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I have a Day Off tomorrow and want to go for a ride but I have no bloody idea where to go. I had fancied finally sitting on the DH bike I bought in June but nothing is open and I can't be arsed pushing. I have my Pitch built up so can manage pretty much anything or I could pull out the stops and maybe get my Chameleon built, either geared or singlespeed.
Ideally don't want to go further than 2 hours from Largs so Glencoe, Ae or Inners are about the limits. I don't want to be relying on Trailforks too much either, I had considered the Golfie but don't feel great about soloing it right now but equally Glentress seems too much like a wasted trip to just blast round.
Drumlanrig?
Inspire me.
How about Comrie?
Is the gondola at Fort William still running?
AE Take the dh n trail bike
How about Comrie?
As much as I like Comrie it seems a bit short. Something with a big loop is more what I had in mind. Is there anything up Queen Elizabeth Forest these days? Brig o' Turk looks like it could have something round Meall Cala (Glenfinglas) or Auchnafree behind Crieff as long as they aren't bog fests.
Is the gondola at Fort William still running?
Nope, Nevis and Glencoe are both shut for maintenance, Glencoe for the season.
Kirroughtree and follow the PMBA routes? There's probably a gpx out there somewhere.
Comrie up round to turrett then up round and over achnafree is pretty guid tbf, then food and laps of Comrie. I can dig out a strava route if you want SK?.
Arran? Nae long drive then, and some cracking stuff.
Kirro and a hikeabike of the cairnsmore is guid.
Dunkeld, Pitlochry?.
Or what about this, then train back.
I had considered the Golfie but don’t feel great about soloing it right now but equally Glentress seems too much like a wasted trip to just blast round.
There's always other riders around at the Golfie, but don't discount GT - lot's of off-piste there now, and usually other riders too.
But since it's dark just after 4, and yesterday was dark in the woods not much after 3 I'd be looking to stay local to get more riding time in.
Dunkeld
Dunkeld and finish with a Macaroni Pie.
I am going to be road riding near Falkirk - you can join me for that delight if you wish 🙂
Dumyat from BofA is always worth it.
Dumyat from BofA is always worth it.
It's good, but I only really go to meet mates as they live nearby, I wouldn't drive to it just to ride there tbh. Well over an hour for SK as well.
What's the problem with using Trailforks? I'd go Golfie, but I am biased. If you want something different you could try Cademuir or Thornilee? As someone else said, the GT off piste (and the black TBF) are great. A good loop we often do is something like:
Up the red climb to bike park, then fire road to mast, then:
Carls Lane
Ho Chi Min
Zoom or Bust
Back up to mast:
Boundary Trail
Hush Hush (Five Year Plan)
Then down the fire road:
Broon Troot
Up redemption and finish off on:
Ewok Wall
Double X
The Bitch
Ponduro
This is almost always a superb day out!
I could do you a tour of some more weather resistant trails in Dunkeld.
Glen finglas would be up over Ben Ledi from the back down tourist track and path link back round, but will be windy on the ridge tomorrow.
QE forest lots of fire road and some bits of singletrack. Callander to Aberfoyle and back is good but will be petty muddy just now.
Tour de Ben Lomond from Loch Ard but windy and boggy up top.
Why no trailforks?
I would agree that Glentress is well worth it, mix a bit of off piste with some official trails and it's fantastic.
I'd go Golfie - always a few folk around anyway - and Innerleithen. Get the big climb up onto the Minch Moor, lovely!
TS
Dumyat from BofA is always worth it.
No its not.
So much better to be done in the area.
I ride it regularly because I have less than 2hrs from my door but other, better hills get picked off if I have a full morning or day.
I'm up solo in the Tweed valley at the moment, came up to test/sort a new bike out. Golfie conditions were pretty all time yesterday! So good my 3 day trip is already 4 days. Plenty of people out riding even on a Tuesday and the trails are all to die for.
I could possibly show you round Yair tomorrow?
A great place to check out if you've never been.
A bit less worn out than some of the other Valley trails.
I could possibly show you round Yair tomorrow?
A great place to check out if you’ve never been.
A bit less worn out than some of the other Valley trails.
Yair is great, really need to get back there. Always seems to turn into a big day though!
Holy crap, from no idea to too many choices, nice problem to have!
Okay so the Trailforks point was more about not wanting to be pulling my phone out every 5 minutes to check my bearings, nothing against it at all.
Stirling is getting kept in the back pocket, my sister in law stays up there so will have plenty of opportunity to get out in the area. She's a total newbie but with a lifetime of ballet and hillwalking put me to shame when she borrowed my singlespeed Chameleon and disappeared up the Glentress climbs so I'm sure Dumyat would be do-able.
@singlespeedstu Yair looks like a good shout but TBH I'd rather not be meeting up, no offence intended but I'm a faffer who already has a ropey pair of wheels and don't need that (minimal I know) pressure. Thanks for the offer though, it's more than appreciated and I would take you up on it another day.
@tjagain as much as I genuinely would like to meet for a pint/coffee and a blether I don't think even Falkirk deserves that level of combined grumpiness right now 😛
I haven't decided yet but I think I'd rather head somewhere with a shop and some quick shakedown trails close by for peace of mind so either Comrie or Glentress it is. I think I may be swaying towards GT though. @intheborders I've made it round Glentress on a night ride with my Bikehut special before so thanks for the reminder!
@nobeerinthefridge if you see this in time that Strava link would be handy (do I need the sub to see it? It says I can't see routes) but if not no worries, it's another one I'll keep on the back burner if I don't go tomorrow. I have a fair idea where it probably goes (off the NE red run and through the plantations then take a right on the track to the dam?) based on the local routes and segments.
Everyone and everywhere else, thanks, some of these weren't even on my radar (I didn't realise Kirroughtree was only 2h away) so has opened up a LOT more possibilities in future. You've all made a miserable bastard very happy.
Cheers!
@squirrelking.
No problems.
If you're down this way again give us a shout.
I know my way round a fair portion of the trails in the valley.
Will do, always nice to have someone there for the company regardless.
So I ended up chickening out and went to Glentress due to lack of faith in the bike and my own general self.
Headed up the mast with the intention of following the list @militantmandy made up. Turned down the wrong train and ended up on A Trailfairy Plan. Realised pretty quickly but I was committed, unfortunately that commitment was in haste as it turns out a HR2 isn't great in the claggy mud and it required more brakes off riding than I was prepared for. Still, made it down unscathed after a quick tyre pressure adjustment.
Back up the black past the shelter and up to the mast again, I hit Carls Lane which was a lot more fun, onto Truong Chinh, Ho Chi Minh and Zoom or Bust.
By that time I was knackered so went back to the bus, debated heading back out with my light but thought the better of it and drove home.
Will definitely hit them again, Ho Chi Minh felt like hard work but I think my forks are to blame. I've hit similar on shorter travel and not felt as rough so definite tweaking needed. Back wheel burped on Zoom but the sealant did its job and it got me home, just felt weird in the corners. Zoom also felt more like a red (especially after ATP) but was none the worse for it. Cheers for the suggestions, I'll check the rest out hopefully fitter and with more time to call my own.
We were up the mast as well on two hardtails. Went down trail fairy plan on to the lower blacks for a few laps. Trail fairy plan is pretty blown out in sections and has got much deeper. Still fun and testing for Glentress.
Good stuff SK. Tbh I dunno if yesterday was a day for an exposed ride, pretty grim, one for being in the trees.
Sounds like you had fun.
Seriously if you want showing round some trails down this way just give us a shout.
I've got a fair bit of free time ATM and I'm always up for riding with new folks.👍
Weather was probably better for the woods, yeah.
Trail fairy plan is pretty blown out in sections and has got much deeper. Still fun and testing for Glentress.
Aye, seemed more like Inners DH grade which would have been more fun on the right bike.
Glad you enjoyed it! TFP is probably the hardest trail at GT (maybe Hammer Time?) and can get very greasy. Hush Hush is similar in spirit but a bit less full on. Sounds like a good day anyway! If you ever want a tour of The Golfie / Inners, just drop me a message.
If you go kirroughtree shout I'm 5 min away
Aye, seemed more like Inners DH grade which would have been more fun on the right bike.
I know, I did it on my hardtail. Was missing the FS though at the end of it 😛