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I've got a random week off next week, and I'm planning on bimbling around on my eMTB.
I feel I'm a bit stuck in a rut on the trails I round around Scotland, so I'm looking for some inspiration for rides in the 25 to 30 mile, 1,000 m climbing sort of arena. I'll be on my own, so looking on the more mild side when it comes to technical. Something not exceeding the Lairig Ghru is kind of what I'm thinking.
Any recommendations?
Heartbreak Ridge in Ballater?
That's on my list and is part of my "rut".
It doesn’t sound like what you’re after, but I rode at Golfie last weekend for the first time. I was totally and utterly bowled over by the quality of the trails. They’re pretty techy though.
Go for a big hill day - Loch Muich / Lochnagar round of Munro's, or Ben A'Ghlo, or Lawers...?
Edit: some of the most surprising fun I had was on Harris - Postman's Walk and the Impressive Precipice out and back...
Throw your charger into a backpack and head up torridon way
I'm going to be heading up to the CIC hut in the next week to ten days bit shorter than you're talking about not too techy but I am old and I was never the best at bunny hops. Given decent weather should be a good day out I'll report back when I have done it.
Going to go from Aviemore to Blair Atholl via Glen Feshie and the Gaick Pass as a first bimble tomorrow. £28 for a single on the train from Blair Atholl to Aviemore! £28.10 for a return! Madness, I tell you.
Going to go from Aviemore to Blair Atholl via Glen Feshie and the Gaick Pass as a first bimble tomorrow. £28 for a single on the train from Blair Atholl to Aviemore! £28.10 for a return! Madness, I tell you.
Ember buses cheaper in future.
And I'm off to do that soon. Was meant to be tomorrow as well - but my garage door broke today and I am locked out/ bikes locked on!
Ember buses
I'm tempted to plan some bike touring using the Ember bus network. Looks like they cover the main arterial routes so maybe it makes some cross country routes possible.
Ember buses
I'm tempted to plan some bike touring using the Ember bus network. Looks like they cover the main arterial routes so maybe it makes some cross country routes possible.
I watched one in Oban the other night while having a coffee waiting for ferry (at the Perle Oban hotel - great cake and coffee and room to sit next to your bike). 4 cyclists off, walk to ferry terminal, bus was more than half full. Bus swapped out and 4 cyclists back on to get back to Glasgow, plus a line of rucksack carrying folk. Maybe half full again. They seem to be doing ok.
Corrieyairack is pretty straightforward and gets you some decent scenery.
Interesting about Ember. That didn't even enter my mind.
On the Corrieyairack pass, What's the Eastern side path like nowadays? I've not ridden it in over a decade but it was really eroded when I climbed up it then. The Western side was pretty smooth in comparison.
On the Corrieyairack pass, What's the Eastern side path like nowadays? I've not ridden it in over a decade but it was really eroded when I climbed up it then. The Western side was pretty smooth in comparison.
We winched up virtually all of it, me on a 29er, my pal on a gravel bike. Neither of us cleaned it but in both instances that was down to legs rather than the trail. It's loose and rubbly in places and of course steep.
No need to drive for hours if you're in the central belt, base yourself in Kinross/Milnathort
The Ochils are from East of Auchtermuchty to Stirling way, East and West Lomond are great and easy to get to, Falkland, Ladybank even the Pilgrims way or Fife coastal path
Glenfarg, Path of Condie and into Perthshire some cracking terrain for a circular run or two with lots of food stops, Glendevon up to Gleneagles Auchterarder way
Just look up the core paths one evening and mark them on an OS map 58 and 59 will give you miles of tracks
Or head up to the wilderness of the west Highlands, get bitten to bits with the clegs when it's sunny and when it's cloudy or damp the midgies will eat you
Ticks will be out to get you too
How was the pass today OP? Shoulda been cracking weather for it...INstead of riding Gaick today I am back pushing pixels.
It was a cracking day out. The access road between Glen Feshie and the Gaick Pass is a bit desolate to be honest.
I'd forgotten how narrow and pedal striketastic the single track next to the most Southern loch is. A couple of dabs and a bit of the fear there.
Overall, a good day and perfect weather. The bike still had 30% battery left (Santa Cruz Heckler SL) but I had the power assist turned right down (70W maximum assist). The climb up and over between the two glens was steep!
On the Corrieyairack pass, What's the Eastern side path like nowadays? I've not ridden it in over a decade but it was really eroded when I climbed up it then. The Western side was pretty smooth in comparison.
It's about 5 years since I did it on my road bike, so I did some walking on the zigzags. It was't any worse than when I did it 15 years earlier on a mtb.
The track has been upgraded since my youth. I remember the approach from the Kingussie side was several miles of rim buckling boulder field. Also the number of zig zags is less. It was part of the Scottish Six Day Trials course back then.
