[Closed] Who enjoys Dalbeattie red?

I would go back. Its local to me and familiarity helps no end. At the annual Hardrock duathalon top times are under 1hr 10mins so you can get some speed up when you know the lines.

I do. If you stopped after the slab then you missed a fair bit out. Its quite different to many centres as it doesn't have a big climb and then decent like many do, it more undulates around

I did a bit after the slab, not sure what I missed, I think just the loop out towards the coast.

I think familiarity was an issue, you have to pick your way through rocks a lot more than I'm used to, it took me the best part of an hour (50mins ish) to get to the 40% marker, so I though if better bail before the Mrs killed me. I did a bit of the blue single track which was quite nice, and the last bit of red that's part of the taster loop and skipped all the black options.

I think it was an all together off day, the weather was crap, I was tired and not riding as well as I can, which is crap anyway and not knowing my round didn't help.

I'll no doubt be back, maybe with a bit more time next time.

I like it there.
However Mrs stu used to hate it.
Now she's got a lot more experience she also likes it.
First few times around she really struggled with maintaining enough speed to stay on top of the rocks and kept stalling.

I love it.

We have a lads holiday once a year & it's one of our favourites.

Your first experience sound like mine.

I rode it twice back in May. On the first time round I found it frustrating - it didn't seem to flow at all. But I very rarely ride TCs and realized part of the problem was my own lack of confidence, so I spent a bit of time doing the skills loop and the taster loop. Though I wimped out of most of the black sections such as the slab, the twins, the narrow planks etc - well, I was on my own after all.

Went back at the end of the week and found that with just a bit more confidence/aggression/speed it flowed so much better - OK not as good as Kirroughtree, but still very enjoyable. Got round in 1'40.

I would not cross the road to ride it and I have never disliked a ride so much....death by undulating nothingness

Rode all the black which, to be fair, is good but it is seperated by miles of nothing ness

I really like it but I quite like low speed, technical, rocky riding. If you're more about big ups or big downs or air time or you don't have the necessary skills for the technical sections then you won't like it. Horses for courses and all that.

One of my favourites of 7stanes (possibly 8 years since I last went). I thought it was a bit like a longer easier stainburn, various rock and wood obsticals to play on along a biggish ride.

In what world is that forest technical or rocky riding 😯
The black bits require balls more than skills

Its flat and undulating forest for about 95% + of it

In what world is that forest technical or rocky riding

There's loads of interesting little sections. When were you last there?

I think I partly agree with junkyard but I have probably much less skill, it felt too easy, then too hard, then too easy. I was smacking pedals all over the shop. I'll do it again one day, but only if I'm staying closer or the rest of the family go to rockcliffe or something. It didn't help that it was still dark when I started and I couldn't see **** all in the trees 😆

It's great. Ride some laps of the black skills testers, head off around the loop and play on some features. Keep an eye out for some other cheeky looking trails although we didn't find the start of these. Fun skinnes/rock thing at the end, and if you don't like these then wild raspberries and blueberries line the lower chicken route, if in season. Perfect.

Now Ae... what a heap..

Strange but i am in kippford just down the road from the dalbeattie run and its been glorious weather for the last 2 days only at night has it rained. I guess the red run must have its own micro climate.

It wasn't raining this morning, but very wet from last night, I'm very much a fair weather mtber so wet rocks and huge puddles don't do much for me. I left the house at 5:15 this morning, it was still drizzling and the trails hadn't dries out at all.

It's a toss up now between mabie, drumlanrig or ae as a surprise late entrant in the morning now.

I was at Ae yesterday early and it was surprisingly wet, but there had been a huge amount of rain overnight sat.

Prawny - Drumlanrig is my fave by a long way, if its dry overnight I'd be going there. Plus if you arrive similarly early the car park booth will be shut 😀

Drumlanrig is my fave by a long way, if its dry overnight I'd be going there

Drumlanrig in the wet, now there's a challenge for your old school skills!

^^^^ aye, hence my comment about dry overnight 😀

I've tried to like Dalbeattie on a few occasions but it never seems to click.

I think the fact that everytime I've been it either been raining stair rods and a canoe would have been better than a mountain bike or half of it has been shut, hasn't helped.

Maybe I should give it another go.

Controversially, I think Drumlanrig is just alright but then I prefer jumps to roots

When were you last there?

Fun skinnes/rock thing at the end,

Dont get me wrong the good stuff is very good it just that there is hardly any of it and the stuff in between is just so mleh

Junkyard - lazarus
In what world is that forest technical or rocky riding
The black bits require balls more than skills

Its flat and undulating forest for about 95% + of it

How many 15yr old trail centres with little or no maintenance other than the odd bit (by volunteers) before the Hardrock are any better? Log on Log off being an exception(due to a serious accident!!)
Dalbeattie was the first Stane built buy the fledgling D&G builders. The guys were a mixture of ex bankers, firemen and led by a cabinet maker!! When they started they used picks, shovels and wheel barrows before receiving traing on motorised wheel barrows, chain saw and then small diggers. The guys and local FC had know idea what they were doing! Advice was given by Pete Laing of GT fame, Daffyd and Goggs from Coed. The guys however were left to make it up as they went along. Too much time and hence money was spent on Dalbeattie and I believe it is the most costly trail per mrt/mile.
Like all armchair or in our case bike seat critics it's all too easy to criticise without being aware of the facts 💡

Yes I am a local, yes I have/had an input into original trail, yes it annoys me when riders of superior skill forget their humble beginnings.

I agree it needs improving but FC have no money or desire to do anything 😥
There will never be any fast, flowing sections, there are no big hills and too many big boulders and boggy bits.
It would appear FC are allowing the D&G trails to deteriorate to a point where they will not be usable any more. Kirry will survive but will the others? This is an opinion shared by others btw.

Luckily most of the visitors I have ridden with at both Ae and Dalbeattie recently are not aware of this site and form their own opinions after riding. All thoroughly enjoyed both and are returning 😆

prawny
There is a shop ride at Ae on a Tues evening from 7pm(6.30)
I'll not be there but Callum will keep you right. There are usually 2 groups, slow & fast + the Enduro/off piste crew

I love Dalbeattie. I have great memories of riding there, probably the first of the stanes I rode, it's where I met trekster too. Some cracking off piste riding, lots of really good wee sections to session, kippford and the anchor inn for a pint of prawns down the road. What's not to like?.

As John rightly says, the place has been pretty much left to erode away, which has improved some sections, but it really could do with some work now.

Why are the FC not bothering with these trails anymore then ? Surely it's a growth area and brings people into the forest ? Or does most of a limited budget go on the flagship trails at GT ?

For the "haterz" could you please take the time to send your comments to FC at Ae offices or via whichever media(ie Facebook)
http://www.7stanesmountainbiking.com/

Unless more people speak up there will be no improvements. FC will be monitoring this site but unless riders contact them with constructive criticism then there will be no movement

GT is getting the lions share simply because of the meter count(cash through parking)

Iain, have you been living in a darkened cupboard? 😆

Enjoyed dalbeattie a lot recently on a very rainy evening. Loved the rock sections and trying to keep speed and flow through it.
Had fun on the named sections though I thought the run in to the slab was harder than the slab itself. 🙂

Drumlanrig I didn't like riding wise. Frustrating flow and lots of riding in circles without going anywhere I thought.

I really like it. Said this in another thread a couple of weeks back but it's unfortunate in that it throws away a huge section of nice but fairly flat singletrack (before the slab) in one huge lump, by the time I'm halfway along it I'm usually pecking and the second half is just grinding along. If it had a couple of fire roads or other obvious breaks, I reckon most people would enjoy it more and remember it as 3 nice bits of singletrack instead of one sweaty grind. Kirroughtree has similiar trail but with a load of breaks so you end up charging down every bit.

And best skills/taster loop anywhere apart from maybe coed y brenin, I could just do laps of volunteer ridge and the silly rock/wood bits near the end of the main lap, log on log off and that.

I've not been to Dalbeattie for ages but I used to enjoy it, it was a great place for a social ride.

Nobeerinthefridge - Member

Iain, have you been living in a darkened cupboard? 😀

err, no, but some folk reading this thread might be 🙂

I like Dalbeattie, it's a good traditional XC ride with some exciting bits here and there, and I think it's quite a pretty place too.

[i]I think familiarity was an issue, you have to pick your way through rocks a lot more than I'm used to, it took me the best part of an hour (50mins ish) to get to the 40% marker, so I though if better bail before the Mrs killed me.[/i]

So you are complaining about somewhere because you are only allowed out for an hour at a time, and couldn't get round? 🙄

FWIW I like Dalbeattie, it's different to other trail centres and paired up with Mabie makes a nice pleasant day out with loads of singletrack, what feels like natural riding and the slabs and starter-taster too. Nice café/waitress 🙂 just by the trail head too.

I have only been with groups of riders, and it lends itself, very well to this and has always been good entertainment.

I have not managed the terrible twins, usually because of getting there late and watching someone come a cropper just before my turn and bottling it, but made it quite a few times down the slab often very sketchily.

My favourite bit is just riding through the woods draped in Lichen and moss...Very pretty.

Yes I like it 🙂

i like it, even the blue is (fairly) good.

(might be wrong here, and i'll certainly phrase it badly) it doesn't have that 'winch and plummet' feel that other centres have, there's a bit more 'continuity', or something.

I think the 'lack of flow' that gets touted often is from people having to pedal!.

I think I was just in a bit of a grump about how badly I was riding yesterday. Went round drumlanrig this morning and realised that a red round here is a massive step up my my normal riding (Cannock), that said, rose much better today and really enjoyed myself, there's less tricky uphill bits there than there is at Dalbeattie and kirroughtree.
I think I prefer roots to rocks too, you know where you are with roots, they're always trying to kill you, nearly managed it this morning two, my balls are still sore from a tricky bit where I went right and should have gone left.

I felt the same about kirri the first time I rode that tbf, then rode the black a couple of days later and the red again after that, much better after a couple of goes.

I'm going to stop moaning for a bit now.

glad you enjoyed Drumlanrig 🙂 cracking morning for it ! If you go back try the black bits - there are some right freaky roots on that bit !

I did the black loop from the start, not the one at the end, I was flagging a bit by then. I was surprised at how gnarly some of the roots were, one section I walked because I just couldn't see a possible way down, not in the damp anyway.

And that's why you like roots over rocks.....Lets face it off piste at the Chase is slippery rooteville in the wet......I've ridden with Peaks riders who have struggled with the close proximity of trees and their associated roots but who think nothing of a rocky chute. I too am cautious and was surprised at the erosion levels and evolving of Dalbeatrie when I ride it earlier this year compared to four years ago. Some of the 'flow' or speed has therefore been reduced unless you're used to that sort of trails or an all round riding God 😆
I have my doubts that Kirroughtree will ever be the same again once it's all been harvested..... As for Mabie, I always enjoy a lap there, can't put my finger on it as to why exactly, maybe it suits my lack of fitness and is just right before the long drive back home.....
Oh how I wish I was a local to the Stanes......but for now I'll make do with the Chase, the mud, the roots and the polished glass pebbles 😆

I was surprised at how gnarly some of the roots were, one section I walked because I just couldn't see a possible way down, not in the damp anyway.

this bit perchance ?

[img] ?oh=a2da1dc73ae0acef6014be275c75f04e&oe=566C20BC[/img]

I think the 'lack of flow' that gets touted often is from people having to pedal!.

I suspect so, though Kiroughtree is similar in that there's no really big ups followed by really big downs a la Glentress, but most people seem to really rate it.

I like Dalbeattie, it's a bit old school, but it's got a some really nice features, a cracking skills section and was pretty close to where I grew up so it got ridden reasonably often and I still liked it.

I expect prawny meant the rooty bit that starts with [i]whoopy doo[/i] into the [i]the pines[/i] (off camber root section) into the [i]the bear[/i] and exits at [i]pinball wizard[/i]

See trail map [url= http://www.drumlanrigcastle.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Drumlanrig-Cycle-MTB-Routes-2015_WEB-VERSION.pdf ]here[/url] , fwiw that is/was my favourite section, get it right and it was so fast.

^ that section up there leads you to montagu bridge, if you hit the roots just right you can clear that wee drop using the big root on your right to launch off.

Somafunk I is in the right sort of area it think, it was a much taller slope that the bit in Ian's picture (though I walked that bit too :lol:)

I had to really bail on a bit of the red not long after you rejoin from the black, I've got it on camera the bike goes left I go right, could have been nasty, glad I swapped back tot flat pedals for the trip now.

This trip has really made me realise how much I miss my full suss, I'm better off with a hard tail 95% of the time, but that 5% is hard work

There is a left hand switchback/hairpin just before you drop down into the pines/off camber section - gives you just enough time to focus on the roots and think [i]shit! 😯 [/i]

Edit : Don't beat yourself up at not riding it, you'd be surprised at how many elite class riders ran down that section (it used to be my preferred marshalling point at races)

My first ride at Drum was a bit of a slap to the face, there were a bunch of bits on the black I couldn't get my head round at all, including all of that there. I love the different line choices now, there's so many ways to ride that bit from top to bottom and it feels so different on different bikes.

Soma/prawny - I find the pines to pinball bit OK, but have only once (last week) got over that bit in my picture !!

Lovely trails though, maybe we should have an stw ride there ?

COUNT ME IN 😛

Me too

Maybe we need to get Rik on the thread too and sort a day next month ?

Ha.. Yup I'd be up for that.

First weekend in September's out, got a big corporate thing going on, but any weekend after that would work for me.

If you've not been for a while there is now quite alot more 'air' to be had on both the red and the black routes..

Pow'r tae yer pedals

Rik

Just putting the finishing touches to a pump track just down from the kiosk today anaw.. 🙂

Lovely trails though, maybe we should have an stw ride there ?

Can we not go to Ae instead? 😀

bangin on - Member
Just putting the finishing touches to a pump track just down from the kiosk today anaw..

Rik - had a wee look at that on Fri, looks like it will be fun ?

Will start a fresh thread for a possible group ride !

richmtb - Member
Lovely trails though, maybe we should have an stw ride there ?
Can we not go to Ae instead?

^^^^ 😆

^^^^ with live Strava updates too ! 🙂 ...oh no hang on, thats another thread .... 🙂

We could all get SPOT trackers so people can track it online and join in, like the highland trail 550. Exactly like that.

"Hour 2. Northwind was making good progress but is now climbing back up the slab because he had to do it to prove he could, but the chicken run is much more fun. The rest of the group rides on because they're tired of talking about tyres"

"Hour 7. The leaders have reached that fun bit with about 20 different lines. They set up camp for the night for maximum sessionage"

Ooh pump track? Missed that, when will that be open?

The new jumps section on the red is ace, the more I think about it the more I like drum, will definitely go there again.

I had no where near enough speed to clear any of the new jumps on he black though, looks a decent line if you're better than me though 😀

'Hour 8 - Iainc has faceplanted. again. How much more punishment can one face take...'

aye 🙂

[i]Somafunk I is in the right sort of area it think, it was a much taller slope that the bit in Ian's picture (though I walked that bit too :lol:)

I had to really bail on a bit of the red not long after you rejoin from the black, I've got it on camera the bike goes left I go right, could have been nasty, glad I swapped back tot flat pedals for the trip now.

This trip has really made me realise how much I miss my full suss, I'm better off with a hard tail 95% of the time, but that 5% is hard work
[/i]

Tried any skills training? Not having a pop but I did some earlier this year and it's made a serious (positive) difference to my abilities.

I had a half day earlier in the year, but there's nothing really in my area that compares to the terrain round here, so there's limited places to practice the right sort of skills. Give me shiny pebbles and slick sandy trails and your guy 😆

I might have to do another half day later in the year or next year though, for some more advanced stuff, the basics helped a bit but it was mainly about how to carry speed once you were going.