I was planning a road riding weekend but the weather looks aweful and I’m now thinking mountain bike would be better.

I originally saw this route and thought it looked good but on closer inspection it is nearly all on roads.

http://www.cycle-route.com/routes/Loch_Lomond_Circular_From_Helensburgh-Cycle-Route-3044.html

I’m after a suggestion of a long XC ride or two somewhere around Glasgow.

I was thinking maybe head up the Loch on the WHW and then come back down the west on the bike path. IS the WHW bit ride able or am I going to end up on a very long walk with my bike?

Failing that any suggestions.

40-50 miles should be ok if the climbing is less than 3000m. My plan is to come up from Newcastle and stop at Glentress. It normally doesn’t bother me to ride the Black, Red and Innerliethen in a day as a guide!

Yeah that’s mainly a road or cycle path ride. Misses out good bits like Conic Hill for example at Balmaha

You could combine the Glen Loin Loop

http://www.mtbtrails.info/Trail_Venue.aspx?VenueNumber=56

With the loop south from Ardgarten

http://my.viewranger.com/track/details/MjA1MzI2OQ==

Much as Bob’s suggestions are good, I’d suggest that if you drive an hour further north to Perthshire, it’ll open up an awful lot more/better biking.

Tbh it wouldn’t even add an hour on, as once you get to Glasgow you still have to get across the city to Milngavie or the south end of LL.

There’s an ultra marathon with 800 runners, taking place on the west highland way between milngavie and tyndrum this Saturday so probably best avoided. The north part of lochside section isn’t ridable anyway.