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Post by Simon Collins on Jan 29, 2020 15:49:48 GMT
Has anyone done the North Coast 500?
I'm doing it solo (followed by my brother in his car) in July. I'll be doing it as a charity ride and wanted to make it a challenge. With that in mind I'm pondering how quickly I might be able to do it: 100 miles per day or 125? If the roads are a bit rough then the latter may be a bit too much of a challenge, especially as there's a 'bit' of climbing involved? Also, what's best, anti-clockwise or clockwise? I've done the bit between John O'Groats and Inverness so I know what to expect there. And any tips on anti-midge creams/sprays?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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Post by StephenMaxwell on Jan 30, 2020 14:17:50 GMT
I reckon you might be best going clockwise as the weather is often significantly worse on the west coast of Scotland, and during July I believe the winds are predominantly from the South West so could give you (for the most part) a bit of assistance.
My old man has done this a few times on the motorbike, before in his words "it was given a name and clogged up by campervans". There's some amazing roads though and from my experience holidaying up there a lot are surprisingly well surfaced..!
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Post by Ray Cox on Jan 30, 2020 16:39:51 GMT
Simon, I have not done it but did the North Coast Classic 600k audax last year which runs along a fair bit of the route. ridewithgps.com/routes/28688630?highlight=11674-19879 I found in June the roads were generally good but not fast and you got an awful lot of single lane with passing areas and motor homes and motorbikes. The wind coming off the north coast was a bit of an issue. The west was much hillier. The ride from JOG to Inverness down the Helmsdale valley over Forsinard was one of the best I have ever done and would love to do it again. On the whole it was not fast and I am not sure I would want it to be. No midges at all. I was also on the west coast in August and did not have any then either!
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Post by Simon Collins on Jan 30, 2020 16:56:39 GMT
Simon, I have not done it but did the North Coast Classic 600k audax last year which runs along a fair bit of the route. ridewithgps.com/routes/28688630?highlight=11674-19879 I found in June the roads were generally good but not fast and you got an awful lot of single lane with passing areas and motor homes and motorbikes. The wind coming off the north coast was a bit of an issue. The west was much hillier. The ride from JOG to Inverness down the Helmsdale valley over Forsinard was one of the best I have ever done and would love to do it again. On the whole it was not fast and I am not sure I would want it to be. No midges at all. I was also on the west coast in August and did not have any then either! Thanks Ray. Having already ridden from JOG to Inverness I was tempted to do the Helmsdale valley. The only problem I can see with that is that's no longer the NC500!! One to ponder. Cheers.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2020 16:24:19 GMT
Hi there!
I did the NC500 clockwise a couple of years ago and did it in 6 days - although could easily have done 5 as the last 2 days were down the East coast and very smooth and flat, with a prevailing tail/side wind.
We had 1 200km day on the west coast and it was pretty brutal - windy, often headwinds, with quite a lot of showers - think I got rained on like 14 separate times in that day.
That said if you take it easier on the west coasy you could do more than 125 on the north and east coast going clockwise.
No midges and as I recall pretty good road surfaces and pretty minimal traffic - if sometimes a bit quick.
Would highly recommend taking a 32/34 on the back as there's some longish stretches of climbing above 13-14%.
No midges encountered. Food and accommodation options often quite sparse, particularly west/north west.
Anything else I can help with just ask
Cheers Laurie
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