[Closed] Ben Lomond (pics)

That looks amazing mate. lookiing at riding around Loch Lomond in Feb. i can wait now.

Awesome pictures, the last one is class

Top pics.

Agree - that look amazing.

What was the climb like? How long? What % ride/walk?

Cheers folks - best descent I've done in this country by some distance. Can't be many like it here I would have thought. It's almost 900m of descent, only broken up by two gates - and virtually the whole thing is rideable down (just about). It's really relentlessly rocky virtually the whole way, and pretty steep in places - but most of it isn't even that loose - just loads of big rocks!

I ride mostly in the Lakes and this was like one of the techier bits in the Lakes, but so much more sustained.

We were pushing most of the way up, with a few bits where you had to carry. Only rode a few hundred yards probably on the way up. I would guess we rode 90-95% of it on the way down.

Took about 3 and half hours to get up there taking it fairly easy - then I think about half an hour down.

Looks great. 8)

I reckon you would love it nick judging by other threads of yours I've seen on here. No pictures of the gnar I'm afraid but believe me there was plenty 🙂

How did you make your bike change like that?

great pics

I wasn;t going to look in this thread, because I know i'd be jelious. 🙁

Looks seriously amazing!

yep a trip up there is on the cards. Looks like a great rocky techfest - and cracking views. You got the weather for it as well.

My, that looks fantastic!

my hubby has done this also - same big too!!! looks fab dont tink I have the stomach or the bike for something like that - just yet anyway...

Looks really nice. Nice looking dandyhorse too.

How much tougher is it than the normal/ponypath Snowdon descent?

If you are determined you can ride up a lot more that a couple of hundred yards. I managed to ride most of the middle and took just under 2 hours to get to the top. I do remember carrying my bike a long way as well though just after the start and then at the end.

The descent is brilliant, even with no front brake. :mrgreen:. Rode the whole thing bar one rocky bit near the bottom. Even saw my first adder in the wild as it had no time to hide against a bike tanking down a hill. It still managed to leg it before I had my camera out 🙁

Yeah to be fair we could have ridden a lot more on the way up - I'm still recovering from a long term illness that meant I was off the bike for 7 months or so. This is probably only my 5th ride back so we were taking it pretty easy.

Riding the whole thing with no front brake though - hmmm.... There are some real riding gods on here aren't there. 😀

buzz - not ridden Snowdon yet so couldn't say.

Mountain Bikers.

I'm surprised no-one has yet said they did this on a rigid singlespeed with cantis and rode all the way up and down.

What's happened to this place?

"That looks amazing mate. lookiing at riding around Loch Lomond in Feb. i can wait now. "

Don't make the mistake of thinking that it will be anything like that up the Ben in February. Potentially a much more serious proposition altogether in the likely conditions. You won't see any midgies though!

I must get up there in the next few weeks.

Forum trip anyone?

its an ace ride.
as said have to walk alot of the rocks at the bottom and top. but still a big chunk in the middle thats a clean ride. and patches top and bottom.

Grum are you in scotland or south?
Theres a number of big rides in a similar vein . if you know where to go and how to find em...

we had a much wetter, and colder day. But still awesome fun.
couple of pics of rockier bits...

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Grum are you in scotland or south?
Theres a number of big rides in a similar vein . if you know where to go and how to find em...

Still in Scotland but I think I'm probably done for big rides on this trip - still need to take care not to overdo it. I'm up for hearing some recommendations though. 🙂

Oh yeah and if you're planning that in February definitely check conditions before you set off and go appropriately equipped. Bit of snow could be fun but if it was icy it would be pretty lethal I reckon.

I did it years ago as something of a tick-list I was doing before I left Scotland for the Alps. Absolutely epic, possibly the best trail I've ever ridden in the UK (although it also, shall we say, inspired me to switch to tubeless wheels!).

I'm no great shakes on the climbs and I reckon I rode maybe 60% of it on the way up. Some of the stuff in the woods near the bottom is obviously a push, and most of the top section, but the middle bit is pretty do-able. Better climbers than me would do more!

Brilliant. You were dead lucky with the weather mate.

Thats on the list for next year!

great pics 🙂

(although it also, shall we say, inspired me to switch to tubeless wheels!).

Funnily enough - after being all smug about switching to tubeless and never having any issues, I had my first two burps on this ride. Just pumped it up and it was fine. Probably serves me right for not having proper tubeless tyres.

Cheers lowey and cuckoo - I definitely recommend it. 🙂

Felt like a big deal for me too as it's the first big adventurous ride I have done since being ill and not riding for ages - it's the kind of thing that for quite a while I thought I would never be able to do again. 😀

Brill pics. We've got that ride in the diary for mid-August, consider appetites well and truly whetted!!

Rob

was up there myself a few weeks ago. outstanding run. my mate came down on a stumpjumper with 90mm travel up front 😯 he did get a 3 punctures though 😆

By the way anyone thinking of doing this I would definitely recommend doing it either very early or late in the day. There were loads of people coming down as we went up, would have been very different coming down if you had to dodge walkers all the time.

That looks amazing Grum , The pictures kind of remind me how beautiful our country is . Will have to head across there one day.

Can I echo what Grumm says - its a very busy / popular mountain so pick your time accordingly.

Not too busy mid week - its when I usually give it a go. There is only one bit to push on the way down, unless you are a freeride godling. 60% ridable on the way up, you are avin a larff, 20% max is my reconing.

Better get those tubes fixed Edward, sounds like we'll be needing them 🙂

Rob

PS - has the smell of pine worn off yet?

I'm surprised no-one has yet said they did this on a rigid singlespeed with cantis and rode all the way up and down.
What's happened to this place?

Looks very different. Must give it a go.

No riding god claims here... Why did I have no front brake? Because I was ejected by the front door near the top after getting far too cocky and my lever snapped off taking some of the cast reservoir. Still an amzing ride if a little hairy.

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Aye Al - I remember that as a faint wear path back in the day - not the eroded mess with repairs it is now. It really upsets me to see the erosion now compared to when I first climbed it. { walkers not bikers erosion)

Please guys if you ride it work within the provisions of the access code - basically don't upset the natives!

Don't ride at 2pm on a sunny sunday. Save it for 6 pm or wednesday mornings. Ta

nice pics,plow. what camera was used?

Just an old Canon ixus 50 - pretty small and has been very robust. Rubbish for action photos, need to get my Sony Nex out to see if it is any good.

Great pics! I've walked up Ben Lomond and taken in those views many times(brought up in Helensburgh which is not far away). Kayaked and Sailed on the Loch as well. I live in NZ now so it's nice to see a bit of home and jog a few memories.

TJ

What part of the access code restricts the time that you can ride your bike on Ben Lomond? It's funny how that has never come up at the Access Forum Meetings I've sat on.

Responsible access doesn't preclude when you can ride the Ben. Perhaps you're worrying too much and looking for problems that aren't really there? Do you also tell walkers when they should walk the Ben so as not to upset the bikers?:D

Sanny

Oh and great pics by the way.

It's a great route - hence why I did it as a route guide. Well worth the effort of the carry though I reckon I know several UK descents that are possibly even better. 😉

I'm surprised no-one has yet said they did this on a rigid singlespeed with cantis and rode all the way up and down.
What's happened to this place?

I did it rigid in the 80s along with mcmoonter, don't think we rode up much but it was raining.

Looks very different. Must give it a go.

I did this in te 80's on a rigid stumpjumper with cantis in the SNOW, we rode up from the Loch Chon side 8)

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Some cracking pics, on riding this route I am usually having too much fun to think of taking pickies. As for upsetting the locals - as a local I cant say I have had any problems.

Most folk on the hill, either during the week or weekend are happy to see what they consider a nutcase hurtling down on a bike, many even cheer you on. The only times I have had the cold shoulder is when overtaking someone on the way up with a bike over my shoulder.

Rob, yes I have lost the smell of pine, and once my wrists stopped stinging I got all my old innertubes repaired. If I manage to meet you guys for your trip up Ben Lomand I will have a nicely patched tube for you, that is if I can get the Patriot fixed, as I broke it on the Glencoe downhill track.

Sanny -A lot of it is down to interpretation. you have an obligation to be reasonable. Given the number of people who walk on that mountain I don't believe its reasonable to go on it with a bike at peak times due to the potential for conflict and irritating people. All I want os for cyclist to act responsibly and to think about what they are doing. If you go on Ben Lomond on a busy summer sunday I don't believe it is reasonable. Certainly you would be unable to have a clear run at the descent if you follow the advice in the code.

Not many mountains that this applies to but Ben Lomond is one of the busiest.

As for the advice

# Cycling
You have a right to cycle. Cycling on hard surfaces (wide paths and tracks) causes few problems. [b]On narrow routes be careful not to frighten or endanger others (e.g. walkers, horse riders, farm animals, dogs and wildlife) and 'give way'[/b] to these users by dismounting or stopping till they have passed. Think of it like the Highway Code! If you are cycling off-path, avoid wet, boggy or soft ground. A landowner should work with the local authority to identify potential cycle paths and if fences are to be built across the line of a path or track then gates that allow cycle access should be installed.

Thats from the MCofS

On narrow routes, cycling may cause problems for other people, such as walkers and horse riders. [b]If this occurs, dismount and walk until the path becomes suitable again. Do not endanger walkers and horse riders: give other users advance warning of your presence and give way to them on a narrow path.[/b]

http://www.outdooraccess-scotland.com/out-and-about/recreation-activities/cycling/

Edit - I suppose partly I meant advice to folk who don't know the mountain to try to avoid peak times as the descent would be better with less people on it and to avoid the risk of conflict.

I don't believe its much sacrifice to avoid the busiest few times a year

Mainly tho I just want folk to remember that the access for cycles is not absolute but qualified by a need to be reasonable and to consider this.

Most folk on the hill, either during the week or weekend are happy to see what they consider a nutcase hurtling down on a bike, many even cheer you on.

Yeah but I enjoyed it a lot more knowing we were the only people left on the mountain. Would have been a lot more stopping and starting if there was more people about. We spoke to quite a few people coming down as we came up and they all thought we were nuts. A few were slightly disapproving.

Sanny - go on then - enlighten us.

grum

In the Lakes, start with the cheekiness that is Ullock Pike then have a gander at the descent off Whitelees Pike. Both are outstandingly good.

I'd be interested to know how you rate them in comparison if you've ridden them?

There's also some cracking riding to be had round Ben MacDhui and Cairngorm as well. That's your started for ten!

Cheers - Ullock Pike is next on the list. Not done Whitelees Pike either but will certainly check it out.

Going up to the Cairngorms for a few days now, but no more big rides for me on this trip I don't think.

I did this in te 80's on a rigid stumpjumper with cantis in the SNOW, we rode up from the Loch Chon side

Don't see much riding going on there - and who's the ginger on the shopping bike with no helmet? 'Core 😛

Ullock Pike is next on the list.

Been up the Ben on two occasions recently, one on a rainy saturday (met one other person) and one on a very sunny sunday, and met 10 other people lol. I think either I was very lucky both times or the native view of "busy" is somewhat skewed in relation to that in England where you'd find 10 people every 100 yards on a popular trail.

It certainly would need to be done off-peak though, even so, as there are some sections that are obstacle enough, without being obliged to not kill walkers at the same time. And remember, skids are for kids.

coffeeking - I have been on Ben Lomond where you were queueing to get on the top - a couple of hundred people on the path maybe?

Crikey, must have some serious fluctuations then! I'm trying to think back as to whether it was a weekend that was forecast to be bad but ended up good, it's virtually out my back door so I don't generally plan.

Back in the day I remember meeting a ranger with a clipboard who met us on the descent. He told us bikes werent allowed on Ben Lomond. He'd tried to catch us as we rode up but couldnt catch us.

We carried on riding down 😆

TJ

I hope that in the spirit of responsible access, you decided not to go up the hill given how busy it was! 😉

TJ

I hope that in the spirit of responsible access, you decided not to go up the hill given how busy it was! 😉

Obviously we would have done it on our cross bikes had we brought them with us...

Great pics Grum, thanks!

(brought up in Helensburgh which is not far away)

Me too, been up Ben Lomond at least a dozen times.

Superb pics fella 8)

my father in-law is chappin at the bit to take me up on the bikes but think i need some practice first,got some nice wee cycles near me though up the kilpatrick hills so i'll need to get some more hours in before i give that a bash.loved the pics though its magic to be able to go out on yer bike with these places on your door step,

Give us a shout I will ride it with you if that is ok, on my rigid SS naturally

Yeah will do, if you think you can keep up with my blisteringly slow pace uphill.

I'll be on my road bike. 🙂

Couple more pics

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In other news from Scotland - Laggan is a bit good isn't it.

Oh yeah, and Adam - where are your pics? 😛

Great pictures (as always grum).

I wouldn't have the nerve to ride stuff like that, I suppose you just have to commit.

I love Laggan. We rode it the first week in May. It was so quiet I was able to session stuff. Just a bit nervous of the board walk.

Keep riding. I'm doing my first for 2 weeks tomorrow. after overdoing it at Hit the North and on a STW Peaks ride.

Cheers Bunnyhop. Yeah as with many things a lot of it is just about confidence.

I wasn't a fan of the boardwalk at Laggan, and my gf definitely wasn't! Loved the rest of it though. Didn't get to do the black sadly but I will certainly be back.

Good to hear you are keeping at it too.