Gary Tompsett, delighted to finishThe Strathpuffer is probably the only winter 24 hour mountain bike race in the world. Steve Macdonald of Square Wheels and Patrick Adams where chatting back in the early days of endurance racing. A throw away line came into play; ‘what about a winter 24hr race at Strathpeffer’ . Well, the rest is history but Strathpeffer, home to the ‘puffer, has it’s own fair share of mountain bike history way before the current endurance scene kicked off. <P>
The Grundig 1992 World championships race is legendary, in fact the eventual winner, Thomas Frischknecht, initially lead a no-ride protest against what he considered to be a dangerous race route. When I raced in 2008, it was an amazing collection of tight singletrack, stiff challenging climbing, big open country trails and brake cookingly thrilling descents.<P>
The Strathpuffer has established itself on the list of ‘must do’ events for all endurance enthusiasts. James Leavesly and John ‘Shaggy’ Ross have both gone on to ride exceptionally well in the Iditarod, having cut their ice teeth at the Strathpuffer. <p>
The Spa Town of Strathpeffer is a beautiful location, with grand architecture and an exquisite trail network. All this on top of a traditional Highland welcome. The ‘puffer team spend most of the year building and maintaining the trails so they are always ready for whatever the weather and riders throw at them in January. Steve and Clancy Macdonald of Square Wheels affectionately describe how every year, the puffer has survived becoming on of those unique annual challenges that are too difficult to continue to organise. Together with Alastair and Linda Lawton, Katy Boocock and their army of willing volunteers and supporters, they have overcome, in chronological order:<p>
1st: The Inaugural Moonlit Puffer<br>
2nd: The Tuffer Puffer - very wet<br>
3rd: The Kinellan Puffer - tundra<br>
4th: The Cheesy Puffer - snow<br>
5th: The Plow Puffer - more snow<br>
6th: The Matured Puffer - warming with ice<br><br>
The thought that a race could sell out in 30 minutes seemed unlikely, however I was keen to get my entry in quickly. An unexpected meeting at work meant it was an hour after the Strathpuffer entries opened that I started my application. Sold out. What? Yes. Sold out in under 30 minutes! Having singularly failed to get my solo entry in and arranging to pit for Gary Tompsett, I convinced Rory Hitchens, Marketing Director for USE/Exposure Lights that he would need me as his Scottish translator to support him at the event as Exposure Lights support the event with a light charging station. With approximately 17 hours of darkness (yes, 17!) it was bound to be a busy place. <P>
Flights to Inverness airport where arranged and our onward bound journey provided by Gary Tompsett who was riding for Singular Cycles and Exposure lights. Leaving Gatwick and arriving in Inverness is always a bit of a time warp, for me a welcome one. Immediately time slows a little and the sense of space is liberating. Driving up through Contin, we arrived at ‘puffer HQ to set up the Exposure Lights charging station then headed straight back to Steve and Clancy’s house.
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