Glen Finglas - Sunday 22nd July

[Jo]

Hi all,

Bruce, the dog and I are planning on riding Glen Finglas on Sunday. I've not ridden it before, but understand that while the track is mainly landy track (and hopefully slightly weather proof), the views are good, with a real 'big country' feel. Nothing technical, more of a long uppy downy ride 

We will be leaving earlyish (10am?) as we need to be home by 5. Pace will be slow to unfit, with the added obstacle of dog dodging.

Anyone want to join us?

[RedBruce]

Choccy biscuit bonus awarded if you can successfully bunnyhop The Dog, teeth to flesh penalty if you fail!

[Jo]

Actually - just reading some route reports that say the LRT round Glen Finglass is awful when wet (sandy and leg sapping), so wondering if we would be better to try Glen Ample (now that is LRT most of the way too) and back by sustrans...

Any advice?

EDIT: Or any other thoughts for reasonable trails at the weekend?

[ChannelD]

Hi Jo

I have done glen finglass in the rain and very wet. There is no sand I remember. You'll be ok. It is leg sapping anyway. I have only ever been round anti clockwise. Can be a little tricky slippy where gets quite steep for about a 100m~ for an up part section other just a slog.

[Jo]

Thanks Illya,

The word 'slog' appears fairly often in relation to this loop :-( but I guess as a day out in wet conditions it's as good as we are going to get...

Anyone else tempted yet?

[dom]

Maybe. Working tonight, moving house tomoz, working sat + sun night  :'( but could do I'll let youse know. Did the big loop a few years ago and if I rember right going up glen ample was shocking sandy wet awful.

[dom]

Coming down glen ample would prob be fine though

[Crispin2]

Any conclusions - time/location?

In need of a ride tomorrow after being house/office bound for what seems like ages!

[Jo]

Cool!

Will make an executive decision and say Finglass as I haven't ridden it yet.

Say 10am from the car park (Brig o turk but not exactly sure where). Will be good to see you Crispin, but have to warn you that it will be a slow day as I haven't had much bike time recently.

If you need a lift drop me a text and we can pick you up on the way.

[Crispin2]

10am is good.

There is a car-park at Brig o Turk about 0.5mile towards Glen Finglas (turn right at the only junction in town!) just at the turn to the glen.

Or in the village at the junction.  I'll look for you all at both!

[dom]

Not going anywhere tomoz I'm totally burst even mainlining red bull not working anymore
Next time folks

[Jo]

Dom - hope the house move went well 

Bruce, Crispin and I headed round the route. The weather wasn't great - drizzle at low level and misty, cloudy wetness higher up, however the ride wasn't as 'boring' as I had been led to believe.

The land rover track was good and even in the damp conditions was still very solid. The climb out was long and fairly daunting, but the steep sections were short and the 'rolling dips' meant that even at a steady pace you got some recovery time. The decent was fast and steep at times (for a landrover track), I can see how it may be a little unrewarding on a summers day when you want dry dusty singletrack - but in this weather it was as good as you could hope for.

2hrs climbing and a 50 minute descent meant that we were back to the car by lunch time, so a whole afternoon to dry out and watch the tour. I would like to go back another time to see what the views are like (all in cloud yesterday), maybe on a clear winters day.

Thanks to Crispin for the company, glad to hear you got home ok... riding it from home added another couple of hours on for him, have to admit I was very happy to get back to the car, warm clothes and a cake at the watersports centre! (although if only the day had been as dry as my apple cake  )

Thanks guys