2016 Highland Trail (group start)

[larsmars]

I setup my spot messages to let my loved ones know what to do.
OK message is obvious
Custom message is..... I have had a failure, could you collect me at the nearest road section if possible? Do not rush!
Help Message is......I am in situation requiring non-emergency assistance. Could you alert mountain rescue?
Then the SOS message is preset to the emergency services
Hope that helps.

Thanks, Karl. Those are good tips.

[GregMay]

Main thing - ride safe :)

[Alpinum]

Main thing - ride safe :)

Main thing - I've got a new rear, well my bike has, but I'll need a new rear too in a weeks time and I've got a new rear wheel too

[ScotRoutes]

FYI, there's a 10km run on at Laggan on Saturday afternoon. The route is 5km out from Laggan village along the Corrieyairack road and back again

It should all be over by 16:30 so hopefully not impact anyone's riding.

[boxelder]

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 watchers, but hey ho.

[Nikk]

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 watchers, but hey ho.

I don't agree with this strategy at all. What if then something happens and you are rendered unconscious and no one knows where you last were because you lied and turned off your spot 2 hrs prior?

I'm afraid the ones at home just have to learn to let go of the control.

[fatbikephil]

The various MRT teams are used to Spot SOS calls - a friend of a friend on the Cairngorm team was saying they've had a few Spot generated call outs in the last few years. So if you don't have a phone signal and its all gone horribly wrong then the SOS button is an option as this will lead an MRT right to you. Bear in mind that the Spot call centre will phone your named contacts first to find out roughly where you are and what you are up to before contacting the local emergency services. As Greg says, life threatening situations only. Take it easy folks

[whitestone]

I imagine that many of you will be finalising your packing and heading towards Tyndrum tomorrow so here's the best of luck to you all and hope that you don't have to use any of your emergency strategies whatever they are.

I sense some serious spot watching just over the horizon along with lots of armchair diagnosis

[Richpips]

Yep, wishing everyone the best of luck.

[fatbikephil]

+1. Maybe in Tyndrum Thursday or Friday to see a few folk back.

[Dave Barter]

+2 I wish everyone, their knees, disk pads, hubs and stomachs the very best

[Bearbonesnorm]

Ooh can I be third? Yes, good luck to all lining up in Tyndrum and remember ...

[ianfitz]

Just this minute parked up in van the layby overlooking the Devils beef-tub north of Moffat. Happy (?) memories of a damp bivy up there during the borders 350. Picking up Eric and Jill from Canada in Glasgow tomorrow morning then we are up the road.

Have to say that I'm very excited now!

[ianfitz]

Don't you just love it when you're parked up in your van for the night, have just cracked a beer and then a man covered in blood knocks on your door!

A guy had crashed his car just down the road from me and needed a bit of help! Police and ambulance have just left... He's ok.

[ianfitz]

Don't you just love it when you're parked up in your van for the night, have just cracked a beer and then a man covered in blood knocks on your door!

A guy had crashed his car just down the road from me and needed a bit of help! Police and ambulance have just left... He's ok.

I think he was quite glad I'm a nurse with a good first aid kit! Not much for ambulance to do. His car was seriously mangled though. On its side facing the wrong way with the roof stoved in. Windscreen had popped out at some point in the rolling, that was how he got out! Bloody dangerous things them cars

[Ian]

Much less dramatic night for us; travel lodge in Penrith. Slept like a log. Now getting breakfast in the Little Chef next door
—
Which pub and at what time are people gathering in Tyndrum tonight?

[voodoo_simon]

Good luck everyone, shall be watching those dots

[GregMay]

Don't you just love it when you're parked up in your van for the night, have just cracked a beer and then a man covered in blood knocks on your door!

A guy had crashed his car just down the road from me and needed a bit of help! Police and ambulance have just left... He's ok.

I think he was quite glad I'm a nurse with a good first aid kit! Not much for ambulance to do. His car was seriously mangled though. On its side facing the wrong way with the roof stoved in. Windscreen had popped out at some point in the rolling, that was how he got out! Bloody dangerous things them cars

Ian, it's ok, you can admit to beating a man on the side of the road if you need to.

Well done though, couldn't have been better for the chap I suspect!

[padonbike]

Which pub and at what time are people gathering in Tyndrum tonight?

Hope to be there before 7. Cooking food at the bunkhouse, but will probably take a stroll out.

[Mart]

Just wanted to say good luck to everyone on the HT500, and hope the weather is kind to you.

I'm an avid dot watcher and follow the buzz on Twitter. so finger crossed for no mechanicals or injuries

Ride safe

[Ian]

I think I'm as ready as I can be. All that's left now is to ride the bike...

[Blair512]

I think I'm as ready as I can be. All that's left now is to ride the bike...

I'm on a 1 night bivvy just now and I've got more gear than that, it amazes me how you guys can survive a multiple days with so little stuff!

Also good luck to all, extremely jealous and kicking myself I'm not fit enough for such shenanigans!

[Callander Steve]

I'd thought the new route would be quicker - apart from one 2k bit of boggy path and one 2k bit of slightly boggy track its all on good surfaces and there is 200m less climbing. No horrible HAB climb up the devils staircase, no slow rocky descent down to KLL followed by a massive climb on a loose rocky track and no 5k bog rock and tussock fest down the Abhain rath. Huw had a headwind all day on his first day and last year we had a mega tailwind for all but the corrieairack. Yous'll get to the pizza shop nae bother on day 1! Plus you should also catch the cafe at Lagan wolftrax.

I from Tyndrum to Laggan the other weekend. It took slightly longer on the 2016 route than last year, but I was taking it easy so there may be some time to make up. The pizza sprint is very much on for me.

Currently looking like south / easterlies so should be fairly favourable - don't loose your maps this year Steve!

I'm hoping to have learned lots of lesson from last year, not least to check my bags are fastened up before setting off and staying on the correct route!

Excited and nervous now.

[drjon]

bon courage riders.

[Zippy]

Good luck everyone. Have a great time