Hamsterley

26 or 29er?  

The choice is yours!

The difference appears bigger than three inches.

 

I rode a section of 'hidden' trail at Hamsterley a couple of weeks back and thought I had found a 'work in progress'

Rode it this weekend, so need another mini project.

The sensation of riding something close to my limit seemed familiar.  On review, its the same as running a section of hard white water.

Scout...assess risk...plan...fully commit...succeed!

Its been a while since I have experienced this sensation, having not kayaked since 2007!

Do I need it back in my life?

 Right, left, traverse, right...hold on!

Next followed an old classic of Hamsterley 

'Dangerous descent'

This fabulously rooty affair was demolished by the 29er piloted by Wood 

 

The ride was completed by a (synchronized?) race down the perfectly groomed, very popular triple tranny section (Transmission, Accelerator and Nitros).  

Wood committed and was looking like taking the gold when a human hazard caused a tumble.  Muir took the opportunity and nipped by to take the win!

PR's all round so there were no losers, just bruised knees.

As a trail centre, Hamsterley has its limitations.  Mix the groomed piste, hidden trails and the brutal fire roads climbs and its a treat!    

WRC MTB

Where's Wally?! 

Spot Mr Wood...

Lin of Dee and Ballater

After completing a successful multi-day mountain journey through Glen Tilt we headed to the River Dee to undertake a similar style of route over Mount Keen.

Unfortunately, our plans had to change due to windy conditions high up  (Mount Keen is a ridable Munro). Instead, we spent a couple of days chilling in beautiful surroundings with a couple of single day, mtb routes from bases at the Lin of Dee and Ballater.  

There is so much riding here, generally in the foothills of the Cairgorm Plateau.

Big climbs, epic views, fast rocky descents and smooth sinuous forest singletrack are plentiful.    

 My first hailbow.  Exposed riding above Marr Lodge.

 Quickly changing weather conditions.  

 

Scots Pine woodland providing some shelter 

 

Warm enough for a dip? 

 

Capercaillie hiding in the brush

Rach on the Cairn Leuchan Ridge, above Ballater before the smashing descent off Pannanich Hill 

 Lochnagar backdrop

Mount Keen - One for the future 

 Rosy Cheeks and curry in Ballater!

Glen Tilt

Careful packing and preparation.

 

First use of the Monkii Cage / 'Frugal food tube' combination.  

Great way of keeping weight on the bike - not on your back.  

The bottom tube needs to be slightly shorter as the front wheel catches when the forks are in compression.

 Keep it simple.  Food in the tubes.  Sleeping bag, primaloft jacket and spare thermals in the front dry dag.  Half a tent, stove and gas in the rear dry bag.  Thermarest, tent poles, firstaid kit, tools snacks and water on my back.

Dog could carry some kit?

 Rach with a similar set up.

 Glen Tilt

 Campsite - more pictures to follow 

 

Our route is shown below, undertaken clockwise starting at Blair Athol and overnighting in Glen Loch.

 

We split the route over two days.  35km on the first day, and a more relaxed 20km ride out on the second.

 

The route would be acheivable over one day but at 55km it is too far for a dog to run. 

 

 

Drumfries

Spot the dolphins!

Three days enjoying the 7Stane trails of Dalbeatie and Kirrutree.  

Scout chilling after riding with Sam

Poor Manners?

Our last ride at Kirrutree was cut short when we encountered a teenage girl injured after coming of her (dads) bike while riding alone.  

She complained of a sore ankle and that she had hit her head.  Our recent first aid training was fresh in our minds and I think we handled the situation well.  After calming her down and deciding that her ankle was ok(ish) to ride on, we escorted her off the trail and back to the visitor center.

I wasnt carrying a trail map, but I will next time! 

 

I found it very difficult to find my way back to the visitor center.  I put this down to getting disorientated due to the twisting nature of the purpose built trails.  They are well signposted if you follow the entire route but not so if you come of the trail early.  We got her back, but I dont think it was the shotest route!...got some nice bits of singletrack in though.

On delivering her back to her father we got no thanks.  More shocking though, is that she got no attention off her father.  We reiterated that we had found her dazed after what appeared to be nasty accident and that she had hit her head.  But nothing.  

We both turned and walked away...