Author Topic: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018 (Read 50620 times)

citoyen · « **Reply #225 on:** 28 May, 2018, 09:44:07 pm »

It's only a minor inconvenience, fortunately. Lights are still working fine. And you're right - better to spot it now. Still annoying though.

pieeater · « **Reply #226 on:** 29 May, 2018, 12:21:01 pm »

Given your notional ave speed (14kmh) then I shouldn't be too far away from you (at least earlier on !). You'd be welcome to top-up your power banks from my Igaro. My "bollocks" moment was last year, and thence duly paid out on a new unit, which has been very carefully mounted !

citoyen · « **Reply #227 on:** 29 May, 2018, 01:14:10 pm »

Quote from: pieeater on 29 May, 2018, 12:21:01 pm

Given your notional ave speed (14kmh) then I shouldn't be too far away from you (at least earlier on !). You'd be welcome to top-up your power banks from my Igaro. My "bollocks" moment was last year, and thence duly paid out on a new unit, which has been very carefully mounted !

Very kind of you, thanks. I think I'll be OK though - I've got a 10Ah and a 16Ah power bank which ought to be more than enough to see me through. Only really my phone and Garmin that might need topping up.

I've got battery lights but they're backups to the dynamo lights, so hopefully I won't need them!

Changing the subject, I've just had another look at Ventusky and it's now predicting heavy showers on the west coast on Friday afternoon - as well as rain on Saturday afternoon around the Fort William area. Temperatures aren't looking too bad though, and wind is still promising to be very light.

pieeater · « **Reply #228 on:** 29 May, 2018, 01:31:28 pm »

Cool, probably need it for charging my legs, let alone lights !

Phil W · « **Reply #229 on:** 29 May, 2018, 02:46:32 pm »

I have a £14.99 PAYG phone with 21 days between charging. Otherwise phone can be turned off and just used for emergency use as needed. Never understood the need to charge a phone on a 3 day ride, unless you are doing lots of social media updates I guess. GPS is an Etrex so that just needs 6 AA batteries to last the course.

Just been sorting out bivvy options for the Sat night. Since unless you intend to leave Oban on or after the deadline, you aren't going to get ~~any~~ much value out of booked accommodation. I see there is a Wetherspoons in Oban open till 1am that can be used for skulking in before heading out into Sat night / Sun morning.

To do a 3 days ride in the Highlands of Scotland without some rain at some point would be unusual. I am packing expecting rain for periods and anything else is a bonus. Also do not underestimate how cold it may get below the forecasts temps at night .

citoyen · « **Reply #230 on:** 29 May, 2018, 04:40:11 pm »

Quote from: Phil W on 29 May, 2018, 02:46:32 pm

Never understood the need to charge a phone on a 3 day ride, unless you are doing lots of social media updates I guess.

I probably could make my phone battery last the duration if I were careful, but I'd rather not be constrained to being careful.

Quote

Just been sorting out bivvy options for the Sat night. Since unless you intend to leave Oban on or after the deadline, you aren't going to get ~~any~~ much value out of booked accommodation.

Depends what you value. I'm not anticipating getting a full night's sleep on Saturday but a shower and a proper bed for at least a few hours will be very welcome.

Quote

Also do not underestimate how cold it may get below the forecasts temps at night .

Yes, I've been caught out by unexpectedly low night-time temperatures before. Not making that mistake again!

Ajax Bay · « **Reply #231 on:** 29 May, 2018, 11:43:24 pm »

We have 267k to crack on Sunday. At 18kph that's less than 15 hours and even if you want to get to Monty's for 8pm, a 5am start will do (though I'll probably go for dawn), and I shall get 'full value'ish out of my second night in the YH. And I aim to be well rested and not mucking around at the dead of night in the cold trying to make things 'ard.

citoyen · « **Reply #232 on:** 30 May, 2018, 07:29:37 am »

I was thinking along the same lines - 5am sounds like a sensible start time on Sunday, maybe slightly earlier. Dawn is 3.39am, sunrise 4.39am.

The lure of Monty’s will be a good inducement to not be too late out of bed on Sunday morning though.

Phil W · « **Reply #233 on:** 30 May, 2018, 09:42:27 am »

You are both probably right but I find it hard to break my routine of leaving a sleep control with decent time in hand. The navigation is easy on good roads, A85,A82, A85. There are hostels not fully booked at 2 and 3 hours further along the route if I am running well and do decide upon a bed. Failing that there are some unlocked shelters further along and just off the route (within a km) where I would be able to get a decent sleep for 2-3 hours with no one snoring or rustling; and leave still ahead of time limit.

But of course if you come across me asleep on the verge. Please give me a prod!

citoyen · « **Reply #234 on:** 30 May, 2018, 09:59:41 am »

Quote from: Phil W on 30 May, 2018, 09:42:27 am

You are both probably right but I find it hard to break my routine of leaving a sleep control with decent time in hand.

I am mindful of your vastly superior experience on longer rides - anything above 650km is unknown territory for me. A lot will depend on what time I get back to Oban on Saturday and how I feel by then...

Bairn Again · « **Reply #235 on:** 30 May, 2018, 11:38:21 am »

Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow evening.

The last few days have been a bit hectic with much purchasing of food, double checking arrangements for van hire, key pick up, brevet cards, popping into Montys Bar just to check they still had our booking (honest!) as well as the inevitable flurry of last minute DNSs. I've just printed the hard copy start sheet so no more DNS allowed now.

Weather forecast looks almost as good as it could get, and my mother in law who lives in Ft William tells me that its been too hot and dry for the midgies to make an appearance. If thats the case it would be a tremendous bonus.

Im unlikely to post again here pre event so safe travels and see you at Haymarket tomorrow night.

Graeme

EDIT - ps - take care on the underpass beneath the A90 just over 8km. It looked potentially a bit slippy on Saturday and with a group of riders could pose a bit of a hazard. take it easy.

Phil W · « **Reply #236 on:** 30 May, 2018, 11:55:13 am »

East Coast main line signalling issues and trains cancelled today. arghhh. Hope it is resolved / ok tomorrow.

citoyen · « **Reply #237 on:** 30 May, 2018, 01:43:05 pm »

Keeping an eye on the live train times. Looks like trains from KX to Edinburgh are being delayed by about an hour but are getting through.

Fingers crossed it will be fixed by tomorrow.

Phil W · « **Reply #238 on:** 30 May, 2018, 01:53:56 pm »

Been in touch with Virgin East Coast. They will be publishing any service disruptions from 6am tomorrow. I am not on the direct KX to Edinburgh till further up the East Coast line and have another connecting train first. That other train got cancelled today. But if up earlier enough I can hopefully still make the connecting station despite what may be happening. The alternate is to head south earlier to KX and catch the train from there. But will decide what to do when I know how disrupted it looks tomorrow.

pieeater · « **Reply #239 on:** 30 May, 2018, 02:08:22 pm »

Turns out the train I'm actually on (the back-up train has now been cancelled !) arrives at 20 past 5. So see you in "spoons shortly thereafter !

D.A.L.E. · « **Reply #240 on:** 30 May, 2018, 02:16:10 pm »

I'm no longer playing out. Fell ill last week, spent too much time in bed, triggered recurring shoulder injury. FML.

Revolution9 · « **Reply #241 on:** 30 May, 2018, 03:10:27 pm »

Getting a bit nervous all of a sudden.

See you all tomorrow

How Far · « **Reply #242 on:** 30 May, 2018, 04:29:51 pm »

Quote from: Revolution9 on 30 May, 2018, 03:10:27 pm

Getting a bit nervous all of a sudden.

See you all tomorrow

You re not the only one Getting a bit nervous ;-)

Just hope the weather is kind,

Rich...

Feanor · « **Reply #243 on:** 30 May, 2018, 06:04:20 pm »

I haz 3 piles-o-stuff:

-What I plan to wear setting out;
-What I plan to take on the bike;
-What I plan to put in the drop-bag.

Plus a bag-o-stuff for taking to Edinburgh, not related to cycling, just normal stuffs.

I'm going to need to rationalise this a bit...

CrazyEnglishTriathlete · « **Reply #244 on:** 30 May, 2018, 07:26:41 pm »

Ditto nervous. Although slightly less so having spoken to Glencoe youth hostel, and confirmed arrangements for late arrival on Friday night, so that Plan A is back on track. Also have 3 piles of stuff for 2 bags. So will probably repack. Will be the last great ride for my yellow Roberts before the Enigma machine arrives - 2 PBPs and a Mille Alba amongst a lifetime of Audaxing on it. Then it's going to the shop for a strip down, repaint and rebuild and a little bit of a rest. Also getting excited, about riding through the highlands through the first night and meeting dawn in the middle of nowhere. Have climbed most of the Munros that overlook the route long ago, so hoping to bring back memories as well as make new ones.

Bagman · « **Reply #245 on:** 30 May, 2018, 08:11:07 pm »

Just had a pub meal in Middleton Tyas. Then went to the crossroads I travelled through on LEL.
Tomorrow's drive is taking the LEL route from Edinburgh in reverse including Langholm where my adventure ended.

Maverick · « **Reply #246 on:** 31 May, 2018, 08:54:44 am »

Looking forward to meeting old and new faces at Comrie tonight. Safe travels to Edinburgh

How Far · « **Reply #247 on:** 31 May, 2018, 09:58:02 am »

Does anyone now roughly how many o us re setting o tonight?

Jaded · « **Reply #248 on:** 31 May, 2018, 09:59:00 am »

Midges were out last evening.

fimm · « **Reply #249 on:** 31 May, 2018, 10:20:04 pm »

I assume this is what all the guys with road bikes with (mostly) more luggage than standard were waiting for at Haymarket this evening about 7:30?

Author Topic: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018 (Read 50620 times)

Phil W

Phil W

Bairn Again

Phil W

Phil W