A week of MTB in Scotland
Discussion
I'm lucky enough to live in Edinburgh and visit Glentress and Innerleithen regularly. Got a mate who's a very keen biker coming to visit soon and I'm proposing a week of biking. My thoughts are thus:
Monday - Glentress
Tuesday - Inners Red XC (was MURDER last time but great fun)
Wednesday - Off
Thursday - Mabie (stay in Mabie House Hotel)
Friday - Ae Forest
Planning on red routes and dicking about on bike parks\dh runs where possible. We're all experienced riders who've tackled red and black stuff aplenty.
Couple of things. I've never done Ae or Mabie, worth gong down for? Might have to squeeze it into 4 days instead of 5. Will it be too much without a rest? Have done GT Red Route 4 times in 4 days before, but I know it really well and I ususally cheat a bit with the climb. Is it pushing it too far doing 4 different trails in 4/5 days or should I stop worrying and MTFU?
Any alternative suggestions or hints and tips about Ae and Mabie?
Three of us will be going, two on good quality 6" full sussers (Spesh Enduro\Pitch)and one on a hardcore hardtail (Orange Crush). Pretty sure the bikes will be more than capable, anyone think differently...?
Any other advice from the depths of PH experience?
Thanks!
Monday - Glentress
Tuesday - Inners Red XC (was MURDER last time but great fun)
Wednesday - Off
Thursday - Mabie (stay in Mabie House Hotel)
Friday - Ae Forest
Planning on red routes and dicking about on bike parks\dh runs where possible. We're all experienced riders who've tackled red and black stuff aplenty.
Couple of things. I've never done Ae or Mabie, worth gong down for? Might have to squeeze it into 4 days instead of 5. Will it be too much without a rest? Have done GT Red Route 4 times in 4 days before, but I know it really well and I ususally cheat a bit with the climb. Is it pushing it too far doing 4 different trails in 4/5 days or should I stop worrying and MTFU?
Any alternative suggestions or hints and tips about Ae and Mabie?
Three of us will be going, two on good quality 6" full sussers (Spesh Enduro\Pitch)and one on a hardcore hardtail (Orange Crush). Pretty sure the bikes will be more than capable, anyone think differently...?
Any other advice from the depths of PH experience?
Thanks!
rhinochopig said:
Given your driving to each location and not pedalling between, what's the worst that can happen - you decide on day four that you're all knackered and head back to the cafe and then off to the pub.
Man up and give it a try and see how you do IMO.
Fair point. I'll take 10mg harden the f*ck up and get on with it!Man up and give it a try and see how you do IMO.
Yep, take those cement pills and harden the f@ck up....! 
Can't comment on the rest as I've only ridden Mabie and Dalbeattie but reckon you'll enjoy Mabie. Probably a good one to do on the last day as its not too long and not too many lung busting climbs.
Found it quite smooth and flowing (compared to Dalbeatie anyway) and I enjoyed it much more on my hardtail than the previous day at Dalbeattie which was more technical and suited the full sussers better.
We stayed at this place when we went - http://www.marthrownofmabie.com/ we were camping but they've also got a bunk house and a pretty cool looking 'roundhouse' which looked like it'd be a great laugh with a few of you. You can literally ride straight onto the trail and theres a decent hotel / pub a mile or so down the road.
Sounds like a fun week....!
Can't comment on the rest as I've only ridden Mabie and Dalbeattie but reckon you'll enjoy Mabie. Probably a good one to do on the last day as its not too long and not too many lung busting climbs.
Found it quite smooth and flowing (compared to Dalbeatie anyway) and I enjoyed it much more on my hardtail than the previous day at Dalbeattie which was more technical and suited the full sussers better.
We stayed at this place when we went - http://www.marthrownofmabie.com/ we were camping but they've also got a bunk house and a pretty cool looking 'roundhouse' which looked like it'd be a great laugh with a few of you. You can literally ride straight onto the trail and theres a decent hotel / pub a mile or so down the road.
Sounds like a fun week....!
51mon said:
Yep, take those cement pills and harden the f@ck up....!
Can't comment on the rest as I've only ridden Mabie and Dalbeattie but reckon you'll enjoy Mabie. Probably a good one to do on the last day as its not too long and not too many lung busting climbs.
Found it quite smooth and flowing (compared to Dalbeatie anyway) and I enjoyed it much more on my hardtail than the previous day at Dalbeattie which was more technical and suited the full sussers better.
We stayed at this place when we went - http://www.marthrownofmabie.com/ we were camping but they've also got a bunk house and a pretty cool looking 'roundhouse' which looked like it'd be a great laugh with a few of you. You can literally ride straight onto the trail and theres a decent hotel / pub a mile or so down the road.
Sounds like a fun week....!
Many thanks for that. Looks spot on.Can't comment on the rest as I've only ridden Mabie and Dalbeattie but reckon you'll enjoy Mabie. Probably a good one to do on the last day as its not too long and not too many lung busting climbs.
Found it quite smooth and flowing (compared to Dalbeatie anyway) and I enjoyed it much more on my hardtail than the previous day at Dalbeattie which was more technical and suited the full sussers better.
We stayed at this place when we went - http://www.marthrownofmabie.com/ we were camping but they've also got a bunk house and a pretty cool looking 'roundhouse' which looked like it'd be a great laugh with a few of you. You can literally ride straight onto the trail and theres a decent hotel / pub a mile or so down the road.
Sounds like a fun week....!
militantmandy said:
What did you think of Dalbeattie and Kirroughtree?
Have done Glentress many, many times now and I still love it. Have never managed to convince myself to do the black route yet. The general vibe I get is that it's like the red, only not as fun and much more of a climb.
Didn't like Dalbeattie much, seemed like very hard work and not enough reward, there were some excellent bits but probably wouldn't bother again.Have done Glentress many, many times now and I still love it. Have never managed to convince myself to do the black route yet. The general vibe I get is that it's like the red, only not as fun and much more of a climb.
Kirroughtree was great, not as good as Glentress but would love to do it again.
When the red is as good as Spooky Hollow why do anything else!!!!
Check out the trail conditions before you travel, thee's a lot of work going on just now at some of the stanes
http://www.7stanesmountainbiking.com/Home
Don't forget Drumlanrig for some rooty action and if you're feeling up to it why not try Fort William? Or have a look on here for some alternative routes.
http://www.trailscotland.co.uk/forums/
http://www.7stanesmountainbiking.com/Home
Don't forget Drumlanrig for some rooty action and if you're feeling up to it why not try Fort William? Or have a look on here for some alternative routes.
http://www.trailscotland.co.uk/forums/
dome said:
Check out the trail conditions before you travel, thee's a lot of work going on just now at some of the stanes
http://www.7stanesmountainbiking.com/Home
Don't forget Drumlanrig for some rooty action and if you're feeling up to it why not try Fort William? Or have a look on here for some alternative routes.
http://www.trailscotland.co.uk/forums/
Ft Bill is a bit of a trek in the wrong direction for this particular trip. Maybe on another jaunt. Will be up for the DH world cup anyway so might go early/stay late to get some biking done.http://www.7stanesmountainbiking.com/Home
Don't forget Drumlanrig for some rooty action and if you're feeling up to it why not try Fort William? Or have a look on here for some alternative routes.
http://www.trailscotland.co.uk/forums/
Well, we did it. Five solid days of biking.
Day one - Glentress - Snowed for about 5 hours solid, was interesting to say the least.
Day two - Glentress - Since the weather had been so bad, we decided to do another day at GT. Was still pretty wet but did all the red/black and my mate got to see a bit more of the place
Day 3 - Innerleithen - Hired proper DH bikes and hit the orange runs. First time I've ever done "proper" DH and was surprised by jut how much more hardcore it is than the usual stuff I ride. VERY steep, very slippery, roots everywhere. Was a great experience though and the Trek Session 8's were lovely.
Day 4 - Dalbeattie - I found it very pedally and the uphill, technical rock sections were very tough. Nothing particularly scary but was generally hard work. There were some really nice features but I think the grind\reqard ration was a bit off. Did all the black bits which were pretty good fun. Stayed in the Urr Hosel that night (highly recommended).
Day 5 - Mabie - Again quite a lot of grinding up hill but I think the rewards were a lot better than at Dalbeattie. Some nice fast, rock sections, lots of nice drop offs and double jumps.
All in all an excellent 5 days and proof that I must be a bit fitter than I thought. Hurt everywhere now though.
Day one - Glentress - Snowed for about 5 hours solid, was interesting to say the least.
Day two - Glentress - Since the weather had been so bad, we decided to do another day at GT. Was still pretty wet but did all the red/black and my mate got to see a bit more of the place
Day 3 - Innerleithen - Hired proper DH bikes and hit the orange runs. First time I've ever done "proper" DH and was surprised by jut how much more hardcore it is than the usual stuff I ride. VERY steep, very slippery, roots everywhere. Was a great experience though and the Trek Session 8's were lovely.
Day 4 - Dalbeattie - I found it very pedally and the uphill, technical rock sections were very tough. Nothing particularly scary but was generally hard work. There were some really nice features but I think the grind\reqard ration was a bit off. Did all the black bits which were pretty good fun. Stayed in the Urr Hosel that night (highly recommended).
Day 5 - Mabie - Again quite a lot of grinding up hill but I think the rewards were a lot better than at Dalbeattie. Some nice fast, rock sections, lots of nice drop offs and double jumps.
All in all an excellent 5 days and proof that I must be a bit fitter than I thought. Hurt everywhere now though.
Here's a short vid of me bricking it at the bottom of one of the DH runs at Inners:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFefqdcQMv4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFefqdcQMv4
militantmandy said:
Here's a short vid of me bricking it at the bottom of one of the DH runs at Inners:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFefqdcQMv4
What was sketchy about that mate, you looked pretty fluid some of the lines looked a bit close to the edge though. I assume it was steeper than it looks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFefqdcQMv4
easily done, just drop the shoulder in, dab of oppo and channel some trouser huevos! Looks ace there though, I am amazed at all these courses in the UK now, when I was biking in the 90's before the lull, it was all XC stuff like the Malverns and any place that had a field! So itching to come home and do some of these awesome places
This is my local run, snore...
http://youtu.be/Cd8iNsIf9YY
http://youtu.be/DF6exl2J8Bg
This is my local run, snore...
http://youtu.be/Cd8iNsIf9YY
http://youtu.be/DF6exl2J8Bg
Edited by SkinnyBoy on Tuesday 17th April 16:21
SkinnyBoy said:
easily done, just drop the shoulder in, dab of oppo and channel some trouser huevos! Looks ace there though, I am amazed at all these courses in the UK now, when I was biking in the 90's before the lull, it was all XC stuff like the Malverns and any place that had a field! So itching to come home and do some of these awesome places
This is my local run, snore...
http://youtu.be/Cd8iNsIf9YY
http://youtu.be/DF6exl2J8Bg
UK XC courses have really started to get harder technically. I did a couple of laps of WC XC course at Nevis a few years back, before doing the DH, and was surprised how hard it was considering it would be ridden by roadies on hard-tails on 1.9 tyres with the saddles up their colon. It was easy enough on a full-sus bike with a sensible saddle height, but it would certainly command your respect on a race hard-tail. This is my local run, snore...
http://youtu.be/Cd8iNsIf9YY
http://youtu.be/DF6exl2J8Bg
Edited by SkinnyBoy on Tuesday 17th April 16:21
Was very rough on the entrance to the right turn, if you listen to the audio you may hear some slight sweariness! Was riding ok, but different to what I'm used to.
Did all the black features including the slab. Not as scary as it looks. Have got loads of vids, slab included which ill sort out.
Did all the black features including the slab. Not as scary as it looks. Have got loads of vids, slab included which ill sort out.
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