Part 1: My road to Loch Lomond

Photo: Karl Booth

I have been road racing for around seven years, since I was 21. I began with my first laps around Herne Hill’s outdoor velodrome track in London. Then I tried mass start circuit (criterium) and road races. I enjoyed and have had success in time trials too. Eventually I found my spiritual home in ultra-endurance, though I still dabble in the rest, when time allows.

I can safely say that I have never experienced bike racing as I have in the spring of 2019. First with the extraordinary challenge of the 1200 km Italy Divide. Now, just a few weeks later, with the prospect of racing a proper mountain bike across 880 km of beautiful Scottish wilderness.

Halfway through the race, with 400 km of rain, river and racing behind me, I was asked some questions by veteran hardman Karl Booth: ‘Why are you doing this?’ ‘How did you find out about it?’.

I was here in Scotland because I love to race my bike over long distances. To test my mental and physical resolve and to see where I can take myself and find my limits. Riding off-road amplifies the challenge.

I had found out about it when I first met Lee Craigie at Eurobike in 2017 and she gave me a copy of her book ‘Joining the dots’ with James Robertson’s superb photography. It was a wonderful, eye opening read. She talked, in awe, about the Highland Trail 550; the rugged terrain and the racing challenge of extreme competition. Since then, in my mind, it was an elite, mystical and unachievable event that was held while I was doing exams. It took place in a strange and spectacular country that I had never visited.

I did have a minor issue though, which was pointed out to me by the race organiser, Alan Goldsmith as I flirted with an entry back in February. This was an elite, almost invitational mountain bike race. I may have won the Transcontinental twice, but I was completely unproven off-road. He said I needed to prove myself and sent me a list of a few qualification races.

Italy Divide wasn’t on that list. It’s a long race, mostly on gravel. However – and I write this with the benefit of hindsight – it included real, even hardcore sections of off road and hike-a-bike. In late April, I rode and jointly won the race on a gravel bike, a Fairlight Secan. The day after I finished, Alan wrote to me: ‘James, don’t worry about a qualifying ride, just rest up and come race the Highland Trail 550.’ So, I had my starting place now. What I hadn’t told Alan was that I didn’t actually have a mountain bike. A mere hurdle!

I had a contact at Canyon Bikes, so I asked for a bike and I was delighted to find a large parcel on my doorstep one day in May, just a week before the race. It was a brand-new Canyon Exceed. Clearly, just like Alan, they were looking forward to seeing me suffer!

Now I was about to break a few ultra-endurance racing basic rules – rules I hark on about to newbies. I would compete in an extreme and unknown discipline, along a strange and untested route, riding a brand-new bike, sitting on a new saddle, wearing inappropriate carbon soled shoes. What could possibly go wrong?

A few frenzied days of preparation resulted in a fair amount of bike customisation and some brand-new kit. I needed new luggage and Lucy Rusjan at Rusjan bags in Italy turned out a full set of custom bags, in a week, with no detail spared. I needed proper off road suitable lights and so I contacted Exposure Lights, who I consider make the very best. They kindly sorted me out. The weather forecast was very grim, so I invested in a Arc’teryx Gore-Tex pro jacket. As in Italy Divide, I would be wearing Café du Cyclist cycling kit.

Soon, I was on the train heading north, full of excitement. My first ever visit to Scotland. My first ever full on mountain bike race. Within 24 hours I’d be on the start line next to Lee Craigie – who when I asked if I should come said ‘You must!’

For better or worse, 880 km of incredible racing would await all 60 of us on the start line.