Relentless 24

Andy Barlow racing earlier in the year in the Scottish XC series

Here are the results from this weekends Relentless 24 event at Fort William, Scotland...
RESULTS

Well done Andy Barlow (of The Bike Chain - Edinburgh)and Team for winning the Quads and getting the fastest lap of the event!!

Tony Haresign
Mountain Biking Scotland
"Get Out of the Woods!"

A Sunday ride - On a Monday??!!**+??

I was joined by my little brother for a quick Sunday Loop around the Pentlands in Edinburgh on Monday, which ended up at the Flotterstone Inn, as that is where we started from. Lovley sunny day and not too many sheep, but a word of warning......
...The Pub in question will not alow you to buy a bowl/plate of chips on their own...how weird.
But my bro being the smart arse that he is requested a portion of onion ring which seems to be ok alongside a plate of chips.
One great thing in their favour is the fact that they do serve these with REAL Heinz tomato ketchup!! mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Oh and they sell beer!! :-)

Tony Haresign
Mountain Biking Scotland
"Get Out of the Woods!"

Ae Forest - 7Stanes

Do you feel ok, Ae??
Look at the above picture. Does it smack you as someone who is taking 'pleasure' from the delights of mountain biking or does it look like the face of a man wishing he was sat in the cafe, drinking lattes and eating cakes???
Well he took two good crashes and three (3) punctures and sweated buckets...did he enjoy it? I think in a strange way (like we all do) he did, but you can read more about this right from the horses mouth when he sends me his article and we publish it on the website at Mountain Biking Scotland (www.mountain-biking-scotland.com) which should be up and running in the next few week.
Cheers :-)

ps. I had a great time!!! :-)

Tony Haresign
Mountain Biking Scotland
"Get Out of the Woods!"

Mountain Biking Photos

Here are a few pix taken from the World Cup Downhill Championships in Fort William, Scotland between 2003-2005

HOPE YOU LIKE THEM... :-)






Tony Haresign
Mountain Biking Scotland
"Get Out of the Woods!"

What do you think about Giant Mountain Bikes??

As Specialized rider I am biased (probably) but this article expakins that in the quest to buy a good 'steed' (mountain bike)it is not a one horse race!!

Giant Mountain Bikes: You Want It, They've Got It by Trevor Mulholland

Many of the world's best professional cyclists profess Giant mountain bikes to be their ride of choice. This might have to do with the durability of the materials used to make these bicycles. In any case, they stand the test in global competition.

Riders can be seen enjoying the bikes on seven continents, in more than fifty countries. The company has been building quality bikes -- at affordable prices -- for over thirty years. Deeply involved in the mountain bike community, the company produces bikes that are suitable for both recreation and competition.

Over the years, they have worked to ensure that the latest technology is used in their bikes. They have kept up with more advanced technology in manufacturing, as well as in mountain bike designs. A quality control process is used, and their customer service is something from which all other companies could learn a lesson or two. The company was established in 1972, when they opened their very first factory. It was called Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd. By 1998, the company had grown by leaps and bounds, with divisions and operations in countries like the Netherlands, the United States, Japan, Canada, and China.

Giant sponsors many professional and amateur cycling teams, including international teams and regional teams. The company sponsors two race teams as well -- the Global Giant Mountain Bike Team and the ONCE Level 1 Road Team. National teams in Taiwan, Japan, and China are beneficiaries of Giant's sponsorship. In addition, Giant also supports both professional and amateur teams in the US, Australia, Canada, Belgium, New Zealand, and South East Asia. Individual racers in these countries are also sponsored by the company.

Along with top of the line bikes, Giant also has an apparel line, a line of bike care products, accessories, and a line of bags and racks. No matter what riders need, Giant finds a way to get it to them. Giant Mountain bikes are made with the highest quality materials and components, and the manufacturing process used by the company is one of the best in the world. Giant is reputed to be the world leader in mountain bike production; this means that the bikes cost less to produce, and consumers realize that lower cost in retail stores as well.

If you are new to mountain biking, you should definitely visit a Giant Mountain Bike dealer to see what they have in store. If you're an old pro and you've never ridden one of these quality bikes, take a test ride soon -- you just might find yourself pleasantly surprised! Great bikes don't need to cost a fortune when they are produced in ways that are designed for quality manufacturing -- but to save the end user some money as well.
About the Author

Mt-bikes.com provides you with information on mountain bike reviews, trek mountain bikes, giant mountain bikes, mountain bike holidays and specialized mountain bikes. http://www.mt-bikes.com/

Tony Haresign
Mountain Biking Scotland
"Get Out of the Woods!"

Mountains and bikes - A sport or just a laugh

See what you think of Greg's description of mountain biking.
:-)
Mountain Biking Tips by Greg Culver

Mountain biking, the name alone is enough to describe it. It is a great outdoor game that introduces you with the nature and helps you stay fit and in shape. It's real fun to race down the mountain even if it's a bit dangerous if you are not an expert biker. Many people enjoy the downhill ride with their family but with caution.

There are various styles in which the mountain biking could be done such as cross country, downhill and free riding. Different type of mountain biking requires different type of skills for various bikes.

You can find the best locations for mountain biking in many areas of the North America. The best known locations have unpaved surface specifically designed for mountain biking. You should confirm the routes, rules and regulations with your local park before you go on a mountain terrain.

There are many different competitions organized by various mountain bike groups. You can search for such groups in the newspaper or on the internet to find that perfect buddy for you.

If you want to become a good biker then you must have the stamina and enough endurance to cross the terrain with expertise and win over others. You will have to do hard work and practice to achieve this milestone. Be ready for all the bruises and wounds (I HAVE HAD A FEW OF THESE OVER THE YEARS - TONY) that you will get when you will fall from the bike during training.

The other important point is to select the best bike for your self. The selection of bike completely depends on the type of mountain riding you are doing and your dream for a bike. It is not easy to select the bike of your choice as there are many bikes of several colors and different styles. You may take the help of cyberspace to search for the bike of your choice. You can find the best deal on the internet websites but it is very important to compare prices of one or more websites. It's better to take a trial ride before purchasing the bike to check the level of comfort and its mechanism suits you or not.(OR GET DOWN TO YOUR LBS 'Local Bikes Shop')

Most important point is the safety while riding to ensure happy and joyful ride always. We all know that mountain biking on unpaved roads is very dangerous therefore you should always wear helmet, knee caps and elbow caps for your safety. It's good to wear a good pair of goggles so that nothing could fall in your eyes with wind hindering your sight. (THIS GUY MEANS BUSINESS) So, remember all these safety tips and enjoy the ride in the mountains.
About the Author

Greg Culver is the owner of www.myrecreationarena.com. For information and articles on recreation and travel go to: www.myrecreationarena.com

Tony Haresign
Mountain Biking Scotland
"Get Out of the Woods!"

Mountain Bikers - Even James Brown

Mountain Bikes by James Brown

Mountain biking is so much more than a mere sport. It is an enriching experience in itself. Along with great exercise for you comes the added element of visual gratification if you are riding your bike across scenic wooded paths. It gives you the pleasure of knowing that you are doing something good for your body while immensely enjoying the activity. It comes as little surprise thus that mountain bikes are always so much in demand. And the technology with which these mountain bikes are being made nowadays is becoming more and more advanced. The quality is always improving and the extreme competitiveness in this segment makes sure nothing is compromised in the production of these mountain bikes.

A mountain bike is also known as an ATB or an All Terrain Bicycle. These are meant for rough use on rugged roads and built much more sturdily compared to the normal bicycles. Depending on the suspension, mountain bikes can be mainly categorized into hard tail, soft tail and dual suspension bikes. The speed of these bikes will also vary as they come with different speeds with the most common ones being 21 speed and 24 speed. There are also bikes that have 27 speed or 30 speed.

As the technology used in producing mountain bikes has seen several progressive changes over the years, it has in turn been becoming increasingly possible to ride these bikes on rougher and rougher terrain. And that is just one reason why they are called All Terrain Bicycles in the first place.

Another unique feature in the mountain bikes that separate them from the normal every day bikes are their tires. The first thing that you would notice is that mountain bikes have much fatter tires. Given their bigger size, these tires are afforded far more durability on rough roads or mountainous paths than their normal counterparts. Mountain bikes normally have wheels that are 26 inches thick but other sizes are also commonly used like 21 inch wheels.

A lot of modern mountain bikes also come equipped with disc brakes. These have proven to be of significant assistance especially to mountain bikers who are participating in a race or a rally. These disc brakes give you the option of braking fast and the strength of their braking is also quite powerful compared to the mechanical brakes. All in all, whether it is for the racing professionals or casual office-goers looking for some exercise, a good mountain bike could be a very smart purchase.
About the Author

James Brown writes about Dunham's Bikes, REI coupons and Bicycles Promo Codes.



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Tony Haresign
Mountain Biking Scotland
"Get Out of the Woods!"

I ride an old Spesh - a 99 Rockhopper and it has seen some action, so when I saw this I had to put it up hers for other SPECIALIZED Mountain Bike Riders out there...

Honestly, even if you're new to biking - how do you think you can go wrong with a name like "Specialized"? Mountain bikes under this label have been patronized by discriminating cycling enthusiasts - and not just because the name is catchy, but because this brand has a performance history that's no less than good and solid.

Specialized mountain bikes of the Rockhopper line, for example, have remained at the top of consumer rankings for a long time, contending with equally popular classics like the Trek 4500 and the Gary Fisher Marin. These "hardtail" bikes are lightweight and perfect for use by cyclists with different body types, which makes it a favorite for most kinds of rugged trails.

The average weight of a Specialized bike is 30 pounds. The aluminum frame helps greatly in reducing weight and increasing speed. And because aluminum is tried and tested for its durability, it is also the material of choice by Specialized manufacturers. You can test the worth of a bike of this name by putting it through a trail bike test; see how well it performs and how easily it is to transport during normally arduous uphill climbs.

Mike Sinyard, creator of Specialized Bicycle Components, founded his company in 1974, with the intent to "give everyone the best ride of their life." Since then the professional mountain bikes turned out by the company have made the top picks, and in the past years the company's success in developng its mountain bike lines was driven by the presence of its independent suspension FSR frame.

Specialized is also known for producing quality "budget" bikes - and by this, we mean trail bicycles that are slightly cheaper than industry standard, for their caliber. They're still more expensive than you could expect a regular bike to be - for example, a "cheap" competition-grade Specialized model could still cost a little over $1000. Before you balk at this price, you must remember that Specialized bikes are known to compete with big-name brands like Marin, Trek and Giant, some of which definitely sell their "budget" models at much higher costs! But you could look forward to top of the line service and performance from Specialized mountain bikes. You could save a little more if you buy previous years' models, which almost invariably drop in prices as new and shinier models enter the market. If you're able to take advantage of special offers, you can grab a special deal on a firsthand full suspension, cross-country trail bike.
About the Author

Mt-bikes.com provides you with info on Mountain bikes, specialized mountain bikes and much more, come take a look at http://www.mt-bikes.com/
Tony Haresign
Mountain Biking Scotland
"Get Out of the Woods!"

Mountain Bikers - Some people will do any for a thrill

Mountain bikers look for new ways to test their skills.

This won't help keep their wheels true!!

Don't try this at home....

..and they are not wearing helmets!!!!
LOL :-)

Tony Haresign
Mountain Biking Scotland
"Get Out of the Woods!"

Cycling Up Mountains

Mountain biking can bring technical problems, so can posting on your blog which seem to have been sorted now!
Hurray!!

Here is the link to the story about a man riding his bike over a mountain (not on a mountain bike) which should make you smile.
It did me!!!
Here is the story


Cheers
Tony Haresign
Mountain Biking Scotland

Mountain Biking in Scotland

Welcome to my blog.

I will be providing the best information available on riding your mountain bike in and around Scotland.

Over the weeks to come I hope to be able to bring some unique info and product reviews and maybe even an 'inside story' or two.

I look forward to reading your comments in the near future.
:-)

Tony Haresign
Mountain Biking Scotland