Away from the GMBC norm I proposed the Schiehallion Epic Cross ride.
The route took riders out of Kenmore toward Schiehallion Road that lies between Loch Tay and Loch Tummel in Picturesque Perthshire Countryside. This was a ride that was to introduce Bob Mersey, Lyndsey Carson and Flickr friendly Mark Forrest to the best of the areas tracks, remote B-Roads, woods, streams, ascents and descents over 120 km of riding.
And the experience? Illuminated by glorious sunshine, it was a little piece of heaven, despite some tough, long uphills on remote B-roads, small climbs through forests, and fast descents along gravelly open tracks.
When you were pegging it along the flats, admiring the stunning views, hands on the flats with your weight on the pedals and eyes bouncing around from point to point, you felt like you discovered a land quite unique.
Cross Bikes were best adapted to the conditions given the forest singletrack that leads through and out of Rannoch Forest, onto the ancient track that crosses high ground between Innerwick in Glen Lyon and Carie next to Loch Rannoch. All this is set in the shadows of Carn Gorm, a neglected piece of adventure cycling that I’ve explored in years past, but on the mountainbike.
There were no serious accidents, barring Lyndsey’s bent derailleur in Rannoch Forest and my puncture on the long descent into Glen Lyon. The descent seen Mark crowned Cross Bike Downhiller despite stopping to take photographs!
Note to self – Get Flat bar mounted brakes for the Cross bike!
Into Glen Lyon, and Lyndsey and Mark decided that after 70K of cycling they would cut short the proposed 100ish K route and head back to Kenmore via Bridge of Balgie and the road that passes by Ben Lawers—no lesser the route or stunning views…..Lyndsey was running on limited gears and Marks sore back was getting sorer despite the medication…but first a cafe stop before parting ways at the BofB.
Sonic Bob and I headed out along the glorious B-Road towards Loch Lyon Power station that runs parallel to the River Tay. The setting is reminiscent of the Lake District where the slopes begin to tower above you and walls of stone line the hill.
From the power station we took the pot hole strewn 650m climb that took us appox 20 mins to ascend and a similar time in which to descend into Loch Lochay…with the wind at our tails we were no sooner into Killin with no lesser the scenery.
From Killin, Bob thought he was on a 16 mile time trial and after several attempts to keep me on tow along Loch Tay, Cancellara opened up a sizeable gap with one or two small ascents to go.
As we amassed back at the Courthouse at Kenmore, Bob recounts his time trial experience to Mark and Lyndsey whilst remarking on the comeback from his worthy adversary.
Suitably tired, we all headed into back to Killin and the Killin Hotel for some worthy top notch grub —- 4 Steak and Ale Pies with the trimmings please.
As we recapped, it was definitely the best Cross ride done to date….and one for the records.
Mark has posted photos as usual….
http://www.flickr.com/photos/markforrest/sets/72157626400988951/
