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After the blast that is seldom seen from sticks pass; I got my ego well and truly checked yesterday by the singletrack that borders Ullswater. How hard can it be? Yeah pretty hard mate.
Hats off to anyone that cleans the whole trail, start to finish and without a pause or dab. I got down the bit in the photo, only for the next ascent to be almost as hard but uphill!
So: stories of realising how shit you are at mountain biking.
Keeping up with my mate Stu down Marmite in Exmoor - the trail with huge drainage channels of the top of Dunkery Beacon
Haven't been able to keep up with Stu for a long time, so very pleased with myself 🙂
Louise
Nothing recent, as I've only been on my MTB's a couple of times in 6 months and that has been on very tame trails.
But, my last visit to Golfie in September. Again, I hadn't been riding and I was finding the easiest trails there very hard. I stopped multiple times and walked a few sections that I'd ridden before. Can't see myself getting back to where I was before.
Not so much a trail, but an intimidating feature called 'The Boot Drop' on the trail 'Fill Your Boots' down on the Spanish side of Cann Woods - Plymouth.
The drop itself isn't too bad (maybe 4 foot tops), but the landing is blind until you're over the lip so it's ****ing scary! Took a bit of working myself up to doing it, and it was not exactly a masterclass in steeze when I did, but I got down it!
The descent from Lairig an Laoigh to Glen Derry.
I'd been riding a wave of confidence after a good few months predominantly riding the gravel bike and *feeling* fast on some relatively chunky descents (chunky by gravel bike standards).
So I went into the Lairig an Laoighe descent on my very gravelised Superfly 29er, 2.1" semi-slick tyres, 100mm Rebas which are probably pumped up too hard with the rebound too fast, and 160mm rotors front and rear.
It was an exercise in pure arm-pumped survival, I have forgotten how to descend! Didn't help trying to chase didn'thurt down the hill but thankfully he quickly disappeared away off in front of me so I could concentrate on my own troubles 😁
So yeah.. feeling fast on a gravel bike on landrover tracks that barely require any braking does NOT prepare you for big loose mountain descents full of baby head rocks... 🙄
Not technically hard, but Cross Fell on a loaded gravel bike was pretty hard.
Wait, you guys are riding bike still?
MY proper gnar riding has been getting further and further apart. Monthly trip up to the borders started fading away in to an annual birthday trip and then stopped entirely. But my last trip there (sad wave to b_r and co.), up to Thornie humbled me a little bit. Hadn't ridden there for a good year and thought I'd be fine.... but Turboferret had gotten worn out, polished and slippery, High Definition was great but everything else we hit was steep, steeper, barely ridden in and slippery.
First commute after 6 weeks off the bike, in 30 degree heat. All mile and a half, and 50ft of climbing of it.
Through town, amidst swerving swarms of e-scooters and people stepping out into the carriageway without looking.
See, I look at that and it doesn't look bad. The last thing I had to have 3 goes at before I got anywhere near clearing it, was a teeny little right hander in a wood. It was 180degs, the entry was either slimy roots or an unsupported soft bank, and tuned back on itself in less than a bikes length on a 45 degs slope.
It wasn't really technical or owt, just tricksie
Think I've managed to get down everything on the Ullswater singletrack (albeit trashing a rim and probably with the odd dab) - but no chance of me getting up it all.
Warnscale Bottom was as challenging as ever on Saturday. Made it across the hardest bit for the first time, but with a couple of dabs.
Took a left-hand option near the bottom which turned out to be a chute filled with large rocks at awkward angles. Discretion was the better part of valour for that.
The off piste trails off the North loop at Whinlatter. In the wet. I'd never ridden there before. Sections of the trail seemed to be just the fall line down the hill and someone had scraped the moss off of the tree roots and that was it. I was hanging out the back of the bike, barely in control for most of it, but it was hilariously good fun!
Speltham Hill in Hambledon. Not a long incline, but quite nasty gradient.
The blacks at Antur Stiniog on Sunday. Had to stop and have a look at two sections and then walk down them so as to not hold up those i was with. But then second run was fine.
‘The Boot Drop’ on the trail ‘Fill Your Boots’ down on the Spanish side of Cann Woods
My local haunt! Love Boot Drop. Scared the crap out of me first time down it, and ended up sat down on the berm for a "rest".
The landing into the berm is pretty short as well!
My mate always pedal strikes the tree stump just after the berm, and usually has a sit down because of it. Every. Single. Time
Ullswater singletrack is a delight. I was close to getting up the rooty, rock strewn climb by silver crag - next time!
I'm pretty decent at tech, but show me a jump line and I'm shitting myself in short order.
Spent last week in the Tweed Valley (i live on the south coast, near Worthing), so was a general step up from the usual riding in the local area, in terms of steepness and length. On a couple of occasions i was on the limit of what i found comfortable, but managed to ride everything and really enjoyed being pushed.
My local haunt! Love Boot Drop. Scared the crap out of me first time down it, and ended up sat down on the berm for a “rest”.
The landing into the berm is pretty short as well!
My mate always pedal strikes the tree stump just after the berm, and usually has a sit down because of it. Every. Single. Time
Even after doing it a few times I still have to walk up to it and use a pair of sticks to mark the line I need to hit coming over it to make sure I hit the landing centrally. After that it's all back brake and hope into the berm!
Turbo trainer:(
Freshly made trail in the local woods.
Starts off with a rough bench-cut entry that wants to ping your wheels offline, into a tight and steep left hand turn which you don't see until late on and which requires commitment.
Then an off camber right which is easy to get wrong because the first turn is a bit of a free-fall and you spent all your time worrying about the first turn not the second.
Then a rocky clatter through a V of trees which want to grab your bars or pedals or both, into another off-camber rock-strewn turn, squeeze past another two trees and drop into a nice wide exit, but sadly usually too fast to avoid falling in the ditch directly ahead.
It's not "hard" as such, but being fresh is still quite treacherous!
Ooh, I've got one! I was on one a them so called "gravel rides" and there's a hill on the way home (up Catherington Down for those in the know) - was a really hot sunny day, so thought I'd avoid the road (Whitedirt, it's sexily named) and go up "Old Lane", a short BOAT I've ridden down many times (but never up), thinking I'd be more shaded.
Holy crap it was long and steep going the up way. I nearly died of heat exhaustion. And shame, cos I had to walk it and a woman walking down saw me. 😓
Hardest thing. Getting back on my road bikes after 5 years off due to bad accident.
Recently did 3,500 ft of climbing along little lanes in North Wales over 50 miles, with a 39 x 24 bottom gear. Oof. Got too used to spinning on the MTB. Gone are the days of doing 1 in 4's on a 42x21... but I'm not 20 any more.
Nazi Gold at Aviemore. Probably not hard as these things go, but first time I've ever really done any steep woodland stuff. Managed about 2 hours in the forest with only 2 minor dabs, which was a win. ( loads of stops )
Couple of bits on NG where I looked at it and thought " no way, that's impossible" but luckily by the time that thought had been processed I was already down it.
Recently- natural flow into the gift that keeps on giving- a strava segment on win hill. There was a steep right hand turn I walked after looking at for a while.
Ullswater singletrack though… that brings back memories. 10 years or so ago we were staying in the area and I had a look on the map and saw the bridleway on the map along the banks of the lake. Looked perfect for a pootle with the wife… oh how wrong I was. I was in big trouble after that…
Edit
Nazi Gold at Aviemore
Lol. Rode past the start of that when we were up there the other week. On Xc hardtail eebs. Wife was knackered after full Burma road circuit. Had to give it a miss. The videos look like it’s a bit much for that bike that day. Went down lefticle lower and coco pops instead while she kept to the fire road. Really enjoyed them.
Hazzard Hoofer at Fort William, only recently got back into mountain biking after a lengthy stint of back pain and road biking. My brother did it first and even now in our mid 30s I then had to do it, no way out. As with most things, once you commit, it's fine.
Louise
2nd reply, not bad going. Well done sir!
A few months ago me and a mate found and rode those trails on the Sam Pilgrim and Brendog videos "are these the steepest trails in the UK"....
Was able to mince down them with little finesse, and managed the berms etc, but was nowhere near as fast as those boys in the videos!
DrP
newish track out the back of Grizedale down to Coniston. Relentlessly steep for ever!! ridiculous. the first turn you think your gonna fall 300m into the lake!
Ullswater singletrack though… that brings back memories. 10 years or so ago we were staying in the area and I had a look on the map and saw the bridleway on the map along the banks of the lake. Looked perfect for a pootle with the wife… oh how wrong I was. I was in big trouble after that…
Still one of my best family cycle rides that one. Though they did take the ferry back to Pooley Bridge rather than return along the path with me....
Nazi Gold at Aviemore
That's a great trail! Really enjoyed it when we were up there last month.
Riviera at Pitlochry was challenging - we rode it on a day it was mega greasy - there was a lot of bad shapes being pulled.
Dead Black Sheep in the FoD is ridiculous, not quite as ridiculous as 10psi at Machen though.
Even after doing it a few times I still have to walk up to it and use a pair of sticks to mark the line I need to hit coming over it to make sure I hit the landing centrally. After that it’s all back brake and hope into the berm!
Pretty similar here! always stop to have another look, go back up to just after the jump and then try to aim for a right to left line to hit the centre(ish) of the rock on the drop. Have been pretty far right on the berm a few times, and wouldn't want to go over the top of it!
A 20" trials bike. When I first got my 24" street trials bike it feel really weird, but it feels normal to me now, so wasn't expecting a 20" mod to feel that much different. It did.
New local trails in candy woods Oswestry.
Some people have recreated the old downhill trail that was there previously before logging.
It's too steep and too techy for me.
Fine for a 15 year old on a Carrera vengeance though.
There's me with all the gear and no idea.
The rest of the trails in the woods there are amazing if you ever pass.
Main line at Revs in the wet, friggin lethal
The descent from Novar wind farm (above Loch Glass) down to Loch Morie on my gravel bike. That was a study in concentration. Walked a few small sections, discretion being the better part of valour - it certainly felt remote enough not to want to spangle myself! I don think the track sees much action at all, I was heartened to see a tyre track at one point! The traverse across the bottom of Loch Morie was a bit of a slog as well. You just can’t tell what a routes going to be like from a satellite image…
One of these in full motorcycle gear and helmet
The wheelchair at Fairfield hospital after I came off a couple of weeks ago, had a mind of its own!
…that or the first two stages at PMBA Graythwaite this year, horrendous!
Climbing Golfie in a Scottish heatwave over the weekend, made the downs seem easy.
Probably RockNRolla in FoD. Amazing trail!
Climbing Golfie in a Scottish heatwave over the weekend, made the downs seem easy.
Can confirm.
It was disgusting on Sunday, which was supposed to be the cooler day. For a laugh I did the push up to Pony!
40 posts and no-one has written "Your Mum". This forum has really gone downhill IMO.
The golfie.
I've ridden there before but that was off the back of loads of steep tech.
This thine was off the back of two years of lockdown and having a son.
Every time I got some speed I slipped, lost my confidence, braked, didn't have enough speed tonget over the next thing.... Repeat
I once again bottle the 'Sam Hill' line at Pila last week after it had rained all night. Everything else was mint though
Torridon Fun Park descent and the Postmans Walk hairpins on Harris..I walked two of the Harris corners while being harangued for doing so - but they are waaaay steeper in real life, with precipice of impressive proportions about 50cm from your elbow...
The descent from Novar wind farm (above Loch Glass) down to Loch Morie on my gravel bike. That was a study in concentration.
Noted for future reference, I think at one point I was planning this as the return leg of a much longer ride, bullet dodged by the sound of it.
40 posts and no-one has written “Your Mum”
I was sure someone had! I must be losing it, or did someone edit it?
I was sure someone had! I must be losing it, or did someone edit it?
It was there. Now gone.
I thought a reference to a sister was expected.
Random beach rocks and coast defences... Basically, I needed to trials, and I cannot trials. Great fun though and falling off onto sand is nicer than most alternatives.
Lower Avalanche at Golfie last weekend. Far from the steepest thing we rode, but I'm really not used to riding on a surface of loose rocks. When we got to the bottom we all agreed that we needed a bit more practise at it before riding the upper half.
My friends bike with tan walls and lime green grips was tricky last week.
Louise's mom.
impatientbull
Full MemberLower Avalanche at Golfie last weekend. Far from the steepest thing we rode, but I’m really not used to riding on a surface of loose rocks.
It is just horrible. A hillside so spiteful that it literally went on fire despite being made entirely out of stones.
Spent most of the past 18 months riding local trails around warrington, if you get 400m of climbing in 50km your doing well for climbing!
Just in the tweed valley this week including a inners uplift and golfie today, its all bit of a shock to the system 😲
Bringewood Downhill course last week
Albeit only the top half*
(* albeit on a rigid 29er with XC tyes 😮)
The Grand Union Canal from Birmingham to London over two days. First day started badly with the idiot in the neighbouring hotel room being arrested for asault after a huge fight that kept us awake most the night. Then I fell off riding down some steps and hurt my left hand and knee. Day 2 did exactly the same thing but injuring the right side and suffering severe embarrassment as these steps led into the beer garden!
I watched a couple do lower avalanche yesterday. Why? It looked awful.
The climb yesterday was the first time I’ve walked after the reservoir.
Hellish day.
Then went over the bars on repeat offender chasing the laddie.
Hellish hellish day
To be fair, the start of the descent from nan bield pass was pretty tricky today as well. Couldn't clean those tight, loose switchbacks. Never know whether to run a little bit and lean the bike (results in washout? or to slow down and try and hop around (usually results in front wheel getting caught on loose block).
ive ridden Golfie loads, some of it definitely out of my league but none of it is worse than that thing at Grizedale!!
A few that stand out for me are:
- Near Falkland Place (kind of).The crazy high north shore that dropped into a steep gully then went up the other side of the gully around a rather large tree then lined up for a double jump larger than a transit van stopping very close before the road.
- Innerleithen downhill trails. There was a steep rooty section that turned 90 degrees into a jump that went diagonally across the hill over the dry stone wall. I just could see how you could carry enough around the rooty corner that I could barely bumble around.
- Broon Troot (I think) at GT. There was a tight 90 degree turn with a 2-3' drop off landing onto roots with trees close on either side. I'm just couldn't work out how to get around.
I'm a half decent (in the right conditions and if the stars align) rider if there is some sort of flow to the trails and that are not too steep. It's taken a while to realise this though and now pick what I want to ride. I've no shame in walking bits.
I'll also add a chunky gravel (approx 50mm chunks) section I came across whilst riding at a decent pace up the Lammermuirs. I keep meaning to put a note on my cross bikes bars reminding me that it's not a mountain bike. 😄
Great Dun Fell on Monday, what a hill!
13thFloorMonk - trying to climb up that track from Loch Morie would ruin a ride completely 🤣. Glad I’ve been of assistance! I reckon it would be quite a hoot of a descent on a mountain bike though.
I loved lower Avalanche.
It was mental, in a good way
Riding home after work last night I took the gnarly singletrack route option (i think i was on this ride actually
).
Handcut steep switchbacks up and down, rainforest bog, overgrown bracken hiding the tracks, etc. And it was dark. It really needs headlights and bar lights to ride safely. Just as I get to the start of one of the tracks my Ayup headlight battery goes. No fear, i have a spare battery ready to go in my pack. But while i was fitting that the bar battery died too. D'oh.
So rode the rest on a single light. Not the end of the world, but i did have to ride the rest of the way home with fingers crossed that the final battery wouldn't die 🙂
Me and some mates were in Tweed/Dunkeld/FtBill last week. I've ridden a lot of tough trails in England, Wales and Europe, but I had a very quick wake up call on our first day at GLentress. I thought GT was tamer than the others?! 1st trail of holiday, Trail Fairy. Steep, but all good fun and clean. Next was Hammer time. My mates had ridden it before, said it was good. It was wet and greasy and I had zero, zero grip! I was literally clinging on for dear life. I went where the bike went. I crashed (but only once! only crash of holiday!). Got to bottom and was shaken and said I aint doing that again lol!. Golfie tough for repetition of roots+bumps+steepness, but really good fun - loved "Spanner". Inners was good. Again, stupidly went into Cresta run in damp conditions as first run and then deviated into big step downs on Matador. Gold Run was great and better in the monsoon we had. Ft Bill WC, no where near as tough IMO. Dunkeld, beautiful and tamer.
Did this brutal workout last night on Zwift, was slightly relieved to see I struggled through it in winter 2020 to a lesser extent and it has a brutal reputation online too.
https://whatsonzwift.com/workouts/tt-tuneup/week-5-power-intervals-1
Tried to get down Cave Dale in the Peak on Saturday for the second time. Failed miserably!
I did manage Jacobs Ladder (descent, obviously) without a dab. I’ve only managed it once before - the first steep bit at the very top usually freaks me out. I knew a new bike was the answer and I was right 😆
Dark Side at Cademuir is the one that stands out recently. Very steep in places, completely exposed, insanely tight corners with zero room for error, some drops along the way. I was very glad when I got to the bottom alive
A few memorable trails for me are
Coaster at Callendar, walked a lot of the features. Want to go back to this one.
Upper DH at Dunkeld, steep and rough
Glwncoe Black, better second run, still walked 2 short bits.
Find Golfie relatively tame (not done avalanche).
A few memorable trails for me are
Coaster at Callendar, walked a lot of the features. Want to go back to this one.
Upper DH at Dunkeld, steep and rough
Glwncoe Black, better second run, still walked 2 short bits.
Find Golfie relatively tame (not done avalanche).
We missed the top part of Dunkeld DH. Wasnt on my route I was following, so joined at middle. Wish we had now as someone at bottom said it was good.
superfli
Full MemberMe and some mates were in Tweed/Dunkeld/FtBill last week. I’ve ridden a lot of tough trails in England, Wales and Europe, but I had a very quick wake up call on our first day at GLentress. I thought GT was tamer than the others?! 1st trail of holiday, Trail Fairy. Steep, but all good fun and clean. Next was Hammer time. My mates had ridden it before, said it was good. It was wet and greasy and I had zero, zero grip! I was literally clinging on for dear life. I went where the bike went. I crashed (but only once! only crash of holiday!). Got to bottom and was shaken and said I aint doing that again lol!
Hammertime's schizophrenic, in the wet it's definitely the hardest thing at GT imo, in the dry you can pretty much ignore all the wee roots and just focus on the main features and suddenly it's a totally different thing. They put it in a race last week and tbh if it wasn't for the heatwave there would have been some unhappy campers
Did this brutal workout last night on Zwift, was slightly relieved to see I struggled through it in winter 2020 to a lesser extent and it has a brutal reputation online too.
https://whatsonzwift.com/workouts/tt-tuneup/week-5-power-intervals-1/blockquote >
That looks absolutely impossible.
Anyone said Louise yet?
Yer Mom's easy. Yer Sister is pretty tight but goes. Yer Aunt is just a bit weird.
(All trails up the road from where I live)
Anyone said Louise yet?
Third post.
Yer Mom’s easy. Yer Sister is pretty tight but goes. Yer Aunt is just a bit weird.
Any where near Yer Maw and Yer Maw's Erse?
Anyone said Louise yet?
Third post.
Once is foolish, three times is BDSM
That zwift workout is classic zwift: designed by someone with absolutely no conception of valuable training.
6*2:30 @ 550W for a TT rider. A TT rider, not a CX racer or a MTB racer.