[Closed] Anyone at Ae today?

Supposed to be going tomorrow, conditions don't look great.

The bike shop's twitter says there's no snow.

It was great today a couple of snow patches nothing of note and no ice, the only bit I didn't do was Nil Desperadum and The Omega Man but have no reason to believe it would be problem, will be doing those tomorrow.

Great bike weather today and tomorrow looks good, I'll probably be around there in the AM but doing the blue, bit of fireroad then a bit of red and up to the top to have a look at The Shredder.

Have fun if you go it was running nice today.

mafiafish - Member
Supposed to be going tomorrow, conditions don't look great.

Where did you get the above information from?

everything was running well today except the edge which was a little soft in places. if it stays dry tonight (!) it should be really good tomorrow.

http://twitter.com/AeBikeShop updated 6 hours ago.
Looks like it might rain a lot tonight though according to BBC.

Which location are you looking for in terms of weather?

Looks good tonight and tomorrow, the one below does reflect well on the reality of the area is accurate though to around 24 - 36 hours ahead more than that it seems a bit hit and miss.

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/dg/dumfries_forecast_weather.html

Well that was a bit naff, all but the last downhill were such a shallow gradient that even under hard pedalling you still struggled to get any speed. Granted the surface was quite clay/muddy which slowed things down a bit but there could be a lot more fun in a 24km trail. I would have prefered a bit more uphill or less downhill in return for proper, no real need to pedal downhill. Then there's the start of Omega man. What's up with that?

Then there's the of Omega man. What's up with that?

Do you mean the bit that runs parallel to the fireroad? Or the bit at the end of the push up path. There are a few bits that have you thinking must go down here but don't. Nil Despardum and the very first bit of Omega Man Spring to mind.

I had a good ride but my purpose of riding at the moment is get fit and Ae provides plenty of climbing to help with that, it is less flowy then some of the other stanes but mixed in as part of the package of all the 7Stanes trails provides welcome variety.

It was good coming down The Shredder over the little wooden bit into the trees down and then down the final of Omega Man, not pedaling down either of those 🙂

It's not an easy trail and if you are not feeling fit or up for it so feels hard work.

Yeah, it feels more like a proper mountain bike ride, bit of up bit of down but isn't natural enough to pull it off. It must flow a lot better in Summer I reckon? I liked the start of the Red, that steep uphill must make a few people gulp, I for one was a bit apprehensive of 24km of that gradient climbing! But you are right, it's a nice contrast to glentress' manicured red run. Best bit had to be the bit of downhill after exiting the forest on that (armoured?)trail (like at Gisburn) descending down to the bridge. Just techincal enough for me without being scary.

That will be along Granny Greenlove, cross the road and down over the bridge to the Face and then up to Branburn Bash.
More Granny Greenlove smoothing was dome on Saturday;
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trail maint[/url]
This and a few other bits were identified by a shop survey as the bits most riders disliked, hence the tlc being lavished on it.
Today sees the start of an upgrade to the DH trail, for student champs, with an alternative line being planned for Brit Champs
If you have any comments on the trail have a word/mail/use web forum to let Steve & Rob from there what your thoughts are. Gives the some ammo to go to FE/C with.

Looking forward to ridig this at the Ae Avalanche Enduro. Sounds 'physical' 😉

Arrrghhh picture 2 "before" looked perfect! lol My wish would be to concentrate all efforts on the edge and build the drainage it really requires for being as exposed as it now is. And do something with the sloppy curry paste terrain that is now there. If people don't like the rocky bits on granny green love then pick up a few rocks on your way through and chuck them into the curry further on saving these lovely people work. 😉

I do however appreciate people’s efforts to improve things. Sometimes it can be hard to find time and motivation to ride bikes let alone working on trails in winter - deserves top respect.

Also looking fwd to the enduro but hope to god the edge will not be a part of it. It puts me off visiting Ae which I used to love for fast loose trails. I love the stanes and Ae is one of the closest but I will be travelling to others until the edge is sorted.

(Sorry for banging same negative drum)

Its ok. I am only coming over from Switzerland 😉

Seriously, what is Ae like?

Coming from Switzerland? Unless you specifically like DH runs I'd do Kirroughtree and Mabie first in the area then Ae. GT and Inners are also worth the extra journey.

I am coming to do the Ae Enduro, race against the best in the world (and my mates)Its not like I need to come for the riding 😉

Done Mabie, K, Glentress etc..etc. Not Ae though.

RHSno2 - Member

Its ok. I am only coming over from Switzerland

Seriously, what is Ae like?

RHSno2..are you RHS via bikeverb? We met, you guided when I was over for the STW ride in 05(?)I was the old, grey haired bloke on the Coiler!!
If you are Ae will not be much of a challenge!!
The Edge;
[IMG] [/IMG]
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Drop on 3rd singletrack section before road;
[IMG] [/IMG]
Near end of Granny Greenlove;
[IMG] [/IMG]
End of Granny Greenlove before crossing road down to bridge/Face climb;
[IMG] [/IMG]
Jumpy bit that causes all/most of the broken bones nr end of Omega man;
[IMG] [/IMG]

Ae divides opinions as posters above, some love, some hate but having spent some time in the shop/cafe last summer and again this weekend there are more lovers than haters 😆

Ae suffers from being the last Stane to be "built" and the project beginning to run out of time and "resources" 😉
A basic quick line was marked out, digger sent in, cleared the top layer of soil/mulch, lifted the sub soil/gravel and re-laid it as trail bed. All as dug and natural. That is part of the problem. Ae is basically a big sand and gravel pit all the way from Dumfries to as far as the ey can see making drainage difficult.
Rob the owner and Steve, bike shop manager have been doing surveys over the past year and continue to do so to find out what people like/dilike and want from the trail. Hence the current volunteer maintenance crew doing what they are currently. As usual this does not suit/please everyone but instead of moaning on here you should voice your opinions where they are needed, obviously the majority voices will or should prevail.

RHS
You might want to get in touch with Tally for some fun when you are over. He runs/leases/maintains the DH runs at Ae & Inners;
http://regonline.activeeurope.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=655722

Hi, Yeah. Its me. Don't worry about the 'challenge' I am there for the racing! Enduro is where its at 🙂

Thanks for the info. I look forward to it.