A Weekend Of Riding

13-14th August

  • Option 2: Sat 13th Aug –  “A Big Day Out” – location TBC but, if the weather permits, it’ll be somewhere remote with big mountains and hike-a-bike. #staunch
  • Option 3: Sun 14th AugLocal Ride – a journey to the centre of the Kilpatricks.  Nothing techy planned, just a pleasant ride.  Route/distance will depend on the weather.  This ride is aimed at new riders/riders new to the club as I’ve seen a few requests for weekend rides recently.  The focus is definitely on social & friendly and doing some exploring – if that wasn’t enough enticement I’m bribing you with a cafe stop too!!  🙂

Post up on the website or on FB to say if you’re coming.

Last minute spin; Mon Aug 1st

I quite fancy the novelty of going out for a spin in the sunshine. Weird, eh? Weather forecast says tomorrow should be fine, Tuesday less so, Wednesday even worse. So I’m gonna go for a spin; Mugdock, all the usual suspects but this time in marginally less mud. Look to leave at 7pm from the car park and be back 9ish. If minded to go post a response here or on FB.

Neil

Tonight’s Intro Ride – Carron Valley

Just a quick reminder that there’s an Intro ride taking place up at Carron Valley tonight.  Given the showers today hopefully the trails will be better drained at Carron Valley.  From previous chats there were 3 people up for this excursion.  If anyone else is up for it please email info[AT]gmbc[DOT]org[DOT]uk or drop me a text.  If you can’t make Carron Valley then there is still the regular 7pm ride from the hall.

In the meantime, enjoy this photo from a sunny & dry ride last night:

Summertime Trails

Summertime Trails

Tonight’s Intro Ride

I spotted a FB post asking about tonight’s rides.  I’m not sure who’s riding at 7:45pm but Ryszard and I will be out at 7pm for the Intro ride.  It looks like it’ll be wet.  On the upside, we’ve got some cakes left over after the BBQ for post-ride munchies!  It’s unlikely that the 7pm and 7:45pm rides will be doing the same route.  In fact, I’m not sure there’s any such thing as a “route” in Mugdock.

NB: next week’s Intro ride is up at Carron Valley, for a change of scenery/midges.

Torridon 9th – 11th September

If you’re interested, please read carefully & all the way through! If it’s going to work as a club trip you’ll need to let us know asap so we can get the limited accommodation booked up while it’s still available.

Intro

It’s probably fair to say Torridon is some of the best natural singletrack we have in the UK. MBR reviewed a smaller version of the planned route a few years ago…

 “From the outset, this splendidly isolated trail ascends consistently and gradually — rarely does such great altitude come so easily. Only in a few places will you need to switch your brain on, and this firm, stony trail is rideable in all conditions, offering considerable grip. Once over the small wooden bridge, the mountains start to close in, the trail steepens and the challenges begin. Some fighting spirit and strong legs will see you up most of the climb; only in a few places will the best have to push.

 Once up on Bealach Ban, you are greeted by one of the best views anywhere in the UK. To the north is the Liathach, a collection of Munros arranged along a West-East axis, and it’s here that the terrain of Torridon is at its most striking.

 At the lochan above the corrie, the fun begins with some fast, rocky singletrack around the water’s edge that’s a taste of what is to come. Drop into the Coire Lair on some loose rubble, barrel though a series of crests and dips and keep the power down as the glen opens out. When a number of paths converge you’re at the beginning of arguably the best section of descent in the UK. The gneiss rock offers unrivalled grip and the turns keep coming. You might even find yourself laughing at the ridiculous quantity of grip on tap.”

Likely plan: Continue reading