Show us what you did today, thread

[clubby]

Took advantage of the good weather and a child free day to head up to Ballater for a loop of Heartbreak Ridge. Been 2 years since my last trip and was well worth the journey. Trail was the driest I’ve ever seen it and the trail association work on the lower section was great. Some sections are victims of their own popularity, seeming to get wider every time I ride it. Why can’t people just ride the trail obstacles instead or going round them?
Rode another trail on the opposite side called Mastermind which was right on the outer edge of my comfort zone. Steep, tight, dusty and loose. Most of the individual corners would be ok on their own, but very sustained and intense riding. Struggled to get the bottle to go fast enough to get them to flow together. Upper body struggled too, but a 25kg ebike is not the easiest to hustle round switchbacks.
Really enjoyed the day, good to get back into proper mountains again.

 

[jimo746]

Took advantage of the good weather and.... oh no, wait that was Clubby But I also headed to Ballater today to ride "Heartbreak Ridge" for the first time (apparently from Monday its closed for a few weeks for trail maintenance), and to see what the route to Mount Keen was like from the Ballater side (short answer = sh*te!).
After pushing up most of the climb out of Ballater (the Joy's of single speed!) I headed off on a track to Mount Keen, which basically involved more pushing, negotiating the various streams criss-crossing the moorland, and falling into boggy swamps. Lovely.
By the time I'd almost reached the foot of Mount Keen I'd been slogging it out for nearly 2 hours, about 10 minutes of which was actual riding! I have to say the big hill did look quite imposing, with its snow covered sides and the top shrouded in cloud, and the distant track winding it's way upwards. At this point I decided I was definitely NOT! going up there today, no way was I pushing uphill for another hour and a half-ish only to have a view of feck-all from the top! Yeah the cloud might clear in a few hours, but Mount Keen will still be there another day.
So I retraced my route and headed up to the start of Heartbreak Ridge, which mercifully was mostly rideable in the one cog

The trail itself is long, very long for mostly downwards, I found myself grabbing a few seconds on the saddle to rest my legs whenever I could.
The section of rock slabs just before entering the tree line was "interesting", more a case of holding on than worrying about speed.

So some stunning scenery in fantastic weather, crappy route choices, and a trail with a sting in the tail to finish off with.
You're right Clubby, it's good to be back into the mountains again.



after 2 hours slogging away pushing the bike I felt like joining this poor guy...

 

[clubby]

That “path” used to be rideable. I’ve done it once many years ago in autumn after a very dry summer. Back then (and maybe now) there were marker posts hammered into the moor to show the best way. Was possible to ride from post to post. Shame that the top is so boggy, as once across it the path down into Glen Tanar was fantastic.
Best way to do Keen from the north is straight up Glen Tanar, or head over the Fungle into Glen Esk and head back over the shoulder of Mt Keen.

The slab section of Heartbreak is a mind game. I’m ok until the final couple of corners and the exposure gets the better of me. The rock is so grippy but big consequences if it goes wrong. Seen video of a mate going otb on one of the steps.

Got an eye on another loop up that way starting at Finzean, heading part way up the Fungle and back to the Aboybe trails. Hoping this weather holds although first half of May looking busy for work.

 

[jimo746]

Yeah the posts are still (mostly) there, going towards Keen was a no-go in 32:18, and the part of the descent into the next glen that I did was pretty good although I was taking it easy as an OTB in the middle of nowhere could quickly turn into a "situation".
Coming back was better, following the markers, but theres hidden dips and trenches to catch you out, so it's still fairly slow going.

Give me a shout if you're headed out that way next month. I think we can meet up for socially distanced rides now? As long as we don't touch each other? Or something like that?

 

[Jamiedyer]

It looks great guys and certainly the views are fantastic. Maybe once we get out of the restrictions a while then you two might hold a ride down that way as it looks like a great ride. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would be up for it.

Jamie

 

[Jamiedyer]

Hello all in Macretro land.
I hope you have all been enjoying this nice weather we have had for the last couple of days. Work has been pretty busy lately so it was really nice to once again have the sun carry over into the weekend.
I had a few jobs to sort this morning and one was to help Caleb put up the electric fence for his horse Chico. Now I know it sounds flash having a horse but he is a tiny Falabella horse and I will include a phot so you get the idea, anyway I spent the morning with them and then after lunch managed to get a few hours out on the Jack Taylor. Stayed fairly local and managed to cross over to Watten staying on all the nice singlelane backroads with no traffic at all. Roads, like everywhere I imagine, are in a pretty rough state but the lovely Super Clubman was the perfect machine for it, just soaks it up with no complaints.
Anyway just thought I would share a few photos. Look forward to the time soon when we can all ride together once again.

Jamie

IMG_5478 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5481 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5483 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5486 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5494 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5504 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5508 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5510 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

 

[Jamiedyer]

Well spent bits and pieces of the day sitting in the garden in the sunshine transforming the Big Dummy from it's 4 inch front end back to a more tarmac manageable 2.5.
After a breakfast of coffee and Heathers fresh cannoli it was into it.
The back end was easy enough just take off the cargo fitting, release the Alfine hub and swap out the tyres. The front while easy enough meant dropping the whole lot out and swapping the Hope headset back, adding a few spacers and then fitting the original fork and a temporary wheel from my 1X1 until my new one is built. Add the ET tyre and test ride. As I want to use this for commuting this summer I needed to change it out as the Fat front is a drag on tarmac, not usually a worry but when the next few months will be about 80 - 90% tarmac then this change makes that so much easier. These high volume ET tyres will be pretty good in the dirt as well, especially the gravel roads we ride. Added a few spacers to the original forks for a bit more upright stance. It's been fat for a few years and so felt much quicker and far more nimble

We'll see how it goes but a change is always good.

Still figuring out what the Dummies place is in the fleet now that Caleb is riding and touring on his own bike which was the Dummies main purpose for years. No one in the family wants it to go as we all love it.
Just thought I would share.

Jamie

IMG_5520 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5521 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5523 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5530 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5534 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5537 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5539 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5542 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5544 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5556 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

 

[Jamiedyer]

A few photos from a ride out on Sunday with Caleb on his tourer.

After switching the fat tyres and wheel around on the Dummy last weekend down in size to the Surly ET's I found once I had the rear fully inflated it was rubbing on the back brace bar, only just, by a midges baw hair. After taking it off and reseating it, it was better and usable with no rubbing but still close. The issue is the 60mm rim so after trying it on the rear Spank rim from the 1X1 which is 42mm it seemed to clear fine. So it looks like I need to find a 36 hole Spank to lace to my Alfine as well as a front, so this one can go back on my 1X1.
Such a lovely day up here so we just meandered out and about the back roads above home enjoying riding together. Getting Caleb used to going further and getting used to the odd car before tackling the main roads.
Even though it was a naturally slower pace while riding with my boy , the Dummy felt back to being like a normal bike with the ET's on, far more nimble and far less drag than the 4inch tyre on the front and hookworm rear we have been using. I just think now the little mans riding on his own that these may even do for the dirt and gravel we ride, not that I am dismantling the Fat set up or moving it on just now.
These will certainly make the commute to town a bit quicker.

Jamie

IMG_5566 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5568 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5572 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5579 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5577 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5584 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5586 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5591 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

 

[dyna-ti]

You certainly love your Surly Jamie. I only wish we could get the E-version here int he UK

 

[jimo746]

I went exploring around Drumtochty forest this morning, theres a huge area of trails marked on the Trailforks App, and you could spend all day riding around the forest roads there, it covers quite an area and links up with other areas too.
Deep in the forest it definitely had an air of Jurassic Park about it, fortunately no T-Rex today , just a deer jumping out in front of me, not sure who shat themselves more, but we both sped off in opposite directions!
Some of the trails were a little challenging, more an assault course to climb/crawl/fall through...(there IS a trail through there somewhere!!).



There are some very good trails in there though, lumpy, and rocky/rooty.
I was caught out by a slippery tree root hiding on the back slope of a dip, didn't see it as I rolled over the lip, the first thing I knew about it was the front wheel shot off to the right and I was dumped on the ground. I honestly thought I'd done myself some damage but after picking myself up I think it's just bruised ribs.
I decided to call it a day after that though, makes you think about how you'd get help if you injured yourself in a remote forest...