectacular form. The boggy drag down is mentally and physically tough. Take care here. I would be very cautious about hitting this in the dark as I did. Couple of long pushes then some fast trail to kylesku. The coast road round is, well, very Scottish Coast road!
The trail over from lochinver to ledburn deteriorates into a on/off bike bog and rock wrestle. Timing wise it is not impossible folk might end up with these sections all in one day.
I will follow closely. It has been fun trying to get this together, and I thank alan for the motivation to get out and ride some truly stunning and remote trail.

[AlanG]

Great to see a few of you have been getting out on the most northerly loop. Some fantastic pictures there, I've already picked out my bivvy spot in Achmelvich bay.
Someone asked about doing this loop in one day, although I think it is perfectly possible in good weather, I wouldn't think many will manage it. Remember gear caches are against the rules so anyone thinking of leaving stuff at Oykel Bridge and heading around this loop super light please don't, you will need all your kit out there all of the time.

[drjon]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/drj0n/sets/72157644379373506/



nae bad...

[McNik]

Awesome pics! Sorry to hear you and Scotroutes are out. I always feel that for these kind of things, also for regular multi day bikepacks, half the battle is getting to the start line.

[chainagent]

Remember gear caches are against the rules so anyone thinking of leaving stuff at Oykel Bridge and heading around this loop super light please don't, you will need all your kit out there all of the time.

Very good that you mention this point, because exactly that was my intention behind my question. I'wasn't aware that this is against the rules, sorry. I don't wanna start a discussion here about any rules, but what is the reason behind it? I see no harm in leaving for example the whole sleeping kit in Oykel Bridge and pick it up again when I come back, assumed I get an early start and I'm able to complete the loop until the late evenning. Is it for safety reasons? Just for the case that something unforseen will happen en route?
One further aspect is if I don't start with a sleeping kit at all and just rely on B&B's, what in my optinion could really work and what I am taking into account, I would do the loop super light too.
I don't know why but unfortunately my dilemma is, that I'm not a tent sleeper. I'm not getting a wink of sleep in this tiny huts and it doesn't matter how tired I am. But at the other hand I fear it could be a big mistake to let the whole sleeping kit in my car in Tyndrum.

Michael   

[AlanG]

I thought that was where you were going with your initial comment. I don't want to discuss rules here either so let's just say that's how it is. HT550 is a bikepacking event and the idea is to ride it in that style/spirit. It is not a stage race. Let's all pretend the route is linear and has no crossover points!
Please don't skimp on your survival gear, this is a big route in serious terrain. Don't be fooled by all the pictures of blue skies and sandy beaches.

[chainagent]

Ok, Alan. I got it! 

[htrider]

And besides, someones bound to find your cache and nick it!
Cracking weather in those pics, I'd love to think thats what we're in for at the end of May but good weather only happens rarely in the west....