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2010 is the year I really discovered mountains. Since we started bagging Munroes on the bike regardless of the terrain, along with a range of English and Welsh mountains, a whole new world of cycling has opened up to me. Challenging several-hour climbs combined with long, technical descents has opened up my eyes to the use of 6" bikes in the UK outside the DH course. There are still some mountains though, like Helvellyn, that just don't warrant bounce and the hardtail still rules.
I think this snow has put the nail in the coffin of the year's mountains, but here's to more in 2011.
[b]Snowdon[/b]
The only mountain in Wales we tackled. A break in the weather for the climb gave some much needed respite before tackling the cold, technical descent. Not too challenging as a ride but a lot of fun. The ride ended in the dark in pouring rain- just enough adventure for now. This is the mountain that kicked it all off for us really. (not my photos these, they're much better than the ones I took)
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[b]Peak District[/b]
My home trails revisited with new people. Not strictly mountains, but a big adventurous ride with a healthy cover of snow and exciting trails.
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[b]Ben Lomond[/b]
The first Scottish hill of the year. Atrocious weather and even some snow up top. A fast and furious middle section breaks up two technical sections. A challenging climb, though unusually it's about 60% rideable.
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[b]Glen Coe[/b]
Again, the Devil's Staircase is not strictly a mountain, and while the Ciaran Path is a disappointment, this big ride is a real adventure and the Staircase is a superb trail- technical and fast in equal measure and suitable for a wide range of abilities.
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[b]Ben Nevis[/b]
Probably the most challenging trail. There are some tourist friendly motorway sections that are just a blast but the lower section is one of the hardest bits of trail I've ridden- I had a headache at the bottom from focussing so hard and it's the only trail I've ridden where I'd genuinely recommend a 6" bike as being the only way to get the most out of it. Needs a quiet day (or a late start time) to get a clear enough run. And a bell!
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[b]The Alps[/b]
A bit of a break followed Ben Nevis as we explored the lower level trails north of Inverness, but in June we headed to the Alps for the Mega Avalanche and to explore the Portes du Soleil. Obviously climbing was limited but some of the built trails here are as exciting as the natural ones.
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[b]Ben Lomond take 2[/b]
A distance between friends over the summer meant a break from team attacks on mountains, though Huw did batter Helvellyn but as a birthday treat we redid Ben Lomond. A late climb led to beautiful late evening sunshine accompanying us down the northern descent- a different way down we did on a whim. It's different to the southerly trail, in no way better but in no way worse. Just different. Probably my favourite ascent, backed up by a wonderful road trip, an exciting night's camping and a 3rd place at 10 More at Moray.
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[b]Glen Clova[/b]
I wasn't there for this ride but felt this photo had to be shown to someone.
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[b]Carn Liath[/b]
A sneaky little Munro just behind Blair Atholl. We tackled this twice- once was in 70mph winds and we turned back before summiting.
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[b]Braig Coire[/b]
Again, a sneaky one behind Blair Atholl. A stunning temperature inversion saw us on one of the few peaks above the clouds. Rutting deer present all over, roaring through the clouds unseen. There must have been around 50 deer loitering on the ridge opposite and in the valley floor.
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[b]Carn Bhan Mor[/b]
Not a Munro, despite being above the right height, as it's linked to another peak beyond. This is probably my favourite descent in the country- fast, furious, technical then open. Berms, twists then a bit of singletrack in the woods to finish. We've tackled this 3 times this year, and to my lasting regret never on a photogenic day.
[b]Nan Bheild[/b]
We tackled this both ways, despite the recommendations of STW and found the "unrecommended" descent to be the more technical and more exciting of the two. A real challenge, making you feel like you've really achieved something on the bike, making you shake with fear. The return descent is fast, open singletrack with stunning views.
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[b]Geal Charn[/b]
The last big one of the year. An epic 30 mile ride with 6 miles of snowy hike a bike with snow past our knees. A quiet, adventurous explore of the Cairngorms with an exciting snowy descent. Without the snow it would have been a dull, untechnical forgetable ride but as it was it was an experience that'll stick with me for a while.
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There are more, but sometimes the camera had to stay away. Huw did one ride encompassing 7 munroes (and a trip in an RAF seaking) in one go, along with a few others I missed. But it's been an adventure.
Next year it's all about munroes- it's unlikely we'll bag all of them on a bike but given a few years there may be a "munro bike chart" available from us!
I feel I ought to thank a few people for this year's riding, firstly-
Spokes Cycles, The Bike Shop (Hexham) and The Bike Chain for keeping Huw, me and the others in decent bike bits.
Second, my main Big Mountain Buddies-
Huw, who was there for them all and more, and coined "Munro Biking", Graham, Craig and Chris. There are more.
nice photos there fella, what camera r u using?
Some are from a Canon Powershot S70, some from my Sony phone and some from a Canon Powershot 250. All are broken in some way!
Great stuff ... dare I say, real mountain biking!
wow, some great pics and some great routes.
Keep us posted during 2011
Nice pics, a nice diary of some proper biking adventures there.
Think of "Tat" Tattersall doing the all the Munros back in about 1990 on a bike with cantis and no suspension.... 😐
hickenman - MemberThink of "Tat" Tattersall doing the all the Munros back in about 1990 on a bike with cantis and no suspension....
+1
nice pics,thats what its about,proper riding that, thats what i like to see!
Nice pics, this year was the year of me discovering travelling by bike, offroad touring. Am definitely keen for more of that next year. 😀
Nice pics, this year was the year of me discovering travelling by bike, offroad touring. Am definitely keen for more of that next year. 😀
Brilliant. Thanks for that. Not enough stories on here, yours is a good one. Looking forward the 2011 installment!
nice to someone got a tidy life, my mrs kicks off if im out for more than 3hrs!! haha
i was nearly single when i told her iv booked for morzine!! haha
Encore! Encore! 😀
Great post. I've always avoided the big hills because I've been carrying too much... 😕
Mountain of the year for me was Suilven, cycled in, blasted up and down the hill on foot and capped it off with a stay in a nearby bothy 8)
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Thanks guys. We've no real qualms about carrying up so long's the descent's worth it (the lottery is, sometimes it's not).
I forgot to thank Sam who's been on most of them as well.
Weapons of choice too- Orange 5, 2 of us on Evil Sovereigns, 2 guys on NS Surges and sometimes I use my Norco Fluid.
Done a couple of road tours this year too- Yorkshire-Edinburgh via the Lakes and pedalled from Germany to Slovakia for the 2nd time.
Less racing this year but I'd had a fairly big crash in February mess up my training, but a 100% podium rate has been nice. On the whole, a great year on the bike.
Thanks for sharing.
luverrley 🙂
Aw thanks for the comment Luke - looks like you have had a fantastic year. Jealous!
In fact - just said to sharki (who is listening to 80's tunes right now and i must say he has good taste) that we need a big northern day out for us all like old times. Would be nice.
Good on ya. Jealous, moi?
This is a call out to all STWers who don't have kids/jobs/other commitments preventing them from doing this kind of riding. Bring your stories and piccies here please. This is far better than another "what tyre" thread.
Great photos Luke.
There's no "e" in Munros though 😉
Stilltortoise- I don't think I'll get this sort of opportunity in future, so now was very much the time.
Druidh- whoops. I don't think I'll ever really get to grips with the Scotch language.
great photos!!
cant wait to get this snow away and get back out into the mountains.
Brilliant photos and a great story, although the language is Scots; the drink is Scotch....but never mind, still stunning pictures (-:
[i]I think this snow has put the nail in the coffin of the year's mountains[/i]
Don't think that way. Snow makes them all the better. You might not get up many on a bike, but on foot or or skis the mountains are amazing in winter. You obviously love them, so try them from a different perspective.
Personally, I hate mountaineering without the bike and I'm not a skier (yet!) so no go for now.
And having lived up here for a few years now, I might have been taking the mick when I used "Scotch" 😉 .
well done.Great photo's and a great effort. Put's my year of looal rides to shame.
that ben lomond 2 photo 2 is excellent!
Glad I clicked on that link - great stuff - lovely pictures and good narrative to go with it 😀
Wonderful, thankyou for sharing these. Epic, and proper inspiring, makes me remember some good times from this year, the WHW, Arran. And it makes me think of all the talk and faffing with bikes, and not having time, and forgetting that actually I do.
Amazing shots!! Thanks for the share 😀
[i]I might have been taking the mick when I used "Scotch"[/i]
And I fell for it. Nice one. 🙂
Nice stuff spokescycles. Personally I can't see the point in going up ben nevis with a bike but it it floats your boat...........
TBC - Carn Ban Mor would be right up sharkis street I reckon as it were
You know what feels nice? Looking at this thread, I feel like I've achieved something. On average, more than 1 big adventure a month for a year. Some lasting for several days at a time. What a nice change from riding the same old trails and hitting the trail centres- I've gathered some stories to tell!
Jeremy- it's not, in any way, for everyone. It's a tough trail interspersed with some very dull sections. While it was sort of just to say we've done it, it was just my cup of tea in the tech areas.
Kenny- I might not have totally grasped the language, but I do know how to push the right buttons to wind you all up 😉
Brilliant post luke. Very jealous
SpokesCycles - MemberYou know what feels nice? Looking at this thread, I feel like I've achieved something..........What a nice change from riding the same old trails and hitting the trail centres
That is always good. Its one of the reasons I love scotland is to be able to do this stuff.
Lovely pictures of proper mountain biking good effort and top job 😀
I ****ing hate you
great riding - great pictures
must have been fun!
Cracking photos dude.
Carn Liath ? And you didn't do beinn a'ghlo too? 🙂
Good pics ! Thanks !
Great job Luke.
Looks an amazing year for you and team munro biking.
Lovely pics and nicely written narrative.
Makes even my little adventure looking boring.
Magic, top routes, and not a single pic of Spooky Woods.
I feel humbled and lazy after seeing those photos. inspiration to those of us that should get out more, thanks
Cracking. I'm well game for lots more next year. Lomond/Moray road trip was awesome.
Awesome stuff! See the grief I got on here for posting that the Ben Lomond climb was 60% rideable? We most have equally awesome thighs or flawed memories!
You is a lucky boy!
It's a hard life being a poor student, isn't it?
Not jealous at all.
Tap
"beinn a'ghlo"
That one's in the bag, don't worry. It wasn't a trip with the camera though.
You'd all be surprised how little time you need to conquer some of these hills- while something like Snowdon can take a full day if you wanted, climbing up and down Carn Ban Mor and Carn Liath only take 3 or 4 hours at most and can be rattled off in an afternoon. It's rare to be over 2 hours drive from a mountain (Wales/Lakes/Scotland) so I think everyone could squeeze it in, maybe once every 3 months even if you have a very busy life.