The scale of my upcoming adventure hits me as I sit in my car on the motorway in sweltering heat doing precisely zero miles per hour. The sat-nav has put the distance from Bristol to Tyndrum at 428.8 miles. That’s some 121.2 miles shorter than the ride I’m about to attempt, unsupported and mostly off-road. And I’ve never ridden in the Scottish mountains or racked up more than 130 miles in the saddle before.
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You may not have heard of my destination, but Tyndrum will be familiar if you’ve made the pilgrimage from England or Wales to the Fort William World Cup. This small village is home to The Green Welly Stop, a favourite stopping-off point on the long drive north.
A small car park behind the cafe and gift shop is the inauspicious spot for the grand départ of this year’s Highland Trail 550. Early the next morning I join 45 riders from seven countries who’ve gathered here, after coffee and last-minute fry-ups, to tackle the toughest mountain bike route in the UK.
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Inspired by epic US rides such as the Tour Divide and Colorado Trail Race, the 550 follows the same concept of self-supported adventure. There’s no entry fee and no prize money. Should things go wrong you’re on your own. You can’t stash supplies along the way and there’s strictly no pre-booking of accommodation.
The group start in June is invite-only, but the challenge itself is open all year to any rider and isn’t treated as a race but more of a gentleman’s agreement to complete the course and abide by the rules.
Be prepared
More weather
I’ll be back
Battle scars
5 things I learned from the Highland 550
1. Not all batteries are born equal
2. Don’t pack your fears
3. Foot love
4. The six Ps (proper planning prevents piss poor performance)
5. Failing is the best way of learning
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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