HT550 2023

[fatbikephil]

Kurt's bailed again after the Torridon descent...
According to the beeb the fires all seem to be out so hopefully Michelle will get back alright

[fatbikephil]

Michelle Dulieu has finally finished - 15 days 8hrs 45 - an unassailable lead in the Lantern rouge stakes!

[Raggedstone]

Great stuff with the cracking weather she must have had a fabulous ride I was very impressed with the 12 hours on 12 hours off approach

[Hyppy]

the cracking weather

Yeah, about that: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland- ... s-65877296

[fatbikephil]

Oof that was a bullet dodged! Classic results of heavy rain on bone dry and iron hard ground...

[Richpips]

Stuart Allan is doing well on his fixed gear ride of the HT550.

He's hoping to get to Fisherfield tomorrow.

maps.findmespot.com/s/M1NY/61

[boxelder]

Really good videos of a 'posh' tour from Katy Winton.
https://youtu.be/Tuz5s048M7Y?si=GpL9NbOR-RF9tVkp

[fatbikephil]

Good that. Will catch part 2 tomorrow.
I wonder when they did it - looked rather damp.... Plus they were using the 2017 route by the looks - it does worry me how I can recognise every bit of that trail!

[Boab]

Oh no! Oh no!

[boxelder]

Oh no! Oh no!

That a quote from Katy's River crossings commentary? She's entertaining for sure. I liked the bit at the start of the Drumbeg roller coaster road when she says "thank god, nearly there", and he gives her that 'oh dear' look

[boxelder]

Good that. Will catch part 2 tomorrow.
I wonder when they did it - looked rather damp.... Plus they were using the 2017 route by the looks - it does worry me how I can recognise every bit of that trail!

Next year Phil?

[Boab]

Oh no! Oh no!

That a quote from Katy's River crossings commentary? She's entertaining for sure.

Yes. Quite the eye opening video from a trail condition point of view, at least for me. Any ideas I could go and ride that next year are probably out the window, I need to learn how to ride that kind of rocky technical poor show first. I had real problems on the Jenn Ride and again on the one bit of technical singletrack on the North York Moors 300; days of that kind of riding are beyond what I could cope with at the moment, I think. I only got two-thirds of the way through before my laptop battery died, will have to find the time today to watch the rest.

[Richpips]

Enjoyed the videos, thanks for posting.

[whitestone]

Oh no! Oh no!

That a quote from Katy's River crossings commentary? She's entertaining for sure.

Yes. Quite the eye opening video from a trail condition point of view, at least for me. Any ideas I could go and ride that next year are probably out the window, I need to learn how to ride that kind of rocky technical poor show first. I had real problems on the Jenn Ride and again on the one bit of technical singletrack on the North York Moors 300; days of that kind of riding are beyond what I could cope with at the moment, I think. I only got two-thirds of the way through before my laptop battery died, will have to find the time today to watch the rest.

TBH there’s not a lot, distance wise, that is technical. Apart from the descent from Bealach dubh by Ben Alder there’s nothing that a gravel bike could easily cope with until you get close to Bealach Horn for example.

By the time you get to the techy stuff you are going to be fairly tired and likely to walk bits of it anyway. The most technical descents are the Tollie Path, Torridon, Kinlochleven and the Devil’s Staircase. Sections like the Ledmore Traverse are more an exercise in frustration!

[fatbikephil]

Good that. Will catch part 2 tomorrow.
I wonder when they did it - looked rather damp.... Plus they were using the 2017 route by the looks - it does worry me how I can recognise every bit of that trail!

Next year Phil?

Yes, but frustratingly, the rail project I'm involved in is looking like it will be opening that week so I'm probably not likely to be able to take the week off.
I may ITT my proposed HT_Short (TM)

[boxelder]

rocky technical poor show

"Fair janky" is the best description of the 'Ledmore plod' I've ever heard/seen

HT_Short (TM)

Ooh, is it like a highlights package, skipping the janky bits?

[fatbikephil]

rocky technical poor show

"Fair janky" is the best description of the 'Ledmore plod' I've ever heard/seen

HT_Short (TM)

Ooh, is it like a highlights package, skipping the janky bits?

Kind of - lops to top and some of the mid loop off. Garve to Loch Fannich, over a nice trail to Loch a Bhraoin and then the 2021 route back (with postie path). Just under 400m

[fatbikephil]

https://bikepacking.com/plog/all-at-onc ... -550-film/
Film of some of the women on the group start. I kept encountering the couple doing the filming but they ignored me

[Hyppy]

I kept encountering the couple doing the filming but they ignored me

Whereas I got some nice drone footage of myself despite my all too brief dalliance with this year's event. Come to think of it, I featured* in another of Catherine's movies last year. I'm obviously a natural: Maybe I should jack it all in and head to La La Land and Hollywood.



* Well, appeared for a nanosecond in Not a Hero's Journey

[fatbikephil]

Ha nice one - I was aware of the drone as I descended off Bealach dubh but my style mustn't have been good enough for the final edit

[Valerio]

I haven't watched Part 2 yet but.....are they super strong and making it look too easy or are they skipping the notorious boggy sections on video??

This has made me considering entering in 2024

[fatbikephil]

I haven't watched Part 2 yet but.....are they super strong and making it look too easy or are they skipping the notorious boggy sections on video??

This has made me considering entering in 2024

Looks like the film crew couldn't be bothered trekking into the tough bits....

[Valerio]

I haven't watched Part 2 yet but.....are they super strong and making it look too easy or are they skipping the notorious boggy sections on video??

This has made me considering entering in 2024

Looks like the film crew couldn't be bothered trekking into the tough bits....

Sorry i was referring to the video posfed by boxelder.

Having watched part 2....well there's definitely a LOT of hike a bike. And I suspect I would be doing even more walking on a rigid bike.

[whitestone]

I haven't watched Part 2 yet but.....are they super strong and making it look too easy or are they skipping the notorious boggy sections on video??

This has made me considering entering in 2024

Looks like the film crew couldn't be bothered trekking into the tough bits....

Sorry i was referring to the video posted by boxelder.

Having watched part 2....well there's definitely a LOT of hike a bike. And I suspect I would be doing even more walking on a rigid bike.

Well Phil's done it on a rigid several times I also did it on a rigid, TBH I'm not sure I'd ride any more of the ground if on a full suss. I might ride some sections faster but other sections would be hike-a-bike whatever. Also, if you are like me, there's the overall goal of getting to the end so once tiredness sets in you start playing it safe - something like a misjudged hop over a waterbar that messes up a wheel could end your ride.

[fatbikephil]

There is a fair bit of walking but nothing too long and no death marches. The Ledmore travers is the worst but bits are rideable and the view is fab.