* Dunkeld * Macretro Official Ride* Sat 30th Jan 2010

[zigzag]

Velo - Does this mean Dave's giving you a lift now?

 

[velomaniac]

ZZ, your still giving me a lift, your reliable, Daves not :roll:
He wont deny this slur on his character either

 

[The Ken]

Recce run today at dunkeld.... the hermitage side.

I switched sides as there was no access to the carpark we used last year because of snow and the Loch Ordie Area was shrouded in mist.

We definitely do need a bit of a melt as the uphill fireroad nearly killed me and so did the downhill.

I didn't do a long loop because I had to walk too much because of the depth, but the downhill trail/track/rockfield was relatively clear but incredibly slippy.

I passed a couple of full sussers going up and the said "respect" because I was riding rigid - how did I reply? Yup fell flat on my face 5 yards down the trail

 

[messiah]

Our snow up here near Aberdeen has all but gone from the coastal forests - head in land and it's a different story.

 

[kaiser]

TK do you reckon you'll get another recce before the event?

 

[The Ken]

I'll try and get up there next weekend but I can't promise - that side did look like it had less snow but it is hard to tell at a distance and the carpark was inaccessible, we could park elsewhere though if nessecary.

 

[boxxer]

Right lads - I've been given a green light for this one

So do I bring the Raleigh which is nice but totally rigid or do I rip down the Raleigh and build the untested RTS with it's cromo rear end and mag 10's??

 

[The Ken]

Rigid should be fine on this run boxxer, but that doesn't mean the RTS would be less suitable.

 

[velomaniac]

Right, based on the reports from all the 7 stanes which are all near unrideable due to ice and snow I think all those without snow/ice tyres should make some. All those in the process should get them finished :shock:

Last 4 weeks have taught me to ride in snow but I still cant do ice without spikes :roll:

Other than that I'm looking forward to it, need to dig out the serious thermals though as I'm way too skinny for Dunkelds winter wonderland.

 

[The Ken]

I'll do one last "survey" of this on Sunday - if it looks really bad we can...

1. Still try to do it and just have a laugh and a pub meal if we can't.
2. Relocate the ride to somewhere with less snow - Carron Valley? Blairadam? Africa?
3. Postpone it for a couple of weeks

I would like to give as much notice as possible on alternatives as some of us are coming a long way for this ride. But I'm hoping there will be enough thaw to make it rideable.