TARTAN Barmy

Want to cycle 1,000 miles across rugged Scottish terrain, climbing more than twice the height of Everest? Oh, and it's totally unsupported. Then try the Trans Alba race: you don't have to be mad to do it, but it probably helps!

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On a balmy midsummer's day in June, swarms of cyclists flocked to Clapham Common to take part in the London to Brighton ride.

As the heat shrouded South London, many of the participants wouldn't have known that 334 miles to their north, another endurance race was about to begin in less than glorious conditions.

Huddled under overcast skies, 40 riders waited on the famous streets of Edinburgh for the off. The rain had crashed down the day before, blanketing the city in a deluge of water that had only just cleared up. In contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city, they were about to embark on an epic adventure that would touch the farthest, most remote parts of Scotland.

The Trans Alba race sees participants cycle across 1052 miles of rugged Scottish terrain. Throughout the competition they'll climb over 66,000ft, twice the height of Mount Everest. If that wasn't hard enough, the event is completely unsupported adding another dimension to the already arduous route. Riders are responsible for their own bike, navigation, food, hydration and rest. Fancy sleeping in a warm bed each night? Sure, but it'll cost you time. Want to try and win? You'll have to ride through the night on minimal sleep.

The event starts outside of the Scottish Parliament building, striking eastwards along the Firth of Forth before turning south towards Dumfries. The course then heads north, skirting Stirling and heading out to the west coast. Ferries are needed at Gourock, Oban, Tobermory and Mallaig. Riders fight their way along the coast and into barren north west of the country, where mountains stand tall and the cold air whips across the land.