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Hardtail or CX?
I'm sure I will want to do a bit of road, so FS is out of the question.
Will I be able to do some of the paths into the glens on my CX?
Mick
Whichever bike you prefer! It's great for both but MTB wins for me everytime.
Hardtail. The gravel stuff is fireroads, so pretty damn dull IMO, there's been a fair amount of building in the last year, all the good work the local secondary school has done introducing kids to MTB seems to be paying off with a fair few of them digging some good stuff.
There's a guy who guides over there that's really good by the sounds of it, gimme a shout if ye fancy a buddy, I may be able to head over for a day.
If you want some guiding then give Matt a call at Ride Arran. Top bloke, great rider and knows the trails on the island very well.
https://www.hamiltoncottages.co.uk/ridearran
There's some top gravel riding on the island, and theres lots of mtb - I didn't ride any of the dug trails as it was proper wet when I went, but I did Coire-Fhionn Lochan which is a proper trail with some hike a bike, 1000ft in 1.5 miles.
Tried Glen Rosa too but that was barely rideable past the first bridge, due to the path being either a massive 2ft deep rut, or having big pedal/mech killing rocks. Up to that bridge a cx/gravel bike will be fine.
I'd take the FS and the cx bike.
Where are you staying? There's a few trails above Brodick and Lamlash (I stayed at the latter).
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[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50418785487_10392e30d6_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50418785487_10392e30d6_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2jPksmX ]IMG_20201004_161617[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/tallpaul_s/ ]Paul Sims[/url], on Flickr
Bit more detail. It's a family holiday so will be just be nipping out when I can.
Not really bothered about proper mountain biking, just want to get a break and explore a bit.
Staying in Corrie. Was hoping to ride up Glen Rosa, but maybe it's trickier than I remember?
You'll be fine up to the bridge:
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After that though, it's probably 80/20 walk/ride sections, before you get to a 8ft tall fence/gate which I didn't bother trying to get through, I walked up a bit further and the trail was even worse.
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The trail is in that picture above. I was really disappointed, was hoping to get a fair way up. Everything before the bridge is doubletrack so easily ridable, for about 1.5 miles after the small car park opposite the golf course, just as the tarmac ends.
@ta11pau1 that looks great, thanks.
What's it like coming in from Glen Sannox (up to The Saddle)?
What else can I do from the door in Corrie?
What’s it like coming in from Glen Sannox (up to The Saddle)?
You generally need two folks at least to hand bikes up to each other, it's that steep! I've done it a couple of times as part of a big day out, I wouldn't choose to do it in isolation.
Aye, Glen Rosa is too eroded to ride tbh, it's great from the saddle down into the valley, but awful once down in said valley.
If you're staying in Corrie, I'd defo take MTB, so many options.
Ride round to Laggan Cottage and up n over to Lochranza and back (or back along the road if you wanna be quick)
Loads of cracking trails in Brodick castle grounds, you can ride all the way up the hydro track to the bridge on Goatfell (about 1000' of climbing) then descend the tourist path (early or late at night) it's a beast of a descent).
Then head along and do Merkland burn, swoopy awesomeness on a stick.
Glen Sannox and North Glen sannox both work really well for a shorter out and back.
As above, Coire fionn lochan decent is immense, but if you have the chance go higher up onto Beinn Bhreac, or even better the full ridge onto Bharrain.
Clauchland ridge between Brodick and Lamlash is amazing, and theres ome really good stuff at Dyemill the other side of Lamlash too.
You'll love it.
Loads of cracking trails in Brodick castle grounds, you can ride all the way up the hydro track to the bridge on Goatfell (about 1000′ of climbing) then descend the tourist path (early or late at night) it’s a beast of a descent).
That'll be the black marked trail on trailforks, by the bridge?
On the right, with the hydro trail on the left?
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I came up the hydro trail, and down the black trail, you're not wrong! Massive unrollable steps (some 3-4ft high) between nagdery singletrack, I walked about half of it! The bottom section opens up, is fast and flowy, but the top half, good on you if you can ride that all!!
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Pretty much says it all haha!
Arran is stunning tbh, I'd happily live there. You pass one or 2 cars every 20 minutes driving round the island. The climb/descent up the ross is worth is too, great descent back into Lamlash.
The road riding is rather ace too...helps we had a nice day this last week.,
When I went a few years I took my mountain bike and wished I'd taken my road bike instead.
If I had the same choice now I'd take my cross bike.
Edit:- we stayed in Lamlash
I don't know about Arran, but I've always found the best bike for the Isles one you don't mind sticking on your shoulder for a bit so you can get to the next piece of track.
Massive unrollable steps (some 3-4ft high) between nagdery singletrack,
None of them are unrollable, and a couple are fairly easily popped if you know the trail, totally understand anyone riding it blind struggling!
When I went a few years I took my mountain bike and wished I’d taken my road bike instead
There's 3 roads on Arran, there's any number of trails that are great for the MTB.
I don’t know about Arran, but I’ve always found the best bike for the Isles one you don’t mind sticking on your shoulder for a bit so you can get to the next piece of track.
Wise words!
I took my gravel bike but I was on a bike tour so had no choice. Its great for road biking and I just want to recommend the velo cafe which is a quirky place with biking memorabilia all over the place.
I was there this time last year. Had the same question! Took the MTB FS and very very glad I did.
Highlights (of which there were many) were Goat fell down into brodick. All rideable down from the shoulder of goat fell at about 650 m to sea level. Brilliant, brilliant descent. Mega grip granite, tech bits flow bits warp speed bits. As above, do at a quiet time.
Round the castle and the woods all around that area has lots of good bits for messing about on.
Glen Rosa I thought was good. A bit rutty but coming back down it made a good challenge. I Rode most of it. And great to just 'get out there' with little climbing effort really.
There are a couple of good descents I found in merkland wood - particularly the one down by merkland burn.
Clauchland hills/clauchland point was good hilly xc riding with great views. Fairly glen down to brodick also good fun in a fairly non technical way
Have fun! Wish I was going back there this year. Brilliant place.
All the above is good advice.
One bit of info, the switchback track that comes down from Giant’s Graves in Whiting Bay that’s on many of the route guides has been resurfaced in a particularly bike unfriendly way recently. We know of at least a couple of riders who’ve either crashed or trashed rims on it and it could be frankly dangerous if you weren’t aware of the changes. Local riders are not happy!
@el_boufador if you do get back, seeing as you enjoyed the goat track, get thee bike howfed up from Corrie onto North Goatfell. Tis another peach, steep techy switchbacks, then a light speed drainage ditch bunny hop fest through Coire lan, then some more tech to finish.
Braw.