Looking at your route do you come out at Kenmore or further along the coast? If it is the path further along the coast then I would re-route to take the path on the left of the “V” up to Kenmore and then come back further long the road.

We planned to do the Kenmore ride 4/5 summers back but there was a crash on the road so we set off Sheildaign and I believe started on the route you have highlighted to finish on. I just remember a lot of pushing and a not very rideable coffin track and in the we admitted deafeat and just turned round (it was a midge fest in July) as we never made it to the Kenmore track we were hoping to meet.

Went back and did the Applecross to Kenmore route as mentioned above and it was absolutey stunning and competley rideable compared to our previous attempt. Re-route so you finish in Kenmore is my advice (and pedal back on the road).

We did it the same as you and took in the Belach climb and around the coast – makes for a big but ace day out :D I did it on my XC 29er hardtail and was fine.

Oh nice thread. I made these the weekend before last and were really good: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2407637/energy-bites I replaced the pecans with walnuts and used two tablespoons of honey rather than agave syrup. Tried them out on a couple of rides and did the job!

I then created my own version for Glentress 7s and they worked (i.e. I didn’r tun out of energy = win)

Almond, Dark Chocolate and Cranberry Energy Bites:

100g chopped macadamia and almonds (50 g each)
30g chopped apricots
40g chopped cranberries
2 tbsp honey syrup
2 tbsp almond butter
Good handful of dark chocolate chips.

Followed the same method as the BBC Energy bites. Used a mix of coco powder and icing sugar to cover the balls when shaping as not a fan of coconut.

Made the above as a change from my normal riding food of soreen and nature valley bars and they did the job. Will be following the thread for other recipes!

And I’m gonna treat myself to a jet boil!

Thanks so much all. Going to Halfords tomorrow for a good look. I’m thinking the Boardman Hybrid Comp and treating him to some 36 c tyres for it.

Great suggestion for the local group – I’ll have a look online and write it out for him. I’m sure there must be some in York as it’s such a popular cycle town.

He’s coming up next weekend so hoping to have it sorted for then (I’d been planning for June but since Halfords is so close by it is much easier than planned).

Hoping to get him to Loch Katrine for a steady start to it all.

Halfords also offering £75 worth of accessories in 2016 bikes so I can sort him out with the essentials.

Thanks for all the feedback!

I would LOVE to buy him an e-bike and take him on the blue at Glentress or Whinlatter. Sadly not my budget though… I’d also love to see my Mum’s face if I took him out there (she worries about her little girl going mountain biking still…)

MTB with rigid forks is not a bad shout. I’ll take a look at the Boardmans too.

*edit, read the part about wild, OK it’s not wild wild but its not a trail centre and the views from Dumyat on a clear day are pretty epic!

Could always get the train over to Stirling and enjoy the delights we have. From the station head towards North Third and Cambusbarron (if you spend some time on the jumps, playing in the woods you can enjoy a fun three hours). Or get the train to Bridge of Allan, head up Dumyat, uni woods and mine woods followed by cake or fish and chips (or both). If you fancy a road pedal in-between (20 mins) you can ride North Third, Cambu and Dumyat in a full days session!) Just a thought, they are my local trails so I am biased!

Oh my days amazing! Total inspiration for some Scottish adventures there!

ooooft, looking forward to getting me some inspiration here too!

For me Watendleth to Rosthwaite on the Borrowdale Bash is a brilliant descent, I imagine it would be cracking late on a summers evening or early morning when walkers would be limited.

A hard-slog but I loved riding the Hellvelyn Ridge from south to north – OK coming off the Dodds was awful and now I would come down sticks pass but it was a time when I didn’t have the guts for that stuff but wanted an epic adventure along the ridge.

Scotland, well the Coire Laire to Achnashellach in Torridon is top notch, not very original but still amazing. My favourite time of year is Autumn as everything turns golden. Bliss.

Less epic but still stunning are some of the descents round Stirling, North Third and Dumyat. All have amazing views on good weather days and prime singletrack too. Good little stop over on your way to more northerly adventures!

Feel free to email me on katherine_simpsonAThotmailDOTco.uk and I’ll send you my strava/gpx files for it

Think you’ve pretty much nailed my favourites there! Other options are riding over Applecross to Kenmore and back on the coffin road – not quite as epic as Torridon but cracking views and you can finish with a good lunch at the pub in Applecross. Theres always the Ben Damph loop in Torridon, some people love it, I found it a slog, prefer the Torridon lollipop any-day. If you fancied a later afternoon/evening spin from Plockton there is some pretty nice singletrack in the woods near Duncraig and down to Balmacara.

Still if I had to pick two routes to ride it would be Sligachen and Torridon lollipop always!

Stirling or Bridge of Allan. I live pretty much in the centre of Stirling – perfect for riding. Dumyat and Mine Woods one evening, Cambu and North Third the next. Can cycle to Carron Valley to get some fitness miles in now we have lighter evenings (and even finish with North Third if you have the legs!) 40 mins drive to Comrie if you fancy something different and only 1hr 15 to Buzzards Nest car park at Glentress or 1hr 30 to the Golfie. Or you can get into the Highlands, down to AE or to the Lakes in not much time at all.

I’ve had success with any tyre and Gorilla tape on my Stans Rims nae bother. But my Mavic Crossrides were a whole other story – tried them first with the proper Stans Conversion Kit (no success) and then tried the Gorilla Method and it never happened. The tyres weren’t tubeless ready which probs didn’t help but I spent several frustrated nights with those Crossride rims and never had any success :evil: Others may differ but thought I’d pre-warn!

Thrunton Woods it is then. Cheers guys, much appreciated!

My first time on Traineroad this weekend (this thread inspired me) I went straight into the PowerBuild – did the 8 minute test on Sat and Grassy Ridge on Sun – the last block was tough but manageable. Obviously my FTP could be a out slightly as it was my first test but it did match up to tests I’d done before. Spent the winter outside and this is a revelation, not sure why I didn’t try this sooner. Oh well, lesson learned.

Hey Julz, you’ll be fine! I’ve ridden the past two years in a mixed trio. I’d follow the advice of double laps – especially on the first lap as its shorter and the transition area is pretty rammed at lap one but it calms down after that. I’ve ridden it on my Scott Spark (26 inch) and my 29er hardtail and the hardtail is faster hands down! I’d stick a dropper on if I were you, the descents are ace and unless your used to riding with your saddle up I imagine a dropper makes them easier/faster/more fun. I’d just carry a bottle, pump, tube and tyre levers. You’ll be grand.

Nice thread! My first racing XC with some proper training this year. Riding the Scottish Series and aiming to ride all the British Series bar Rd1 (family commitments) bit of a trek from Scotland but hey ho. Really looking forward to Dalby – second place I ever rode 5 years back and I remember crying most of the way round… :lol: as I was a)not fit and b) it was raining. Hopefully the race will be better!

Racing in female expert, very excited!

Got one for my wee nephew’s first birthday. He didn’t really get it for a while, just loved pushing it round. Now 18 months and loving it. His friend was using it at a year. Guess they all progress differently. Really well made product though.

Another vote for xr2. Went for this after the third slash of the year on my racing ralph. Impressed so far.

Oh Fionap I was just the same coming down Ben Nevis, excruciating! I’ve never actually used a foam roller to fix it, just done lots of stretching which has helped and I don’t have issues on the bike anymore (even though I ride more than ever – 10 hours+ a week). But I still get it hill walking. Will look into the foam roller though for when I go hill walking. Anything to help!

Johnny I’m not sure how often your mrs rides, when I got this I was only riding once or twice a week tops and I had a couple of weeks off but noticed it didn’t help. The physio worked a treat though. I did cut my rides shorter so that once the pain came I knew I could stop and go home. Get her some good knee pads or one of the muscle supports you can get in Boots, it should help too. I had an MRI scan and all sorts to find the cause but it was just a muscle imbalance that stretching would sort.

When I first started riding I got this too. My left knee always used to ache after a couple of hours or so. Bike size was pretty much spot on and we tweeked the saddle height. I was riding flats so it wasn’t anything to do with shoes.

Best things that helped me: going to see a physio and getting advice on correct stretches for after riding and also wearing a good supportive knee pad (I found the pain to be much less when wearing my POC pads compared to when I didn’t so i thought it must offer some support as well as saving me knee). It turned out I had a really weak left knee and riding aggravated it, when I bend my left leg my knee goes outwards rather than down in a straight line. As others have said I needed to stretch my hamstrings and glutes.

Also at the time I was working on my feet all day too and only had the problem when riding, or hill walking on the descents.

ST FS 26 inch wheels. Local for me is North Third and Cambu in Stirling, love foray to Comrie Croft (a wee gem of a trail centre, feels very natural in parts and has good cake at the end), and anything in the Tweed Valley. Treated my self to an XC 29er for racing duties and doubles as a road bike pretty well on lazy summer evenings. Always loved borrowing my other halfs Cotic Soul, sad times now he’s sold it.

I rode it again tonight, and the more I thought about it I thought it didn’t really need suspension at the front. Think it would be proper ace as a rigid bike. When does yours arrive?

Highs:

Grip was ridiculously good (I know this was to be expected but I’ve never ridden a fat-bike before), would have been better to test in the Scottish mud though

For a 29er it was surprisingly nippy on the tight spots the back end was easy to flick round (much more agile than my XC 29er, felt closer to my 26er in that respect)

Climbed OK too.

When it got rocky I had much more bounce in the back end due to the big tyres which was great (again this could be generic to all fat bikes but this is the only one I’ve ridden).

Lows

Fork doesn’t seem to lock at and the high and low compression damping does naff all.

I got to play on one up at North Third in Stirling over the weekend. Hilariously good fun!

Hardtail. Best mtb ride on Skye is Sligachen (there and back) epic scenery and really nice but not too techy single track. Hardtail will be fine for that and then you can use it for some road riding too.

Well I’m in. Can’t wait, first enduro of the year. Hopefully the bike won’t break at the top of the first stage like it did last year! Loving all the rumors, heading to the Golfie over the weekend to see what I can manage to mince down, only went for the first time a couple of weeks ago and loved the trails. Not sure how I’d cope in thick slop though!

SLX if 2×10 or 1×10 go for a zee. My other half blew up his zee first ride when he set it up on a double (I did warn him!)

Wouldn’t describe it as particularly sketchy or steep. Spooky Wood is a swoopy bermed jump fest, which continues down Hit-Squad and Super Gee which gets a tad steeper in places. There is some fun slightly muddier sections through Pie Run and the Matrixx. Overall it is a proper graded red trail. I’ve taken my none biking friends down it fine before. Also if you’re looking for more techy stuff you can link in sections of the black or the hand built trails too. Equally if you’re looking for something mellower sections of the blue (berm baby into electric blue) are equally fantastic!

This comments are making me smile and are useful too. I’ve probably made him out to sound a bit sexist haven’t’ I? I think his thoughts on the 140 were the same as nickc What’s the weight of it would be my question? Personally* I’d always go for a lighter bike with “just enough” suss rather than a bike that’s going to be too heavy at the end of a ride with “more than enough” suss. thinking a 140 would be lighter for all day riding that was all. He absolutely loves watching the girls smash it on DH tracks and likes the fact I’m now pushing him (I was the one that convinced us to try the uplift at Inners). I still have the sneaky suspicion he’s worried it will make me faster and beat him though…

Here we go http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/maxxis-3c-compound-lifespan several posts down about next day tyre refunds.

Yep, other half emailed them saying he’d been using it as front tyre and the nobs had started to wear down far too quick. Next day asked us to send it back to them and he received a full refund. Can dig you out the email?

**edit I’m sure I did it this as I’d read on here about other people sending them back with the same issue?

Next Day Tyres refunded me for this, HR2 3Cmaxterra (29 inch) lost a load of knobs within three weeks. Now running the 60a compound and no issues.

Another vote for both Comrie Croft and the Stirling trails (Dumyat, Mine Woods, Cambu & North Third).

Other half bought the Camber Evo in February. So positives, first off it’s his favourite bike he’s ever ridden/owned (except the Nomad he demoed but it was never an option) it’s been well tested on downhill days at Inners, standard riding at Glentress & Golfie, as well as rocky stuff in the Lakes and it has performed brilliantly. He didn’t demo many other bikes though he just tried this and new it was what he wanted. So all glowing so far, but a few teething issues… first of the wheels aren’t great – the bearings went after two rides both on the demo bike he tried from the concept store and again on the one he bought so these were replaced from the off. Also the Reba forks blew up spectacularly three weeks ago and whilst Leisure Lakes have been superb warranty wise (he is getting a new set) this was still frustrating, especially has it took him a while to get them dialed in (he went for three tokens in the end). Upshot being he ended up buying the new FoxFit 34s as he wanted to ride the bike and they have transformed it! We sat the other night and worked out he has changed a lot of components on the bike in a short space of time (only thing now orginal for his are the frame, rear shock, cranks, brakes & rotors and rear tyre…) so yes he loves it but he changed it a lot from the original to get the spec he wanted. My advice would be to get a demo and give it a go!

I know DT swiss rims were traditionally made of cheese but my other half took a punt on these from Rose Bikes and have been faultless so far: DT Swiss XM-1501 Spline One Disc MTB wheel set (http://www.rosebikes.com/article/dt-swiss-xm-1501-spline-one-disc-mtb-wheel-set/aid:797099)

He’s 85kg in full riding gear and rides the new Camber Evo. Been running these rims for 5 months now tubeless running around 27 psi and no dings yet. For reference he managed to blow up his arch rear rim and flow rear rim before trying these out. Tried on lots of terrain including rocky stuff in the Lakes where he blew up stuff before (he could now just be a better rider…)

Running at 2.25 ardent here on the rear, I’ll be honest not that impressed either. I have a had some very sudden rear wheel slips out of nowhere., but hey if I will use it in the Scottish mud then that’s what I should expect. Cracking when it is dry though.

I’m 9st 8 and run the rocket ron (2.2) on the front at 19/20 PSI for really loose gravelly tracks (especially somewhere like Cathkin Braes). I used to run it at 25 and found myself washing out. Obviously can be down to other factors too (body position etc) but I think lowering your pressure would help.

Another vote for the Camber Evo. Other half has had his since Feb and finds it spot on for the riding you describe. He’s come from riding a Cotic soul and like you he didn’t want to lose the feel of the trail he’d enjoyed from the hardtail. He’s ridden Devils Staircase, Ciaren Path etc on both and the camber definitely takes the edge off the hits!

Looks lovely (think you mentioned this on the thread I posted earlier in the week about CX vs road) anyway, looks a top bike to me – enjoy :D