Show us what you did today, thread
- Thread starter clockworkgazz
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epicyclo
Senior Retro Guru
A 30 mile Rough Stuff ride on a 60+ year old hub geared Dawes Windrush in the Scottish Highlands - like we used to before mtbs were invented. What could go wrong?
Best done on a proper mountain bike, but far more fun this way.
Jamie took his Long Haul Trucker which was a more sensible idea.
Indecision after fuelling up at Rothiemurchus. (Maybe next time and we'd start from the other end.)
No, we weren't tempted in the least by the bridge 50m further along.
Oh alright...
More temptation...
Jame zigging over zigzag's bridge (where he famously zagged). Shit, it's a long way down to where he landed.
We were lazy and took the low path to avoid the climb. It was bloody hard work on skinny tyres because of the loose conditions and lumpy rocks.
Jamie making a splash. Look at his bars, he nearly made a big one.
We had a wee stop here and debated whether we should go on. The sky was black, there was a strong wind, and liquid sunshine was imminent.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, and we only needed one wee slip to get wet anyway.
And we made it to Loch Einich. We parked our bikes against this cairn.
There's no inscription, but we figured it must be the grave of the Unknown eBiker who perished there when his battery went flat.
The weather was still looking threatening so we didn't hang around for longer than refuelling on Mars bars.
This will forever be known as One Dab Creek, eh Jamie?
What cyclist obeys Cyclists Must Dismount rules?
We decided to not be lazy and take the high route on the way back. Traction on the climb with skinny tyres was a wee problem. (Actually traction for shoes pushing up was a problem too)
But high routes always pay off with the views.
The return journey was done much faster than the way out. An onlooker would have been impressed by our Mars Bar enhanced speed and superb athleticism. It had nothing to do with the downward gradient and helpful tail wind, oh no.
So how did a 60 year old bike hold up? In places I was rattling so much I had double vision and only a slight idea of where the track was and I was just hanging in hope. My only concern was braking - skinny tyres on the loose surfaces meant skids and washouts, but the bike always righted itself. Ancient road bike brakes are no patch even on the much maligned canti brake, so at least I had the solace of knowing I had less chance of OTBs.
In short the bike could be trusted to get me through anywhere I pointed it.
And as for "What could go wrong?" - nothing, no rattles, nothing loose, wheels still straight. This could be addictive.
So lads, find yourself a vintage British production bike from the 1950s (they have clearance for decent size tyres), and have some dirt cheap fun.
Best done on a proper mountain bike, but far more fun this way.
Jamie took his Long Haul Trucker which was a more sensible idea.
Indecision after fuelling up at Rothiemurchus. (Maybe next time and we'd start from the other end.)
No, we weren't tempted in the least by the bridge 50m further along.
Oh alright...
More temptation...
Jame zigging over zigzag's bridge (where he famously zagged). Shit, it's a long way down to where he landed.
We were lazy and took the low path to avoid the climb. It was bloody hard work on skinny tyres because of the loose conditions and lumpy rocks.
Jamie making a splash. Look at his bars, he nearly made a big one.
We had a wee stop here and debated whether we should go on. The sky was black, there was a strong wind, and liquid sunshine was imminent.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, and we only needed one wee slip to get wet anyway.
And we made it to Loch Einich. We parked our bikes against this cairn.
There's no inscription, but we figured it must be the grave of the Unknown eBiker who perished there when his battery went flat.
The weather was still looking threatening so we didn't hang around for longer than refuelling on Mars bars.
This will forever be known as One Dab Creek, eh Jamie?
What cyclist obeys Cyclists Must Dismount rules?
We decided to not be lazy and take the high route on the way back. Traction on the climb with skinny tyres was a wee problem. (Actually traction for shoes pushing up was a problem too)
But high routes always pay off with the views.
The return journey was done much faster than the way out. An onlooker would have been impressed by our Mars Bar enhanced speed and superb athleticism. It had nothing to do with the downward gradient and helpful tail wind, oh no.
So how did a 60 year old bike hold up? In places I was rattling so much I had double vision and only a slight idea of where the track was and I was just hanging in hope. My only concern was braking - skinny tyres on the loose surfaces meant skids and washouts, but the bike always righted itself. Ancient road bike brakes are no patch even on the much maligned canti brake, so at least I had the solace of knowing I had less chance of OTBs.
In short the bike could be trusted to get me through anywhere I pointed it.
And as for "What could go wrong?" - nothing, no rattles, nothing loose, wheels still straight. This could be addictive.
So lads, find yourself a vintage British production bike from the 1950s (they have clearance for decent size tyres), and have some dirt cheap fun.
Re:
Cool!!! :shock:
I've not been up there for a few years now, since the last MacRetro ride up there actually. I'll have to make an effort to go for a ride around there over the summer.
Brian, I know you don't like to discuss such things, but how many gears on your hub-geared bike?
Cool!!! :shock:
I've not been up there for a few years now, since the last MacRetro ride up there actually. I'll have to make an effort to go for a ride around there over the summer.
Brian, I know you don't like to discuss such things, but how many gears on your hub-geared bike?
It certainly was a great days riding
We both managed the rough sections fine and even where there were the long stretches of large loose rocks, we just adjusted our speed accordingly. The steep climb up the high track on the way back was certainly worth it, the views were superb.
The fact we went right up to Glenmore lodge area for lunch before deciding to head to Loch Einich meant while we had a good feed in us, we didn't get back to the car to nearly seven PM. Well worth it though.
Like Brians Dawes, the Trucker was its usual well behaved self. It was really nice to ride on the gravel and handled the large rocks easily, mainly though be picking a line through them but that itself showed how well it handled. It was comfortable as I noticed that on the rolling tracks when we had just started heading back, that were loose gravel and some large embedded rocks, we were sitting on a steady 30klm while sitting. A testament to the nice handling characteristics as well as the Brooks saddle. The Trucker though is great for this stuff as it's steel frame, long wheelbase, 26'' wheels with 2 inch Marathons, giving a bit of plushness when running medium pressures, make it quite stable with the dirt drops making it very easy to pinpoint where you want to go.
All good fun, better suited weapons? of course but it was fun and made for a good workout.
Zigzag, we stopped and remembered the fallen
You are lucky you don't crash there now as there is a huge gorse bush you would be right in the middle of
Jamie
IMG_1171 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1186 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1189 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1203 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1215 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1230 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1247 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1251 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1255 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1258 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1266 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1276 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1279 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1284 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1287 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1292 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1296 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1312 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1326 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
We both managed the rough sections fine and even where there were the long stretches of large loose rocks, we just adjusted our speed accordingly. The steep climb up the high track on the way back was certainly worth it, the views were superb.
The fact we went right up to Glenmore lodge area for lunch before deciding to head to Loch Einich meant while we had a good feed in us, we didn't get back to the car to nearly seven PM. Well worth it though.
Like Brians Dawes, the Trucker was its usual well behaved self. It was really nice to ride on the gravel and handled the large rocks easily, mainly though be picking a line through them but that itself showed how well it handled. It was comfortable as I noticed that on the rolling tracks when we had just started heading back, that were loose gravel and some large embedded rocks, we were sitting on a steady 30klm while sitting. A testament to the nice handling characteristics as well as the Brooks saddle. The Trucker though is great for this stuff as it's steel frame, long wheelbase, 26'' wheels with 2 inch Marathons, giving a bit of plushness when running medium pressures, make it quite stable with the dirt drops making it very easy to pinpoint where you want to go.
All good fun, better suited weapons? of course but it was fun and made for a good workout.
Zigzag, we stopped and remembered the fallen
You are lucky you don't crash there now as there is a huge gorse bush you would be right in the middle of Jamie
IMG_1171 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1186 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1189 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1203 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1215 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1230 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1247 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1251 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1255 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1258 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1266 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1276 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1279 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1284 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1287 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1292 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1296 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1312 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_1326 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
Re:
Well done gents. Fabulous pics as always. Very jealous. All I managed this weekend was an hour this evening to work off this afternoons trip to the local carvery.
Actually, who am I kidding? No way an hours riding worked off what I managed to eat
Well done gents. Fabulous pics as always. Very jealous. All I managed this weekend was an hour this evening to work off this afternoons trip to the local carvery.
Actually, who am I kidding? No way an hours riding worked off what I managed to eat
I think it takes all of us a lot longer than an hour to negate the carvery
My lunch during this ride consisted of Pancakes and bacon smothered in maple syrup washed down with a large latte. Though to be fair I think I did work that off.
Jamie
My lunch during this ride consisted of Pancakes and bacon smothered in maple syrup washed down with a large latte. Though to be fair I think I did work that off.
Jamie
old_coyote_pedaller
MacRetro Rider
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Re:
Once again great pics and just as important entertaining write up from both of you.
Thanks Jamie and Brian.
Once again great pics and just as important entertaining write up from both of you.
Thanks Jamie and Brian.
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