West Highland Way.

[mikecassie]

Hi all.
I'm looking at doing the WHW as part of something else with the gravel bike this year. How difficult is it to do, I've seen a video where full sus MB's do it but not laden gravel bikes.

I'd be doing it in reverse from Fort William to Milngavie as I'm linking up with a couple other routes.

Bike will be a Mason Bokeh with 650b wheels and WTB Riddler tyres.

Will this make much difference doing it in reverse?
How long should I expect to take to do it? I thought 3 days as I'm carrying all I need on the bike so the bike carrying sections will be a slog.

All advice is appreciated.

TIA,
Mike.

[triathlonstu]

There is a large section up the side of Loch Lomond where you will be forced to carry your bike, so I would make sure you're comfortable doing that. The alternative would be to cut that section out and ride up the west side of the loch either on the A82 or the cycle path that runs alongside it.

The terrain over the rest of the route varies pretty considerably. You'd be able to ride a lot on a gravel bike (not sure how much the frame bags will hinder you) but if it was me I'd want a dropper post.

Travelling north to south your main hinderance will be that you'll have to drastically increase how often you're comfortable saying hello to people haha!

[mikecassie]

Thank you Stu for that advice.
I was going to practise carrying the bike on a local hill we have close by me, loaded to build the legs up for that. I was also thinking a bit of pipe lagging to give my shoulder some protection for the carrying of the bike. Not sure how effective that'll be but I'll test it out anyway and go from there.

Dropper Post is a very good shout. My worry is I'm a short arse and I don't have a lot of seatpost exposed as it is, so any benefits will be really limited. :-( Maybe I can trial one and see how I get on with that too.

As for the hello's, lets see how I get on and if I get that far first. :-)

[triathlonstu]

If you go on YouTube, a Scottish guy called Rab Wardell cycled it in a one-r, albeit on a full suspension mountain bike, but should give you an idea of what to expect. Another guy Allan McTavish has done a couple of videos which are maybe a bit less polished and include a lot more swear words but perhaps more helpful (also on mountain bike).

This is Allan attempting it in one day including the lochside: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOjAKVjpiD0&ab...
Kinlochleven and Devils Staircase: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0mRk8noApI

Rab Wardell actually doing it in one day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZVAbtKgPYk&ab...

Hopefully these give you a pretty good idea of what to expect.

[mikecassie]

Thanks Stu, I'll go give them a look now.

[Pando99]

Also have a look for Glencoe marathon, i did that 2019 and i also did the Tour De Ben on the full suss MTB.
I suspect there might be quite a lot of off the bike pushing on rough stuff.
The carrying of extra weight on the bike also makes this more of a slog than just walking on rough stuff

[ian in lancs]

I've done South-North a few times years ago, leading groups twice.

Start at the top of Loch Lomond, Inverarnan, to cut out the overhanging branches snatching your bike as you carry up the East side of the Loch. That makes it doable in two days.

The climb out of Kingshouse / Glencoe on the path is too steep to ride and the top of the descent into Kinlochleven is a big ask for a gravel bike. You need at least a front susp MB for that. Other than that it's a fantastic adventure.

We overnighted at Crianlarich and Kingshouse.

One other thing - be prepared for mozzies; bd mozzies!

Edited by ian in lancs on Monday 15th February 16:25

[mikecassie]

Pando99 said:

Also have a look for Glencoe marathon, i did that 2019 and i also did the Tour De Ben on the full suss MTB.
I suspect there might be quite a lot of off the bike pushing on rough stuff.
The carrying of extra weight on the bike also makes this more of a slog than just walking on rough stuff

Yes, watching the videos that Stu provided links for, I'll be singing Tom Petty's "I won't back down' a lot... It'll be extremely challenging, bad enough on MTB's that are built for that terrain. A Gravel Bike will be worse. Best get myself up and down the local hill trails as much as I can in preparation.

[jimmydash]

Think about the Lochaber sports club triathlon. Swim across loch Linnhe, cycle to Ben Nevis. Run up and down it.

[mikecassie]

jimmydash said:

Think about the Lochaber sports club triathlon. Swim across loch Lihne, cycle to Ben Nevis. Run up and down it.

😳Errr no ta, I swim like a wounded kipper so tris are out for me. I like a challenge but that sounds brutal. Fair fks to those that keep on turning up for it. 😃

[triathlonstu]

ian in lancs said:

I've done South-North a few times years ago, leading groups twice.

Start at the top of Loch Lomond, Inverarnan, to cut out the overhanging branches snatching your bike as you carry up the East side of the Loch. That makes it doable in two days.

The climb out of Kingshouse / Glencoe on the path is too steep to ride and the top of the descent into Kinlochleven is a big ask for a gravel bike. You need at least a front susp MB for that. Other than that it's a fantastic adventure.

We overnighted at Crianlarich and Kingshouse.

One other thing - be prepared for mozzies; bd mozzies!

Edited by ian in lancs on Monday 15th February 16:25

Along these lines, on the midge front, remember that mosquito nets arent fine enough to keep them away if you're camping.