HT550 2021

[ScotRoutes]

What's happening to Huw Oliver? His preparation has been extraordinary but he's quite at the back. Or is he waiting for where he excels, on techy terrain?
Amazing Liam on a rigid, but see how fast he is over Fisherfield.
Haven't had much time for social media. Coming from Cape Wrath now...

Huw is off route. Looks like he's either heading home or detouring to the bike shop in Bonar Bridge?

[fatbikerbill]

Thx richP

So, as it says on the tin, the whole thing is 550 miles.

Just wondering what are the distances of the three separate loops if done individually?

Approximately

Bottom - 168
Middle - 259
Top - 116

[whitestone]

Mr Ibbett appearing out of nowhere on the tracker! I thought he was kipping

If a SPOT/tracker doesn't ping for thirty minutes then the icon becomes semi-transparent. Josh Ibbett's became semi-transparent halfway up Glen Cassley around 8am so probably "jumped" from there.

Because there's a ten minute gap between pings any two riders within about 15mins could well be together depending on when each started their trackers. Or they could be ten to fifteen minutes apart.

I think comparisons with Neil Beltchenko's schedule stand until you get to Fisherfield as, apart from the Loch Lyon section, it's the same route until then. He was roughly 31hrs to Drumbeg -http://trackleaders.com/highland17i.php ... Beltchenko

In Ullapool there's a shop on the quayside that opens at 6am, I think the garage opens at 7am or maybe 7:30am.

[Borderer]

We're rooting for Mart here.
Keep going!

[summittoppler]

For us mere mortals, the mileage the front of the pack are doing is unreal. How can they keep this up, I'd struggle driving that mileage
Fair play

[jay91]

Liam & Josh both in Drumbeg shop

[boxelder]

Has Huw Oliver scratched?

[ScotRoutes]

Has Huw Oliver scratched?

That or heading for Heaven?

https://www.heavenbikes.co.uk/

[jay91]

We're rooting for Mart here.
Keep going!

Yeah going well isn't he

[touch]

Has Huw Oliver scratched?

That or heading for Heaven?

https://www.heavenbikes.co.uk/

He won't have much luck there. Closed on Sundays and Mondays :(

[GregMay]

Scratch Update:

- James Craven, multiple mechanicals.

[GregMay]

Scratch Update:

- Huw Oliver.

[redefined_cycles]

We're rooting for Mart here.
Keep going!

+1... going very well indeed.

Does anyone has an update on Trep? Wonder how far she's gotten. I'm gonna guessstimate that she's coming up to about 180 miles now... (well done her and all the rest)

[Bearlegged]

Trep's at mile 130-something, ahead of Martin Brown.

[redefined_cycles]

Trep's at mile 130-something, ahead of Martin Brown.

Thanks for that update... Tell her next time she/you text that we're all routing (whatever the word is) for her

[Borderer]

We're rooting for Mart here.
Keep going!

Yeah going well isn't he

He is doing great. It must get disheartening being towards the back of the pack, but I couldn't do what he has done in the past day and a half. Impressive stuff

[ScotRoutes]

Looks like Josh got his gpx track from Lee Craigie.

[jay91]

He told me the other day he just wants to finish

[whitestone]

Looks like Josh got his gpx track from Lee Craigie.

Don't think he went that far off-track http://trackleaders.com/highland21i.php ... osh_Ibbett

[Dyffers]

He is doing great. It must get disheartening being towards the back of the pack, but I couldn't do what he has done in the past day and a half. Impressive stuff

The thing he needs to remember is as long as he keeps trucking on he's beaten Chris Pitblado, Huw Oliver, James Craven and more. I love these events where stubbornness is rewarded as much as speed. Go Mart

[Richpips]

Looks like Josh got his gpx track from Lee Craigie.

You need to concentrate on that section, there are a few bits that aren't obvious. Looks like he stayed on the road, realised his mistake and turned around.

[Swayndo]

As reported I'm out. A very stressful work period and no training isn't a healthy combination. Felt stressed before the event, felt stressed on the event, and still feel stressed now. Think I need to make some drastic changes.

Nae luck Karl. Hope you are okay.

[ScotRoutes]

It's a lovely track between Achmelvich and Lochinver. Definitely worth looking out for if you're in the area. Can get a bit overgrown with bracken.

[Alpinum]

Sat at a sunny (30 min ago) campground surrounded by mountains of the Val Müstair and been, as usual, following the HT a bit, when not riding (type I fun) in this single track heaven.

Shame to learn that Karl and Andy stratched.
Was/is always inspiring and fun with them.

Besides the amazement of Liam's (didn't get to know him properly, but if he was slower, I wouldn't mind riding along with him - he seemed nice) effort, how about Mr. Sheldrake? 63 years and already well past Oykel Bridge (1). If he sticks to this pace (similar to mine in 2016, when it was dry and warm), he'll be in reach for a sub 5 days finish - I know, early for such a call and this might not be one of his goals. But wow... good going. There were two blokes of 60 y in 2016 as far as I recall and I remember catching up Mr. Marshall (one of 'em) in Fisherfield, basically crying because of the beauty and the enjoyment.
Without knowing him, I'm rooting for Mr. Sheldrake. Met the other bloke in Tyndrum post race (sorry, can't remember the name...) and was - again - muchly inspired. I'll never forget his words, when I alked how one can pull of such a ride. Basically he said "just stay active". Will do.

Yeah... talking about higher ages. Let's celebrate Alan! 8 years in a row (well, I bet he would've started in 2020) and whilst he once DQ'd for using a shock pump from a fellow rider, he always finished, except for 2019 (I think) and recce'd the route in 2012 (for HT430 in 2013) and partially in many other instances, bloody fast too. 57 y... even if I wanted, I'm sure I couldn't keep up, although I don't need inserts for water bars since I can bunny hop 'em ( ) and am nearly 20 y younger. More than just respect for him. He's doing lots for the bikepacking community and bikepacking in UK itself I believe.
He's doing lots for us for keep going on those long(er) rides. You never know when you'll find yourself at the end of the tarmac in Tyndrum...

[Alpinum]

Looks like Josh got his gpx track from Lee Craigie.

You need to concentrate on that section, there are a few bits that aren't obvious. Looks like he stayed on the road, realised his mistake and turned around.

It's where the happy pigs live, isn't it?
Would be a dhame to miss them, or even the funny sign on the gate.