Right guys - here goes with final arrangements. [b]READ THIS VERY CAREFULLY.[/b]
[b]Saturday[/b]: meet at the car park at Crathie at 9am ready for a 9:30am start. Map [url= http://www.multimap.com/s/RmcuMeUR ]here[/url]. From memory we might have to pay for this car park but it's worth it to keep Her Maj in the comfortable lifestyle to which she is accustomed, I'm sure you'll all agree...
[b]Sunday[/b]: meet at the Loch Muick car park at Spittal of Glen Muick. We can be a bit more relaxed on the start time for this as it's a shorter ride. Let's say 9:30 for 10. Map [url= http://www.multimap.com/s/RhifiZK7 ]here[/url]. Another pay per park one, I'm afraid, but this one at least goes to the upkeep of the mountain environment, I think.
As with all of these rides, I'm working on the assumption that all riders who turn up are competent on a bike, properly equipped and can look after themselves in a mountain environment. Ask yourself the question: "Would I be comfortable doing this myself?". If the answer is "No" then please think twice about coming along because I'm not a mountain bike guide. I'll happily take responsibility for not getting us lost, but if I think someone is holding the group up significantly I'll send them home because we can't afford to be hanging around at this time of year. Similarly if the weather is going tits up, I'll cut the ride short and probably err on the side of caution so be prepared for diversions or shortcuts. There are a number of escape options early on the Saturday ride, though it becomes a bit more committing later on. Ultimately everyone is responsible for themselves and for staying with the group unless we decide to split into smaller groups.
Finally, bring lights, just in case; seeing lights for the front, be-seen light for the back. Map and compass handy too in case we need to split up.
Assuming we're OK with this, lets have a roll-call.
(bossy bastard mode off)
Right guys - here goes with final arrangements. [b]READ THIS VERY CAREFULLY.[/b]
[b]Saturday[/b]: meet at the car park at Crathie at 9am ready for a 9:30am start. Map [url= http://www.multimap.com/s/RmcuMeUR ]here[/url]. From memory we might have to pay for this car park but it's worth it to keep Her Maj in the comfortable lifestyle to which she is accustomed, I'm sure you'll all agree...
[b]Sunday[/b]: meet at the Loch Muick car park at Spittal of Glen Muick. We can be a bit more relaxed on the start time for this as it's a shorter ride. Let's say 9:30 for 10. Map [url= http://www.multimap.com/s/RhifiZK7 ]here[/url]. Another pay per park one, I'm afraid, but this one at least goes to the upkeep of the mountain environment, I think.
As with all of these rides, I'm working on the assumption that all riders who turn up are competent on a bike, properly equipped and can look after themselves in a mountain environment. Ask yourself the question: "Would I be comfortable doing this myself?". If the answer is "No" then please think twice about coming along because I'm not a mountain bike guide. I'll happily take responsibility for not getting us lost, but if I think someone is holding the group up significantly I'll send them home because we can't afford to be hanging around at this time of year. Similarly if the weather is going tits up, I'll cut the ride short and probably err on the side of caution so be prepared for diversions or shortcuts. There are a number of escape options early on the Saturday ride, though it becomes a bit more committing later on. Ultimately everyone is responsible for themselves and for staying with the group unless we decide to split into smaller groups.
Finally, bring lights, just in case; seeing lights for the front, be-seen light for the back. Map and compass handy too in case we need to split up.
Assuming we're OK with this, lets have a roll-call.
(bossy bastard mode off)
up keep of the mountain envioroment........you mean building large waterbars dont you?
im mad for it both days
me and missus italspark and the little italspark are coming, were staying in the camper on the friday night and in the bunkhouse on the sat,
anybody know a quiet spot that i can park up for the night in the area
I'm guttted I can't make this, looks like a couple of fantastic routes.
Sunday's looking good weather wise so I'm off to Laggan with the gf.
You put in a leave request yet shortbread? 😉
Packed and ready to go Stuartie, Paul is also coming along. Do you have the route as a gpx file Stuartie, if so send it to me and i'll load it onto the gps as back up.
Jim
Mailed it to you Jim.
Stuartie-c, YGM
I'm mad for this. I've just driven down the A9 from Aviemore in the mother of all rainstorms. Hopefully it hasnt landed as snow on the tops.
No one is going to beat italspark if there is a scranning competition.
is anyone going from aberdeen on the friday night or saturday morning? fancy giving me a lift. il bring you some cake 🙂
of topic, i've just ate some chicken pakora that was cack, but the frijj chocolate fudge brownie milkshake was deeeelicious to wash it down with
Stuart, is this a new H&S thing you have to do when arranging rides cos i dont like it ??........ never new you were so bossy
Will i make it, Saturday : NO, COS I'M WORKING, Sunday possibly. Need to check with Duggie stylee first. Feel i've lost some fitness recently tho so may struggle to keep up
I'll be heading from Dyce at about 3.30 on Friday afternoon and will have room for one.
I have no way of checking the forum after 5.00 tomorrow morning though!
Feel i've lost some fitness recently tho so may struggle to keep up
Aye right!
H&S style disclaimer is just to dissipate the frustrations of a shite week at work - got to take it out on someone dude! 😉
Try sausage, leek and apple casserole instead of chicken pakora; you'll not be disappointed.
Willy if you need to contact Hairyscary about travel arrangements you can do it tomrrow via me on e-mail at jo.cardwell (at) moray.gov.uk
Swithering about bike choice again.... Should I take the one that's light to carry but with less beefy front forks, or the full sus that's shite for hike a bike...??? See having more than one bike, it's not all it's cracked up to be. 😕
Actually, Radoggair is right. I've just re-read the "disclaimer" and it sounds a bit tosser-ish.
In these litigious days, one can't be too careful. I forgive you. x
I feel all warm inside now Jo. x back
Go get a room, I'd feel safer with the nymphettes
hairyscary fire me an email on gibbymc@hotmail.com are you staying till sunday or whats your plan?
cheers mate
In these litigious days, one can't be too careful. I forgive you. x
I feel all warm inside now Jo. x back
i feel well left out of this.Mcmoonter is right, we're sharing the nymphs!!
Swithering about bike choice again.... Should I take the one that's light to carry but with less beefy front forks, or the full sus that's shite for hike a bike...??? See
oh fu*k, not even started riding and its change change change!! 😳
if i come im bringing a spesh demo 9 i wouldnt worry about the hike a bike
raddogair, do you ride a turner and live somewhere down in the borders? think i rode with you at gt once?
sounds great, even if the weather forecast looks less than benign. even so whatever it's like i'd rather be there than at work, which is where i'm going to be both days. he said. glumly
mmmmmmm.......what bike for lochnagar ?
Shortbread and Stuartie_c
Can you e mail me your e mail addresses please.
Sannyatsingletrackworld.com
Tried to email you Stuartie about a particularly nice trail on the edge of ballater you might like that looks like no one has ever ridden it....Whoop! Your e mail doesn't seem to be working at the mo!
Enjoy the weekend chaps.
Cheers
Sanny
PS Has anyone ridden over Bynack More? I was doing a search on Flickr yesterday and it looks like there is potential for a stupidly epic Cairngorm loop....hee! hee! 😀
Has anyone ridden over Bynack More?
Only up and back down from the Ryvoan side, not from the Cairngorm side. The descent back towards Glenmore is brilliant, well worth the battering I took from the wind on the way up.
These rides look brilliant, shame I can't make it. Heading up that way during the week, so I'm keen to read reports!
willy - Member
if i come im bringing a spesh demo 9 i wouldn't worry about the hike a bike
But I'm only an ickle girl! 😉
italspark - Member
mmmmmmm.......what bike for lochnagar ?
Well?!!! 5" full sus with Pikes or floaty hardtail with Revs....???? Answers damnit!!!
If you have the choice 5" FS, definitely.
Hmm. Not sure I have the fitness for this one. Maybe next time.
Italspark's bike choice needs to exclude the optional tree magnet. I think it's safe to assume the Lochnagar plateau is free from trees.
raddogair, do you ride a turner and live somewhere down in the borders? think i rode with you at gt once?
Bingo bongo dude, correct
If anyone is turning up to the meeting point tomorrow morning, it would be a good idea to phone ahead to the hostel and ask for me (Stuart Campbell) just in case we need to change plans due to weather conditions.
The number is 01339 753752.
[img]Ballater%20STW%20Ride%20Nov%2009%20029.JPG[/img]The weekend weather curtailed any serious mountain ascents. We got up to the Meikle Pap path and decided to contour around to the waterfall above Loch Muick. The winds were gusting to the point where we were being blown off our bikes and the water fall was flowing upwards. We abandonned ship, and headed back to Ballater. All was not lost the nymphettes save the day for one lucky rider. Ten under the Ben takes on a whole new meaning.
[img]Ballater%20STW%20Ride%20Nov%2009%20026.JPG[/img]
[img]Ballater%20STW%20Ride%20Nov%2009%20002.JPG[/img]
[img]Ballater%20STW%20Ride%20Nov%2009%20005.JPG[/img]
[img]Ballater%20STW%20Ride%20Nov%2009%20029.JPG[/img]
On Sunday we met up with some local riders from Ballater and 22 of us went out on a much more rewarding ride.
NB first attempt at posting pics, this could go horribly wrong.
Not seeing the pics McM...
Thanks to all who turned up to make another excellent weekend (despite Saturday's gruesome death march). Hooking up with the LBS was a great idea for today's ride even though I missed it as I was too wimpish to actually get out of my bed before 11am.
We'll do this one again in the spring/summer as there is so much good riding in the area and the hostel is tremendous. Harry has given us a "nymphette guarantee" as well.
Stuartie, I forwarded you the link, perhaps you could post the nymphettes.
Jim gets lucky.
[img] 
[/img]
Jo feels the love
[img] 
[/img]
Colin shows his appreciation of the conditions
[img] 
[/img]
More [url= http://picasaweb.google.com/mcmoonter/20091115BallaterSTWRideNov09# ]here.[/url]
What was blondie doing with her elbow?
Thanks for an 'intersting' day out on the bike yesterday. As always, I picked the wrong day to ride...
I shall be bringing my party shoes and hair straighteners for the next trip so I can join in with the Nymphettes 🙂
Thanks for an 'intersting' day out on the bike yesterday
I think we'll put it down as a [i]partial success[/i], or would that be pushing it a bit?
Partial success in that we got to ride bikes for a bit.
i remember pushing a lot
OK, OK, I get it...
I can't get it right all the time, but at least I got the nymphs to turn up 😀
You don't see much pushing at trail centres. It's a lost art and is the new 'core.
Strange things happen when posts reach a multiple of 40...
full marks on the nymphet action stoobo, think i might get a pair of those cheese-wire pants to wear on top of my shammy cream
harry was asking for a photie for the bunk house wall ,can someone send him one ?
anybody leave a large tub of high five disco powder ?, let me know or i,ll do it in a one,r and i,ll do the fastest accent of lochnagar on record
in a way, glad i missed the ride ( was working anyway), but i am so gutted about the nymphs. Guys, i could of been well in there!! 😉
The High 5 is mine, Colin. I was gutted about leaving it as it was brand new, only opened on Saturday. Did you take it with you? If so, any chance you can get it to someone in Embra as I'm down in a couple of weeks?
jo,
ive got it, i,ll drop it into the bicycleworks this week, ollie "disco shoes" says he can pick it up for you.
are you down for a ride in the big city ?
RADOGGAIR ....could have......would have...... should have....but alas you missed it !
[url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/how-rude-of-me ]Ooops!!![/url]
Sounds like a classic weekend boys... sad to have missed it, paining the outhouse was a little lacklustre...
Ooops!!!
"Glum-looking bloke in the ambulance"?
Medic or patient? What was happening?
Notlocal, I spotted you. I thought somone had warned Mountain Rescue we were going out and alerted the troops in readiness.
Italspark, Cheers! That will be great.
Stuart, I was siiting in the front. It's actually a Paramedic Response Unit which roams between Braemar and Aboyne, with just a paramedic on board, or as I call it "the icecream van". 🙂 No patient in the back luckily, I was just standing by ready to respond. Did I not give the impression of being a coiled spring. 😆
Jo, don't worry, I did speak to the local Bobby who's on the MRT in Ballater, just to warn him. 😉
... roams between Braemar and Aboyne, with just a paramedic on board
Just in case there's a need for quick scraping up of motorbikers?
I am glad you all had better weather on the Sunday, and I am also glad you managed to join us on our run, you are all welcome to join our runs any time, and maybe notlocal (LJ) will be able to join us as well, it was real nice to meet you, thanks for the company the banter was good. 8)
www.9zerofreewheelers.co.uk Ballaters Only Mountain Bike Club.
Jo, I carry a shovel especially for the task. It's (A93) a fantastic road for bikers (motor variety), and on a busy weeked the chippy in Braemar usually has 20-30 bikes parked outside at dinner and tea time. I just hang around like a vulture. 😈
Hal, somebody keeps making me work on Sundays. You don't know anywhere with Mon-Fri work for an ex paramedic do you. 😉 Tryig to arrange a Glentress weekend SOON.
Top tip, anyone venturing up Ballater way should contact the 9zerofreewheers. They are a super friendly bunch with an amazing knowledge of their trail network. I for one will be heading back up to pick their brains. Ballater is only a couple of hours drive from the Forth Road Bridge. Probably no furher than Laggan, but for lovers of the natural stuff, you need look no further. The Habitat bothy is great too.
Notlocal, Sorry mate, I cant see me being at GT this side of Xmas, its panto season, Oh yes it is! 😉 but, I see your free on the 27th December which is a Sunday run where do ye fancy going? 😯
You know me Hal, up for anything. Wherever it is I feel a dram at the top coming on......seeing as how I'm working the bells. 😥 and won't make the New Years Day outing*. You don't know anywhere that does a nice whisky do you? 😉
*Unless I wait for you all when I finish my shift. What time for 1st Jan?
How about a STW New Year Whiskyfest?
As some riders might just be under the weather the whisky run will be leaving at 10:00 on January the 1st, we are planning a run round the Coils O Muick and having a dram at the top, then weather permitting back to the village via the Green mile. There will be nowhere for hot chocolate, unless we can get Butcher Baz to fill his flasks he uses for BBQ'S.
Hoo Hoo,[url= http://video.google.co.uk/videosearch?q=ballater+green+mile&hl=en&emb=0&aq=f# ]Green Mile[/url], I'm in!!
we can get Butcher Baz to fill his flasks
so long as its his flasks and not his camelback 😆