We were gonna ski, but it's looking increasingly mild, although probs still a lot wet, so obviously we are substituting skis for bikes! Where's good, where's rad (LOLZ), and where's bad/wet?
Visit Bothy bikes, buy a map. They'll point you where you need to go.
Some info here . As has been said ask in one of the bike shops . High Burnside has some good and more technical stuff .
paging scotroutes, paging scotroutes.
It is pish by the way.
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/741/31310826893_c8d21c8810_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/741/31310826893_c8d21c8810_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/PGQaYZ ]Aviemore ride[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/271/31279686554_038d7fe5d4_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/271/31279686554_038d7fe5d4_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/PE5z3A ]Aviemore ride[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5604/32120894955_1000df734c_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5604/32120894955_1000df734c_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/QWpYZH ]Aviemore ride[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/305/32120868185_25defa8865_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/305/32120868185_25defa8865_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/QWpR3a ]Aviemore ride[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr
It's hard to find a "bad" place to ride in the Aviemore area, as above - pop into bothy bikes, speak to David (very tall shop owner) or Gordy (short, hairy hobbit mechanic) and buy the mini pack of maps then go explore.
Matt, so you've rode that wee rock round Loch an Eilein as well eh?, it just begs to be ridden 😀
Ps : allo Gordy, be back up soon 😉
Burma road is pretty good
[img][url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/338/32293236990_f1fff851ef_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/338/32293236990_f1fff851ef_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/RcDhh7 ]IMGP7881[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/126900057@N05/ ]jon kemp[/url], on Flickr[/img]
[img][url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/344/32519611902_8a6363f4b3_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/344/32519611902_8a6363f4b3_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/RxDvDQ ]IMGP7877[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/126900057@N05/ ]jon kemp[/url], on Flickr[/img]
[img][url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/615/32672327945_e98705ded3_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/615/32672327945_e98705ded3_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/RM9dP4 ]IMGP7874[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/126900057@N05/ ]jon kemp[/url], on Flickr[/img]
* waves *
Bothy Bikes is a good shout.
Or contact me by PM if you want some info before you arrive. If you're going to be here over mid-term I might see if there are any other STWers around and organise a day or evening ride.
Snow: all but gone. We're expecting some around the middle of the month.
Trails are currently dry and running well though they'll be wet this weekend. Sandy soils drain quick though.
Thanks all. Looks like we'll have plenty to go at. Both bikes will defo be utilised, and the pics posted so far look awesome! Can't wait to get stuck in. We are up next weekend ScotRoutes, so I think we will still be snow free at a guess... may well be in touch shortly for some more route ideas!
Snow: all but gone. We're expecting some around the middle of the month.
We're expecting some tomorrow but it's gonna take a lot to make the skiing good.
We did the Burnside trails in late September, brilliant fun.
Easily found using the Trailforks app.
Burma road I didn't enjoy much. Big slog of a climb then most of the height is lost on a steep loose landrover track where you are on the brakes the whole way. Decent singletrack down the valley but for me not worth the climb.
Totally not worth the climb.
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Views are good I'll give you that. I just felt that for the climb the descent wasn't good enough. I preferred other riding I have done in the area
Wow! These pics look awesome!
Yeah it's a big descent going down the far side, very easy to pick up speed rather quickly for 40mm tyres to cope with.
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I think the Burma road is a grand afternoon out, especially in the sun
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Out n' back to Glen Einich is pretty decent
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Ryvoan Bothy through to Loch Garten is also good, quite a few decent trails around there to play on
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Out round Loch an Eilein to Loch Gahmna, past the bothy and down to Feshie bridge trails followed by cake at
Inschriach nursery/cake shop on way back to Aviemore will leave you feeling very happy
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Burma Road is not about the LRT descent, imho, but the stunning flattish ride along the valley by the river, away from civilisation. There just happens to be a hill in the way.
We saw another person once when we did that loop.
[i]Burma Road is not about the LRT descent, imho, but the stunning flattish ride along the valley by the river, away from civilisation. There just happens to be a hill in the way.[/I]
This.
But tbh we were in a big group and flat-stick'd it down the otherside, hairy!
Burma Road 'short' version- go up the usual hard climb to the pass, then turn hard left at the cairn and bomb back down on singletrack, parallel to the way you went up but slightly west. Bit bumpy in places and quite fun.
Misses out the lovely ride down that remote valley though.
There are several good rides up in Feshie too, although the best ones involve going above 1000m, so are a bit iffy in winter. Out and back on the east bank of the Feshie from Achlean to the Ruidh Etchachan bothy, carrying a stove for a brew would be a great winter day out.
Ruigh Etchachan is still very closed so don't plan to be inside. Carry on further round to the falls and bridge at the Eidart too. Very un-Cairngorm like.
Burma Road 'short' version- go up the usual hard climb to the pass, then turn hard left at the cairn and bomb back down on singletrack, parallel to the way you went up but slightly west. Bit bumpy in places and quite fun.
yep, me, sanny and Rob from backcountrybiking on a predawn depart from the village last year :
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some good routes over towards Tomintoul and Braemar
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and lots of rivers to cross 🙂
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I must be doing something wrong. I've done that short Burma Road descent only the once but found it too patchy and muddy to be worthwhile. I'll maybe pencil it in for September if 2017 is anything like last year.
^^^^ I managed about 75% of it on the Soul, Sanny and Rob about 90% on fatbikes. (though sanny reckoned he rode it all 🙂 )
I did ride it all! The only time I stopped was to take pics of you, tail end Charlie on your skinny tyres bike! 😆
I love mealle a buchaille on a frosty or snowy day. Glen Einich has a real sense of scale. Loch Garten via Ryvoan is a nice loop to do. Have a look at my online feature on microadventuring the arctic plateau for inspiration of higher level stuff.
I'll maybe pencil it in for September if 2017 is anything like last year.
I'll make a note of that!
Makes note that piemonster is making a note....
* deletes note *
Burma road you're looking for stunning views, but I too was pretty uninspired by the actual ride tbh.
The classic route has been heavily sterilised in the last couple of years, with smooth Land Rover track from Carrbridge virtually right up to the bridge, which is a shame. Makes it a fast loop though and lots of energy left for the singletrack sections from Carrbridge towards Boat...
Sssh! We don't talk about those.
😀
Your secrets are safe seeing as I don't do Strava !
Might we worth keeping an eye on this, more for skiing that riding.
