MTB Rides May 2012

[MightyStew]

Manu decides the brambles look comfortable.



There's actually a mountain biker in this picture somewhere.

[Beagleboy]

Superb pics Stew, showing off what an excellent ride we had just perfectly!

I'd been racking my brains all week trying to think of something different to do on Saturday morning to no avail. I needn't have worried though as the intrepid Dick Barton was racing to the rescue. I haven't 'ridden' down Dumyat on that route in a long time, probably nearly 10 yrs in fact. Maybe it takes that long for the terror to subside?

However, except for a few nerve jangling moments caused by a hitherto unknown large air volume in Victoria's back brake, colluding with her slightly contaminated, and therefore shonky front brake, I survived relatively unscathed. I'm still confused as to why Jamie followed my line into the gorse bush though. I couldn't stop because my brakes had failed. Why did you follow me?   

Manu's dive into the brambles at the steepest scariest bit of the descent was brave, and gave Stew an opportunity for a superb photo. Whilst my headlong sideswipe of a tree on the final drop down to Logie Kirk gave a family of walkers a good giggle.

At this point, I decided to call it quits and head home. Victoria is hanging from the rafters in shame, awaiting a thorough brake hosing, whilst I've rebuilt Josephine and just need to see if her shiny new rear end (cassette, mech and chain), will play nice with her fairly worn front end (1 yr old Middleburn rings). Finger's crossed!

Brilliant day out guys, thanks! I'm still buzzing from it......quite literally in fact considering the amount of bites, stings and scratches I'm covered in! 

B. 

[Cj]

Like the pictures... especially Andrews attempt at camouflage

Might even give the roadie stuff a miss next week and try a bit of MTBing again now that my ribs have healed and my man flu is breaking up!

Colin

[Beagleboy]

....I've rebuilt Josephine and just need to see if her shiny new rear end (cassette, mech and chain), will play nice with her fairly worn front end (1 yr old Middleburn rings). Finger's crossed!

  I don't even know who I'm trying to fool now with these vain hopes. 

I planned to head up to CV for a couple of laps last night, primarily to check that everything was running fine, but also to check out the 'improved' Cannonball Run section of the trail. Five minutes after leaving the house I slowly pushed Josephine back up the hill and into the garage. No, the old chainrings and new chain do not make good bedfellows. 

All dressed up and ready to go, I decided to stick to my plan and head up to CV on Victoria (she of the unpredictable brakes), instead. A fairly stiff headwind on the climb and then a thorough hosing just after I passed the hotel damped my spirits a wee bit, but when I finally made it up to the trails the sun was shining, the wind had died and judging by the carpark I pretty much had the place to myself. Sweet!

Up to the top and I met a couple of young lads fiddling with their phones in order to set up this Strava race thingy.  I graciously let them head down first so as not to show them up with my skillz.  Then it was over to the 'new and improved' Cannonball, the section that I've always rated as the best up there.

Well, right from the start they've widened the trail so that you can avoid the rocks at the entrance and at that nice wee dip 100m down before the first sharp left. This is obviously a good thing because we wouldn't want to be riding our nice shiny bikes on bumpy rocks would we? The sharp corners have all been bermed so we don't have to wear out our brake pads, and most of the other corners have been straightened out to avoid wear and tear on headset bearings.

Joking aside, I suppose they've made it faster, but in doing so they've taken away some (for me anyway) of the challenges. No more heart stopping pedal skuffs on the big rocks at the corners and the surface is gravel, rather than the super slimy hardcore. Oh, but do watch out for the 'speed bumps'. I think they're meant to be little 'pump' sections. However I went into them with speed, thinking they were little jumps. It wasn't pretty. 

I survived though, and got home in a fit enough condition to order the new chain rings for Josephine. I think I might have to just sit in the garage and look at my bikes till payday comes around again though. I can't afford for anything else to fall off!  :'(

B. 

p.s. How's the weather looking for Thursday? 

[JamieMcL]

Agreed, Saturday was good fun and was exciting trying a different route down Dumyat 

Beagie, the bushes looked the safer option! It was either them or a steep grassy bank which would have led to certain doom (and probably even more bushes). Speaking of hitting trees I took a chunk out of my helmet coming down Kippenrait leaving myself dazed for the remainder of the day after colliding with a stray log/branch.

I'd agree with your comments rearding CV too, I preferred the narrow Cannonball with all those lovely rocks which want to take chunks out of things. I nearly caught myself out too on some of the jumps they've thrown in there too when I visited in March.

[Paul Roberts]

I'll be at the uni at 7 if anyone else fancies a quick spin tonight.

Paul

[Beagleboy]

Hmmmm.... A quick blast in the woods...or....Avengers Assemble at Cineworld tonight with a gallon of pop and family sized pack of liquorice allsorts.

Let...me....think...about....it.....


Nope sorry, the Hulk wins every time. 

[YTT]

Paul,

I'll be there at 7pm, bike all clean and rejuvenated, rider almost the same.

Cheers

Neil

[Howard]

Will be at the Uni for 7 if only to see Neil ride in mud for the 1st time this year.

[DuncanE]

Anyone out tomorrow?

[MightyStew]

I should be out!

[MattCrawford]

I haven't been out with the club for a while (last September I think), but I'll be making an appearance tomorrow if all goes to plan.

Matt

[Beagleboy]

I'm gonna try and fix my bike before heading out so I doubt i'll make it to Costa's. If someone can drop me a line and let me know where you're headed, I'll try to catch up.

[ChannelD]

Good day out with a good few people. One for the first time, Adam. I hope you enjoyed the ride across North 3rd's 3 cliffs. I great intro to the trails around Stirling. Conditions were firm but greasy. Good fun for all.

[Beagleboy]

I'm going to make the most of the dry weather (and Kerry's homework), to head out for a spin up Dumyat. I should make it up to the car park by about 11ish if anyone wants to join me.

B.