MTB Rides Jan 2012

[Derek]

I can't face the Stirling mud this weekend so planning to head down to Glentress for a ride round the red with Ewan, on Saturday.
I need to be back for 13:30 so plan to head down early. Leaving Dunblane at 8:00 and heading back at 12:00, so got about 2.5 hours to get round and have a quick lunch.
I've got space for 2 people and bikes if anybody fancies it.

Cheers
Derek.

[Bazz]

Anybody thinking of CV tonight?

[Beagleboy]

Anybody thinking of CV tonight?

D'you reckon it's clear? I'm just back from an attempt to ride Torwood and Plean. Torwood in particular looks like a Hurricane has torn through it.....oh wait....

Seriously though, unless you can get confirmation that the trails are clear of trees, it might be a bit of a wasted journey. 

[Paul Roberts]

Hi Beagy,

Mine woods is a nightmare of fallen and dangling trees.

Everywhere else is a mudfest so I'll not be out tonight!

Paul

[Bazz]

Seriously though, unless you can get confirmation that the trails are clear of trees, it might be a bit of a wasted journey. 

Maybe just skip it then....  :'(

[Richard Barton]

Up and over Meikle Bin? Fireroads should be reasonably clear and the top is tree-free so could be a goer...been a cracking day weather-wise and it doesn't look like much wind so could be a great star-filled sky tonight from up there!

Suggests me, who can't make it out tonight!

[Beagleboy]

Up and over Meikle Bin?

Seriously? Are you mental? When was the last time you went 'up and over' Meikle Bin? Even in the driest part of Spring, the climb up the hill is a muddy, slidey push. That's even before you get to the descent down to the hideous morass at the tree line.

Tell you what, next time you're heading up that way, take a camera so you can report back on the conditions, but if you're heading up soon, best take a big long pole with a flag on top in case you don't report back and we have to come and find you.

Meickle Bin....honestly, some folk. 

B. 

[Richard Barton]

About a year ago...wasn't any worse than it has been any other time I've ridden in - it's a given it's going to be muddy so it shouldn't be a surprise to find out that it is!

[Derek]

The latest news on the Glentress website is that all routes are open and "mostly" clear except the black, which is closed.
So heading down tomorrow morning with Ewan and Barry. Weather looks reasonable just a bit of wind.
9:30 start in the Peel carpark if anybody fancies it!

Cheers
Derek.

[MightyStew]

Anyone out tomorrow? Weather looks good, although I'm sure everything will be soaking.

[Howard]

Can't make GT tomorrow as I only have a limited pass until 12:00.  Will be at Costa's tomorrow at 09:30 should anyone fancy something local (N3 / Cambu).  

Don't think the condition of the local trails will be all that relevant (those fallen trees aren't going to shift themselves, might as well get on with it whilst the going is not so good).

H

[Del]

Hi, I was hoping to start a bit later / be out a bit longer, but if need be will drag myself out of kip and be at Costas 9:30... 

[Beagleboy]

I'm going to head into Stirling and maybe check out the trails around Cambu and N3. There must be somewhere to ride, and I've still got too much of a sense of humour / lack of competitive spirit, to consider a road bike. 

I'll be at Costa's, supping manky coffee and eating cake from around 9ish, and can stay out as long as folk can put up with me.

 

[Beagleboy]

Wow! That was quite a ride today, a very humbling demonstration of nature at work. 

Four of us ( myself, Howard, Dom and Mighty Stew) decided to head over towards N3 as we thought these trails might have weathered the storms better than most. We skirted around Cambu woods, then cut across the quarry before starting up the climb past the Gingerbread House.

Here, we met our first of several downed trees. However, there weren't too many on the climb up to the clearing and Howard made short work of sawing through branches with his pruning saw (no, that's not a euphimism  ), to give us a clear way to clamber through.

At the top of the Gingerbread climb we parted company with Howard as he was on a promise. So Howard headed straight up towards the break between the 1st and 2nd cliffs, whilst the rest of us headed down the fire break towards Windy Yett glen.

After a surprisingly fun and dry descent, we started to climb up through Windy Yett Glen. Only one fallen tree blocked our path on the fire road, but as we entered the Glen proper, it became apparent that there was a lot of wind damage. The Glen is now very open and airy, which might be a good thing in future, allowing the trail to dry better. At the moment though, it is as boggy as I've ever seen it. 

We continued up through the Glen until we reached the top where we used to ride through the corridor of trees between the two cliffs. Used to..... yup, there used to be trees there. The entire stand of trees has been obliterated, completely blocking the top of the glen. We were forced high up onto the flank of the 2nd cliff in order to work our way to the path.

From the top of the Glen, we headed out towards the reservoir (skipping the 2nd cliff), along the very muddy path. We then dropped down towards the 1st cliff, forced off the fireroad again because of fallen trees. This wasn't too arduous, as we simply wandered through the clear felled side of the track.

Finally, we climbed up to the 1st cliff. As usual it was brilliant, rooty, well drained fun. Unfortunately this only last till you reach the last third or so of the cliff where the trees start to thin out because of the clear felling a couple of years back. The trail from here on is completely blocked with fallen trees, we were forced down onto the fireroad it was that bad. 

So, it looks like a fair few parts of N3 are going to be out of action for the forseeable future. 

I think it might be a good idea if we have a round up of clear trails, and maybe folk could update as more are cleared and made available. What say you folks?

B.

[dom]

thought a few trees would be down but the amount of carnage up windy yett needs to be seen to be believed, that and the trees down on the cliff will need a lot of work to clear. is everywhere else as bad :'(