HT550 - 2017

[fatbikephil]

FYI, we had snow on the mountains last night and many areas have been flooded, with over a months worth of rain in the past 48 hours. Looks like the weather gods were with the HT550 riders again this year

As my pal said - this weeks weather would have made for a more interesting spectate. My reply was along the lines of 'stuff the spectators I was enjoying myself!'

[GregMay]

Nice write up from Neil:
http://bikepacker.com/highland-trail-55 ... highlands/

[whitestone]

Nice write up from Neil:
http://bikepacker.com/highland-trail-55 ... highlands/

Sounds like he didn't like the Postman's Path.

Interesting the near paranoia about either Chris or Phillip catching him, presumably lack of sleep induced/enhanced.

[Richard G]

Good read that. I'll never know what it's like to be at the sharp end, but I did feel a little of that on the final day of my Cambrian Trail ride.

Monsters, the lot of them.

[fatbikephil]

Just seen this - its in Itallian but you'll get the gist!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzmDCUa ... e=youtu.be

[ZeroDarkBivi]

Did anybody see the Blackburn Rangers at this years event?

[AlasdairMc]

Did anybody see the Blackburn Rangers at this years event?

Nope. I think Blackburn were fine with people doing an ITT of the route instead?

I still think they should have called them Rovers and not Rangers...

[ianfitz]

Did anybody see the Blackburn Rangers at this years event?

Thete was one riding this year. But she's doing an extended (mulit-adventure) version of it later in the year for the ranger programme.

[AlasdairMc]

Thete was one riding this year. But she's doing an extended (mulit-adventure) version of it later in the year for the ranger programme.

Who was that? I think I spoke to all of the women riding the mass start with the exception of Louise.

[ianfitz]

Thete was one riding this year. But she's doing an extended (mulit-adventure) version of it later in the year for the ranger programme.

Who was that? I think I spoke to all of the women riding the mass start with the exception of Louise.

She won

[whitestone]

I don't think she was using Blackburn gear but I didn't actually check.

[ianfitz]

I don't think she was using Blackburn gear but I didn't actually check.

Keep up bob

Did anybody see the Blackburn Rangers at this years event?

Thete was one riding this year. But she's doing an extended (mulit-adventure) version of it later in the year for the ranger programme.

[AlasdairMc]

I'm presuming the use of the Niner was optional then as we talked Stooges.

Good on her though, an ideal candidate.

[Richard G]

Quick bump for a question...

...what's the best way of getting from say, Glasgow, to Tyndrum?

I'm trying to decide which would work best for me (for the entire journey), a flight, driving, or a train... and I'm not sure of the last bit.

[whitestone]

If you haven't driven to Glasgow then train would be my choice, you need to book your bike on the train though, you won't get it on board otherwise.

[Mariner]

Probably not the answer you want but I used the sleeper London to Tyndrum.
I thought it was brilliant once I found how to turn the heating down.

[Richard G]

I'd love to try the sleeper to Edinburgh one day... but no, not massively helpful as I live across the other side of the country. :)

...and yeah, it would either be flight to Glasgow then ? (train as suggested), or a flight to Edinburgh / the same.

vs car the entire way (which comes with the massive advantage of being able to take a TON of stuff for spares etc for the days before. Plus obviously being able to leave at any time.

[ianfitz]

You can get on the sleeper at Crewe and Preston too if that's any use...

If heading up for the group start there's usually plenty of people heading north so lift sharing some of the way is doable.

By the way campsite are happy to look after bags etc during the ride if you want to stash some stuff with them.

[ZeroDarkBivi]

The car park at Tyndrum is usually OK to abandon your vehicle for a week for free, and I've not heard any horror stories about theft, yet.

[ianfitz]

The car park at Tyndrum is usually OK to abandon your vehicle for a week for free, and I've not heard any horror stories about theft, yet.

Or by the way will let you park for £10-15 if you want to park out of the way.

[Richard G]

Cheers for the info.

I was somewhat put off by the sleeper when I read that you have to move your bike at Edinburgh. Seems pointless if you need to get up at 4am to do that.

[ScotRoutes]

You think you'll actually be sleeping?

[Richard G]

So yeah, again... largely no point.

[Mariner]

So yeah, again... largely no point.

Au contraire after the Edinburgh stop and the bike sprint - no riding on the platform - is when the magic happens.
It is early dawn when the train pulls out and the scenery just gets better and better. I had forgotten the sheer scale of the highlands and the colours. Then you realise you will be riding through that.
Or it could be raining and you will see nothing.
There are one or two direct trains up the west coast per day. I think its the Plymouth Glasgow service.
The plus side of using this is you have a choice out of Glasgow of two trains one to Tyndrum Upper and one to Tyndrum Lower.
Lower is right next to Beside The Way but you need to watch the last train times to avoid having an overnight in Glasgow.

[whitestone]

The West Highland line regularly gets voted as one of the best railway journeys in the world, even if you aren't into trains, it's pretty good.

I don't know about the sleeper to Ft William as I've not used it other than it would go through Tyndrum Upper but not sure if it stops there, should stop at Crianlarich though. The standard service is a six coach affair that splits at Crianlarich with two coaches going to Oban (via Tyndrum Lower) and the other four going to Ft William and then Mallaig via Tyndrum Upper. Station staff at Glasgow will tell which end of the train is which. I think there's only three services a day in each direction. If you are travelling on a weekend or during the holidays then you'll need to book your bike on it well in advance - this leg of the journey has always been the sticking point when we've travelled with bikes up to the Highlands.