snowcard – less small print – just preferred the way they set things out and have read really good things about their response to situations

Other one to look at is Dogtag

1st Route advice – go with someone else to assist – maybe you are – its not clear from your post.

35k off road is a fairly big ride in most peoples terms and planning to take 2 youngsters on a route that has no opt outs when expressing doubts on your own fitness levels seems a bit odd to me and thats without considering mechanicals, accidents, poor weather.

It is not a hard route but I wouldn’t go with a mindset that the last 5miles easy ( and I’m not a southerner :wink: )- it is LRT but it is very undulating and I have seen it sap the will of reasonably fit and experienced riders – mainly because when you reach L Etive your mind thinks that it is easy and downhill to Taynuilt – so allow plenty of time for that section.

The midges are fierce – not a problem when moving but they know how to find you if you have to stop.

(Theres also the option of train from Taynuilt to avoid long car pick ups tho the downside is that would add time pressure which is the last thing you want with youngsters)

That video is excellent – specially the last tag line!

There are enough “bits and bobs” in Aberfoyle to put together a couple of hours entertainment especially if you take in the other side of Aberfoyle and loop in some of the older unsurfaced footpaths (there are ‘newer’ crazy steep sustrans type footpaths) – it does require fire road links which is not everyones cup of tea – but the descents on the old and new race track circuits are excellent. Nothing is waymarked though and even a map wouldnt be much good as it takes a bit of searching to find the older routes. None of it is vaguely like GT red – more like the race track links at GT if you have done them.

You can also loop in the Menteith hill track – the dashed line running NE from Dounans and returning via L Drunkie – which some rave about tho I have never done cos it usually looks a quagmire – but it should be dry at the moment.

Morvan

http://www.morvan.com/information/bicycles/bicyclette.htm

http://www.26×2.fr/

We stayed near Montbard in Burgundy – fantastic area – and drove across to Morvan for the biking – there is enough classic XC there to keep you entertained for a long time

also insist on a european vehicle accident report form – on the continent they have one that is in several languages – our insurer told us we didn’t need anything when but my son had a minor parking bump it was obvious the other party expected us to have paperwork to fill in – fortunately they were very pleasant in dealing with it

Visitor things to do –

Abbey – New Abbey stunning setting and ruin

Castle – Caerlaverock wonderful triangular castle with pleasant walk and reconstructed seige implements http://www.caerlaverock.co.uk/

Walks – stunning cliff walks at Balcary point or walk on water at Kippford

Shopping – Castle Douglas and Kirkcudbright are pleasant enough towns small though pretty. Marketing themselves as a food town and and an art town respectively !

PS there as also stunning riding beyond the gates of Drumlanrig – but no doubt you know that – and Rik will keep you right

From the Comrie Croft website

The trails are an expanding mix of existing forest roads and hand built, dedicated singletrack which combine to give you an exhilarating ride.

All the trails are graded red with some black sections

describes it pretty accurately I would have thought – excellent fun in my view tho I woulldn’t send my wife round it. The guys will give hints on lots of other stuff in the area from easy trails to full day epics so you can spend an hour or so there and then go and do some exploration to make it worth the trip.

A little gem in wonderful Perthshire scenery :-)

Think I posted this when sensible folk were either on there bikes or drinking beer or both – so I’ll try bringing it up again :-)