STW Scotland – Ballater weekend and Nymphoramafest – 14th/15th November

The Morris Ital wasn't vital

Looks like a grand weekend away. Habitat is a truly excellent bunkhouse. Harry who runs it is a bit of a legend. My wife gave birth to our awesome baby daughter a couple of weeks ago so I won't be up for this particular trip. However, I'm well up for future Stuartie_c epics having missed the last two due to being in Ballater one of the weekends when you were in Glen Clova and going to the Basque Country the week after the Torridon epic.

For the Spring, who would be up for a grand circuit of the Cairngorms taking in the likes of Jocks Road and Loch Muick all the way over towards Ryvoan Bothy and back? A definite overnighter or we could do a point to point if I can sort the logistics. I'm also planning a big loop that takes in Carn Ban Mhor and Braeriach. I think I have a route worked out that could work. Me and Sheera had planned to do it at Easter but there was too much snow on Braeriach to make it doable.

Looking forward to seeing the pictures.

Cheers

Sanny

I'm out. Did first decent ride yesterday having been trying to kick the after effects of a cold from 3 weeks ago. Complete lack of energy and slower than mates who are normally slower than me. Totally floored me and had to spend the morning in bed.

One of my mates is a doctor with a specialisation in sports medicine. Apparently I started exercising too soon after the cold and have prolonged the effect of the virus. Told to stay away from any exercise for at least 10 days or I just keep prolonging it. Lesson learnt.

Have a great time and post some pics to make us jealous.

One of these days I will actually be able to make one of these rides

Sanny – I'll be up for anything big and daft. Will keep an eye out for anyone relevent threads. And congrats to you and your wife!

We won't be flush enough for dinner in a restaurant, so we'll self cater. Also, Matt's probably not going to be able to ride after a hefty crack to the knee on Saturday. Extra puffer training for me… not sure whether to put a 🙂 or a 🙁

Praying for weather like there was this weekend though.

Great news Sanny – congrats!

I'd be up for an overnighter in the spring as well. As for point-to-point logistics, might be worth giving Andy@Innerhaven a bell.

Routes coming up once I've finished my sausage, leek and apple casserole. Yum.

OK – here's the main objective:

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As suggested by Captain Mainwaring (sorry you can't make it, though I'm pretty sure I've got the same cold).

More ideas to follow once I have them…

VitalSpark or ItalSpark – I'm up for Italian on Saturday if you're making a booking.

Which is it anyway?

or

Sunday – how about the classic Capel Mounth – Bachnagairn circuit. I'll never tire of this one.

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Concurring with the Sunday idea.

Hmmmmmmmmmmm

I am contemplating joining you guys for this but won't know if I can until the last minute – again! Work and stuff. How fit and fast are you guys going to be?

The saturday route – some of it does not even have singletrack marked on my map – is there a track and how rough is it?

What is it like in comparison to say the Glen tilt route in terms of toughness?

i,ll book for 8 people and we can make changes when we see harry.
meanwhile the italspark is off to see 80,s jamacian dancehall legend yellowman ( dont suppose thrers much call for that kinda stuff in buckie ?)
sees and secklle

TJ – YGPM

TJ – fitness will vary quite a bit within the group. Previous rides have had some fast wee feckers (Raddogair) and some plodders like me 😳 I'm just getting over a cold and was feeling it last weekend hillwalking on the Fisherfield hills.

Everyone is catered for and there are always opportunities to split the group if the pace doesn't suit some (this route lends itself quite well to variations/shortcuts). Much will depend on the weather and how much snow/ice there is on the Lochnagar plateau on saturday.

We'll need to make an early start to get as much daylight as possible and it may be an idea to chuck in some lights, just in case…

sausage apple and leak casserole you strange strange man!!

Might, and mean might, make one of the days, depending on work time. Driving up in morning if am. Let you know soon so we can make the long day the day i can make 😀

Oh and Stuart, you aint slow by any means, certainly no plodder!!

couple of highland classics there stuartie, love the 7 mile climb to start the sunday "easy day"
if the radoggair is coming i,ll be sure to look out several pairs of gloves and armwarmers for multiple costume changes

Radogair, the plodder crown is mine. I survived a six hour epic in the Sidlaws on Sunday. The bonk made its annual visit.

Still, its the first time I've ridden a hardtail for nearly 20 years. The SLR saddle has been ditched in favour of a more comfy WTB. I figure its good to have a good bonk before an epic epic. Now if I could translate that into German, I might be in with a shout with the nymphettes.

I'm a single parent this weekend – and dragging a two and a four year old round that in a Burley would not be a good idea.

Have fun.

Stuartie, I'm going to be leaving from Kirkcaldy on Friday afternoon, early evening. Do you want to car share? Alex and Mark are thinking of joining us for the Sunday ride.

….or we could all hook up with the rickmeister?

TJ, I've done both some of this route and the Glen Tilt circuit. If you can do Glen Tilt you won't have a problem with this. The main differences are steeper climbs and descents:
1) The climb to the Lochnagar plateau from the landie track is a 45 min + push/carry (70% carry) whereas GT has very little pushing
2) The Glas Allt descent is a bit like the steep bit of the Fearlar Lodge to Tarf section but about 4x the length
3) Some other push sections to get back up to Broad Cairn

In total about 10k less than GT, but 200m more ascent

Thanks Captain.

We did end up walking the tandem a fair bit on the glentilt circuit so this might be a step too far. The problem is you cannot take a dab – and its 30+ seconds each time you are on and off it – so if a solo rider would be dabbing or getting off now and then we end up walking as its quicker. Carrying it is an utter pain

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Depends if Mrs TJ wants to play really

stuartie_c – did the Capel Mounth ride on sunday and it looks like Glen Clova doesn't see the sun anymore so most of the boulder climb was covered in ice. Made for careful walking never mind riding! Capel Mounth descent was fine though 😀

TJ, absolutely would not recommend it for the tandem then. The path from the landie track to the bealach is 50% carry. From there to the top is 100% carry up a steep rock staircase. On the descent there are 3 rock staircases I would have thought not doable on a tandem, and a lot of water bars. I don't know if you can get tandems over water bars?

Edit – you could still do most of it though. Instead of doing the Lochnagar bit, just carry on the track and down into Glen Muick, leisurely snack break and meet the others at Glas Alt Shiel

Captain – I tend to be limited by the screaming from the back seat 🙂

We can get over step ups about 10" high and steps down up to 18" or more.

I am sure i could ride it down carn ban mor – but mrs TJ would kill me for trying.

Cheers for the info

Edit – I had already spotted that – and a possible landrover track escape back to the north

Shortbread and Stuartie_c

Cheers for the kind words. I was already planning on chatting to Andy about my route ideas. I've got lots of possible routes that we could try as a bit of a mission in the Spring. One option could be a super lightweight bothy trip using Ryvoan as a mid point with the short ride down to Glenmore Lodge for dinner being a viable option to minimise the amount of food we carry. Alternatively, we could just stay there meaning we could eliminate the need to carry sleeping bag, stove etc.

Do me a favour and mail me your contact details. My address is in my profile. I know Shearer and McMoonter will be up for some damn fool mission too.

I re rode the Capel Mounth loop back in May having taken a Friday off work. It was absolutely fantastic taking in the Dubh Loch climb and descent on a perfect Spring day. Dusty trails <sigh>. Still, with winter approaching, we can always take lights for all day epics! 😀

Cheers

Sanny

We did the Glen Clova route yesterday and same as FG I thought that the upper Glen probably won't see the sun until April. There was a lot of ice there and in fact all over the route apart from the final descent from Capel Mounth (thankfully). In fact we noted that Coire Chash didn't get the sun on it so descended the LRT further along which had it's own thrill with sections covered in sheet ice. Top day out though, which I'd like to repeat sometime only without dragging our bikes to the summit of Broad Cairn. What were we thinking?!

If that's the easy day then the weekend is probably a bit out of my league – although I do like the look of day one.

Kunstler – Member

If that's the easy day then the weekend is probably a bit out of my league – although I do like the look of day one.

My thoughts too. Count me out of this one.

Glen,

There might be some more amenable routes for either day which would open things up to riders who feel put off by the routes I've posted above. I'll have a good look at the maps and she what options there are, but any ideas you might have yourself would be welcome.

Travel-wise, there are a few heading up from Edinburgh/Fife so car share makes sense. I got a text from JimCollins67 who's heading up with another mate Paul so that means me, McM and Rickmeister going up on friday. Can you email me Rick and we'll try to get all 3 in one vehicle.

Cheers FG and Kunstler for feedback on conditions – very useful information. We'll need to make some judgements on the day as to what is going to be rideable.

Sanny – I'll email you contact details soon, though I'm having trouble accessing my account just now.

Sanny,

can't see your email address in yer profile. Send me an email on

stuart.campbell40ATtiscali.co.uk

Cheers,

SC

ive booked the italian for 6-6.30 on the saturday night for 8 people, which harry said we can alter when we see him.
im officially opening the ballater buttery eating contest for the weekend
im have inside info that the queen and the corgis have a dozen sent in for sunday breakfast, can you beat this ?

Do not try to out eat italspak……it will end badly for you. Be warned! 😯

I hear the forecast is pants 🙁 Wet and windy. Ah well, lots of costume changes for me then!

Ladies and gents I give you….

Thought it best to post a small pic to avoid distress!

It happened on a training day at GT, I hoped I would be better after Arnica tabs and cream but I spent the whole of last week standing at work. Maybe flat pedals not clips are a good idea to practice Manuals, so when the bike loops and you don't cover the back brake fast enough, you don't get dumped on a stoney forest track like a sack of spuds…… Twice. Doc says that the clotted blood should re absorb over a bit of time but my coccyx still feels like I have been kicked really hard up the ringpiece, hence the problem sitting.

I am sorry guys, I'm out. I know how much goes into sorting these things but I cant ride…. It sounds like a great weekend and a chance to eat pizza look at girls meet forum folk as well as a cracking, bold route late in the year. Also apologies on the transport front too. Waiting painfully for the write up….. and pics.

**** **** ****.

😯

Lordy.

weather forcast according to mwis.org.uk isnt so bad, it says were in for a good buffeting up the cairngorms….ooo er missus

guys could i ask what you are doing on saturday, would posibly be up for joining you if i can get there, i live in aberdeen. cant make sunday though.

guys could i ask what you are doing on saturday, would posibly be up for joining you if i can get there, i live in aberdeen. cant make sunday though.

Maps above.