Only saw a couple of other mountain bikers up there this evening, although the Harlaw car-park was just about the busiest I've seen it mid-week as there was some open water swimming going on in the reservoir, plus quite a lot of runners.
I decided to stay low and in the trees and out of the wind as it was pretty blowy, and quite muddy in places as well.
well 10 YES 10! brave souls made it out - it were fine. Just a bit blustery.
We stayed low - Clubbidean, Poets, Rangers Path, Nail Trail, Chocolate Chute and back to home.
29miles on the magic garmin robot. Not too bad.
It's not uber rad core but it gets us all out and gives us the Thursday smugness. Thanks for attending guys!
Some more new faces appeared too - love seeing new members to the group.
Anyway - next week.... lets go messing about somewhere else... did someone say Freeride area...? Skills n stuff...
I want more of our rides to involve people riding into seemingly innocent puddles that turn out to be about 3 feet deep. As long as it's not me. Another fine ride, cheers!
(Rigid forks are the new nichecore you know.)
Sadly I was unable to obtain a woman pass. I've prebooked for next week though so will charge fae fife to Bonally.
I'm bringing the fast bike.
i slept well last night and I can still feel it in my legs this morning. A great ride out and it didn't rain too- bonus. I must say I was made up by the huge response at the suggestion of a bivvy trip.... 😉 I think the concept needs to sink in with some people or pehaps the idea of BBQs and beer are alien to a bunch of honed athletes with only thoughts on the next training block and racing?
I hope to make it out on one of these rides once I've recovered from injury.
Don't recognise some of those trail names although I may well have ridden them.
Which is the Rangers Path and Chocolate Chute?
Chocolate Chute is just off the water of leith footpath, it's easiest to find from the bottom, out near Balerno. It's right before the last proper bridge, where the footpath/railway line crosses over the river for the last time before you reach the end of the main path, at Balerno. Ride out to that bridge and look left, ie south, and you'll see a sort of muddy flight of steps leading up, which turns into a load of roots.
If you bash this into google maps this is more or less where it starts. 55.891815, -3.320793 It's a short push up or heroically ridden climb, then the rest is easily rideable as a climb, but it's [i]definately[/i] a descent.
Thanks for that. I think I know where you mean.