Bealach-Na-Ba 2008

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Comments

  • rabk
    rabk Posts: 182
    Wm

    What I meant was the weather slowed us heading from Achnasheen to Lochcarron(headwind), I think I was 10 mins slower than the previous year to the bottom of the Bealach. Consequently a quicker time to the start of the bealach.

    I have a bad habit of going to the front and trying to lead the bunch (have done this for the last 2 years) and then on getting to Lochcarron getting blown out the back on the short climb. - need to learn the lesson there

    New bike arrived about 10 days ago (after breaking the last one :shock: :roll: ) Same as last year another Focus Cayo.

    I was glad of your company last year on the final 10, I recall you doing a fair stint too at the front. Hopefully catch up with you at the weekend.
  • rabk
    rabk Posts: 182
    Results for the Bealach

    http://handsonevents.co.uk/handsonevent ... 08_Mor.htm

    I came 76th which is a big improvement for me, I took 28 minutes of my time too. :D 8)

    Well done to all who competed.
  • wakemalcolm
    wakemalcolm Posts: 904
    Top ride Rab! You were wheezing like an asthmatic in a vacuum when you passed me.

    I didn't manage to get into any good groups, got stopped by the train and did a worse time but in a better finishing position.

    There's always next year.
    ================================
    Cake is just weakness entering the body
  • rabk
    rabk Posts: 182
    wakemalcolm wrote:
    Top ride Rab! You were wheezing like an asthmatic in a vacuum when you passed me.
    quote]

    :D:D

    Yeah, my Asthma sounds pretty bad at times, particularly with the dreadful cold I had on saturday (and still have)

    Target was 5 and 1/2 hours, so well pleased

    Well done with the higher finish
  • Steve928
    Steve928 Posts: 314
    So you got stopped by the train aswell then Malcolm. I couldn't believe it when the lights started to flash.. Nightmare scenario. I guess we only lost a couple of minutes though. Then my bottle bounced out crossing the tracks and I had to stop and pick it up.

    I've no idea why everyone started so early this year? There were people so early at Tornapress that they had to wait for the hill to open, and the train split 2 of the major groups. I was hanging around hoping to start at 09:50ish, but had to leave at 09:30 because there'd have been almost no-one else left..

    Well pleased with the day though.
  • wakemalcolm
    wakemalcolm Posts: 904
    Steve928 wrote:
    I guess we only lost a couple of minutes though.
    Nonsense, I blame it for the whole 9 minutes between me and a 6 hour finish.

    I spoke to a couple of people who got caught out by the opening time at the climb. It wasn't their first Bealach either. What were they thinking?
    ================================
    Cake is just weakness entering the body
  • bilbo.baggins
    bilbo.baggins Posts: 76
    It was a great day. Sunny ! I was also surprised how early everyone set off - a tail wind was forecast for the first section. A saw a big group leave just after 9, they must've been worried about the railway crossing.

    My 'strategy' this year was a quick pace to Tornapress and then burn on the climb, and then survive the peninsular road. Strangely enough I got PB's on the run out to Tornapress and the climb, but was struggling a bit for the rest. But the run in from Torridon was great as a group of about 10 of us formed and we all took turns of just going for it on the front as hard as we could into the wind.

    btw, Malcolm, I've met 'OS65'/Matt and he said you were doing the run and gave a description. I had a wee look out to say hello but didn't see you.
    Why the name? Like the Hobbit I don't shave my legs
  • holmeboy
    holmeboy Posts: 674
    Started at 9 this year and last, 2hrs 20mins to the bottom of The Bealach last year ,this year 1hr 45mins. Last year hated every minute because of weather/wind direction, Loved every minute this time because of weather/wind direction. Got cramp last year on the Bealach because of the effort cycling into wind for 20 miles from Achnasheen to Lochcarron most of it on my own (stopped at Applecross for 45 mins expecting to abandon but the broom bus was'nt expected for a couple of hours, so decided to carry on slowly), recovered enough to finish in 8hrs 20min. Remember being tired the last 10 miles to finish but this year that stretch was a lot harder because of wind and being on own till the last 300M (where were they, waited for them from Torridon!), still finished in 6hrs 13mins (Take 15 mins off for waiting for Bealach to open). Don't think I'll do it next year but if I was I would definitly look at hte wind direction forecast first before picking start time. :oops: :cry: :twisted: :D

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