IMHO you learn a lot when you fail the Highland Trail. Not just about gear and strategy and your body, but about how to deal with that failure. Even though it feels horrible to have to scratch, it will make you stronger as well. I remember the first time I scratched in 2013, I was in tears of frustr...

Photos from that start are now up on my blog at http://niksbikingblog.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/highland-trail-race-2017-start-and-at.html All in order they were taken. Sorry if I missed anyone! My two favorites: https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F2k6uEhp7mc/WTB2-u98KSI/AAAAAAAAHiY/qQcAyweFXvEXxXbE7n1uvA7MQRm...

Amazing times happening this year, Neil's record is just astounding! That's gonna be a tough one to beat. Well done to Jenny on your time, strong riding for sure. Hard luck Howard. Take it from me, I wrote the book on pre-Fisherfield scratches! Twice I have scratched right there. I was not a happy c...

That is great, they will finish for the start! I did that last section at a similar time of day last year. it is straightforward but tough as well! I hope there is someone at the finish line for them. It would have been an amazing ride today. So chuffed they are doing it and so close to the end. Ver...

It is rational to be scared of fast flowing water, and water in general. It only takes seconds to get into very serious difficulty. Fast flowing is much worse, as the weight of water can pin / trap you, and it is game over. For the HTR crossing, it should be ok. It is basically in the loch, and very...

Can anybody tell me how the new parts of the route are? Does the new route get me faster into Fort Augustus? I did a write up at http://niksbikingblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/highland-trail-2016-recce.html I think the new route is faster, but you still have to "not hang about" to get to th...

Strath na sealga this year was vaguely exciting. I had a foot spa moment when I crossed. Ankle deep all the way. When i got to the other side, shoes and socks off, washed feet in still water, which was almost warm it was so shallow and still, sun beating down. Washed socks n shoes. Dried feet and ru...

Tried to get in solo at 22.35. Sold out :sad: Dude, the solos sell out within 1 minute, no exaggeration. I missed the sign up again, probably for the best, I am not sure I really enjoy the circuit or the event for various reasons (bad time of year for fitness, too much mud, too many people, too tec...

htrider wrote:Nowt wrong with a heavy bike

Yup exactly, it is the indian not the arrow etc...

But, I need all the help I can get!

"However, the bike is still light at 9kg unloaded" Come on Nick, show & tell! That's phenomenally light - I've never seen a 29er that featherweight; even Mike Hall's fully rigid TD Pivot is 9.5kg. What's your weight weenie secret? It's a unicycle? He has no bottom bracket. No pedals a...

Some ramblings at http://niksbikingblog.blogspot.co.uk/20 ... bable.html

JamesR wrote:try and capture how it feels]

Those are great shots! That one of Ian is amazing.

I am organizing a celebration drink in Edinburgh tomorrow evening, to be finalized but likely somewhere round Leith Walk about 6:30pm...

Echoing philipft... I can't believe what just happened. Feels like an out of body experience now sat back at home with a few glasses of bubbly in me and every inch sore and tired. 6 days outside, riding all day every day, sleeping for 4, 5, 6 hours in my tent, then riding again. Weather was amazing,...

It's mainly to help relieve my contact's worries. With this in mind, if I was riding very late into the night, I would send my "I've stopped for the night" message, then turn Spot off for 30 minutes. This way I knew they'd go to bed themselves and not fret. Probably confused a few spot wa...

Test rode my serviced bike today, feels funny with bouncy forks on it again, but feels good!

I'm as ready as I'll ever be this year. Kinda itching to get going now TBH.

probably be fine as long as he doesn't need to stop & fix a puncture without one. Scientists actually found a new species of highland midge which they named Culicoides impunctatus ventosalius that senses whenever air is let out of tubes, and swiftly congregates around the poor being trying to f...

It's a recurring injury that I thought had healed. Looks like it's a doctor's appointment and some likely rest time. Ah dood :cry: Sorry to hear this. Heal fast! Alisdair, damn shame, but if you fancy a run in September let me know as I need to get this one out of my system Oh yeh. Do the ride with...

This thing is in danger of becoming "the great pizza race" if we are not careful X-) there was a guy recently on here who did a detailed report of the first 70 miles and reported it very rideable apart from a couple of miles sth of Ben Alder Cottage 'Twas me, here . The route till the tarm...

Ace. Extremely useful. So the last few Kim's approaching Ben Alder cottage from the south were rideable too? Remember this being fairly boggy underfoot in the past. When we went through at Easter much of it wasn't. But it was dark and we may have missed some lines. It was easy pushing though Those ...

Some spam for my blog post http://niksbikingblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/highland-trail-2016-recce.html I recced the first 70 (and last 45) miles so you don't have to :-) https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q9lsjXGAL8w/VzorEM4EG2I/AAAAAAAAGO0/SPpY36UYas859qZ6uE-lhJRxlp6fiuOxQCLcB/s1600/P1290878.jpg Also poste...

Hi folks. Another blog post, this time a 148 mile Highland Trail 2016 Recce i did last weekend! http://niksbikingblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/highland-trail-2016-recce.html https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vFyEaTgmHEo/Vzoreil72UI/AAAAAAAAGPQ/dN5_-ezAJIo472doAoZjCD5Ep6SyCkIjQCLcB/s1600/P1290935.jpg Overall,...

Anyone thought of warming up the guys in the pizza shop in Ft Augustus for Sat night? I arrived there around 9 last year and they were grumpy as hell with ht riders turning up late. Might be polite to give 'em a heads up. I thought about that for a bunch of places en route. But then where does 'pre...

Just did the 1st 70 miles then a 30 mile road scoot to Ft Bill to do the last 45 miles this weekend. Cracking weather all weekend. Blog post to come, but here is a pic of how rubbish it was. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7685/26431242923_4777cd31b6_c.jpg Highland Trail 550 new begining section 2016...

As a matter of interest - are Oykel Bridge happy to take in completely soaking wet and muddy riders? And has anybody ever used them for breakfast? Yes and yes. Called in there during my 2014 attempt at about 9:30am, soaked through and cold, and asking for food. They asked if I would mind waiting in...