Author: StephenM

Part of the paisley peleton, kidding on to be a cyclocrosser as it is more socially acceptable than a roadie?... not enough much dirt, but way too much tarmac :-) my bike is often found outside coffee shops around renfrewshire or gleaming on the trails when it should be proper muddy!
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Child bike seats, good idea?

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Thinking of buying a rear mounted child seat for my daugher (18 months), probably and entry level Hamax model or similar. I have got a trailer, but sometimes its a bit of hassle to set it up from folded when you just want to head out for a wee trip. I also think a seat would be best on my single speed urban/commute bike – trailer is a bit of a handful with one gear! anyone used a rear seat, what are the thoughts? they seem well made and safe but obviously raise the centre of gravity – is it best to put up with hassle of trailer?

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10 under ben results

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The results are up… don’t really want to look though!

http://www.nofussevents.co.uk/event/10-Under-The-Ben/1805/

For those who rode, you know what it was like! for those who didn’t – good decision! In short, cold, very wet, windy, mud bath, leaky tent, long draggy climbs… will I be back, for sure! lessons learned – pack for winter, forget shorts, careful where you put your tent, buy a coleman awning (cheers Ross), book the curry house early, eat less energy gels and more proper food and get narrow tyres and spare disc pads.

A big pat on the back to all the lasted the pace, especially Single Speed Simon and Lindsey who fought to the bitter end in some less than fun weather.

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Wanted – used MTB for friend (budget £300)

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My mate Mark is due back from Brazil in July and is looking to buy a basic but descent used MTB, rather than hiring a bike everytime he is back. Budget is about £300 and for that the bike must be simple but good condition with no imminent repairs! size 17-18 inch, hardtail, v-brakes preferred, basic – but not too basic (i.e. entry level rockshok) fork. His old bike was a mid-range Trek which he liked, not fussed about make though – so if anyone knows somebody looking to offload something reasonable, let me know – ideally with a pic that I can email to him.

Cheers, Stephen

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Thursday road ride – 12 May

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Anybody planning to ride tomorrow? Weather depending should be up for either the regular local ride, or the (cough) unofficial southside ride 🙂

either way – will probably go straight from work in hamilton via train to milngavie or back to crookston for 6.30 hopefully. Will check back website to see what plans are – if any?… remember 10 under the ben is just over a week away, not so secret training needs to be stepped up!

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Kinlochleven wilderness ride – Sun 1 May

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climbing over pass to Luibelt

Headed up solo to Kinlochleven and joined my mate and lochaber local, Rob to pick a route… too many choices on a day like this. We picked a big loop into some wild country, at the furthest point we reckoned we would be about 12 miles from the nearest road – no place for any problems! We started straight into a huge climb to about 500m – first up the Mamore Lodge road then onto Loch Eilde Mor under the shadow of the Mamore hills. It was a tough, loose surface (getting cut up more by MX bikes prepping for the Scot 6 day trials), the views made up for it and countless big water splashes on the way down to Lubielt were welcome as it was now scorchio! After wet feet (don’t do this ride after any rain) we were on a rather faint trail from Meanach Bothy heading out toward Loch Trieg, and ignoring the detour for the Tour De Ben Nevis route. We passed a rather random family having a wee swim in some rock pools at the most remote part of out route (about 12 miles to the nearest road at least), they did seem to be having fun – not sure if I would have fancied the walk back though!

Looking back to Mamores

The next section toward Creaguaineach Lodge is fun, a wee bit of hike a bike over ditches, but plenty of techy riding a fast grassy singletrack (would not be like this in wet though). There is more than a sense of remoteness though and with this in mind, we elected to ride back where we came from – after a wee spot of sunbathing at Staoineag Bothy.

Techy trails toward Staoineag Bothy

The conditions were good, however the info on the next section back to Blackwater Reservior via Gleann Iolairean and the Ciaran path was hazy (turns out after speaking to some riders in the Pub, the route was mostly rideable due to dry weather and good fun!).

where's the cafe?

Any regrets, just a little for not completing the epic circular route – however we still did the big miles, crossed some rivers and got some brilliant views. By the time we headed back, the trails were being marked for the Scot Six day Trials and looked mental! we felt inspired to take the direct descent via some stunning singletrack to Kinlocheven – got pretty hardcore at bits, and brakes needed cooling a few times – on a big travel bike it would have been a riot, felt a bit fast on the hardtail but amazing fun – and spat us out conveniently at the pub 🙂 good times. A full day of riding, about 8 hours in Scotland at its best!

downhill bliss toward loch leven... to the pub

I reckon the full loop, which would also take in the alterntative Ciaran path descent would be amazing for a GMBC ride – but must be stressed, it’s a very dry weather ride only, we got a fair bit wet even yesterday.

should have brought suncream AND sealskins!

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Sunday ride in NW highlands… inspiration

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Looking for some ideas for a ride  somewhere from about Rannoch Moor towards Fort William area, meeting a mate who is coming from Spean Bridge. Original plan was to check out the right of way from Ardgour to Strontian (not sure what this is like so would be a bit of a hike-a-bike ride). Otherwise old classic from Glencoe – devils staircase and maybe over to Fort William one-way (might be able to factor in 2 cars with my mate), or return road/trail from Kinlochleven. Any other ideas of good rides up in this area? plan to be out all day! I also have space for someone in the car if there are any takers – plan to leave from Crookston early to start ride up there before 9 hopefully.

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Dig out the lycra… Thursday road ride?

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I am now being lazy and plan to do another southside road ride, truth is I know for sure I cannot make it to milngavie for 6.30, in fact I will be cutting it fine to be home by then! If anyone else fancies another new route out of the southernmost fringes of our great city into the wilds of renfrewshire, lanarkshire or even north ayrshire then I should be there. I am happy to plan a wee route or just follow to peloton 🙂

I may be tight for 6.30 so if a slightly later start was on the cards I wouldn’t say no… work is a little hectic this week.

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Thursday 14 April road ride?

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I see that Simon can’t make the GMBC road ride and I will struggle to get from work up to Milngavie for 6.30, so I plan to do another ‘unofficial’ southside road ride. If anyone else fancies a ride out – I plan to head from Crookston, up Gleniffer Braes ‘alp d’huez’ pass and then out toward Caldwell Golf Club, then hang a right over to Howwood on an amazing swoopy bit of tarmac that’s about as much fun you can have on a road bike. Then downhill all the way to Paisley. Ride is about 25(ish) miles and takes around 1.45hrs at normal training ride speeds, i.e. on the painless side of fast! If you feel like a spin, can meet at Barrhead Road junction with Crookston or Toby pub at the Hurlet at 6.30?

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Southside roadride – 7th April 2011

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The GMBC peloton moved south into rural renfrewshire tonight, with a pretty good turnout… Ross, Mark, Alan, Elizabeth, Barry and me (Stephen). Ross, Alan and I left from Crookston and picked up riders on the way, by Paisley the peloton was complete. It was a mixed bunch of bikes as usual, (but no flat bars – what is this MTB club coming too!)…2 crossers, and 4 roadbikes with ‘team cannondale’ showing force. We hit the cycle path – good move, it was a nice social ride out to Kilmacolm, no neds, devil dogs and minimal glass, its always sunny on the southside! The original plan for a Greenock loop was a little ambitious so we planned a wee short loop back round the airport, however the bunch succumbed to the delights of a long descent back to Paisley and were unstoppable. Without Simon, our roadie mentor (a lycra’d Mr Myagi?) the bunch opened up with a few hero moments (Al must have a turbo button!), the pace hotted up, our average became 20mph+ but it was all good, we kept up the chat and the peloton was complete all way back to Crookston. A great ride by all accounts, and with some not so subtle bike/kit matching with a few of us I reckon we looked good too 🙂 us MTBers can easily disguise as a roadie bunch which might be worrying? Here are the stats. according to cateye (on my bike anyway) ride time: 1hr 51min, distance: 27.75 miles, average: 14.9mph, max: 25.5mph, and mechanicals: none! Consensus is that we do it again and get a few routes planned south of the river, I have hundreds of ideas, but then I am a dirt-shy closet roadie!