2012- A Year In Mountains – Page 2 – Bike Forum – Singletrack World Magazine Forum

munrobiker · 2012-12-09T18:31:16Z

2012 is drawing to a close and the weather is about to get too bad for more big mountain riding, so it's time for this year's installment of "A Year in Mountains" following on from these threads-http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/2010-a-year-in-mountains Having finished university and got a real job as a geologist I thought this year would be rather mountain-free. On the contrary I've somehow managed to cram in more mountains than ever before- turns out having your weekends back opens some doors! Sadly I've also moved back to England which has meant smaller mountains and access laws from medeival times. It wasn't long til I took the policy of riding where I fancied if the trails looked good enough and as a result although the height gain this year hasn't been as significant the trails have been as much fun as ever, ranging from really nadgery Lake District footpaths to fast and flowing Alpine singletrack. It's been a great year for mountains, even with the weather, and I've really enjoyed it. [b]Nan Beild[/b] We started the year with a plan to go over Gatescarth and back up over Nan Beild for one of our team's birthday. However, a late hungover start courtesy of the White Hart in Bouth and ensuing fry up to chase the grog away meant that by the time we got to the top of Gatescarth there was some bonking and we headed back down Nan Beild pass the easy way, heading south. It's not the best way to do it but it was a cracking day out and a wonderful way to get warmed up for the year. The southern side of this trail is fun, nothing too hard but still a big mountain feel. It starts rocky and fast before opening up and getting flowy. [img[img[img[img[b]Kinder Scout[/b] I didn't get any photos of this, but Rob Jackson of this parish and myself went and did a sneaky night ride on Kinder to mark the anniversary of the mass tresspass by walkers. Hopefully one day England will come out of the dark ages of access laws and follow Scotland's lead. [b]Macavalanche[/b] I think this is the most fun I've ever had at a race. A rough Highland imitation of the Mega in Glencoe starting on the snow before descending over bogs and rocks it was thoroughly good fun. 10th place in the middle final was about right I guess, I should've been a bit higher but fluffed it up a bit. [img[img[img[img[b]High Stile[/b] This is one that, although it's a bridleway, I don't think a lot of riders pay attention to as they pass it as they go over Scarth Gap. Combining Red Pike, High Stiles and Scarth Gap makes for a superb brake-cooker of a descent that gets more and more technical as you head down the hill. Scarth Gap itself is a nice tech-fest while High Stiles has a nadgery precipitous bit of riding on the top. I tackled this after work and the sun setting over the Irish Sea was stunning. [img[img[b]Great Gable[/b] No, not that one. This is the one from Honister Slate Mine. It's a steep, slidey descent that then goes through a tiny abandoned slate mine- that woonderful sound of slates cracking under your tyres and then sliding into corners. The slate mine had a nice trail down some steep steps with nadgery turns, great fun. [img[b]Maol Chean-dearg[/b] May brought 10 under the Ben and the 10th anniversary of my old uni's cycling club and with it a trip north to Scotland. Scotland means riding wherever you like but after 10 under I was a bit too knackered to do the bigger Torridon loops so we lapped Maol Chean-dearg. They say one Torridon mile is like 3 miles elsewhere and I'd agree- it's hard work but the scenery, trails and everything else about the area is amazing. Thoroughly recommended- very, very fast rocky trails ridden at warp speed chasing my mate Kieran who was riding like a man possessed! [img[img[img[img[b]Sail Mhor[/b] The following day we did an out and back on this one. A real blast of a trail, not the nadgery stuff I usually look for in a big mountain ride but fast, sinuous trails that really brought a smile to our faces. We didn't get to the top of this because we all had to go home but it was excellent. [img[img[img[b]The Alps[/b] European mountains don't really come bigger than the Alps. A good bit of lift assisted fun doesn't go amiss, despite it pouring with rain almost all the time we were there! I've been to Morzine 5 times now, and so this year I dug out a map and did some exploring. There is a lot of nice big mountain XC stuff out there that your average visitor is really missing out on and if I do go again I'll do it like this. My favourite was from Avoriaz to northern Morzine on a trail with a nice technical traverse to one of the little abandonded chalet villages before turning down the hill into the woods on a fast, steep descent for miles. [img[img[img[b]Cadair Idris[/b] Having done Snowdon a couple of times before, this was next on the list to ride in Wales. It has to be one of the easiest mountains to climb in the country, it's very accessible and the trails could be ridden by just about anyone. If you've not don...

freeridenick

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Rough crag looks ace, got to try that one.

great report as well! 😛

Posted : 13/12/2012 8:27 pm

Bazz

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Very jealous. Git!

Posted : 13/12/2012 9:17 pm

bikeind

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the Lakes chaps do this 3 times a week or more, no fuss

Posted : 14/12/2012 9:25 am

lcj

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Thank you for this, great photos. You've also helped finalise my new year biking resolution: to ride one new hill a month for the year. Doesn't sound much, but should be a nice challenge with the time constraints next year will pose for me.

Hope your 2013 is as good as 2012 looked!

Posted : 14/12/2012 10:56 am

Kevevs

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Wow, what a brilliant thread and great piccies! thanks

Posted : 14/12/2012 11:39 am

ahsat

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Awesome job - just shows what you can do if you can just go out and ride! Love the pre wedding ride shots!

Posted : 14/12/2012 4:09 pm

pussywillow

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Eh??? Wtf is all the fuss about?? I were doing this shit 20 year ago on me full rigid! Then along comes a few ****ing students bragging about riding a few hills with some pretty pics then everyone starts arse licking! 🙄

Posted : 14/12/2012 7:21 pm

munrobiker

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Cheers blower 😉

Posted : 14/12/2012 7:23 pm

finfhan

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Cracking job, photos and just looks great fun. All the best for 2013's adventures!

Posted : 14/12/2012 8:31 pm

jimmy

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I was going to highlight the same pic as Buzz Lightyear... Can I come along in 2013? Please?

Posted : 14/12/2012 9:40 pm

pussywillow

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Lick lick lick! 😛
Also your riding style on a bike looks very "stiff"
Try n loosen up more, u'll find it easier on the descents.

Posted : 15/12/2012 12:52 am

Blower

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munrobiker - Member
Cheers blower
POSTED 16 HOURS AGO # REPORT-POST

Cheeky ****er it ain't me! 👿

Posted : 15/12/2012 11:28 am

slackalice

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Inspiring! 😀

Posted : 15/12/2012 11:34 am

singletrackhor

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Great post. Amazing and inspiring. 🙂

Posted : 15/12/2012 5:35 pm

pussywillow

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Lick lick! 😛 😆

Posted : 15/12/2012 6:48 pm

munrobiker

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Blower- it's not the new fairhurst then? 😉

Posted : 15/12/2012 6:51 pm

nosedive

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where is that last 'discards' picture from? looks kinda familiar

Posted : 15/12/2012 9:55 pm

munrobiker

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Rough Crag in the Lakes.

Posted : 15/12/2012 10:38 pm

[Closed] 2012- A Year In Mountains