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I can’t see the usual post and as it was gorgeous out there I’ll start.
Torridon for me on Friday. I headed over straight from work on Thursday and kipped in my car. The drive down to Loch Maree and into Torridon was absolutely stunning.
On Friday I did the classic Torridon loop and then tagged on the Coire Mhic Nobuil route. I did the Mich Nobuil route 15 years ago, with JojoA1 and swore that I would never do it again. I’m glad I tried it again because the trail is much better than 15 years ago, with only a mile of drumlin hell and another mile of on and off stuff.
I was going to ride on Saturday but my wrists are pretty shot and the midge were horrible in Torridon village.
What you all been up to?
Time to abandon
Daft boy rings me today "can I do a bit of a daft jump?"
Errrm thinks me
"It's a road gap"
So I drove over to see and took his full face and armour. Rules are, he can't do stupid stuff without a grown up and permission.
What you don't see is, it is actually a road, between 2 different woods, not quite 2 lanes wide, but you'd get a Sprinter down the road. Proper proper balls.
Tried out the new blue trail at the Nevis range. Visibility at the top was pish. Did the DH and top chief as well.
It was looking a little bit autumnal down by the river yesterday.
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Did a nice little loop on the Glenfiddich estate.
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mrs_oab was suffering after three Munro's on Friday, eldest was packing to leave for uni, so I ended up on a local 30 mile back roads and gravel loop on my own. Lovely.
(But rather nippy cold at 7.30am...)
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Then an afternoon in the big smoke of Edinburgh leaving eldest to his rabbit hutch sized room in his new house of pals. 🙁
Commitments meant that we could only ride one day this weekend. Today was the better forecast so the plan was to ride Cutgate.
Eldest daughter was taking her grandad to a local car rally as he has had to give up his licence and seen as it was the first time she had driven the car we waited until she arrived safely.
Just getting our riding kit on to load the bikes when Abigale arrived home early from yesterday's dirt jumping at Bolehills.
One look at her leg and plans were changed for a visit to A and E.
Confirmation is what we though and she is now off the bike for a while with a broken leg.
Won't be at Tweedlove and glad we hadn't decided on Finale
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Nothing startling, 15 miles along the local NCN with Mrs NB this morning, then a couple of hours exploring previously unridden local hills on the Rail in the afternoon.
Almost too dry and hot to in the Fod 😄
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Sutton Bank green route with an extension to Paradise Farm for cake, except it was closed for a wedding! Fortunately they had ice cream available when we returned to Sutton Bank.
Smallest wants to go back next week so will count that as successful ride 🙂
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Nice @Rocketdog. You on your holibobs?
Weather was so nice again I decided to float rather than freewheel.
Sup from Stratford upon Avon to Bidford.
Lush.
Burma Road on Sunday morning.
Friday - Garburn, Sunday - The Merrick
Well I wouldn't normally but as there's a few STWers on this one here is Sunday Surrey hills Saturday in Shropshire edition.
Thursday late avo ride at Golfie.
The new climb is like something from center parks. 😂 Going to be so much better than the muddy slog it's replaced come winter.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51420580279_ab3f2dd45c_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51420580279_ab3f2dd45c_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2mkRV3X ]New Climb at Golfie.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]multispeedstu[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51419812146_24caa6e378_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51419812146_24caa6e378_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2mkMYHh ]Tower.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]multispeedstu[/url], on Flickr
Then Saturday had a cruise round GT off piste on my own while Mrsstu rode with some local ladies group.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51430270860_f4768f118b_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51430270860_f4768f118b_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2mmHzHW ]Thunderstruck.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]multispeedstu[/url], on Flickr
Sunday we went for a walk and found where one of the Fast Show characters now lives.
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Sun burning off the early morning mist
Rode the Hell of the North Cotswolds yesterday. Thought it was really well run and the route was nicely interesting. Was rather surprised to see a lot of mtb riders in armour and quite a few with full face helmets on given it’s essentially a route that takes in lanes, field edges and bridleways. A Misty start that soon cleared as the day warmed up.
https://flic.kr/p/2mmCp1X
The last time I rode it I went too hard from the bat and suffered (it was also only about a year since my back had been broken) so just rode the 75km distance. This time I was determined to do the 100km so paced it as I would an Audax. I’d packed my sarnies and crisps in my bar bag along with a few treats. The feed stop was excellent so I didn’t need the treat but still has my sarnies.
Most enjoyable for me were the access road sections. Nice dry sandstoney surfaces.
The field edges roughened up as the day dried them out and they were quite jarring.
A couple of the longer, stonier descents were tough on the hands and I appreciated the larger volume tyre up front. Speaking of tyres I tore the sidewall of the rear with less than a mile to the finish, which was frustrating. Anchovy just held enough air in to get back to the line. A nice dusty day out.
https://flic.kr/p/2mmxhq6
