bealach mor

[dodgy knees]

hi all

is anybody out there doing the bealach mor if so, hope to see you there, will be riding basso astra

 

[Waspie]

I am. Looking forward to it, slightly apprehensive as well...

 

[dodgy knees]

should be good as long as weather is ok!!!

 

[aberal]

Good luck guys. I don't envy you. I've done the Bealach Beag twice and it is without doubt the hardest 42 miles I've ever done. Good though - scenery is fantastic and a pleasure to ride through.

 

[Waspie]

Good luck guys. I don't envy you. I've done the Bealach Beag twice and it is without doubt the hardest 42 miles I've ever done. Good though - scenery is fantastic and a pleasure to ride through.

I'm looking forward to seeing the scenery, I was up there earlier in the year - could only see about 20 yards in front of me on the pass due to the cloud and rain! Was in the car, not the bike.

 

[AuldAl]

I'm looking forward to seeing the scenery, I was up there earlier in the year - could only see about 20 yards in front of me on the pass due to the cloud and rain! Was in the car, not the bike.

Long range forecast not too bright at present, think I'll be packing my waterproofs. So maybe the views won't be too good? At least I've got sportsguards on my Roubaix

 

[Waspie]

Long range forecast not too bright at present, think I'll be packing my waterproofs. So maybe the views won't be too good? At least I've got sportsguards on my Roubaix

I'm unsure as to how to dress.

I'm thinking - bib shorts, short sleeved top, arm warmers, knee warmers, overshoes, base layer, gilet and waterproof jacket.

How does that sound to bealach veterans?

 

[dodgy knees]

as long as not blowing a gale, it should be ok, 3/4 bib shorts for me if chilly, all above is good, but better to have it with you, just remember it could be chilly at top of the pass, if dont see you enjoy the day.

 

[just jim]

So. A good day, if a little rainy - but some excellent, challenging riding.The headlands round to Scoraig were indeed little killers!
Saw someone being tended to after a crash - hope hs's ok. Looked like his arm or shoulder was hurt.

 

[Waspie]

So. A good day, if a little rainy - but some excellent, challenging riding.The headlands round to Scoraig were indeed little killers!
Saw someone being tended to after a crash - hope hs's ok. Looked like his arm or shoulder was hurt.

Thought it was great. Had built this up in my mind as a total brute of a route but was pleasantly surprised that it was easier than I had thought, I suspect the relative lack of wind had something to do with that. Took it easy until I could see the hairpins on the Bealach then felt I could afford to push on a wee bit. As you say there were some pretty tough climbs after the Bealach, well, maybe not all that tough on their own, but coming one after the other my legs were beginning to complain.

I think to say it was a little rainy is a bit of an understatement! A bit of a shame because I was really looking forward to the scenery.

Saw the aftermath of two crashes, one on the descent of the Bealach (which may be the one you refer to) and someone looked as if they had managed to go over a road barrier on the way to Lochcarron, ambulance in attendance for that one. Hope it wasn't too serious for either of them.

Thought the organisation was flawless, cracking feed at the village hall at the end.

Only one complaint - midges

I can handle the fact that I've got about 50 bites on my legs, but did they really have to go for my eyelids?!

 

[Nebulous]

Well I'm a relative newbie - and found that pretty hard!

I got a lot of advice, and promptly ignored most of it. The biggest issue was the climb. I went off too fast, and thought I had nearly finished when I turned a corner and found the steep climb just below the hairpins. I then had to stop for a breather and found it difficult to clip back in again because of the slope.

Apart from blowing up on the hill I was reasonably happy with my performance. I finished in 5 hrs 58. I was very weary before the end, but at the 5 mile to go sign I realised a sub 6 hour time was on and did the last 5 miles pretty fast.

Knowing the course would certainly help and I intend to improve on that next year.

I'm only now discovering all the midgie bites.

 

[just jim]

Well I'm a relative newbie - and found that pretty hard!

I got a lot of advice, and promptly ignored most of it. The biggest issue was the climb. I went off too fast, and thought I had nearly finished when I turned a corner and found the steep climb just below the hairpins. I then had to stop for a breather and found it difficult to clip back in again because of the slope.

Apart from blowing up on the hill I was reasonably happy with my performance. I finished in 5 hrs 58. I was very weary before the end, but at the 5 mile to go sign I realised a sub 6 hour time was on and did the last 5 miles pretty fast.

Knowing the course would certainly help and I intend to improve on that next year.

I'm only now discovering all the midgie bites.

Aye it was sodding wet- I'm a master of understatement.
Well done in your time, mine was considerably more, but great just to do it. I can say with certainty that the east side of the coast is more midge free. They certainly have an appetite.

 

[fisha]

Found the climb hard, but i always do, i'm no featherweight. Dont know how i feel I performed ... i paced myself well, but when it came to asking my body for moments of 100% effort ( such as to burst over the short climbs ) , I just couldn't reach that 100% ... and that was the case all the way through. I never once got my legs to the "feel the burn" stage.

I did it 6hrs 3mins ... just outside that 6hr mark ... not bothered, I was just happy to get round. That was my principle goal of doing it this time.

Saw the guy who tumbled on the bealach descent as he was lying down. Hope he's OK. The person with him said he should be.

Didn't break my max speed ... only 48mph reached. I gunned it after that right hand hairpin on the descent, but the wind against me held me back.


Would do it again. ( and probably will )

 

[recombodna]

I really enjoyed it despite the weather the eyelid munching midges and discovering that the brakes on my 30 year old bike didn't work in the rain. It's always nice to get out riding with yer pals and I met loads of friendly folk on the ride. See yez next year!

 

[dodgy knees]

hi all

enjoyed the ride, weather pretty pants but no wind so that was gud, saw the guy go over on the desent of bealach as he was only yards in front of me, he looked as if he was holdin his hip but there was 3 marshals dealing with it, hope he is ok. the second section of ride was leg sappin as up down with no respite in between, managed to get into group for last ten miles and made it in 5h 40 minutes v happy, midgies were a pain