Re:
The pics previous to these are from last week on the hottest day of the year here so far, and I went in from the opposite side.
Last weeks run gave me a good idea as to what was in store (or so I thought) for the whole route, so yesterday I did the whole thing, starting from the Bogha Glas side as I did in April.
So.... yesterday was another scorcher, but not as savage as last week was, and with the 'Sheep' equipped with gears now and with the taste still in my mouth from last week, I started the route!
It was properly hot again with far too many biting flies, and a road-block of ginger and black Highland cattle at one point, but it soon got interesting!
It's a steady climb almost to Loch Langabhat, at which point the track actually splits, and looking at where I was decided that left with a steady descent was the right idea, not right and down a huge descent with massive rocks and hairpin bends... but after checking my phone and Google, turns out the steep way was the right way, so I back-tracked and down I went!
The forks on the 'Sheep' took a battering though! Some really iffy stuff for a rigid bike to be honest, a light-weight full-sus would have been perfect! Watching where I was going I was aware at how much the forks were bending back and forth, especially adding in the braking forces of trying to slow down 15 stones of rider too!
Anyway, I made it down to a bridge at the bottom of the valley, at about an hour in. But, as the old adage goes... what goes down, must go up!
An hour of walking, pushing the bike later, I got to the top, the views all the way just stunning.
After another great downhill section and around a corner, suddenly Loch Chleistir came into view... one of those moments where it takes your breath away and you just stand there and let it soak in.
Just over the brow of the next hill was the descent that took me to where I had stopped last week, looking down to Loch Bhoisimid, so I knew that I'd reconnect with the 4x4 track and it would be a smooth run back to the car where the Mrs would be waiting for me.
The day saw no major mechanical issues, the chain hopping over the big cog and jamming being the only one, and I was very aware on at least half a dozen occasions that if I'd been running tubes I'd have had flats... tubeless is def the way to go! My only other problem was that I had one drinks bottle, and yesterday that just wasn't enough.
All-in it was just under three hours with photo stops, and I think the most satisfying and enjoyable day I've ever had on a mountain bike.
Here are the last batch of pics showing the winding, hairpin bends... but the photos really don't do it justice!
Cheers!
The pics previous to these are from last week on the hottest day of the year here so far, and I went in from the opposite side.
Last weeks run gave me a good idea as to what was in store (or so I thought) for the whole route, so yesterday I did the whole thing, starting from the Bogha Glas side as I did in April.
So.... yesterday was another scorcher, but not as savage as last week was, and with the 'Sheep' equipped with gears now and with the taste still in my mouth from last week, I started the route!
It was properly hot again with far too many biting flies, and a road-block of ginger and black Highland cattle at one point, but it soon got interesting!
It's a steady climb almost to Loch Langabhat, at which point the track actually splits, and looking at where I was decided that left with a steady descent was the right idea, not right and down a huge descent with massive rocks and hairpin bends... but after checking my phone and Google, turns out the steep way was the right way, so I back-tracked and down I went!
The forks on the 'Sheep' took a battering though! Some really iffy stuff for a rigid bike to be honest, a light-weight full-sus would have been perfect! Watching where I was going I was aware at how much the forks were bending back and forth, especially adding in the braking forces of trying to slow down 15 stones of rider too!
Anyway, I made it down to a bridge at the bottom of the valley, at about an hour in. But, as the old adage goes... what goes down, must go up!
An hour of walking, pushing the bike later, I got to the top, the views all the way just stunning.
After another great downhill section and around a corner, suddenly Loch Chleistir came into view... one of those moments where it takes your breath away and you just stand there and let it soak in.
Just over the brow of the next hill was the descent that took me to where I had stopped last week, looking down to Loch Bhoisimid, so I knew that I'd reconnect with the 4x4 track and it would be a smooth run back to the car where the Mrs would be waiting for me.
The day saw no major mechanical issues, the chain hopping over the big cog and jamming being the only one, and I was very aware on at least half a dozen occasions that if I'd been running tubes I'd have had flats... tubeless is def the way to go! My only other problem was that I had one drinks bottle, and yesterday that just wasn't enough.
All-in it was just under three hours with photo stops, and I think the most satisfying and enjoyable day I've ever had on a mountain bike.
Here are the last batch of pics showing the winding, hairpin bends... but the photos really don't do it justice!
Cheers!
