Deeside Trail – Group Ride

I’ve put this in the calendar, so this is a heads up

The Deeside Trail is a 150 mile circular bike packing route starting in Banchory. The route links up some of the best trails and scenery in Aberdeenshire, Deeside and the Cairngorm mountains.

The route can be done as an Independent Time Trial and there will be a group ride with a suggested start time of 8am on Saturday the 3rd of September 2016.

Home

Unfortunately it clashes with SSUK and I wont be going to either.

Best local downhill

To continue the ‘Summer’ season wednesday away rides, Dave Ashton and I were thinking of descent off Slackdhu down to Cantywheery on the pipe track. Last week we did Helensburgh to Duntocher on the John Muir Way.

So it is, out towards Killearn then up the back of Dumgoyne, then across the top to Slackdhu

Leaving at the Blanefield War Memorial at 7.30 sharp. I will be riding out from Bearsden

Post up if you are coming along

Bothy Ride

Well, the Bothy ride did take place and Tim Luke and I survived, despite our spouses scepticism. We set off for the bothy and quickly noticed the additional weight of our kit including 3kg of coal (each) as we puffed up the gentle gradient. My bike weighed 19kg and back pack another 10kg. I was also experimenting with my 1×9 set up, so I was struggling more than usual.

climb up from Bridge of Tilt

Once beyond the trees we were coming across patches of snow and then the patches of snow joined up. The snow had filled up the double track so it was easier to cycle across the heather. Who needs a fat bike anyway? We were just getting into our stride and we found ourselves descending down to the bothy a couple of hours later.

climb up from Bridge of Tilt

 

2 happy chappies

2 happy chappies

We had a quick tour of the bothy, one room with 2 platform beds, open fire and a kitchen table, the other half of the bothy was a work room and there was sleeping loft above the main room. With a couple of hours daylight we decided to head up towards Beinn Dearg. It was good to ride with out all our gear but we didn’t get very far before we were back into the snow.

We had a quick tour of the bothy, one room with 2 platform beds, open fire and a kitchen table, the other half of the bothy was a work room and there was sleeping loft above the main room. With a couple of hours daylight we decided to head up towards Beinn Dearg. It was good to ride with out all our gear but we didn’t get very far before we were back into the snow.

Continue reading

Bothy weekend 6-7th February

allt-scheicheachan--Alan-Be

There was a suggestion at the Christmas bash, that some folks would like a bothy weekend, so I thought I would put something in the calender to aim for. My suggestion is Allt Scheicheachan (pron. Alt shee-cha-chan, with the ‘ch’ as in loch both times) just up from Bridge of Tilt/Blair Atholl. All landrover tracks: approx 10km, yes some climbing up to 500m with alternative exit strategies including Beinn Dearg, weather permitting! http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/maps/map1_14pt.shtml.

My other suggestion is early February, so we avoid the midgies!

If you can wait until then try this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b06s1762/bothy-life

 

 

Alternative to Alpkit Gordon 20L

My rucksack has gone trekking to Machu Picchu, unfortunately the invitation wasn’t extended to me. So I am looking for a replacement for my Alpkit Gordon and they don’t have any stock other than flo yellow till December.

Any lightweight dry sack for around £25 would be appreciated

Thanks