Show us what you did today, thread
- Thread starter clockworkgazz
- Start date
As Caleb was away at a Beaver campout last night and I also didn't make it down to the Jack Taylor ride in Yorkshire (very sadly). Gutted to miss it as Ken Taylor was in attendance and was looking forward to meeting up with everyone, but after a long month with being in Germany and then a couple of nights home then down to Edinburgh for work and only home Thursday it was just a bit much, this plus Heather having car issues sealed it. Will hopefully get away with Brian for a ride tomorrow down south of Rothiemurcus .
Anyway, I went out yesterday afternoon for a ride on the Big Dummy, minus my co pilot, minus the sidecar. It was late on and after being out already on it with Spot for a walk so he gets used to it for his sidecar, I thought I would roll round the coast and aim for Dunnet Head. Weather stayed nice for me which was good though the wind from the north was pretty strong. Left Heather studying and gave her some peace for a few hours.
Hope everyone else is having a decent weekend and hope the weathers stays good.
Jamie
DSCN5157 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5160 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5162 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5167 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5170 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5172 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5177 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
Anyway, I went out yesterday afternoon for a ride on the Big Dummy, minus my co pilot, minus the sidecar. It was late on and after being out already on it with Spot for a walk so he gets used to it for his sidecar, I thought I would roll round the coast and aim for Dunnet Head. Weather stayed nice for me which was good though the wind from the north was pretty strong. Left Heather studying and gave her some peace for a few hours.
Hope everyone else is having a decent weekend and hope the weathers stays good.
Jamie
DSCN5157 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5160 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5162 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5167 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5170 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5172 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5177 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
epicyclo
Senior Retro Guru
Empty roads and cyclepaths to Drumochter Pass to check out some tracks for future rides.
Drumochter Pass
I've been eyeing these off for years, but it's been when passing in a car or on the train.
So a wee poke along them
And they definitely look worth a bit more attention
Drumochter Pass
I've been eyeing these off for years, but it's been when passing in a car or on the train.
So a wee poke along them
And they definitely look worth a bit more attention
Great photos of a really good ride.
We used the day as a scouting mission for a few other rides that we had been talking of lately and for this ride we knew we weren't getting the early start we would need and we also had no idea what the weather would do as so far this long weekend the forecast had been less than accurate.
I had managed to wrangle the Monday off as I was supposed to be down in Yorkshire for the Jack Taylor ride but after being away in Germany and then away last week for work I just couldn't get all the way down for the weekend. Not to worry as I had some great rides out on the Dummy and thankfully Brian was back from Glasgow and we were able to plot a run down the national cycle route 7, the section from Kinguissie south to Drumochter Pass, from which we then deviated onto the dirt that ran 90 degree to the A9 and up into the hills.
The cycle route has some really nice cycle paths with the first section to Newtonmore only leaving the cycle path when into Newtonmore itself, then it was local quite road to Ralia, crossing over the Spey several times. We stopped at this piont and had some lunch at the Ralia cafe before rejoining the cycle path that while running close to the A9 was really quiet and peaceful as is sheilded by trees and bushes so you don't notice the traffic at all. Further on before Dalwhinnie we joined a very quiet road that runs on the oppsite side of the glen from the A9, it's a nice open road that seemed to be channeling a pretty steady headwind so not as easy as we thought it should be, but hey, no rush.
We stopped at Dalwhinnie village for a coffee as we knew there wasn't going to be much else south of here unless we kept going to Bruar which was also a bit further than we planned. Just out of the village where the road joins the A9 the cycle path starts again and from here on ran along side the A9, sometimes close, like footpath close and other times deviated away into woods or followed the old road, crossing over little narrow wooden bridges here and there with a surface that was very smooth tarmac in places but for the most part it was gravel, rough in a few spots but I thought it was pretty good considering the alternative was to ride the A9.
We took the usual photos at the Drumochter sign and then headed further south to explore a dirt track we had seen many times running up into the hills before Dalnaspidal. It was a nice peice of dirt road, rough due to the big rocks embedded but rideable. We stopped at a small creek crossing and took a few photos and Brian ventured slightly further up the hill to confirm that it just gets better. So a plan was hatched to head back here to investigate this track some more as we think it would go right over the hills and certainly looked rideable for as far as we could see it snaking it's way up the valley. We couldn't go too much further as time was getting well on by this stage and so we rode back to the cycle path and turned back north and hoped that headwind would now be a tailwind.
Safe to say we made good time back on the cycle path to Dalwhinnie, for quite a few kilometres I was sitting on a steady 30 -35 klmh over the gravel and skimming through the narrow bridges, just one of those little bits of a ride that feel like a steady effort and a steady cadence for mile after mile, great fun and certainly quicker than the run down.
After quick afternoon tea at Ralia around 6pm we hit the road for the final few miles back through Newtonmore and onto the car. On this stretch we could see to the east that it was bucketing down with rain on the Cairngorms and thankfully we made it back dry and only got the rain when driving back past Aviemore. Certainly a late night for me by the time I dropped Brian off and then drove back north it was about 10.30 or so. Well worth it though as it was another great ride out. No rush, just riding our bikes in a nice part of the world, no real destination, just to enjoy the ride and the company.
We have found two good off road rides to head back for so it was successful on that front as well.
Cheers Brian for a great day.
Jamie
DSCN5209 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN7045 by epicyclo, on Flickr
DSCN5197 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
I said a bike trailer Brian! a bike trailer
DSCN5212 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5215 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5219 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5223 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5224 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5228 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5231 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5244 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5256 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5259 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5264 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5272 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5277 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5278 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
We used the day as a scouting mission for a few other rides that we had been talking of lately and for this ride we knew we weren't getting the early start we would need and we also had no idea what the weather would do as so far this long weekend the forecast had been less than accurate.
I had managed to wrangle the Monday off as I was supposed to be down in Yorkshire for the Jack Taylor ride but after being away in Germany and then away last week for work I just couldn't get all the way down for the weekend. Not to worry as I had some great rides out on the Dummy and thankfully Brian was back from Glasgow and we were able to plot a run down the national cycle route 7, the section from Kinguissie south to Drumochter Pass, from which we then deviated onto the dirt that ran 90 degree to the A9 and up into the hills.
The cycle route has some really nice cycle paths with the first section to Newtonmore only leaving the cycle path when into Newtonmore itself, then it was local quite road to Ralia, crossing over the Spey several times. We stopped at this piont and had some lunch at the Ralia cafe before rejoining the cycle path that while running close to the A9 was really quiet and peaceful as is sheilded by trees and bushes so you don't notice the traffic at all. Further on before Dalwhinnie we joined a very quiet road that runs on the oppsite side of the glen from the A9, it's a nice open road that seemed to be channeling a pretty steady headwind so not as easy as we thought it should be, but hey, no rush.
We stopped at Dalwhinnie village for a coffee as we knew there wasn't going to be much else south of here unless we kept going to Bruar which was also a bit further than we planned. Just out of the village where the road joins the A9 the cycle path starts again and from here on ran along side the A9, sometimes close, like footpath close and other times deviated away into woods or followed the old road, crossing over little narrow wooden bridges here and there with a surface that was very smooth tarmac in places but for the most part it was gravel, rough in a few spots but I thought it was pretty good considering the alternative was to ride the A9.
We took the usual photos at the Drumochter sign and then headed further south to explore a dirt track we had seen many times running up into the hills before Dalnaspidal. It was a nice peice of dirt road, rough due to the big rocks embedded but rideable. We stopped at a small creek crossing and took a few photos and Brian ventured slightly further up the hill to confirm that it just gets better. So a plan was hatched to head back here to investigate this track some more as we think it would go right over the hills and certainly looked rideable for as far as we could see it snaking it's way up the valley. We couldn't go too much further as time was getting well on by this stage and so we rode back to the cycle path and turned back north and hoped that headwind would now be a tailwind.
Safe to say we made good time back on the cycle path to Dalwhinnie, for quite a few kilometres I was sitting on a steady 30 -35 klmh over the gravel and skimming through the narrow bridges, just one of those little bits of a ride that feel like a steady effort and a steady cadence for mile after mile, great fun and certainly quicker than the run down.
After quick afternoon tea at Ralia around 6pm we hit the road for the final few miles back through Newtonmore and onto the car. On this stretch we could see to the east that it was bucketing down with rain on the Cairngorms and thankfully we made it back dry and only got the rain when driving back past Aviemore. Certainly a late night for me by the time I dropped Brian off and then drove back north it was about 10.30 or so. Well worth it though as it was another great ride out. No rush, just riding our bikes in a nice part of the world, no real destination, just to enjoy the ride and the company.
We have found two good off road rides to head back for so it was successful on that front as well.
Cheers Brian for a great day.
Jamie
DSCN5209 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN7045 by epicyclo, on Flickr
DSCN5197 by Jamie Dyer, on FlickrI said a bike trailer Brian! a bike trailer
DSCN5212 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5215 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5219 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5223 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5224 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5228 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5231 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5244 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5256 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5259 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5264 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5272 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5277 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN5278 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
Re:
I know the path you mean Jamie. Always tempts me when I'm up that way. Only problem is you run into Loch Ericht ( I think) opposite Ben Alder. Not sure if you can navigate the South side round to Dakwhinnie or not. Lots of other similar tracks near the b&b on the railway but again looking at the OS map for the area the tracks just dead end. May be some newer estate track though not on the map, those areas change all the time. It's not a wide stretch over to the Lagan side but there are quite a few Munro's, some big lochs and not a lot else.
I know the path you mean Jamie. Always tempts me when I'm up that way. Only problem is you run into Loch Ericht ( I think) opposite Ben Alder. Not sure if you can navigate the South side round to Dakwhinnie or not. Lots of other similar tracks near the b&b on the railway but again looking at the OS map for the area the tracks just dead end. May be some newer estate track though not on the map, those areas change all the time. It's not a wide stretch over to the Lagan side but there are quite a few Munro's, some big lochs and not a lot else.
epicyclo":3do8otyv said:I have learned not to believe OS maps.
I wouldn't believe me either. Checked maps when I got home and that track actually goes all the way over to the north shore of Loch Rannoch.
It's the ones further towards Dalwhinnie that dead end.
Gonna have to try that Dalnaspidal track right through. Long way back round though. Maybe need to be a wife drop off job.
Billy no mates again as everyone too busy to go riding. Headed out up Glen Esk again for the second time this week, to check out a trail I'd seen coming back down the glen on Tuesday. Lovely looking track heading down the Shank of Inchgrundle. Found a nice track leading up to the plateau from Glen Effock and following a couple of summits, but wasn't sure if I could link it into the Shank. No track on my old map, but there's been so much estate work recently I was hoping there'd be a way to link in. Unfortunately not. Could have done it, but I reckon it would have been a 2-3 hour drag though heather moorland, and even after the dry summer there's still some pretty big pools up there. Climb/push up was 1.5 hours but the view was totally worth it.
Untitled by Steven Clubb, on Flickr
Summit track was nice fast rocky twin singletrack. The kind of stuff a landcover could get up but isn't really a doubletrack. Pity I was on my own as it would have made some great Scalextric style racing. As it started to head down it got less and less distinct before disappearing altogether into the heather.
Untitled by Steven Clubb, on Flickr
Was fairly obvious where I had to head, and after 5 minutes of heather hopping I picked the track up again just by a fantastic multilevel waterfall level.
Untitled by Steven Clubb, on Flickr
From there it was onto another good track, rocky but not too steep, which shot me out at the end of Loch Lee for a nice easy ride back to the car.
Untitled by Steven Clubb, on Flickr
Track come round the top of the hill on the left and down the wee notch you can see in the middle. The Shank trail goes up to the right of the photo, and I think it's one for an out and back another day.
Untitled by Steven Clubb, on FlickrSummit track was nice fast rocky twin singletrack. The kind of stuff a landcover could get up but isn't really a doubletrack. Pity I was on my own as it would have made some great Scalextric style racing. As it started to head down it got less and less distinct before disappearing altogether into the heather.
Untitled by Steven Clubb, on FlickrWas fairly obvious where I had to head, and after 5 minutes of heather hopping I picked the track up again just by a fantastic multilevel waterfall level.
Untitled by Steven Clubb, on FlickrFrom there it was onto another good track, rocky but not too steep, which shot me out at the end of Loch Lee for a nice easy ride back to the car.
Untitled by Steven Clubb, on FlickrTrack come round the top of the hill on the left and down the wee notch you can see in the middle. The Shank trail goes up to the right of the photo, and I think it's one for an out and back another day.
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