EltonFrog
Legendary Member
The kingpin looks fantastic , it did feel kind of wierd to ride the twenty at first , but they i bet you agree , they dont half put a smile on your face
Yes! Yes it did.
Your ride today.... (part 1)
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
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Yes! Yes it did.
Donger
Convoi Exceptionnel
- Location
- Quedgeley, Glos.
Unremarkable 24+ mile ride to Frampton on Severn and back today, though I did go off road on a whim, and follow the gravel canal towpath for a couple of miles, adding 4 miles to my usual ride. It's nice to have the tyres to be able to do that sort of thing.
The big thing for me was that it brought up my 1,500 miles for the 8 months of the year so far.
I've been riding again for 6 years now, and that used to me my whole year's target. In fact, for the first 3 years, (when life got in the way and I had a lot on my plate), I actually did almost exactly 1,500 miles per year. Last year I managed over 1,700, and it looks like this year over 2,000 miles might now be possible. I'll allow myself a warm feeling of smug satisfaction
. The training is obviously going well. Now bring on Scotland, and Bealach Na Ba.
The big thing for me was that it brought up my 1,500 miles for the 8 months of the year so far.
I've been riding again for 6 years now, and that used to me my whole year's target. In fact, for the first 3 years, (when life got in the way and I had a lot on my plate), I actually did almost exactly 1,500 miles per year. Last year I managed over 1,700, and it looks like this year over 2,000 miles might now be possible. I'll allow myself a warm feeling of smug satisfaction. The training is obviously going well. Now bring on Scotland, and Bealach Na Ba.
Goonerobes
Its okay to be white
- Location
- Wiltshire
Today's sortie took me west across a rather windy New Forest, (which justified the arm warmers), through Fordingbridge & into Wiltshire for a 69 mile round trip.
The route was the usual eclectic mix of forest roads, with plenty of equestrian chicanes, & the country lanes of Wiltshire which wound there way through the patchwork farmland of livestock & crops.
The sheep had had a haircut.....
and the harvesting was done.
Today's ride was fuelled entirely by yummy home-made rice cakes courtesy of the recipe on British Cycling's website!
http://www.strava.com/activities/187334436
The route was the usual eclectic mix of forest roads, with plenty of equestrian chicanes, & the country lanes of Wiltshire which wound there way through the patchwork farmland of livestock & crops.
The sheep had had a haircut.....
and the harvesting was done.
Today's ride was fuelled entirely by yummy home-made rice cakes courtesy of the recipe on British Cycling's website!
http://www.strava.com/activities/187334436
Saluki
World class procrastinator
- Location
- ...Norwich over the water.
Another quickie tonight. From home to Wattlefield, along to Spooner Row and then back to Wymondham. Getting home the gps was reading 8.78 miles so I did a quick loop of the back block to make it up to 9. Well 9.05 to be totally accurate.
It was a nice ride, some of the stubble fields have been prepared for the ploughing competition on the 14th September. It's nice that the stubble is going to be down for another fortnight as we like to walk over them. Half way around we waved to a lady on a PX Carbon in Blue. I grinned at hubster and said 'snap' but he'd not noticed the bike. 42 and a half minutes around. Not fast but then we were not hurrying. The plan was a nice ride not a fast one.
It was a nice ride, some of the stubble fields have been prepared for the ploughing competition on the 14th September. It's nice that the stubble is going to be down for another fortnight as we like to walk over them. Half way around we waved to a lady on a PX Carbon in Blue. I grinned at hubster and said 'snap' but he'd not noticed the bike. 42 and a half minutes around. Not fast but then we were not hurrying. The plan was a nice ride not a fast one.
Goonerobes
Its okay to be white
- Location
- Wiltshire
Ha, no, they're a bit moist & I couldn't think of what else to wrap them in!
- Location
- The TerrorVortex
Bit of a mundane ride today - off to the supermarket to do a weeks shopping.
On the trike
There are times when first gear isn't low enough, and I'd not noticed a slope alongside the railway line before...
I was wrecked just pedalling it across Stevenage. How did I get it back from Peterborough?
On the trike
There are times when first gear isn't low enough, and I'd not noticed a slope alongside the railway line before...
I was wrecked just pedalling it across Stevenage. How did I get it back from Peterborough?
No early start today as I didn't finish work until 03:00 <yawn> and wasn't out of bed till 10:00.
Yesterday I was planning on a road ride, but due to the late finish I thought a 'leisurely' off roader would be better.
I have a 'lost bridleway' route that I keep trying to find/rediscover and extend. Most of it is unsigned, and quite a bit is ploughed over so it's not an easy one to ride. Fun to relate the OS map and App to the actual route though!
I pedalled from the right of the cornfield on the horizon then pushed a few yards across this bit.
At least the farmer drove a tractor over the line of the bridleway on this bit of land. Still a burger to ride though!
And not very well used either. I managed to trample a way across this bit with only a couple of nettle stings.
I must admit I did wimp out at this point and turn back...
Next time I won't wear shorts and a T Shirt...
Proof, if proof were needed, to check if I was on a bridleway.
Occasionally this, and the presence of hoofmarks are the best way to determine the route (and I wasn't even a Boy Scout!
)
This chugged past at one point, and I had a chat with the chap for a while. He was out planting some stuff to attract wildlife. The landowner, he said, was really into encouraging bugs, birds and animals to thrive. He said that they don't even strim back the nettles... I said I'd actually noticed that and had the scars to prove it..
After turning back from the previous nettlefest, I attempted to follow yet another ploughed up bridleway and eventually crossed the A43 onto an easier right of way. But after riding through all the rough stuff with no issues, the p*ncture fairy visited, probably due to the hedges being cut back . Luckily, I had slime tubes fitted and pumped the tyre up and let it do its job.
The down side of being on relatively 'civilized' off road routes is this. Quoting in the in the vernacular.... 'FFS'. I almost fealt guilty for not wearing a hi-viz jacket!
Just after stopping to sort my 'flat' out, it started raining so I sheltered under some trees until it passed and took the opportunity to plot my route home. Five minutes later the clouds and rain cleared so I set off again.
As I'd seen some smashing blackberries on the way out, I rode back to Sywell and down one of my favourite Byways near my house.
Yet again it started raining. Quite heavily! Still, once I was soaked, it didn't really matter anyway. Skin is waterproof and it washed the flies from the blackberries and some of the mud off the bike..
As I had nothing to collect the blackberries in, I tipped the water out of my bottle and replaced it with fruit
Back home on 22 miles, averaging 9.3 mph (I'm surprised I got that high an average considering the terrain).
It seemed like a lot more than 22 miles though, due to the effort of riding over mud, grassland and fields!
http://www.strava.com/activities/187445613
Yesterday I was planning on a road ride, but due to the late finish I thought a 'leisurely' off roader would be better.
I have a 'lost bridleway' route that I keep trying to find/rediscover and extend. Most of it is unsigned, and quite a bit is ploughed over so it's not an easy one to ride. Fun to relate the OS map and App to the actual route though!
I pedalled from the right of the cornfield on the horizon then pushed a few yards across this bit.
At least the farmer drove a tractor over the line of the bridleway on this bit of land. Still a burger to ride though!
And not very well used either. I managed to trample a way across this bit with only a couple of nettle stings.
I must admit I did wimp out at this point and turn back...
Next time I won't wear shorts and a T Shirt...
Proof, if proof were needed, to check if I was on a bridleway.
Occasionally this, and the presence of hoofmarks are the best way to determine the route (and I wasn't even a Boy Scout!
)This chugged past at one point, and I had a chat with the chap for a while. He was out planting some stuff to attract wildlife. The landowner, he said, was really into encouraging bugs, birds and animals to thrive. He said that they don't even strim back the nettles... I said I'd actually noticed that and had the scars to prove it..
After turning back from the previous nettlefest, I attempted to follow yet another ploughed up bridleway and eventually crossed the A43 onto an easier right of way. But after riding through all the rough stuff with no issues, the p*ncture fairy visited, probably due to the hedges being cut back . Luckily, I had slime tubes fitted and pumped the tyre up and let it do its job.
The down side of being on relatively 'civilized' off road routes is this. Quoting in the in the vernacular.... 'FFS'. I almost fealt guilty for not wearing a hi-viz jacket!
Just after stopping to sort my 'flat' out, it started raining so I sheltered under some trees until it passed and took the opportunity to plot my route home. Five minutes later the clouds and rain cleared so I set off again.
As I'd seen some smashing blackberries on the way out, I rode back to Sywell and down one of my favourite Byways near my house.
Yet again it started raining. Quite heavily! Still, once I was soaked, it didn't really matter anyway. Skin is waterproof and it washed the flies from the blackberries and some of the mud off the bike..
As I had nothing to collect the blackberries in, I tipped the water out of my bottle and replaced it with fruit
Back home on 22 miles, averaging 9.3 mph (I'm surprised I got that high an average considering the terrain).
It seemed like a lot more than 22 miles though, due to the effort of riding over mud, grassland and fields!
http://www.strava.com/activities/187445613
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Gravity Aided
Legendary Member
- Location
- Land of Lincoln
12.3 miles today, dodging torrential downpours and getting hit by 3 of them. Air mass thunderstorms and showers due to unsettled weather hereabouts for a week or so,
But I had to get my Fuji Touring Series IV out and about, just to shake her down. I converted it to 700x35c instead of called for 27 x 1.25, and put newer Dia Compe brakes on there, as well as a 8 speed rear cluster. I traded my Cannondale H-600 for the frame only, as well as a later found fork, and the crankset, all from the original bicycle.Other parts came from my vast repository of bicycle parts , except for the wheelset and brakes, taken from a Nishiki Ambush Hybrid ladies frame I got for little$. A fantastic ride, if soggy, down country lanes amid the great corn forests of the Midwest. Many of the lanes have names that conjure the lust for adventure, like 2000 N(orth) above.
But I had to get my Fuji Touring Series IV out and about, just to shake her down. I converted it to 700x35c instead of called for 27 x 1.25, and put newer Dia Compe brakes on there, as well as a 8 speed rear cluster. I traded my Cannondale H-600 for the frame only, as well as a later found fork, and the crankset, all from the original bicycle.Other parts came from my vast repository of bicycle parts , except for the wheelset and brakes, taken from a Nishiki Ambush Hybrid ladies frame I got for little$. A fantastic ride, if soggy, down country lanes amid the great corn forests of the Midwest. Many of the lanes have names that conjure the lust for adventure, like 2000 N(orth) above.
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Gareth C
Veteran
- Location
- North Pennines.
Coast-to-Coast Scotland (1)
Sorry, been away for a while, so this is a rather long write-up...
I’d ridden this organized trip last year, and my mate Iain wanted to have a go at it. As it was such fun, and rather than the hard-tail I had last year, I was now the proud owner of a full suspension mountain bike, we found ourselves signed up again!
During the week of cycling I was posting to my blog via email from my smartphone. While this worked, GSM constraints and availability of WiFi would limit what I could post. So here’s the full report! Sorry it’s a bit long, but do persevere – the scenery and weather were amazing, so there are some good photographs to enjoy!
The drive north (22 August)
Iain was driving up on Friday from Newbury. As it would be easier to fit two bikes in his car, we’d take that on to Stirling, where I’d booked us accommodation and sorted out food.
Acclimatization day (23 August)
As a result of our overnight stop in Stirling a much more relaxed first day was in order. Heading up the A9 to meet up with the other folk on the adventure, we had a quick ride around some local trails before heading off to our accommodation in Dornoch and a team dinner.
Skills class before we head out onto the hills to do it for real
Bonar Bridge to Ullapool (24 August)
A quick morning transfer to Bonar Bridge and photo by the North Sea saw us begin the ride.
At the start line
Today we would be crossing from East to West, planning to arrive in Ullapool. This is a long, but not too technical day. One of the first stops (before we even got off road) was at Croick Church, where the evidence of the highland clearances is still painfully visible by messages etched into the church window.
Reading the harrowing messages on the window
Once past the church, we are off the tarmac for the day and onto gradually rougher-and-rougher trails. We take a lunch stop at the bothy by Duag Bridge, and afterwards inspect the river: the Abhainn Dubhag has clearly recently been around 3 metres higher than the normal flow judging by the flattened bracken along the shores. This is the legacy of the recent former hurricane Bertha that caused the downpour that I rode through in London. The damage caused by this recent storm would become a theme through the week.
Lunch stop
Despite the perfect weather, the conditions under-wheel would get wetter-and-wetter, eventually leading to a river crossing that was feet-wet time.
Alex (L) and Tim (R) are our guides for the week, with Ross on driving duty
Iain makes a splash
The first of many river crossings for the week – our shoes wouldn’t really dry out again!
Having made our crossing of the watershed, we rest up at Loch Achalt and watch Sea Eagles soaring above the cliffs.
Leaving the landrover track we head up into the heather and singletrack, with views appearing over the western coast.
The normal descent to Ullapool has become overgrown with gorse, so we take an alternative that has been somewhat washed out by the recent rain, and also has a fair helping of gorse. However, we eventually arrive, and Ullapool harbor is, as ever, beautiful.
Team dinner is in The Arch Inn, and the Bealach na Ba is excellent.
Sorry, been away for a while, so this is a rather long write-up...
I’d ridden this organized trip last year, and my mate Iain wanted to have a go at it. As it was such fun, and rather than the hard-tail I had last year, I was now the proud owner of a full suspension mountain bike, we found ourselves signed up again!
During the week of cycling I was posting to my blog via email from my smartphone. While this worked, GSM constraints and availability of WiFi would limit what I could post. So here’s the full report! Sorry it’s a bit long, but do persevere – the scenery and weather were amazing, so there are some good photographs to enjoy!
The drive north (22 August)
Iain was driving up on Friday from Newbury. As it would be easier to fit two bikes in his car, we’d take that on to Stirling, where I’d booked us accommodation and sorted out food.
Acclimatization day (23 August)
As a result of our overnight stop in Stirling a much more relaxed first day was in order. Heading up the A9 to meet up with the other folk on the adventure, we had a quick ride around some local trails before heading off to our accommodation in Dornoch and a team dinner.
Skills class before we head out onto the hills to do it for real
Bonar Bridge to Ullapool (24 August)
A quick morning transfer to Bonar Bridge and photo by the North Sea saw us begin the ride.
At the start line
Today we would be crossing from East to West, planning to arrive in Ullapool. This is a long, but not too technical day. One of the first stops (before we even got off road) was at Croick Church, where the evidence of the highland clearances is still painfully visible by messages etched into the church window.
Reading the harrowing messages on the window
Once past the church, we are off the tarmac for the day and onto gradually rougher-and-rougher trails. We take a lunch stop at the bothy by Duag Bridge, and afterwards inspect the river: the Abhainn Dubhag has clearly recently been around 3 metres higher than the normal flow judging by the flattened bracken along the shores. This is the legacy of the recent former hurricane Bertha that caused the downpour that I rode through in London. The damage caused by this recent storm would become a theme through the week.
Lunch stop
Despite the perfect weather, the conditions under-wheel would get wetter-and-wetter, eventually leading to a river crossing that was feet-wet time.
Alex (L) and Tim (R) are our guides for the week, with Ross on driving duty
Iain makes a splash
The first of many river crossings for the week – our shoes wouldn’t really dry out again!
Having made our crossing of the watershed, we rest up at Loch Achalt and watch Sea Eagles soaring above the cliffs.
Leaving the landrover track we head up into the heather and singletrack, with views appearing over the western coast.
The normal descent to Ullapool has become overgrown with gorse, so we take an alternative that has been somewhat washed out by the recent rain, and also has a fair helping of gorse. However, we eventually arrive, and Ullapool harbor is, as ever, beautiful.
Team dinner is in The Arch Inn, and the Bealach na Ba is excellent.
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Gareth C
Veteran
- Location
- North Pennines.
Coast-to-Coast Scotland (2)
Fisherfield (25 August)
Today is “the big day” – a full traverse of the Fisherfield wilderness, with two big climbs and descents, loch crossings, and to spice things up, starts off by us taking a high speed rib around the headland.
We then begin a big day of cycling by riding around to Dundonnell on the road. We’re immediately onto our first climb up Gleann Chaorachain to complete the first of two BIG climbs in the day.
Top of the first climb
We then have a great descent down into Strath na Sealga and work our way along to the bothy at Shenevall.
Lunch below Shenevall
Following a lunch break, we push on, and have to cross the river Abhainn Srath na Sealga. This is best done along the shore of the loch, so we heft our bikes into the air and wander through the thigh-deep waters of the loch to the other side.
Arriving at Loch na Sealga
Once through, we have a long ride Gleann na Muice past Larachantivore. We turn up the smaller Gleann na Muice Beag and the ride degenerates into a steep carry.
Top of the second climb
However, the carry is well worth it. We have a ride along the top of Clach na Frithealaidh and then the descent of Allt Bruthach an Easain to Dubh Loch. Normally this is a fast, technical descent, but do-able. Today the path has been severely eroded by recent rain, and several of the gullies have produced rockfalls across the path, making parts unrideable.
Contemplating our descent to the causeway
We arrive at the causeway in good form, but time is pushing on. We are obliged to race along the singletrack above Fionn Loch, and blast through Kernsary Forest (which is unpleasant due to the farmer feeding his cattle on the path, so we all end-up covered in manure). The final kilometers along the River Ewe are at racing pace, as we need to make the Poolewe Hotel for 9pm to place our food order. This is successfully done, but means we’re eating in our riding clothes!
Another day done.
Loch Maree (26 August)
Today would normally be a ride over the Thollaidh path to Loch Maree, and along the shores on the road to Kinlochewe for the evening. However, the descent from the high point was always “challenging” and “rough,” but the recent weather has transformed that to “unrideable.” So we ride up the path to the high point to get the view over Loch Maree, and then back the way we came to enjoy the singletrack descent.
View of Loch Maree from the top of the Thollaidh path
There’s then a bit of a road ride around to Gairloch and on to Charlestown for lunch at the café, stopping just above the town to take in the view of Skye.
Skye from above Gairloch
Parked by the cafe
After lunch we go exploring along the singletrack in Flowerdale and Kerrysdale. This is beautiful, not too technical, but is always uphill and has some gorse. It drops us out at Loch Bad an Sgalaig on the road, and we then ride over to Loch Maree, and along the shore to the Kinlochewe Hotel where we’re staying and eating.
Slioch from Loch Maree Shore
Fisherfield (25 August)
Today is “the big day” – a full traverse of the Fisherfield wilderness, with two big climbs and descents, loch crossings, and to spice things up, starts off by us taking a high speed rib around the headland.
We then begin a big day of cycling by riding around to Dundonnell on the road. We’re immediately onto our first climb up Gleann Chaorachain to complete the first of two BIG climbs in the day.
Top of the first climb
We then have a great descent down into Strath na Sealga and work our way along to the bothy at Shenevall.
Lunch below Shenevall
Following a lunch break, we push on, and have to cross the river Abhainn Srath na Sealga. This is best done along the shore of the loch, so we heft our bikes into the air and wander through the thigh-deep waters of the loch to the other side.
Arriving at Loch na Sealga
Once through, we have a long ride Gleann na Muice past Larachantivore. We turn up the smaller Gleann na Muice Beag and the ride degenerates into a steep carry.
Top of the second climb
However, the carry is well worth it. We have a ride along the top of Clach na Frithealaidh and then the descent of Allt Bruthach an Easain to Dubh Loch. Normally this is a fast, technical descent, but do-able. Today the path has been severely eroded by recent rain, and several of the gullies have produced rockfalls across the path, making parts unrideable.
Contemplating our descent to the causeway
We arrive at the causeway in good form, but time is pushing on. We are obliged to race along the singletrack above Fionn Loch, and blast through Kernsary Forest (which is unpleasant due to the farmer feeding his cattle on the path, so we all end-up covered in manure). The final kilometers along the River Ewe are at racing pace, as we need to make the Poolewe Hotel for 9pm to place our food order. This is successfully done, but means we’re eating in our riding clothes!
Another day done.
Loch Maree (26 August)
Today would normally be a ride over the Thollaidh path to Loch Maree, and along the shores on the road to Kinlochewe for the evening. However, the descent from the high point was always “challenging” and “rough,” but the recent weather has transformed that to “unrideable.” So we ride up the path to the high point to get the view over Loch Maree, and then back the way we came to enjoy the singletrack descent.
View of Loch Maree from the top of the Thollaidh path
There’s then a bit of a road ride around to Gairloch and on to Charlestown for lunch at the café, stopping just above the town to take in the view of Skye.
Skye from above Gairloch
Parked by the cafe
After lunch we go exploring along the singletrack in Flowerdale and Kerrysdale. This is beautiful, not too technical, but is always uphill and has some gorse. It drops us out at Loch Bad an Sgalaig on the road, and we then ride over to Loch Maree, and along the shore to the Kinlochewe Hotel where we’re staying and eating.
Slioch from Loch Maree Shore
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Gareth C
Veteran
- Location
- North Pennines.
Coast-to-Coast Scotland (3)
Torridon (27 August)
Another big day to rival the Fisherfield day.
We ride out along the road to Loch Clair, and then go off-road along to Loch Coulin. We ride past Coulin and up to where the river junction is crossed by a bridge. Here, most of the party go up to Drochaid Coire Laire, which is a rather technical ascent, and followed by a technical descent to Achnashellach. Iain and I, however, take the Coulin Pass, which is much less technical, less steep, but still has amazing views back to the hills around Loch Maree.
On the Coulin pass
As we descend to Achnashellach Station, the views open up towards the West.
View opening up down to Loch Carron in the far distance, and Loch Dughaill in the middle distance.
Heading west along the road, in a few short miles we reach Coulags, and head up the valley towards Coire Fionaraich. We refresh our water at the bridge, and spend a while at the Coulags bothy.
However, not knowing how far the rest of the group are behind us, we take the opportunity to push on in perfect weather and try to get the climb to Bealach na Lice out of the way before the others catch us. This was successful, and we had an hour to relax, refuel and chat to the odd passing walker and mountain biker.
Bike parking at Bealach na Lice
The view at Bealach na Lice
When the rest of the group arrive, their morning has been much more challenging than ours, with the odd crash, and they’re suffering from not having the rest we’ve enjoyed. Time to regroup and everything is downhill from here!
We ride the singletrack around Loch an Eion, then onto the bedrock slabs by Lochan Domhain before finally committing to the descent to Annat. All of the riding on this descent is rewarded by a bold approach, remembering that “speed is your friend.” Many times on the descent I’m amazed at the work being done by the suspension: the right speed and body position just push the bike through choss, boulders and drop-offs, and while it isn’t a smooth ride, it’s a controlled ride.
Part-way down the descent, Liathach in the background
Iain enjoying his ride
Much Torridonian sandstone bedrock to ride on
At the bottom of the descent after immense fun, we cycle the few hundred metres to The Torridon Inn, where we will be spending the next two nights.
Rest Day (28 August)
The rest day is spent resting: late breakfast, sorting out the bags, reading, and then in the evening an excellent meal in Torridon with one of the guides, Ross, jumping out of the meal periodically to go mackerel fishing.
Ross prefers fishing to eating
Applecross (29 August)
Final day :-(
We ride out along the rough track along the shore to avoid the road, before being forced back onto the tarmac just before Sheildaig. Then there is a roller-coaster of a road ridearound to Kenmore with just a short stretch of downhill singletrack at A’Bhainlir.
No more road riding, and the end is (almost) in sight
We climb to the plateau and enjoy the easy singletrack across the peninsula. There are amazing views back to the Torridon hills we’ve recently been riding amongst.
Amazing scenery that we’ve ridden through the last few days
Before too long, we’re on the descent to Applecross and riding along the landrover track to the beach. Our crossing of Scotland is over, the weather has been amazing throughout, the company excellent, organization perfect, and now to round it off, we have lunch in The Applecross Inn before heading back to Inverness.
Walker, Dan, Iain, Jens, Colin, Alex, Julia, Gareth, Khrysten and Craig on Applecross beach
A few words of thanks
The week was absolutely made by our guides: Alex, Tim and Ross. Besides guiding us on an amazing journey across a beautiful part of Scotland, their endless energy, humour, knowledge and bringing together a group of strangers into what rapidly became a group of old friends was truly inspirational. It was also great to have a mobile bike repair team, fishing tutor and photographic instruction along as bonus. Thanks to all three of you, and hope to see you soon.
Also to Euan and Cat. An amazing company, with all the organisation sorted down to the last detail. H&I Adventures have now twice delivered fantastic mountain biking holidays for me, taught me a lot about biking, and a fair bit about myself.
And finally, to the team I was riding with all week. You made the trip – what a bunch of chilled folk, of varying ability, all happy to muck-in, ride and chat together, laugh at the crashes, help out when needed, wade through the rivers, plod through the bogs and, most importantly, share the beer and post-ride banter in the pubs. I’m looking forward to riding with you all again soon. Slovenia…?
Post script
Besides the trip just being immense fun in my favourite part of the world, this also showed my training for the Ride Across Britain, now less than a week away, has paid off: back-to-back hard days, and still on the final day around Applecross I was able to power away on the hills as we rode around the peninsula. Alex, no mean athlete, said this trip was ideal training, especially with the recovery week before LEJOG begins. Soon I’ll be discovering what back-to-back hundred mile days feel like.
Torridon (27 August)
Another big day to rival the Fisherfield day.
We ride out along the road to Loch Clair, and then go off-road along to Loch Coulin. We ride past Coulin and up to where the river junction is crossed by a bridge. Here, most of the party go up to Drochaid Coire Laire, which is a rather technical ascent, and followed by a technical descent to Achnashellach. Iain and I, however, take the Coulin Pass, which is much less technical, less steep, but still has amazing views back to the hills around Loch Maree.
On the Coulin pass
As we descend to Achnashellach Station, the views open up towards the West.
View opening up down to Loch Carron in the far distance, and Loch Dughaill in the middle distance.
Heading west along the road, in a few short miles we reach Coulags, and head up the valley towards Coire Fionaraich. We refresh our water at the bridge, and spend a while at the Coulags bothy.
However, not knowing how far the rest of the group are behind us, we take the opportunity to push on in perfect weather and try to get the climb to Bealach na Lice out of the way before the others catch us. This was successful, and we had an hour to relax, refuel and chat to the odd passing walker and mountain biker.
Bike parking at Bealach na Lice
The view at Bealach na Lice
When the rest of the group arrive, their morning has been much more challenging than ours, with the odd crash, and they’re suffering from not having the rest we’ve enjoyed. Time to regroup and everything is downhill from here!
We ride the singletrack around Loch an Eion, then onto the bedrock slabs by Lochan Domhain before finally committing to the descent to Annat. All of the riding on this descent is rewarded by a bold approach, remembering that “speed is your friend.” Many times on the descent I’m amazed at the work being done by the suspension: the right speed and body position just push the bike through choss, boulders and drop-offs, and while it isn’t a smooth ride, it’s a controlled ride.
Part-way down the descent, Liathach in the background
Iain enjoying his ride
Much Torridonian sandstone bedrock to ride on
At the bottom of the descent after immense fun, we cycle the few hundred metres to The Torridon Inn, where we will be spending the next two nights.
Rest Day (28 August)
The rest day is spent resting: late breakfast, sorting out the bags, reading, and then in the evening an excellent meal in Torridon with one of the guides, Ross, jumping out of the meal periodically to go mackerel fishing.
Ross prefers fishing to eating
Applecross (29 August)
Final day :-(
We ride out along the rough track along the shore to avoid the road, before being forced back onto the tarmac just before Sheildaig. Then there is a roller-coaster of a road ridearound to Kenmore with just a short stretch of downhill singletrack at A’Bhainlir.
No more road riding, and the end is (almost) in sight
We climb to the plateau and enjoy the easy singletrack across the peninsula. There are amazing views back to the Torridon hills we’ve recently been riding amongst.
Amazing scenery that we’ve ridden through the last few days
Before too long, we’re on the descent to Applecross and riding along the landrover track to the beach. Our crossing of Scotland is over, the weather has been amazing throughout, the company excellent, organization perfect, and now to round it off, we have lunch in The Applecross Inn before heading back to Inverness.
Walker, Dan, Iain, Jens, Colin, Alex, Julia, Gareth, Khrysten and Craig on Applecross beach
A few words of thanks
The week was absolutely made by our guides: Alex, Tim and Ross. Besides guiding us on an amazing journey across a beautiful part of Scotland, their endless energy, humour, knowledge and bringing together a group of strangers into what rapidly became a group of old friends was truly inspirational. It was also great to have a mobile bike repair team, fishing tutor and photographic instruction along as bonus. Thanks to all three of you, and hope to see you soon.
Also to Euan and Cat. An amazing company, with all the organisation sorted down to the last detail. H&I Adventures have now twice delivered fantastic mountain biking holidays for me, taught me a lot about biking, and a fair bit about myself.
And finally, to the team I was riding with all week. You made the trip – what a bunch of chilled folk, of varying ability, all happy to muck-in, ride and chat together, laugh at the crashes, help out when needed, wade through the rivers, plod through the bogs and, most importantly, share the beer and post-ride banter in the pubs. I’m looking forward to riding with you all again soon. Slovenia…?
Post script
Besides the trip just being immense fun in my favourite part of the world, this also showed my training for the Ride Across Britain, now less than a week away, has paid off: back-to-back hard days, and still on the final day around Applecross I was able to power away on the hills as we rode around the peninsula. Alex, no mean athlete, said this trip was ideal training, especially with the recovery week before LEJOG begins. Soon I’ll be discovering what back-to-back hundred mile days feel like.
Spartak
Powered by M&M's
- Location
- Bristolian
Early morning ride today.
http://www.strava.com/activities/187666074
Along the Avon Ring-road to the Hicks Gate roundabout then along the A4 thru Saltford to the outskirts of Bath, back along the cycle track via Bitton.
http://www.strava.com/activities/187666074
Along the Avon Ring-road to the Hicks Gate roundabout then along the A4 thru Saltford to the outskirts of Bath, back along the cycle track via Bitton.
ScotiaLass
Guru
- Location
- Middle Earth
And she's back! 
4 weeks after surgery, I decided I felt okay to get back on the bike (I was told 4-6 weeks).
I needed to go into town and after much thought, decided to take the MTB as the upright position of the hybrid may have been too much for my stomach muscles.
It was a good choice.
I took a painkiller and grabbed my smallest rucksack, so I wasn't carrying too much weight.
As it was Sunday and the roads are fairly quiet here, I decided to avoid a short but steep hill, by cycling on the road instead of the cycle paths.
It was fine. The incline was steady and I managed it with no issues. It also gave me a good opportunity to practice my roundabouts techniques, as I had 5 to navigate through!
There was one near incident - at a large crossroads junction there was a 4x4 waiting on the right (heading straight across).
I saw him but I felt he hadn't seen me, so I moved out into the middle of the road. He started to move forward but then spotted me and braked.
He wasn't anywhere near hitting me, (he just got over the road markings) but I'm glad I moved out.
Not being a road cyclist I'm not sure if that's what I should have done, but it worked.
We got to the supermarket and found the calculator the lad needed for his course - which was good as that was the whole reason we cycled to town!
I had a drink and as it was nice, we decided to catch the towpath along to the Falkirk Wheel and loop back home.
I managed better than I thought I would, and even with Priscilla still refusing to drop into the lowest gears (off to the bike shop in the week!) I still managed up the hill in one go.
I did think I would be getting off and walking at some point, but no!
This was the view at the top basin of the Falkirk Wheel this morning
The ride back was great and I was almost up to my usual speeds.
Priscilla got a nice wash when I got back
No ill-effects - a slight ache at about 7 miles in, but nothing that made me slow up or stop.
It was great to be back out there and I can't wait for tomorrow!
It's to be nice this week and although I've got to spend time looking for a car (we sold our truck yesterday), I am sure I'll get time to fit in a ride each day
Edited to add 13 miles
4 weeks after surgery, I decided I felt okay to get back on the bike (I was told 4-6 weeks).
I needed to go into town and after much thought, decided to take the MTB as the upright position of the hybrid may have been too much for my stomach muscles.
It was a good choice.
I took a painkiller and grabbed my smallest rucksack, so I wasn't carrying too much weight.
As it was Sunday and the roads are fairly quiet here, I decided to avoid a short but steep hill, by cycling on the road instead of the cycle paths.
It was fine. The incline was steady and I managed it with no issues. It also gave me a good opportunity to practice my roundabouts techniques, as I had 5 to navigate through!
There was one near incident - at a large crossroads junction there was a 4x4 waiting on the right (heading straight across).
I saw him but I felt he hadn't seen me, so I moved out into the middle of the road. He started to move forward but then spotted me and braked.
He wasn't anywhere near hitting me, (he just got over the road markings) but I'm glad I moved out.
Not being a road cyclist I'm not sure if that's what I should have done, but it worked.
We got to the supermarket and found the calculator the lad needed for his course - which was good as that was the whole reason we cycled to town!
I had a drink and as it was nice, we decided to catch the towpath along to the Falkirk Wheel and loop back home.
I managed better than I thought I would, and even with Priscilla still refusing to drop into the lowest gears (off to the bike shop in the week!) I still managed up the hill in one go.
I did think I would be getting off and walking at some point, but no!
This was the view at the top basin of the Falkirk Wheel this morning
The ride back was great and I was almost up to my usual speeds.
Priscilla got a nice wash when I got back
No ill-effects - a slight ache at about 7 miles in, but nothing that made me slow up or stop.
It was great to be back out there and I can't wait for tomorrow!
It's to be nice this week and although I've got to spend time looking for a car (we sold our truck yesterday), I am sure I'll get time to fit in a ride each day
Edited to add 13 miles
- Location
- Egham
Wonderful pics and write up @Gareth C , sounds like a fun trip.
In comparison, my late ride out today seems to pale a little, even though I was pleased with it given my current state. Struggled to get going, but a couple of miles warming up soon got the mojo back and I headed to WGP as always. Heading up towards the A30 through Virginia Water I was passed by the Kingston Wheelers, great manners and called their pass in advance so thumbs up for that. I was late today, and the lakeside was full of dog walkers, scooters etc, so I stuck to the A30 and went in Bishopsgate instead, where I found a Skyride all over the road. Hoping to avoid them next time round I went through the park onto the hills only to find them again. Nevermind, at least it gets people out on their bikes which can only be good. Homeward bound via the Polo Club and I arrived home to find I'd completed 21 miles, more than planned and for the first time in weeks I felt really good after getting off the bike. Maybe the revised low fat diet and superfoods are helping. Given todays ride, I may even try the road bike out on my next ride day.....
In comparison, my late ride out today seems to pale a little, even though I was pleased with it given my current state. Struggled to get going, but a couple of miles warming up soon got the mojo back and I headed to WGP as always. Heading up towards the A30 through Virginia Water I was passed by the Kingston Wheelers, great manners and called their pass in advance so thumbs up for that. I was late today, and the lakeside was full of dog walkers, scooters etc, so I stuck to the A30 and went in Bishopsgate instead, where I found a Skyride all over the road. Hoping to avoid them next time round I went through the park onto the hills only to find them again. Nevermind, at least it gets people out on their bikes which can only be good. Homeward bound via the Polo Club and I arrived home to find I'd completed 21 miles, more than planned and for the first time in weeks I felt really good after getting off the bike. Maybe the revised low fat diet and superfoods are helping. Given todays ride, I may even try the road bike out on my next ride day.....
Donger
Convoi Exceptionnel
- Location
- Quedgeley, Glos.
An odd sort of day, today. I went out at 9am with the Kingsway lads again, heading for Frocester Hill and a loop round to Frampton on Severn and back. Felt quite good for the first 3 miles, but by the 5 mile mark I was realy struggling to keep up with the 19-20mph the other lads were managing, and the 15mph up slight inclines where I wanted to go at about 11mph. They were very good about waiting for me to catch up, but I felt so off the pace today. 
I put the word around that they didn't need to wait for me, but that I'd just go and do Frocester Hill on my own and at my own pace .... that I didn't want to ruin their ride for them. And that was that, or so I thought. 10 miles further along the road, after grinding my way slowly up Frocester Hill, miracle of miracles, I caught sight of the lads at the top.It seems one of them found it all too much and had to keep stopping on the hill, which is a long one. Much as I wanted to get off and rest (actually, i mean puke) at the top, I decided to bust a gut chasing them down, and I eventually got back on the train somewhere near Cam, much to their surprise, and kept with them for the next 10 miles or so.
Eventually, heading up a long gentle uphill drag on the A38, their cruising speed did for me again and finally broke me. I did meet up again with one or more of them at various points between Frampton and Elmore, but my top speed was just no match for their cruising speed today. Although they were all very nice about waiting for me, or coming back to give me a lead-out, I felt they had stopped quite enough on my behalf, so I let them know it really was OK to carry on without me. I stopped for the very first time at about the 29 mile mark to stretch my back, and it felt good to be able to look around and take a drink. It really isn't much fun going flat out for 29 miles just to stay within sight of the others, but it was probably good training for my trip to Scotland.
I seem to be something of a curiosity in cycling terms. A 20 stone guy on a heavy horse of a bike who has a cruising speed ceiling of about 16 or 17mph and needs to slow down to about 11mph on long gentle inclines - yet, no matter what hills the group goes up, it seems I can get up them without stopping, when some others cannot . When you look at the cyclists who are specialist climbers, they are nearly always the little elfin types who weigh about 7 stone when wet. Personally, I don't get it. My forte seems to be an ability to endure suffering for long periods and keep relentlessly grinding it out on hills that most people I know would never dream of even attempting, and can't believe I actually enjoy climbing. I just control my breathing and slip into Terminator mode, absolutely refusing to be beaten. Just a shame that I don't know anyone else who rides like me.
Oh well, 35.7 miles in 2hrs 55mins today ...... not bad considering it included a massive hill. Scotland here I come. Cheers, Donger.
I put the word around that they didn't need to wait for me, but that I'd just go and do Frocester Hill on my own and at my own pace .... that I didn't want to ruin their ride for them. And that was that, or so I thought. 10 miles further along the road, after grinding my way slowly up Frocester Hill, miracle of miracles, I caught sight of the lads at the top.
It seems one of them found it all too much and had to keep stopping on the hill, which is a long one. Much as I wanted to get off and rest (actually, i mean puke) at the top, I decided to bust a gut chasing them down, and I eventually got back on the train somewhere near Cam, much to their surprise, and kept with them for the next 10 miles or so.Eventually, heading up a long gentle uphill drag on the A38, their cruising speed did for me again and finally broke me. I did meet up again with one or more of them at various points between Frampton and Elmore, but my top speed was just no match for their cruising speed today. Although they were all very nice about waiting for me, or coming back to give me a lead-out, I felt they had stopped quite enough on my behalf, so I let them know it really was OK to carry on without me. I stopped for the very first time at about the 29 mile mark to stretch my back, and it felt good to be able to look around and take a drink. It really isn't much fun going flat out for 29 miles just to stay within sight of the others, but it was probably good training for my trip to Scotland.
I seem to be something of a curiosity in cycling terms. A 20 stone guy on a heavy horse of a bike who has a cruising speed ceiling of about 16 or 17mph and needs to slow down to about 11mph on long gentle inclines - yet, no matter what hills the group goes up, it seems I can get up them without stopping, when some others cannot . When you look at the cyclists who are specialist climbers, they are nearly always the little elfin types who weigh about 7 stone when wet. Personally, I don't get it. My forte seems to be an ability to endure suffering for long periods and keep relentlessly grinding it out on hills that most people I know would never dream of even attempting, and can't believe I actually enjoy climbing. I just control my breathing and slip into Terminator mode, absolutely refusing to be beaten. Just a shame that I don't know anyone else who rides like me.
Oh well, 35.7 miles in 2hrs 55mins today ...... not bad considering it included a massive hill. Scotland here I come. Cheers, Donger.
- Status
