Ultracycling

Hmm, I had it data off for most of the time so it's unlikely.

HTR 550 start list: http://highlandtrail.net/startlist.html

Lot of very experienced, fast riders...

TAW start list too: http://www.transatlanticway.com/racers/

One common name on both...

Be intersting to see mike race bjorn/bernd.
That said TAW is right after HT500. Really close.

And @gabes Good riding.

X-Post from @Dry from the Guy Martin thread:
http://road.cc/content/news/213609-video-guy-martin-sets-beat-record-cycling-round-british-coastline-aiming-ride

Nelson Trees doing the WAW

Mike getting some time off before TCR.

Paul Buckley on the TAW list too. I think he decided to do this instead of TABR.
TABR got spendy. Fucking Brexit.

Juliana Buhring on there.

Is that @scultura on the list too?

Was listening to Paula Regener talk about the WAW recently. Apparently it is particularly difficult because the tarmac is so utterly shite. I wonder if that means those with off-road experience will be at an advantage?

Just those with a strong undercarrige.

Paul Buckley- who he?

I rode around Ireland in 2009. The roads were definitely poor in some cases but then finding yourself in the middle of a sand track, gravel track, etc. on TCR was also shit so it's hard to say. I'd have thought the 360 degree headwinds and driving rain 25 hours a day would provide more of a barrier to completion :)

He rode the last two TCRs and was part of our team for Revolve24.

https://twitter.com/buckleydpaul

Nice bloke. Often seen riding his bright blue beastie on London West audaxes.

Thanks!

Yep, it's official, I'm on for HTR550, and wow, the start list is brutal, some super strong riders in there with a lot of experience. I've got my work cut out for me, and being vegan in scotland is going to be fun.

Reckon I can carry 5 days of food? Probably. My main tactic is to not talk to anyone Scottish on the whole race (except other racers). That way, I don't stop in towns unless absolutely necessary.

Ah ok.

Might be worth research feed stops in advance and knowing the possibilities.
Carrying 5 days of food will be annoying!

Yeah, I was half joking. I have already started poring over maps, and looking into stores/pubs/hotels that could offer food/warmth.

I was ridiculously well organised for Tour Divide, I had a cue sheet with a section for each town, and what was available, and how far to the next town/store/water/etc. I am sure to be just as OCD for this race, if not more so.

I admire you dedication. I have a route for TABR and still haven't even split it.

I wonder if sometimes there's advantages to not knowing what's ahead? :)

Maybe, until something goes wrong.

Something is always going wrong.

Personally I could only deal with TABR a day at a time, it fucked my head to try and think ahead.

Yeah, that too. Apparently it was enough to drive quite a few experienced riders to scratch last year.

My pal Chris Hinds is riding it this year - really strong rider, does pretty well at local races. Will be interesting to see how that translates.

Knowing what I have to do (where I should stop for food/drink) for a given day would be nice though.

At the very least I want to split the GPX into smaller files so the bastards load quicker.

Nathan, issues out in 19 stages.

I split TD into 200 mile segments, so 13 total. I also added custom cue points for towns, so on the garmin, I could look at the cue sheet it would tell me how many miles to the town exactly. Was very useful, if a little depressing at times.

Lack of turns means Kansas stage is 1000 km long ;)

I guess I should start proper training soon - not sure lifting weights is going to help me ride for 2wks+. You been doing much?

When does he do that?

I was going to split it into 200k blocks. I had up to 400-500k for TCR but if something goes wrong it's nice to load up smaller files quicker. Also if I split them I could add my own notes now. I need to contact that map guy you mentioned. I did but he called back and I don't do phones.