Highland bike riders are preparing to put their skills to the test as the legendary Strathpuffer 24 makes its return to Ross-shire.
Around 1,036 riders will battle 17 hours of complete darkness, freezing temperatures and gruelling terrain to reach the top spot at the 15th annual 24-hour winter endurance race in Contin this weekend.
It begins on the Saturday morning and runs right through, non-stop, into Sunday.
The star studded line-up is to include an array of past winners, multi-podium finishers and well-known names from the world of MBT endurance riding.
Four-times Male Solo champ and puffer ‘King Keith’ Forsyth said the event has something special that keeps drawing riders back year after year.
He said: “It is such a brilliant event, with a unique atmosphere.
“It’s organised and run by a team of fantastically enthusiastic people. I’d call it iconic – and a race that is considered a rite of passage for every mountain biker.”
The puffer was first launched in 2005 as a one-off local event but, more than a decade on, has become a key part of the sporting calendar.
Riders prepare to take on the 15th annual Strathpuffer
