I’m planning to head up to Aviemore in Scotland for a week of riding on the 10th August. Anyone who wants some monster riding in stupidly big hills is welcome to come along.
Anyway, I’m currently having a dilemma, which is whether to take the 29er or the 26. I can only take one with me due to stuff I’m doing at the weekend. Anyone got an idea about whether I want a 26", not very fast, but ride up / down anything machine, or more of a fast cross country thing? The terrain sounds pretty mixed, but with absolutely massive hills.
Oi! Just cause you’d got some silly little bumps down your way doesn’t mean you can call ours “stupidly big” “Average intelligence” maybe, if you want stupid you need to go to the Alps.
I would love to come, but I’ve got an action packed weekend lined up scrubbing and disinfecting all our mucky outdoor gear before shipping it off to Australia:D where it’s almost totally flat:( but the sun shines:D
Joe,
I personally would tend to feel its a long way to go (further for you of course) to ride cross country and not take greater advantage of all those lovely hills that you will miss as soon as you get home. I think there is no doubt which you should take!
Whichever you take PLEASE PLEASE take lots of pics and let us know the full and exact details OSGR etc of ridable trails - particlularly the steepest and most exciting downhill ones.
Are you going to have a look at things like Cairngorm etc?
I am so jealous but although I have a week off next week its the only one till Xmas and since I am out in the hills every Saturday on the Muni, I have vowed to spend it with the family.
I have tried to email you about various things recently, could you let me know please what is your preferred email address and when are we going to see you at one of our monthly meets in the Lakes or any of the intermediate ones.
I hope, for example to get up onto Helvellyn ridge at least one more time before the weather goes. Also going to do High Street (6 miles downhill) soon and will also be looking at the Dalbeatie trail (you kindly directed Pluto (Aaron Rolph) to in a post some time ago)- you would be very welcome.
Simon Rolph
TheFatController (at) CumbriaMuni (dot) com
Joe,
I personally would tend to feel its a long way to go (further for you of course) to ride cross country and not take greater advantage of all those lovely hills that you will miss as soon as you get home. I think there is no doubt which you should take!
Whichever you take PLEASE PLEASE take lots of pics and let us know the full and exact details OSGR etc of ridable trails - particlularly the steepest and most exciting downhill ones.
Are you going to have a look at things like Cairngorm etc?
I am so jealous but although I have a week off next week its the only one till Xmas and since I am out in the hills every Saturday on the Muni, I have vowed to spend it with the family.
I have tried to email you about various things recently, could you let me know please what is your preferred email address and when are we going to see you at one of our monthly meets in the Lakes or any of the intermediate ones.
I hope, for example to get up onto Helvellyn ridge at least one more time before the weather goes. Also going to do High Street (6 miles downhill) soon and will also be looking at the Dalbeatie trail (you kindly directed Pluto (Aaron Rolph) to in a post some time ago)- you would be very welcome.
Simon Rolph
TheFatController (at) CumbriaMuni (dot) com
I think I’m going to take the 26, for the downhilling. It’s just that it’ll restricts me from doing some of the really long classic scottish
rides that are like 50 miles or so. As for where I’m going to ride, there’s a bike shop in aviemore that’s renowned for being run by lovely people and selling route maps / directing people to places to ride, so I’m probably going to go and ask them where to ride. Definately the emphasis will be on big big hills as that’s the thing I don’t really have at home. Maybe I shall take some short cranks and do a day of long distance xc riding. I’ll certainly have trail details and take loads of pictures.
I’m definately hoping to get to one of the cumbria meets, but I’ve got lots of stuff on this year, people keep getting married and doing stupid things like that. I’m intending to move up north, possibly to somewhere near Manchester next year, which would mean I’ll be much closer to where you are and the train wouldn’t be so much hassle. If you’re riding Dalbeattie by the way, apparently a good thing to do is make a weekend of it and ride Dalbeattie & optionally Mabie Forest one day and Glentress the next.
Oh, by the way, if you’re trying to email me, joe at joemarshall dot org dot uk works.
Glentress is an excellent place. I’ve mountain biked there for years (about 12) and it was the site of my first “proper” muni ride. Most of it consisted of terrible mounts and loads of UPDs, but if I was of a half decent standard then I know it would be my favourite uni site.
Joe,
I’m very pleased to hear you may be joining us in the Norf sometime in the future. If you came to Manchester you would be able to come to (duc) Denton Unicycle Club during the week and join us in a game of Hockey etc. perhaps.
I work at present in Manchester during the week and am gradually getting to know the best (for best read ‘poor’) bridleways around the moors of Saddleworth etc.
There’s also the world class mtb downhill course(s) at Fort Wiliam which would be worth checking out. I’ve never been but if you feel like being a guinea pig…
If you’re Manchester during the week, you should head out to the peaks and do some riding, there’s some really good stuff out there and it’s close enough / easy enough to get to for a night ride, especially bits around Hayfield etc. I’m hoping to live somewhere east of Manchester in or near the peaks and ride into work on a uni or a bike.
It’s good to hear that there are unicyclists in Manchester, how many of you ride muni much?
Neil - I’m definately tempted by the dh course, but they’re just too scary because bike people will be bombing down them 5 times as fast as me and it’d be a bit unfair to get in the way. Also I’m looking for more natural riding up in the hills as I’ve got really good built riding near me already.
Glentress does sound like fun, it even has a baby shore thing. These built trails are cool, they’re really consistently good, but the best and hardest bits of riding I’ve done haven’t been on them.
“Average intelligence” maybe, if you want stupid you need to go to the Alps.
before shipping it off to Australia:D where it’s almost totally flat:( but the sun shines:D