Show us what you did today, thread

[jimo746]

Great pics as always Jamie, I was up visiting the out-laws at the weekend but escaped for a ride in the woods at Culloden on Saturday, there's been a run of relatively warm weather recently, I'll probably jinx it but ... It *almost* feels like summer is on the way
You may have peat bogs up there, but think yourself fortunate there's few trees too, this mornings ride might even have challenged Brian, such was the amount of fallen foliage I encountered. In nearly an hours "riding" I covered a couple of miles .
I'm not sure some of the trails will ever be rideable, many are not forest paths, and I can't see the Forestry Commission plodding deep into the woods to clear trees from an unofficial mtb route. I think it'll be up to us mtbers to clear some of the lesser known trails we use, mind you there's some big old trees need clearing, I wonder if I could fit a chainsaw to the front of a MTB "Mad Max" style

 

[epicyclo]

...I wonder if I could fit a chainsaw to the front of a MTB "Mad Max" style

A bow saw and a secateurs is all you need. Since the gales, I've cleared most of the trails in the Leanaig woods near me. They looked a bit like your picture.

As for your Mad Max style, I've experience with that.

I used to clear my running trails in Oz after Cyclones. I ran carrying a machete in my hand and cleared as I went. The problem was some of the trees in Oz are quite spiky and I bleed easily, so after a clearance I'd be oozing blood from my face arms and chest.

So imagine what it was like when a walker (rare occurrence on those remote tracks) came round a corner and saw a blood-splattered bare footed redbearded guy* clad only in bloody cotton shorts and carrying a machete sprinting in their direction. The walker became a runner and got even faster when I yelled at them to stop.

I suppose I didn't look very reassuring...

(* I was much younger then, even had muscles and a six pack )


EDIT: One of these would be useful to carry on the bike. https://www.sakertool.co.uk/products/saker-folding-hand-saw?variant=39688697249866

 

[velofrog]

Yesterday I finally completed a ride (more walking than riding as it transpires!) I’d fancied doing since being here on the island.
It’s a loop that starts from the road to Maraig, heads down by the side of Lochannan Lacasdail to Urgha and the start of the well-known ‘Postman’s Walk’ to Rhenigidale, and finally back on the road to my start point.



It was windier than XC Weather had suggested but that‘s always the case here!
I parked the car at the red at the top of the map and headed off for Loch Laxdale into a howling head-wind!
A steady slow climb and then a nice section down to the waterside.

The start




Looking on along the Loch



same spot but looking back



there’s a wee crossing in the middle of the loch



which leads on to the start of the Postman’s Walk and the start of a relentless climb pushing the bike uphill!

 

[velofrog]

The climb was steep but the views were fab, although there was a bit of a haze in the air.
I was passed by an older (than me) woman and her two black labs which was a little embarrassing but obviously I was pacing myself….

Looking back to Urgha




and eventually to a cairn that marks the summit of the climb.



Then the downhill began….

 

[velofrog]

The ‘downhill’ culminates in some outrageously steep zig-zag hairpin bends, only two of which I could pedal, the others not a chance!
So difficult to show in photos just how steep that section is, but I could smell rear brake pads they were that cooked!



but I eventually made It down to the wee bay.

 

[velomaniac]

Awesome looking, Jamie's got a rival for stunning pictures. Unfortunately when I was visiting that part of the world there was much fog. The Western Isles have got few rivals for the blasted heath look

 

[velofrog]

And it was a this point it all went a little pear-shaped….

F**K F**K F**K F**K F**K!!!!!!!!



absolutely gutted, and with no pump and no means of repairing it…. suddenly I was going to be doing more walking than I had initially planned!!

But, it was a glorious day apart from the haze (which makes the sun look like it’s gone super-nova in one photo for some reason!) and after I’d put all my toys back in the pram, it was onward and yet more upwards!



Was a great day, lessons learned but nonetheless very satisfying.

Totally cream-crackered by the time I’d walked back to the car though!

 

[epicyclo]

The ‘downhill’ culminates in some outrageously steep zig-zag hairpin bends, only two of which I could pedal, the others not a chance!
So difficult to show in photos just how steep that section is, but I could smell rear brake pads they were that cooked!
View attachment 613272

I've had a few sphincter contracting moments on that descent a few times.

The family in Harris eventually requested me not to ride it. My wife's aged uncle used to get seriously concerned because he knew of a few serious injuries and maybe a death. However the track looks like it's had a fair bit of work since I last rode it 10 years ago.

I used to go straight over the hill from Carragreich, and take in a visit to Molinginish on my way to Rhenigidale. Here's a view from the top.
(Observant types will notice that I had succumbed to the use of gears for this - didn't help at all, just made the bike heavier )



Once I straight lined it over from Urgha. This is the view from close to the top. I came to the conclusion I need a lighter fat bike with fatter tyres.


Moliniginish is always worth a visit. Is in ruins (although I believe someone has restored one of the cottage since my last visit)



I came to the conclusion the best bike for Harris is the Virtual FatBike, a pair of running boots, and waterproof socks.

However even a Virtual FatBike has its problems, here I am trying to control my Virtual FatBike in a vicious skid above Loch Lacasdall after a loop like yours.

 

[jimo746]

It's like a Retrobike version of"Spot The Ball"

 

[velomaniac]

....... and they're no all locked up yet