MacRetro chat and rides thread

[big.eck]

My gawd enid, you've decided not to work yourself to death and joins us old geezers on our bikes, Thats great

Big Ecks refering to a meet for riders of Raleigh steel tonnage since three of us have such things.

So Big Eck what about Saturday 15th August in the Pentlands somewhere, only Raleigh riders need attend although maybe other unsung brit makes such as Falcon/Townsend/Emmelle/Coventry Eagle/Hawk might be tolerated if only to make our Raleighs seem superior.

Cheers all,

Velo

thats a plan lol . anyone know of any good routes/starting points ?

 

[Enid_Puceflange]

Yup,
Pentlands sound good, I haven't been up there for about 15 years cycling!

We used to just mosey along from the Flotterstone inn and take the road past the reservoir till you hit the dirt and come out along at Blinkbonny (iirc).

Im way , WAY Past my physical best (im goosed just running to the shop before the lotto machine turns off )
As long as your a patient bunch , I would love to come drag up at the rear!!
Gc

 

[velomaniac]

I've finally done it, I've ridden Glentress Black route, well 75% at least and on a rigid bike and on my own, well chuffed

I reckon if you want an interesting alternative to get to the top of Spooky Wood then this is a winner. The surface is rougher than the red but its fully rideable. Some sections pass through lovely scenery and there are some spectacular veiws. Admittedly only the super fit would get up some of the climbs, often they just go straight up as opposed to zigzaging and some of the surface is so loose and rocky that traction is difficult.

I did not bail at Spooky Wood, I pressed on through some great gnarly single track through woods, with tight loose bermed corners and numerous puddles, drop offs often cannot be avoided but few were scary. Some particularly steep loose bits have warning signs and I did walk down these bits but with practice I could ride them I reckon. Nothing is harder than the gnarly sections of the red but the trail is very rough. Redemption descent is very gnarly and seems to go on forever, by the bottom your shaken to bits but its still fab. Unfortunately Redemption climb starts immediately with no warning and this is an utter pig !!!!!!!!!!!!

I now have done Redemption, I now know how to bypass it and in future I will, the climb just is not worth it. At the top of the climb I had had enough and so took the short cut to the Blue Route for that fabulous fast blue return.

I'll get the last bits of the black later, what fun

Also I did all that on my 18speed Spesh Hardrock, fully rigid. I was slow though, to do it faster requires a hardtail and for faster still a full sus. The rough surface really does ware you down.

Recommended.

 

[clockworkgazz]

Well done belo I remember my wrists being buggered after the red on the r orange sounds like a top day out, managed a few hours on my local ride and had a blast also.

 

[jimihendrix]

.

Im way , WAY Past my physical best (im goosed just running to the shop before the lotto machine turns off )
As long as your a patient bunch , I would love to come drag up at the rear!!
Gc

Would'nt worry about that, we do more talking than riding , my fitness has went rapidly downhill since going back to driving an HGV , finding it hard to get motivated to go out riding myself at the weekends just now, had big ideas for thismorning ended up doing other stuff instead like taking the dog for a walk and mincing about with the car and garden, another weekend and no riding :roll:


RE, Velo/Glentress

Sounds like a great day Velo

 

[Jamiedyer]

Evening lads

Evening lads
Velo - sounds like a good day by all accounts. Wish I was there, as the weather up here has been crap the last few days.
Kaiser - there is a really nice Rossin frame for sale at the Hungarian retro shop, (sorry I cant remember the name). I had my eye on it as its been there a while. Its one of the 'special' tubing builds and is a size 48 c to c. They only want £230 + 25 postage for the frame and forks. I have spoke to them and emailed a few times and they seem like good guys. They have a huge stock of older roadies. They also have a Colnago X lite master Olympic, but I'm too frightened to ask the price :roll: If your interested I will dig out the link.
Not much happening up here MTB lately. Just putting in the usual road miles, slogging away in the wind and crap, more like Belgium than Scotland.
Trying hard to be at Arran but might be difficult as in the last 4 weeks I have been away three times, once to Aberdeen to see Neil Young and then twice to Glasgow, once for AC/DC then last week to Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen was brilliant but really took it out of the old van as the exhaust fell apart halfway home. So another expense, it was a mad trip though as work is 24/7 at the moment and I left here at 8am arrived at Hampden at 7.30pm, watched the concert then drove back near Aviemore till 4am, slept till 8 am in the van, then we picked up the dogs, blew the exhaust and arrived home at 4pm then back to work at 6. So, yeah, its been a bit manic but I should have the van fixed on Tuesday so should be at Arran.
Pentland sounds nice as well but I dont have a Raleigh, only Specialized. I could ride at the back carrying the water bottles or something if you deem me worthy.

Apologies for rambling but look forward to catching up soon.
Jamie

 

[perry]

Springsteen was brilliant but really took it out of the old van

oi springsteen no . you can dance with courtney cocks but dont ruin other peoples vans !

 

[zigzag]

I was down at GT mid afternoon, I believe I sighted the velomobile in lower car park? Wasn't there when I got back though...

Did the red on the SS, not a bad run although Spooky Woods didn't flow all that well for me today (too knackered - I think I should have cooled my heels a bit longer at the top), enjoyed the lower sections though, and those twisty wee Pie Run/Mushroom Pie sections are pretty good. Will I ever get over my fear of wet roots though :?

 

[Davedownhill]

Velo- did I tell you about the black? Did you believe me? Can I say I told you so?
Hehehe

in other news, fort bill's new red is a bad idea in the rain, and I'll concede that I found a trail that merits long travel... Would still try it on kaiser's tri beast though!

 

[kaiser]

Velo- did I tell you about the black? Did you believe me? Can I say I told you so?
Hehehe

in other news, fort bill's new red is a bad idea in the rain, and I'll concede that I found a trail that merits long travel... Would still try it on kaiser's tri beast though!

anymore on the red? impressed or what? worth a dry visit?