Detours: Bikepacking, Ultra-Cycling and Adventures by Bike

Washed Away: Kerry MacPhee on HT550 2025 and Finding Joy in Going Fast


Listen Later

What do you do when your bike gets swept down a flooded Scottish river, you're soaked to the bone, and miles from the nearest village? Well... you'll have to listen to find out! 

Kerry is a blazing-fast Scottish ultra racer with deep roots in mountain biking. After racing the Highland Trail 550 for the first time in 2024, finishing just under three hours off the women’s record, she came back in 2025 with her eyes set on it. What followed was an absolutely nail-biting race between her and eventual women's winner Emma Bateup (our last guest), with both women pushing the pace through torrential rain, flash floods, and highland bog. 

In this conversation, Kerry breaks down what really happened out there: from stormy river crossings to the moment her bike got pulled away by the current, and the long, cold walk that followed. We talk about how she's built an off-road racing life while juggling three jobs, her past as an elite mountain biker and triathlete, and how she's navigating what it means to race fast, chase joy, and tell stories that bring others along for the ride.

Topics include:

  • Highland Trail 550
  • Racing with joy vs. racing to win, and why it’s not either/or
  • Fueling, body image, and strength in endurance sport
  • Sharing the dots and building community through storytelling
  • Working three jobs while riding at the top level of bikepacking

Get your Detours stickers

If you're keen to give Albion cycling clothing a go, use DETOURS15 at checkout for 15% off your order.

Follow Kerry's adventures on Instagram: @kerrymacphee

Follow Mel on Instagram: @melwwebb

Follow Detours on Instagram: @detourscycling

Follow Albion on Instagram: @albion.cycling

Use code DETOURS15 to get 15% off your next order from Albion

If you love this show please consider pledging your support to sustain producing this show: https://buymeacoffee.com/detourspodcast

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Detours: Bikepacking, Ultra-Cycling and Adventures by BikeBy Mel Webb

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

26 ratings


More shows like Detours: Bikepacking, Ultra-Cycling and Adventures by Bike

View all
Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast - Presented by TrainerRoad by TrainerRoad

Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast - Presented by TrainerRoad

3,618 Listeners

Life in the Peloton, presented by MAAP by Mitch Docker

Life in the Peloton, presented by MAAP

285 Listeners

Velo Podcast by Velo

Velo Podcast

524 Listeners

The Roadman Cycling Podcast by Anthony Walsh

The Roadman Cycling Podcast

136 Listeners

King of the Ride by Ted King

King of the Ride

638 Listeners

The Mountain Races Podcast by Silk Road Mountain Race Ltd

The Mountain Races Podcast

30 Listeners

Marginal Gains Cycling Podcast, Presented by Silca by SILCA

Marginal Gains Cycling Podcast, Presented by Silca

275 Listeners

The BikeRadar Podcast by Our Media

The BikeRadar Podcast

100 Listeners

Bikepack Adventures Podcast by Chris Panasky

Bikepack Adventures Podcast

36 Listeners

With Pace by Payson McElveen

With Pace

728 Listeners

Breakfast With Boz Presented by Wahoo by Ian Boswell

Breakfast With Boz Presented by Wahoo

210 Listeners

Geek Warning by Escape Collective

Geek Warning

288 Listeners

Bonk Bros by Bonk Bros

Bonk Bros

123 Listeners

The Bikepack Racing Podcast by The Bikepack Racing Podcast

The Bikepack Racing Podcast

24 Listeners

Ultrascape Podcast; Bikepacking & Ultracycling news, discussion, chat & rumours. by Josh Ibbett

Ultrascape Podcast; Bikepacking & Ultracycling news, discussion, chat & rumours.

9 Listeners