Nice results there.

Only ever point-n-shoot myself; was always disappointed with my last phones pics, until just about the last one taken before I changed it..

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Closest I can manage, bit not-landscape I suppose…

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(it’s the great Comrie Croft trail, btw)

Not much altered on mine, pedals, saddle, grips, h’bar. Got to some decent trails with it in 2010 though…

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+ my only socio-competitive event of the year down’t Lee

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Might go for a double + bash later this year is all; a well rounded outer ring doesn’t look the part really.

Point of interest; took the offspring up white hill for a forage yesterday – man, there’s some tree damage up there… aftermath of the new year gale I suppose. Them DH trails must be affected, though saw a bit of dirt ramping making use of a hefty pines bole. The big beeches that fell across the footpath that skirts the road next to scout camp had been sawn up though.

A further vote for Porcupine Tree here, some tracks I could do without, but the better ones easily make up for it. Looking forward to Steven Wilson / Mikael Akerfeldt’s Storm Corrosion album almost as much as Meshuggahs Koloss.

I’ll also suggest Isis for cleaner vocal stylee, eg.

Always love hearing the solo on Little Caesars’ cover of ‘I Wish It Would Rain’… takes me waaay back.

Thought Dimebags guest slot on Anthrax’s ’Inside Out’ was one of his best too (can’t view the vids here in the prison camp, so cannae spec. the times)

MASTILES –

Angus Young doing Let There Be Rock (specifically an early gig with Bon Scott still on vocals that was filmed somewhere in Paris)

Isn’t that off the ‘Let There Be Rock’ video, filmed in Paris? Must be on DVD by now..

Enjoyed the first decent daylight ride for months, good to get into the Pentlands ‘no-go’ zones (personally enforced) while the frost’s down. Wish had today off too, -3.5° this morning.

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Might be worth phoning the Applecross Inn[/url] to check on conditions – I’m sure I heard the Bealach was / is closed due to snow already this year…

(…on the climb, in the sleet…)
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Another thumbs-up for the ’bender fender’ – unobtrusive (esp. in black) and good for the seals.

Not much of a fan really, but from 3mins 30secs on, Mastdons ’Seabeast’ is titanic riffing.

My Africa Twin, swapped for with a TL1000S 2 years ago for a change – kinda breathless / gutless, but all day riding position (esp. with the re-filled saddle) & off-road abilty make up for it. Hardly seen a road this year, but a brilliant bike for touring..

By Loch Maree
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Crossing Morecambe Bay (after a club run to camp on Piel Island)
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Great standards up there ^^

To lower them a bit – a localised shower on Lewis

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and inky clouds over Skye, from the east –

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Nice pic Rob

I thought so too, Davey 🙂

‘smatterofact, I thank you again as I’m unlikely to ever get into another competitive event, the shape fatherhood has put me in…

Yup, great facilities, hope to resume visiting them during our periodic trips to the in-laws in Rammy soon. Always dinner-plate eyes on the first 3-drop run of the day!

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Was up briefly on Monday evening, not far in but the ground wasn’t bad around Capelaw, surface water on the expected bits (left after Bonaly reservoir) so I guess the bogs will still be bogs. There’s some works going on on Puke Hill too, looked like the track is being toughened up to get plant up to the reservoir.

Looks like it’ll be a glorious night, not to be missed! (except by me 😥 )

Used one last winter, found it introduced some fresh interest to the trails. Always felt a bit more vulnerable, which probably added a little spice. Got a 29″ wheel ready to go in for this winter, should I get the pleasure of getting out again in a 69er stylee…

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(last years set-up)

Thanks for coming out last night gang – enjoyed the ride + pleased we found some element of excitement in tanking down overgrown Poets. Nice to have some burn back in the legs too.

Admittedly, tonights route probably won’t be the most interesting, but I’m just wanting a couple of hours pedalling, keeping to the proofed trails ‘n that. Should still get some decent climbing somewhere..

A man could get paranoid that he smells bad with this kind of result… 🙂

Fear not, vulnerable ground will be avoided.

Unlikely I’ll be along now, seems I spend too much time getting away from baby as it is (an hour every 3 weeks…)

Wave if you see a depressed lanky scot with a baby strapped to his chest leaving Mannings bakery with an armful of raspberry buns!

Deeply regret being unable to make this , or any other, ride. Driving back yesterday & the Pentlands were clear as a cut amethyst*

Still, hope springs eternal for later on… Must get out in the purple haze before it goes. Have a good one, squad.

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* © John Buchan

I’m in Rammy that weekend, with an off-road velocipede too… Might show up to worry the tail end for the first couple of hours (presuming I can wheedle a child-minding pass for the morning, & it aint pishin’ doon). Does the route go round Holcombe then up the back to Pilgrims Cross? Been meaning to try that for a while.
Planning to ride up to Cragg through Edenfield + try the Lee Q link back and forth on Friday too if anyone’s of a mind.

Sure we can re-profile it in the future to better suit the wheeled fraternity, but it’s still better than what was there before 8)

Really enjoyed today myself, not just due to getting out on the bike either.. Satisfied we’ve done some good for a well used path (though I’ll admit to not enough thought on the line onto the bridge coming down. Think opposite corners would’ve been the ticket)

Strategically placed laminates would reach a lot of folk extra to here or bookface, whether they come or not.. eg) Puke gate a weekend or 2 in advance. Probably need various permissions though.

Anyways, a few snaps.. the ‘befores’

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Some ‘durings’ (featuring partial nudity)

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And a couple of ‘afters’

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Hoping the momentum gathers, and to be at the next one.

Purty sure I’ll be along, child willing – on a bicycle of all things!

Probably 09.00ish from Bonaly – Kinleith – Harlaw – Maidens should we get ourselves a convoy (10-4)

Which bit do your hands go on again…?

grip of yourself

Given some of the issues we had from the birth, I’ve had quite enough of that, thanks.

used nappies in the post

💡

Personally, I felt really encouraged* by Benji having “no sympathy for these people…” who can’t find time to ride because they have children.

Still considering some method of meaningful response, in fact.

*let down, and very angry.

Just bought a Burley Bee, in an effort to get some guilt-free bike time. A 2-seater, though we only ever plan on 1 occupant, you can adjust the belts so he (8 months) sits in the middle & still has 5-point harness. Only had one 2-hr ride so far, pretty pleased, loads of storage behind the seats (change bag, clothes, shopping, sofa), comfy enough for sleep on reasonably smooth paths (though he did nod off on a pretty rough farm track too…) and he seems fairly happy, no screaming complaints anyway. Currently attached to my HT with back disc, no problems so far, & I reckon if it did go over for some reason, he’d be ok, with a decent roll cage effectively around him. I guess one unavoidable problem is dirt kicked up from the back wheel, the bee has a mesh screen to limit it (+rain cover) but found a few wee piles after maybe 4 miles on half-dry tracks.

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Kinda wish I’d had the £$ to get a single seater, but this’ll do fine.

Coincidental bump…

Spotted this sign while out first-trying the bike trailer, pinned to the Clubbiedean dam top gate

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In case anyone’s interested. Still planning to make the 21st.

Not been on this thread for a while

+1

Great to have a browse & see far more quality than I’ll ever produce.

Took some serious midge damage to get this, near Opinan beach…

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In spirit only, as usual…. Know that as you look down on Bonaly, a pair of tired eyes are looking wistfully back 🙄

Probably a bit late, but a wee alternative for your Wednesday could be the Fionn Loch path from Poolewe, as covered by Druidh, 13thfloormonk and myself. Fairly lo-tech trail (unless you take the Londubh to Kernsary diversion for a little trials practice), but the reward of getting up to the causeway outweighs the effort of getting there by some way.

Path on North side of Loch Kernsary –
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Crikey, I was up Hare Hill yesterday morning too, for the first time in months… was it on the descent to Green Cleugh? There’s a couple of pretty substantial drop offs appeared since my last visit (at least, that’ll be my excuse for dabbing..)

Hope it’s a quick healer.

13thfloormonk takes on the 7 mile (?) Annat descent to Loch Torridon…

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Great stuff Al – ‘next time’ ( 🙄 ) I do Torridon I think it’ll be up from Coulin estate (‘twixt Torridon and Kinlochewe), then cut across west rather than down to Coulags… though I hear the descent to Achnashellach is one of the best. Next year… next year.

What did you reckon to the path then Alistair?? 🙂

Here’s a belting old thread that might entertain for a while – Beautiful Alba

Ooo, sorry I missed this one. Been itching to experience a daylight group descent eastwards off Allermuir too… I usually cut off to the left near the bottom to end up back on Shearie Knowe / JZ bottom section, adds a little more climbing for entertainment!

Can only be there in spirit, again… but hey, I get to work late in Cumbernauld to make up for it 😆 🙄

**feels ashamed, briefly**

Good stuff guys. Sorry couldn’t participate but it’ll only take an emergency / unexpected turn of events to keep me from the next one…

(again)

Teej, were you directed straight to those points or was it a case of having a look & getting started? Just wondering how much the Rangers had planned out?

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Last years STW Classic Weekender DH portion victor, Rowaaan Sorrrrell.