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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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Ride report:Drumlanrig Tearfund Sportive Saturday 29th May

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A last minute decision on where to ride last Friday night led to me and Gerry meeting up with no helmet Al to do the 100 mile figure of 8 road loop from Drumlanrig.

Brilliantly organised and very cheap compared to con-events like etape caledonia.

Anyone who has been on a road bike in the last two weeks will have noticed a fierce Easterly rising throughout each day. A relentless sapping wind… Saturday did not let us down.

Al, me and Gerry teamed up with 3 Johnstone Wheelers guys two of whom were chasing a sub 6 hour gold standard award. There were a few other JWCC riders out. But no GMBC or so we thought (I had failed to squeeze into a top).

The format was a start when you like, in bunches of 20, do the first 68 mile loop, come back for fueling and do the final 32 or so.

All went well at first and from the twenty in our start bunch we soon had a working group of 8. All went well til we hit the nasty we rise from Penpont to Moniave. A hill designed to split the bunch. Of course no Helmet Al was first up. But as long as you reel in and pass more rioders than pass you you can assume it is going well!

We regrouped and sensibly rode the next climb easily with that great tailwind at our backs and rolled down the road towards St John’s town of Dalry.

Then all hell broke loose in two stages. Some say it’s just that they don’t train a bunch to stay together these days, some say if you have too many riders around fifty in the one wee bunch it’s just a mid life crisis waiting to happen (but I thought Gerry and the young lad who narrowly missed selection for the Commonwealth Games swim team would have averaged it out) and some say it’s the sportive mentality – I don’t know. But suddenly I bunch went by and the attack was on. Gerry got dropped, I got dropped then All got dropped. We adopted that sad space where you are all sitting 50 yards apart knocking your pan in knowing you will not get back on but too proud / stupid / hopeful to slow up .

With the fast boys gone Al, Gerry and I rolled into St John’s Town of Dalry and turn into the headwind from hell. Gerry unshipped his chain on a wee rise, Al dropped me and we were back in the riding solo category. Oh well, only 35 miles in that wind to go!

The trick here is to find and form a bunch of even two or three  riders but the wind was so strong that any variation in speed soon shows and gaps develop. After the Corriedoo climb, I sat in with two other JWCC riders I came across and finally Gerry rejoined about 5 miles from Drumlanrig. The last wee bit was lovely – a slight climb in the back way to Drumlanrig – best of all shelter by the trees from that wind.

Back at the start / fuel stop pressure was on for the 6 hour marker. It had taken us about 3hours 40 so far.

The JWCC road train had overcooked it in its silly chasing nonsense (‘my legs are shredded’ was a quote from one of the desperadoes)so we re-grouped for the second part follows the lovely minor road north of Drumlanrig and then makes its way over the Mennock Pass to Wanlockhead and Leadhills. This seemed to last a while. The bunch split again leaving me, Al and Gerry on our own. As usual the turn through the Dalveen Pass and back home never quite gave us payback for the headwing and we ganged up with another guy for the last 15  miles in. Turned out he was an original GMBC member who left to live in England in 91 and now lives in County Durham. All the guys we knew he didn’t and vice versa.

During this 32 miles I had the internal conversation with myself many times about how I think my love of bikes is over / where the hell is that wind coming from / what other sports could I take up / is this a way to spend a Saturday / why don’t I take up watching football /I hate riding a bike / I hate riding a bike etc etc

Anyway were were soon back with the sub six hours long gone…

Well done Gerry for riding it on his cross bike with 37mm tyres. He clearly has the long distance bug as you can see from his Argyll Audax post!

Al said it was harder than the Tour of Flanders Sportive he rode in Belgium a  few weeks ago (it includes nasty steep climbs and cobbles)

Anyway now its over it was a good ride. Next stop Fred Whitton… I see that wind is forecast to continue through the week…..

See you down in Drumlanrig for the start next year? We will arrange a 5 mph South Westerly for the occassion!

SS

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New Beginner Rides this Wednesday 4th May

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Hello boys & girls,

Just a wee reminder that this Wednesday is the start of our Beginner Rides.  As it says on the tin, it’s all about teaching folk the fundamentals of mountain biking.  They start at 7pm from the club car park and will last approx 2hrs.

I asked this before but if anyone would like to volunteer their time and experience to help us make this a success it would be much appreciated.  We should be running these rides every week for the duration of the summer/lighter nights, so please don’t all rush in at once;-)

It’s a great start to promote this to friends & family, so I’ll be bringing along my girlfriend this week and I should have a few friends attending within the next few weeks too.

Please leave a comment if your looking to attend or volunteer your assistance.

All the best, Barry (on behalf of the commitee)

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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.