Lairig an Laoigh is best enjoyed from the Braemar to Aviemore direction :-)

This is what happens when you go outside with a Ti spring.

.

First ride on my SS last night since removing the flat bars and bar ends in favour of some very low risers. It felt well weird and I’m not sure I liked it – not sure I fancy levering open my old Syncros stem to remove the risers again so I’ll give it another few rides yet.

But not blue.

No, that comment by messiah is willy waving of the worst possible kind

I was injecting a little humour to make a point… call it what you want :roll:

PS – I’ll wave my willy at anyone for a beer and a pickled egg :wink:

PPS – I have abandoned slower riders before – being a married man I have to balance my adventures with other “priorities” and hence I have indeed ditched the stragglers to make sure and get home before pumpkin O-clock.

This thread is interesting if a little long and lost in places… Thanks to dRjOn for a good balanced viewpoint yesterday and for keeping it on subject, and to Sanny for reasoned and intelligent responses. I’ve been lurking and reading but feel it time to chirp in again. In my experience there is no access conflict with walkers and bikers on the plateau anymore than there is anywhere else up in the Scottish mountains. Drawing parallels with busy places in Englandshire makes little sense, and as has been mentioned the effort involved in taking on a route like this will naturally limit the number of folk heading up. 9-1/2 hours to ride 24 miles… and all the other issues… most bikers would go nowhere near it. I can’t see the DH crowd making the effort of the climb since the doonhall would not be worth it… and I suspect Cairngorm Mountain Railway might want to have a word with them about unsuitable use of the busy paths :roll:

I’d rather Sanny had not written the article but that’s purely for my own selfish reasons. I wonder if the next time I go up there I will get asked by someone if I read about the route in a magazine? The last time I did the full circuit when we reached the Funicular we were offered a free ride up in the train because we had cycled to the base station. When we informed the lady of our plans to head back to Braemar over the top she was aghast, as were the other folk standing about watching us water up in preparation for the next big climb. I ride the big stuff on my own or in small very select groups; there is no room to carry stragglers and the weak of either will or bike must be dropped and left for the crows so that the strong can survive. Yes, I’m an elitist snob which is the real reason I don’t want route’s like this published… I’ve earned the rites to them because I have the knowledge and the experience… and I’m keeping them all to myself (this is probably the real reason many walkers/guides/etc get antsy as they too want maximum bragging rites for there efforts… see all Munroe baggers for further proof of how hard an undertaking it is and why so few blah blah blah).

Macdui top is actually an oddity in that you do get “punters” up there who have come up from the ski area and followed the path (not as bad as Nevis). Most other mountains in that area are frequented much less by the trainers and carrier bag brigade. I’ve had a few odd encounters up there but since I’ve normally come up from the Braemar side I’ve avoided heading up or down the hill through them. Probably the highest number of people I have seen up top is about 20, and maybe another 20 or so visible scattered along the paths – not that I hang around at the top for long counting obviously. The 250 Sanny speaks of were probably those walking up beside the Funicular and heading to the café or other trails. So what if lots of folk walk up there anyway? Yes it’s a delicate eco system but there is a path to keep to, and as has been pointed out it is a huge area. Because of the Funicular and the path network this area has been given to tourism like it or not. As long as they don’t open up full free access from the Funicular the numbers will always be limited by the effort factor… the exhibition at the top Café is worth a visit as it explains the issues rather well. The Plateau is a very beautiful and special place, obviously I’d rather it was not harmed by the passing of people and I suspect little of it is. I’ve been going up there for 20+ years and on the infrequent occasion when there is visibility it looks the same as ever (my wife tells me all my mountain photo’s look the same). Biggest risk of damage will likely be from the over population by deer and reindeer eating every green thing rather than them squished by human footfall. Since the National Trust took over the Marr estate the paths have taken a definite turn for the better and I applaud the work that they have done… I am happy to pay my membership.

FWIW: The only times I have ever had grief in the Scottish mountains has been bizarre angry individuals, and mostly at low level while returning from being up high. The folk up high are almost universally lovely and are up there for the same reasons I am which is to enjoy the hills, the folk low down with the problems have problems… nothing I have done (or can say or do) is going to change their day. I’m always polite and considerate, I enjoy the descents but am happy to stop and let walkers up, and usually get good banter and a laugh as a reward. I try not to go off path and berate those of the group who do. I see much of the talk about conflicts and bans (voluntary or otherwise) on here as typical pub type banter where those involved actually don’t have much of a Scooby about what they are discussing, but seeing as it’s an open forum they have to have make sure others are well aware of their opinions. If you don’t like it that people take bikes up there then feel free to not take yours, and if people want to then may I suggest walking it first to be aware of what your trying to take a bike through. If you want a guide book I suggest using one of the many walkers guides… you’ll be walking most of the route anyway… 9-1/2 hours to ride 24 miles… might as well have not taken the bike :)

I said I wasn’t going to add to this thread… doh!

Or ride it as it is and figure out what you like and dislike about it before getting it tuned.

I replaced an XT with a Saint recently – the saint is really short and has a much stronger spring which keeps the chain in tension much better. Note – this will only work with a single ring as it won’t take up much chain slack (I run a Hammerschmiccle with an 11-34… not the ultra fashionable 1×9 or 1×10 :roll: )

Well… it aint no trail centre :lol:

Clown bike 29ers or fat tyres only

Eat only what you can forage.

Fixed… that was yesterday afternoon… get with the program ya goon :mrgreen:

Did you not know that BMX is to be the new kool :roll:

http://www.cairngormmountain.co.uk/mountain-access-and-conservation

Wowser… I’m shocked. I thought they were a strong brand with a good following. I wonder if it was poor business decisions, market forces, or some other bullsh*t bingo reason?

You must have really short legs, surely you need a smaller frame?
:D

Sanny, I thought it was a good example of aspirational journalism as it made me want to ride my bike.

I will get worried though if groups plan to head of and ride such routes… but I’m sure the Scottish weather will do it’s utmost to upset such plans, and then you have the midges to contend with, then the climbs themselves, the hike-a-bike sections, the map-work, the exposure, the rocky paths, and the general constant nagging feeling of “what if it all goes wrong”.

Only those of us who go up there see what we see with our own eyes, and even then we can draw whatever differing conclusions we want according to our prejudices :cry:

Yes – I’ve had a rucksack slung at me… amusing thing was his wife/carer apologising for him as I rode past her a few seconds later.

Note – this was on a little local hill beloved by the rambling fraternity and he was great fat tattoo’d f*&^er who was obviously enjoying his day away from the open prison.

Left me with a good story :mrgreen:

An article in a mag is not going to make a huge difference to the number of bikers heading up there. It might make people think about it but once they realise the size of the undertaking most will not bother… especially when you add in the fantastic Scotish weather.

As someone who who does bike, walk and ski up there I agree with the OP in only so far as that I want to keep that place quite and ideally to myself (which is why most people whinge about it).

FWIW – most of the people I meet when up high on the bike are lovely and chatty. The people who tend to have a pop at us bikers and whinge about us being on “their” precious mountains are wandering around the low hills mouthing off (and sometimes throwing rucksacks at us).

Oh – and if you want to start a fight do you use walking poles? The damage caused by walking poles is many times worse than the passing of a tyre… the evidence is plain to see on any hill :evil:

“Enjoy your day” :roll:

Is it fun?
Are you enjoying it?

If the answer to the above questions is yes then it’s probably right :D

Anywhere that you can ride along a kerb, hop up and down small steps, ride park benches and generally practice “trialz”.

Been a few years since was last there but I found it great fun. Luckily it was a dry day and hence there were only a couple of bits I failed to clear. Some of the other folks I was with hated it despite being very good riders – it is certainly challenging and to make the most of it some good “trialz” skills and excellent low speed ballance are required. Get some practice :mrgreen:

Malxe lite – hope axle bent after one ride, snapped after three.

BETD Intense solid axle – two or three months to snap.

This is on my Nicolai AM which sees serious use, my friends get longer and most of them use the Maxle, the lightest of the riders has not managed to break one yet in nearly two years.

If your not beasting it the Maxle will probably be okay but I would avoid the lite.

TLR[/url]

It’s currently got no brakes on it – I will have some spare soon and once I’ve built it up again I think I’ll give it a spin, lend it to a few mates for a shottie… and then decide what to do.

It’s a work of art – but it would be shame to have it hanging up in the house when it could be in the mountains where it should be.

It’ll need to be a headset for life – with Pocket changing from his AM to the FR they failed to get either the Acros deep insert or the Steelset removed… so they are having to swap headsets as well :roll:

Useful answer :D

It’s not about the money – I know it’s not going to get me much… Big question is how much would I regret selling vs. how much will I regret keeping it and tripping over it in the garage…

I know… bung it in the loft :roll:

I’ve always used coil forks until my current 2010 36 Float RC2. I think they are a brilliant fork and have no hesitation in reccomending them.

A front forks runs a far lower pressure and higher volume than a rear shock and I think thats why it works. I did read that the Float ramps up towards the end and thus you only get 155mm vs. the full 160mm available on the Van… but since I’ve never bottomed mine out with a clunk despite running a stupid low 45psi in them I can live with that.

I bought the Floats having spoken to Mojo to confirm that if I hated them the springs from a Van can be shoved in (at a cost obviously). A year down the line and I don’t see me buying springs etc.

I recently rode a friends Marz 55 RC3 Ti and we both agreed that my Floats felt worse in the car park but better on the trail… bizzare but true.

I can’t say if the Float is better than the Van… but it is brilliant.

PS – a friend with Deville’s really likes them – but prefers the plushness of the Float.

I wouldn’t be in a hurry to do this but… how about cutting a slot in the top wedge like on many FSA headsets? This will allow it to deform a tiny bit and settle into wherever it ends up clamping the steerer tube.

Might work, might not – I accept no responsibility if it all goes horribly wrong.

Unless you’re a bike beaster a normal headset is fine, although if there is a problem Nicolai will say you should have run a deep insertion headset as instructed.

For a deep insertion headset fit a good one as it’s something you only ever want to do the once. The Nicolai FET set is stoopid heavy, the CK steelset is lighter but still heavy, but my money would go for an Acros which is lovely (if my frame didn’t have the 1.5). Seriously, if your ordering new get the 1.5 headtube – ideally to allow the Cane Creek adjuster thingy and for future proofing. If it’s a bargain frame think how hard your likely to be ragging it and be honest as to if you will need a strong headset… and then buy the Acros because it’s relatively cheap, very light for what it is, will give peace of mind, and is available from the nice bloke who is Richard at Gravity Sports (or from Jamie at Balfa).

Re TLR’s pedal strike… he is the only person who suffers from this… I’m running 30% sag front and rear and it bothers me not… whatever TLR is doing wrong he is doing it wrong to himself :D

Manitou? Shermans, Nixons or Travis can be the real sleeper bargains, and not bad forks once serviced… although Shermans need a mod to work well and spares and servicing is possibly getting tricky.

Who rides bikes anyway? Surely its just owning and talking endlessly about them on forums which is important.

I think it’s ace – but then I’ve always liked the following translations from scots to french…

eat my cheesy bobby = mangé mon fromage Robert

tatties over the side = Pommes de terre dans le mere

Mountains on one side and sea on the other – the bit in the middle where the people are I can take or leave, but it passes quickly.

Best and worst thing about Aberdeen is it’s size. It’s a city, but a small one. As long as you don’t expect everything you get in bigger cities and tailor your expectations everything is pretty much as you would expect. A bit of independence will help and if your happy to do your own thing much of the time then you need never get bored – even in the shite of winter there is fun to be had somewhere.

The town centre is no rougher than anywhere else but there are idiots as with everywhere else, they just need to be avoided… which really depends on who you are out with… which depends on which type of crowd you fall in with… which depends probably on where and with whom you end up working and socialising. If your young there is the student and younger person scene centred around Belmont Street, and if your older there is the Albyn where the divorcees go for a hook-up (allegedly).

The money divide has been mentioned a few times above, and yes there is a large gap between those with and those without. Culture up here is very much to flaunt with cars, clothes and watches etc – but surely that crap only bothers those who are sad enough to think it important? Due to the oil industry there is a high percentage of professionals of many nationalities in the city and these folks make the rental of flats and houses in the desirable “west end” of Aberdeen very expensive, as do the Students with moneyed parents who hoover them up as well… but there are cheaper places to stay, and only a small few that have to be avoided.

Industrial estate south of Aberdeen is probably Altens – it’s an industrial estate and there really is not much else to say about it. Transport can be a bit patchy and although there are buses they can be a bit poor so most folk use cars and some hardy fools cycle. Rush hour is a bitch but it’s short and the rest of the day travel is fine (and nothing compared to most cities).

I think the positives will likely outweigh the negatives and I think it’s a great place to live, and most importantly a fantastic place to play.

People wise you will find most are great, and those that aren’t can be avoided. I think the people that have problems are probably them that cause it… as long as your not a cock nobody will treat you like one.

Dremmel, a spoke, and some araldite might work – depends if you think it’s worth the effort… or if your just looking for an interesting wee project.

It’s the north east of Scotland – we’ll haggle over a penny chew.

You must be talking about the Arbroath shop since the Stoney shop hardly has room for a kettle.

Not sure the scone wifies would like the smell of GT85 mingling with their tea and cake… or the inevitable blaspheming when hammer hits thumb in the workshop?

What was the far and wide shop in Stoney used to be sports shop and cafe – it never really worked for him… and then the Christians moved in.

You could buy say a DHX 4.0 secondhand for £125 – then spend the same getting it serviced and custom tuned… this would allow you to ride the shock and have input into how you want it tuned… but the faults/compromises of one shock fits all are well understood as are the requirements for most common frames.

You also have to get hardware and the correct spring.

If you have the space scatter a few scaby mattresses around and start selling crack :mrgreen: