BENCYCLINg

Endurance athlete // bikepacking racer

Highland Trail 550

The Highland Trail explores 550 miles of the most rugged and remote terrain in the Scottish Highlands. The route features world class singletrack and dirt roads with stunning views throughout, but you must put in some serious effort to reap the rewards. The most impressive sections will require some hike-a-bike for even the most proficient mountain bikers.

Distance

885 km

Difficulty (1-10)

Days

% Rideable

80%

% Unpaved

75%

Total Ascent

16.002 m

% Singletrack

50%

Highpoint

770 m

My HT550 (2019).

Looking back on the Highland Trail 550. It took me more than a week to find these easy words. THIS WAS A SPECIAL ONE!!

This was for sure my most intense and hardest bikepackingevent so far. Two days of extreme wet weather and cold temperatures on this brutal trail, changed my mind from racemode to survivalmode on day 2 already. Next two days the Highlandtrail showed by moments its beauty. Magic scenery, nice trails,…hours and hours of hike-a-bike was rewarded with incredible views and epic downhill sections who passed to quickly. But it stayed a mental mindtest most of the times. Despite all the hard work I did to be ready for this, I struggled for the first time with the idea of scratching a race.

Now I’m so happy I pushed on and I could finish! 4 Days 14 hours…
Sub 4 days was the goal, so one day I have to go back

Sharing stories afterward, struggeling with the same bads, enjoying the same good things. Never felt such a great togetherness as in Highlandtrail. Thx Tyndrum, Alan Goldsmith, Highland 550 2019 edition and all riders I could meet. Special thx to Berten De Canne, Dave Simmons and Steven Geelen for the company to Scotland and congrats for the big effort on the trails.

Last but not at least! Thx CHIRU Bikes, Carbon Endurance Component, 7mesh and MET Helmets to support me with the best stuff. In moments of extreme situations I could trust in your quality.