Noel's Bikepacking Page

01/09/2022

Some of it was rideable - but not very much!

01/09/2022

Some of it was rideable - not much though

30/08/2022

Glad I tried it but glad I’m. It doing any more!

30/08/2022

Well Cairngorms - you’ve be**er me. This is supposed to be enjoyable but it’s just too hard for me. I spent 5 or 6 hours just pushing my bike through bogs and unrideable “paths” full of boulders. I rode/hiked for 12 hours today and it only gets worse. I’ve already had 4 falls and I’ve decided it’s not worth the risk. So I’ve checked in to a hotel and am going to be back down to tomorrow with my tail between my legs. I’m going to stick to gravel paths and country lanes from now on.

30/08/2022

6 and a half hours and I've finally made it to the top of todays big ascent. I've had to hike for the last 2 hours as the path is impossible to ride

Manage your Garmin Explore or inReach account. With Explore and inReach, you can communicate, map, track and share your trek from anywhere on Earth.

30/08/2022

Decided to camp in the forest last night. I slept like a log , however I did wake up when someone was messing with my tent. I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t open my tent and just kept grunting like a pig at them and then realised it was a dream and it was my snoring!

29/08/2022

Well that’s the “easy” day done and it’s taken me about 7 hours to ride 40k. I’m absolutely goosed and my knees are aching - partly due to the 6 hour drive last night. Managed to get to Braemar as planned and found a pub for some food and a pint. Also managed to lose my Oakley sunglasses and my front light so far!
Going to wild camp by the river tonight and try to get an early start tomorrow for the 66k I’ve got to do to get to Blair Athol.

29/08/2022

Arrived in Aviemore around 2:30am after setting off at 7:30 - slept in the back of my car and then drove to Tomintoul where I’m starting my trip.

28/08/2022

If anyone wants to follow my progress this week here's the link:

Manage your Garmin Explore or inReach account. With Explore and inReach, you can communicate, map, track and share your trek from anywhere on Earth.

27/08/2022

On Monday I set off to complete the Cairngorm loop - a trip I previously had to abort due to losing my tools and spares on the first day. I’ll be driving up to Aviemore and then getting a taxi to Tomintoul where I had to stop last time. I’ll be sharing a link showing my progress each day. And putting regular posts on this page.

20/05/2022

Just set off home from Norwich after a fantastic week - a beautiful part of the world and we had fantastic weather

19/05/2022

As I watch Andy Ride off to our next campsite I’m gutted. I managed around 180km so far and overcame the mechanical failures, but ultimately my body - (specifically my posterior) gave up. There’s just no way I can ride any further with saddle sores the size of Asia, as much as I’d like to complete the trip. So I’m waiting for a cab to take me to the next camp site. It’s a wake up call and tells me that my weight is the problem. At 18 stone I’m too heavy for my bike which is why I’ve had so many mechanical problems. As Andy so eloquently put it - I’m “fit but fat” and the only way I can continue to pursue my love of bikepacking is to lose a ton of weight which hopefully will spur me on to do so.