a big sky ride on the cx bikes ? Ardgarten, Sun 1st Dec ?

any interest in getting those cx bikes off the muddy fields and onto a big spectacular loop ? Β The Ardgarten Peninsula is a favourite of mine on a nice day, and a bit more of a challenge on the cross bike than a MTB. Β Will b every weather dependant, but if there is some interest I’ll pop it on the Calendar.

If you don’t have a cross bike feel free to come along and be smug on the big descent into Lochgoilhead πŸ™‚

Likely timings would be meet Ardgarten Car park 0930, and the loop takes around 3.5 hrs

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13 Comments

  1. I’d very much be interested in this Iain, day after a night out – might clear my hangover πŸ™‚

  2. nice one Dawn. I know you’ve done the route in the past (Highland coo content !) and it’s a great ride on a decent day. For folk considering it, cx or hartail is ideal as there isn’t too much in the way of challenging technical stuff apart from the climb from the Lochan (rewards to anyone who clears it, and if you do so on a cx bike then you’re officially a ridng god/goddess). The ensuing swoopy stony path to Lochgoilhead is great fun on a full susser, good fun on a hartail and a bit sore on the wrists on a cx :).

    There is a lot of fireroad, but none of it is flat, so it’s a great fitness ride, especially the climb back over the Rest and Be Thankful path, which is where the cx bikes pay off !

    All in it’s 3 hrs at a fastish pace, so probs 4 on the day.

    Keep an eye on here and FB next week and we’ll see how weather shapes up

  3. Hi Iain – would it be fair to say that the ride would suit beginners who had some fitness but perhaps weren’t technically confident off-road? Are there any food stops en route or is it a case of bring munchies with you? Just checking in case any new riders were reading this and considering joining you.

  4. Graham, absolutely and easy to split into a ‘racing snakes’ and ‘the rest’ if the dynamics dictate. I first did the route 15 years ago on a halfords clunker πŸ™‚

  5. Oh, there is a co-op in lochgoilhead which is the natural stopping point around halfway

  6. Hi. I intend riding this on Sunday but don’t have a x bike so MTB for me. Cheers. Allan

  7. Hi, still hoping to come along although I think I might be a bit slow? Do you have to be home at a certain time Iain? You said 4.5 hours but am sure it took us longer than that last time!!

  8. Dawn,

    I am not particularly time constrained. Usually go round it in 3-3.5, so we should do in in 4 fairly easily – it’s not a race πŸ™‚

  9. All going well, I’m hoping to make it along for this one. Only been out a couple of times in the past few months and really need to get out more, so looking forward to it having never been on the Ardgarten run. I take it the meet is in the car park with the wooden hut and big wood carving at the entrance?

  10. Hi Davie, yes that’s the one

    Cheers

  11. Does anyone want to share a lift with me from Milngavie/Bearsden/West End? I can drive, but have to be back at mine (i.e. in the door!) by 2pm.

    Also posted this on Facebook

  12. Forecast looks fine, so ready to ride 0930 sharp folks πŸ™‚

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