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Can we do the full critique now?
As expected, some of the scenery is marvellous. The use of aerial cameras to capture some of the riding works really well and the riders come across as happy and enthusiastic.
However, for a planned ride from Fort William to Cape Wrath it seems to have been very poorly researched. Yeah - the CWT is around 250 miles but was it [i]ever[/i] planned to actually ride it all? Did no one involved (Andy McCandlish perhaps) look at it objectively? As soon as she says she's going past the both in Glenfinnan, I'm thinking "there's nae path on the descent". Lo and behold....
Getting lost in the Torridon traverse - how? Unless it's changed a lot since I was last there you have to specifically make the wrong turn rather than just carry on up the glen and it's immediately obvious as the terrain is just too steep to be the north-bound trail. From where they ended up, I reckoned there was no "off piste" required. Just carry on until the paths meet up again.
etc. etc.
I do wonder if the film-makers have over-egged the "epic" a bit by concentrating on the rough/boggy push/carry and the midges rather than choosing to select and show the easiest and fun-est bits of riding. I've seen a similar approach in other stories in books and on blogs. As some above have already pointed out, it's hardly an encouragement to ride in Scotland.
It'll be interesting to see how the eGuide being put together by DMBinS (with the help of Lee Craigie) shapes up in comparison when it's available next year. One advantage Lee will have is that she'll have ridden many of the trails previously.
Jeez this place gets more daily mail all the time. Everyone who doesn't like it should definitely stay away, I hear there aren't even any 4 foot wide berms on those trails, the horror.
Anyway, that was really good, really got to spend more time up there next summer, and I REALLY want a quadcopter thingy now.
[quote=bigjim ]Jeez this place gets more daily mail all the time. Everyone who doesn't like it should definitely stay away, I hear there aren't even any 4 foot wide berms on those trails, the horror.
Anyway, that was really good, really got to spend more time up there next summer, and I REALLY want a quadcopter thingy now.
Yeah - this one
(for those bogs)
At the time, your hating it, sometimes even miserable. Yet, get back to civilisation, have a hot bath, some good grub and a pint, and quickly, you start to remember the good bits, and do so for years afterwards.
this.
it was done as a wee adventure.
fair enough, there were sponsors etc, and i daresay they could have found more exciting mtb trails, but getting lost/eaten by midges/stuck in a bog/arriving home late/and most of all having some memorable fun is exactly what happens when you go exploring, even if it is only a few miles away from your van and the road.
ace.
Big thumbs up from me on that video. Just watched it with my 16yr old daughter. Admittedly she likes outdoor stuff: biking, DOE, etc. but she was seriously inspired by this and now wants to go night riding through the wilderness and stay in bothys 🙂
That totally floated my boat. All the folk tunes!
It's not made me add that to my riding bucket list...
seemed like there was hardly any shots of the fun bits just of the bike carrying and river crossings then her saying how good the last bit was without really showing it.
I loved the video. She came across as the sort of person it would be great fun to ride with. No moaning or complaining when some pushing is involved.
No, it isn't the purest of mountain biking, nor the "gnarliest" (silly word), but it had a lovely home spun feel to it. It won't suit everyone, and fair enough, each to their own, but to those of us who love that area and that type of day out then that video was both inspiring and brought back many happy memories.
What Kenny said. I just love those parts of Scotland. I've even been to Cape Wrath! (but in about 1979)
Love to do trip like that.
Just make sure you do it in May before the midges start.
I loved it. Reminded me why I drive 12 hours to get to the Highlands each year. I spend a couple of weeks carrying and pushing my bike around on days which are sometimes 12 hours long. Sometimes you find the most sublime bits of trail, and sometimes you don't, but they are truly memorable days.
On the way home I break up the journey by stopping at Whinlatter or Cannock.
It's like having a Ginsters pasty after eating rib eye steak for a fortnight.
Oh,and I usually ride alone to get away from the moaning that some people seem to bring with them on big days out. I suspect a day out with Hannah would be good fun.
Each to their own, but I'd take the Scottish Highlands over every trail centre.
Look like a big drop down to the right at 7:40 😯
No, it isn't the purest of mountain biking,
I disagree. Just getting out there and riding with a map is the very essence of mountain biking imo.
I liked the vid, but them I'm biased.
Almost every weekend I make my way to the WH, to ride, walk, climb, snowboard, socialise...but a lot of the time we just go to be there and end up doing not very much at all. There's probably "better" places to do all these things in the UK, but it's the [i]feel[/i] of the WH that makes it (obviously on top of the fact that it does offer incredible mountain sport opportunities).
The WH, as many have already said, is a really special place that either does it for you or it doesn't. It does it for me, every weekend.
That said, I was in the Cairngorms last weekend and I do have a wee soft spot for the east too, despite how often I claim west is best 🙂
That little section of trail with the drop after the waterfall
Shit off! I'd be walking
Most of it looked like a bit of a slog. Too much faffing for a bit of nice riding
She is lovely though. Smiling through the bad weather and bogs when I'd be swearing and losing my rag
Jeez this place gets more daily mail all the time. Everyone who doesn't like it should definitely stay away, I hear there aren't even any 4 foot wide berms on those trails, the horror.
I don't think anyone has said they didn't like the film, only that it doesn't present the area very well as a riding destination. The emphasis on pushing the bike through bogs, mud etc. does not sell the area very well. Personally I don't mind adventure, I just prefer my adventure to be enjoyable at the time rather than have some retrospective feeling of "well that was crap but I feel manly now"
Nice work Hannah et al. Well done for producing overall a good short film & having the best job in the world. It has what you expect filming in this part of the world- amazing trail, stunning landscapes and an attractive personality leading us through her adventure. So what’s not to like about that? Not much really, but given that all the resources backing this production I was perhaps expecting a bit too much and was awaiting something really exceptional. Perhaps where this film falls short of the mark for me is it is perhaps a bit too realistic showing clearly the diverse Scottish conditions; great weather + crappy weather, great trails + some really poor ones. I’m not sure you would want that all on a film that’s supposed to be promotional. Also when undertaking such an adventure I’m sure they would have met some interesting characters along and/or had a good laugh. I’m guessing it’s down to the editing.
Some predictable 'unless you enjoy traipsing though a bog carrying your bike for hours you're not a real mountain biker responses'. 🙂
As scotroutes pointed out though - some real schoolboy errors involved that a few posts on here asking for route advice and having a GPS would have easily sorted. Or would that have ruined the adventure?
My best adventures in life have all been in highlands. It has a magic no picture or film truly captures. Part of my heart will always be there.
Riding like this transcends everything you think you know about bikes and riding. Mountain biking, hiking and climbing stop being sports you do and becomes life itself. Everything else you do is just waiting to get back to that place.
I enjoyed it. Well put together with some great surroundings, some good trails and some bad ones. That's mountain biking for ya. I can sympathise with getting lost as i do it a lot, and my only complaint was that one cup of tea didn't see me through the entire film. Maybe i need a larger mug.
I disagree. Just getting out there and riding with a map is the very essence of mountain biking imo.
I know what you mean, I just didn't put it across well. By "pure" I meant it wasn't 100% riding. But I agree totally. Most of my most memorable mountain bike trips have involved a map and being out in the middle of nowhere, sometimes on amazing bits of singletrack and sometimes knee deep in bog.
Nothing wrong with trail centres either I should add. I ride at Glentress a lot and love it. It is just that films like Hannah's are, to me, what makes mountain biking such bloody brilliant fun.
I liked it, Torridon looked ace and I thought the whole point of the trip was that it was as much for the exploration as the riding.
As scotroutes pointed out though - some real schoolboy errors involved that a few posts on here asking for route advice and having a GPS would have easily sorted. Or would that have ruined the adventure?
I agree and I disagree. Depends on whether you are seeking out great riding or just wanting a wee adventure. Both are perfectly valid. Both are great fun in their own way. And people who only ever do one should try the other.
ianv - Member
Jeez this place gets more daily mail all the time. Everyone who doesn't like it should definitely stay away, I hear there aren't even any 4 foot wide berms on those trails, the horror.
I don't think anyone has said they didn't like the film, only that it doesn't present the area very well as a riding destination. The emphasis on pushing the bike through bogs, mud etc. does not sell the area very well. Personally I don't mind adventure, I just prefer my adventure to be enjoyable at the time rather than have some retrospective feeling of "well that was crap but I feel manly now"
If it didn't show the bogs and bad weather, it wouldn't be a true representation of riding in the north west, would it?.
Not quite sure that I can relate to folk that aren't inspired by that.. You must be very pink and shiny..
I was thinking of leaving the wife and kids before I watched that vid, but I'm gonna stick with it for another year as Mrs yunki has some friends we can stay with in the highlands 😀
I liked that. Good film. Adding Torridon to my List Of Place I Want To Ride A Bike In.
Riding like this transcends everything you think you know about bikes and riding. Mountain biking, hiking and climbing stop being sports you do and becomes life itself. Everything else you do is just waiting to get back to that place
Amen to that, never ridden there but totally on your wave length
I assume that filming a riding video is probably quite hard work; lots of carting gear about, setting up shots, repeating for different angles, etc. They obviously didn't have the resources to do that out in the wilds for this video, so apart from a bit of rider-cam footage, they concentrated a lot on the start and finish of each day, where the support crew could get access to film properly. I think the overall sense of the journey suffered a bit as a result. It would also have been interesting to have a few comments about the geography and history of the places they were riding through, rather than just "it was great today".
The attempt to introduce a bit of drama with getting lost and riding in the dark felt a wee bit forced to me, and being old fashioned and low tech, it never feels quite right to have a fully equipped camper van shadowing you on an 'adventure'...
A wonderful part of the world however, and the riders obviously genuinely enjoyed being out there. No argument with that.
Let's be honest, people on internet forums have been known to talk a lot of pish. I have two books for MTB routes in Scotland and they may as well have been in the fiction section in the bookshop. Sometimes you just have to get out there and have a look for yourself. I liked the video and think its very representative of Scottish mtbing, sun, rain, bogs, midgies and some great riding.
I guess the point of the trip was to see partly what the trail was like rather than knowing straight out that it was going to be all perfect to ride. Not a trail centre is it.
She's cool, well filmed, managed to not even look cold in the lock?! Not everything has to be full of riders with the skills to back flip a road bike.
scotroutes - MemberGetting lost in the Torridon traverse - how? Unless it's changed a lot since I was last there you have to specifically make the wrong turn rather than just carry on up the glen and it's immediately obvious as the terrain is just too steep to be the north-bound trail.
Traverse? There's no traverse. Hannah went North from Coulags, and took the right instead of the left at the junction (OS NG 937 508) above the loch. That section of trail is a 2ft or so deep trench, easy to miss the junction if you're carrying a bike with your head down, as it's on an already tight bend in the main trail.
From where they ended up, I reckoned there was no "off piste" required. Just carry on until the paths meet up again.
They appear to off-piste around the south side of Meall Dearg, following the contour lines to save dropping back. If you carry on the paths never meet, and you end up 6km East of Torridon village on the road. Plus the descent is rubbish* that way.
Agree on your other points though, Kenny.
* For some value of rubbish in Torridon.
I'd disagree Dougal, it looked to me the way they were pointing at the map that they'd took a wrong left up the bealach a choire ghairbh.
And saying there is no 'traverse' makes you sound quite ersit.
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http://www.thefreedictionary.com/traverse
n. trav·erse (trvrs, tr-vûrs)
[b]1. A passing across, over, or through.
2. A route or path across or over.[/b]
3. Something that lies across, especially:
a. An intersecting line; a transversal.
b. Architecture A structural crosspiece; a transom.
c. A gallery, deck, or loft crossing from one side of a building to the other.
d. A railing, curtain, screen, or similar barrier.
e. A defensive barrier across a rampart or trench, as a bank of earth thrown up to protect against enfilade fire.
4. Something that obstructs and thwarts; an obstacle.
5. Nautical The zigzag route of a vessel forced by contrary winds to sail on different courses.
6. A zigzag or diagonal course on a steep slope, as in skiing.
7.
a. A lateral movement, as of a lathe tool across a piece of wood.
b. A part of a mechanism that moves in this manner.
c. The lateral swivel of a mounted gun.
8. A line established by sighting in surveying a tract of land.
9. Law A formal denial of the opposing party's allegation of fact in a suit.
For those who've not been, the pass at the rough coire (Bealach na Garbh Coire)has a short bouldery section of off-piste as you leave the saddle and begin to drop towards the lochans of Ruahd Stac. The path fades out at the highest point then re-forms lower down and to riders' left. Scotroutes is spot on, the girls mistakenly took the more obvious walkers' path up towards Maol Chean Dearg then sensibly/correctly re-routed west, then north to re-join the traditional descent at Loch an Eoin. The girls realised that soemthing wasn't right, got out a paper map and corrected their route. And again, for those who haven't been down this other trail, it's just as good as the traditional Bealach na Lice route, only with another 150m of vertical added in. Plus less bike erosion too.. So far!
"Traverse" is a word open to interpretation, as anyone who's ever gone for a professionally guided ride knows.
Aye, the traverse interpretation is up there with 'undulating' in guidespeak!.
I was thinking the same as kcr. They chose to make a film of Hannah's journey, not of the trails with her as focal point on them. If the former then they would have spent a lot of time setting up shots after having done location scouting and would have had to work to light and weather constraints (of course they did anyway). I don't know but I'm guessing you could wait a long time for the wind to drop enough to fly a quadcopter in the mountains. I also know that I want to try filming with one myself.
It was interesting where the focus was at times. They showed the end of Loch Torridon but not Liathach which in the same view on that descent was certainly what grabbed my attention when I was there (other than the point of trail up ahead).
I liked it a lot. It made me think of the wonderful feeling of just being there.
My best adventures in life have all been in highlands. It has a magic no picture or film truly captures. Part of my heart will always be there.Riding like this transcends everything you think you know about bikes and riding. Mountain biking, hiking and climbing stop being sports you do and becomes life itself. Everything else you do is just waiting to get back to that place.
Wonderfully put.
Oh, and if they were headed around the west side of Maol Chean Dearg, they should have continued. It's more rewarding in the views it offers and the trail you ride.
Thought it was a good video, for one, burds on bikes are always welcome, but more importantly thought it showed the highlands well. It's not all a picknick but you do get rewarded!
Nobeerinthefridge - MemberAnd saying there is no 'traverse' makes you sound quite ersit.
It makes me sound what? No need to make this thread personal.
As with Northwind, I'd argue that none of that counts as traverse. Semantics.
Scotroutes - Ah, I see now. Missed the bit where they poked at the map.
Traverse? There's no traverse. Hannah went North from Coulags, and took the right instead of the left at the junction (OS NG 937 508) above the loch. That section of trail is a 2ft or so deep trench, easy to miss the junction if you're carrying a bike with your head down, as it's on an already tight bend in the main trail.
I think they took the climb after the bothy they visited and carried the bikes up Coire Ghairbh.
Personally, I don't think the descent from the Bealach a Choire Gairbh is worth the carry.
I enjoyed the film. It made me want to ride my bike, and some day, to ride it in Scotland.
For the Scottish tourist board, I'd say that's job done.
I am also going to show the film to my 8 year old daughter, in the hope that Hannah Barnes will inspire her to ride her bike more. Out of my 2 kids, my daughter likes riding more, but I think she considers mountain biking a sport for "boys".
Well, finally had a chance to sit down and watch the film.
My take on it is of a pretty honest account of a group of people enjoying all the experiences of their first 'out there' road trip. It's not just about the riding, it's about the complete experience and the impression I get is that she seemed to be enjoying that experience, warts and all.
She got out there, she did it and I'd be surprised if it isn't the first of many similar trips that she'll be doing; such experiences have that effect on some of us 8)
loving the civilised arguing about the route on here. I'm picturing brusk scottish men with ginger stubble and a 1000yd stare politely arguing in a pub with a whisky.