Sore Legs and Autumn Leaves

Casting my mind back to this time last year, saw a trek down to Glentress, with three 'Tress Virgins'
Wet! Wet and more Wet (no singing!) with some puddles, slippy roots and soggy leaves thrown in.
It was a reaction that you would expect even from the most fool-hardy cyclist..
..Are we mad?
Maybe, but it was a different reaction as we returned soaked and grinning ear to ear.
Everyone wishing the light would last a little longer and we had an inexhaustible supply of dry cycling gear.
Alas, no! Cakes, coffee and bacon rolls rounded it off.
"We will be back" they said, with a hint of Schwarzenegger about them.
Well I think it is time to make the call, for a return trip.
The weather seems just right....
...where is the phone..
Tony HaresignMountain Biking Scotland"Get Out of the Woods!"

West Highland Way Double Attempt- CRAZY!!!???

UK endurance mountain biker, and Team Syncros Endurance Team Manager, Rob Lee has announced that he will attempt to ride the full length, and back again, of the West Highland Way later this week. The West Highland Way is Scotland’s premier long distance route and runs from Milngavie, on the outskirts of Glasgow, to Fort William which sits at the foot of Ben Nevis. The route itself is 96 miles (154km) and so Rob will undertaking a journey of some 192 miles (308km) through some of the most scenic off road wilderness in the UK.

No stranger to such undertaking Rob was the first rider to take the South Downs Double record without a support crew, back in 2008, and has ridden a double version of the Pennine Bridleway, and linked all of the 7Stanes Red Routes, in his following rides, as part of his Seven Deadly Spins project.

This ride will be the sixth ride of that series and looks likely to be the hardest one yet. Having recently returned from filming and reconnaissance rides of the route Rob had this to say about the upcoming challenge:

“The route is really special, it goes through some amazing countryside and covers some really tough trails. I particularly like the way that it regularly changes and throws up so many variables that kit and bike choice are a really serious consideration. Looking back on the other rides I’ve done of this type this one is by far the toughest. The distance is no higher but the terrain itself is much harder to pass over at any great speed. I’m in fantastic shape at the moment, having worked very hard with my coach over the Winter, but even so I think this challenge is going to take about 32 hours to complete. This time I’m going to go supported; it makes sense really as we are producing a film about endurance mountainbiking so there will be a crew following me. I think this ride is hard enough as it stands so why make it harder? Whatever happens it’s going to make for some very interesting viewing. The scenery is so good and Mark (from film production company Reset Films) has a real eye for capturing visually stunning, and inspirational footage for the movies he makes”

This season Rob is working on a joint project with Mark from Reset Films – the makers of acclaimed mountainbike move ‘Home’ – to produce a new film that captures the spirit of the ultra-endurance adventures these riders undertake. The crew will be following Rob on this ride and gaining footage from trail, air and water as they search for the best vantage point.

The ride is scheduled to start at 11am on Friday this week (the 16th) from the southern end of the trail and Rob hopes to be finished some time before midnight on Saturday! As with all his challenge rides online viewers will be able to track his progress from the live tracker page, on his blog site, as well as following live updates via Twitter.

Tracker Page: http://roblee7ds.blogspot.com/p/live-event-tracker.html
Live on-the-ride Twitter updates: @RobLee7ds

West Highland Way Double trailer from ResetFilms.co.uk on Vimeo.
Tony Haresign
Mountain Biking Scotland
"Get Out of the Woods!"

A Long Time In The Shed

After the last writings I have not even had the wheels back on my bike, this might go some way to confirming that the Strathpuffer 24 was indeed the hardest race in the World, so much so that even the thought of a 'wee ride' was right out of the question.
I have spent my summer months playing with my new toy...the sea.
Skimboarding (Google it if you don't now) and sailing have been my main distractions, but yesterday it all changed.
Moving the dusty bottles and gardening tools out of the way, I pulled the bikes of the wall mounted rack to asses the damage/rust/flat tyres etc.
After a bit of tinkering, a new tube in the rear and a good dose of GT85, we were ready to rock and roll.
Spinning down the main street of the village, I followed the coastal path for a few miles.
Passing by the old tank traps and look out posts at Dumbarnie Links, the sun was blazing down and the 'wind' was truly 'in my hair'. Accompanying the huge grin on my face my sunglasses and Buff were enjoying the kind of freedom they had not experienced for some months.
On to Elie, to the beach, where I snatched a few lazy moments in the sun, along with a drink and a snack before setting off back.
The return journey was made on the 'black stuff', which wasn't too bad but for a few over zealous ' White Van Men' cutting in on the corners, but that's the usual for any road isn't it?
Somehow getting out the 'old steed' just as the night are getting darker does seem a bit stupid but hey, I never did anything in the conventional way.
I'm off to shake the sand from my shoes...more soon.....

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!"