The Strathpuffer 24

Another year over and time for more New Year madnesses in the the shape of the Strathpuffer 24 hour Mountain Bike Race.

This is the only 24 hour race in the World in Winter conditions...and MountainBikingScotland.com will be there as a Duo/Pair/Couple of Loonies (delete as applicable.)

Since we missed it last year due to injury and laziness we will be going full tilt to have as much fun as possible, get as muddy as possible and hopefully be able to make it home in one or two pieces.

My riding partner for this event is my long time 'bike buddy' Ross J Aitken, also a photographer and former courier (come on out of the saddle lad!!)
He will be in charge of editing and uploading images from the event and I will be updating the site throughout the night, keeping you amused with our progress, or lack of it.

We have a couple of tents to use as Base Camp, but as back up have booked a hotel in the village of Strathpeffer just in case (we get tired/cold/fed up/want to kill each other!!)
Keep a eye on the site for up to the minute news and pictures.

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

Extra 9K For Laggan Red Route

Mountain bikers are having their skill and nerve tested by two new trails at Laggan Wolftrax that offer more choice and challenge to riders keen to take on the terrain across Forestry Commission Scotland’s Strathmashie Forest.

A new ‘green’ grade circular trail also offers beginners an opportunity to hone their skills across 4km of less difficult ground – and more experienced bikers an excellent warm-up before tackling harder graded routes.

Jack Mackay, Forestry Commission Scotland, said: "Laggan Wolftrax is one of the best places in Scotland to go mountain biking. It's a great reputation to have and we will do what we can to make sure that we've got what it takes to keep mountain bikers coming back.

“The exciting extension of the Wolftrax red route makes maximum use of the site's natural features. It also links up to parts of the black trail and lets red-grade riders try out some of the rock features that were previously only available to expert bikers.

"From the new green route, the big-and-bermy orange grade Fun Park, the extended red route and one of the toughest black trails in the country, we can now offer a high quality experience to riders of all levels of ability."

Jim Langley of Laggan Forest Trust said: "The Commission and Laggan Forest Trust have been working together to deliver these new routes, which are sure to attract more mountain bikers to the area to test their skills. It's an excellent example of how forest recreation can maximise the benefits from tourism to the local economy and I am confident that the new trails will boost Laggan Wolftrax's strong reputation as one of the top places in Scotland for mountain biking"

More information about Laggan Wolftrax and other Forestry Commission Scotland mountain biking sites and routes can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/mtbscotland

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

How 'NOT' to do it!!!

With stylish crashes like these who needs to get any 'Air'???



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

Scottish SXC - Final Round - Glentress

The Scottish XC series comprised of seven rounds in 2007, beginning in Laggan and, via Dalbeattie, Fort William, Gleniffer Braes, Contin and Drumlanrig, finishing proceedings in Glentress. The series has been hotly contested all season, with the racing for the title going right to the final round. Taking his second 2nd place overall, Whyte Racing UK's Andy Barlow reports:

The final round of the Scottish XC series moved to Glentress - a place that is renowned for its hard-packed, all weather tracks. This time, however, we were in for quite a surprise.

The course was totally different than anything we've been given before. And it rocked. Long fire road climbs and BMX style descents were replaced with steep natural climbs, rooty and off-camber singletrack, with a long rooty muddy descent that twisted its way down over multiple lines. The lap finished with a trip down the new 'Blue Free Ride' section. The best Glentress track I've ever done.


www.colinrobinsonimaging.com (Thanks Colin)

I felt fast on the course in practice, so I just focused on getting a good start. Well rested from my mountain biking holiday to the Alps recently, I blasted away from the gun; confident that I was on good form. The race settled to a comfortable pace (180bpm) and I got in to a rhythm.

The first two laps were fine - apart from having a lucky escape on the long downhill on the back straight - so I thought I'd turn up the pace and drop the guy I could see in second place behind me on the switchback climb. I was in the lead by just under a minute, so I cooled things down a bit so as not to blow up.

And here the problems started. I thought I'd try a new hydration method at this round, as for the last two months I've been training without energy drink or bars. The thought being I could mimic the same benefits from affordable food - such as fruit juice and water in my bottle, oat cakes and muesli bars in my pockets.

It's all been good - so much so, in fact, that I was starting to wonder why I'd been spending so much on all this 'hocus pocus' all these years. So when it came to making my bottles up for the race I just added a squirt of 'Elite' to stop the cramp (the only thing I've found to work), and thought I'd be fine.

Half way round the fourth lap and “BANG!” I hit the wall harder than I've ever experienced before. The guy in second place caught me and passed me with ease. "Oh oh,” I thought, "this is bad". Sure enough, by the time I was at the top of the climb I knew I was in trouble. I was already starting to sway, and my vision was going. Somehow I managed to get round another lap and only got passed by another two competitors. I took some major chances on the downhill's, luckily I never came off. But by the time I finished I could hardly walk.

I crossed the line and could hardly stand. I freewheeled down to my van and, after crawling in to the back, promptly fell asleep - still in all my kit. I woke up twenty minutes later; freezing.

I think I learned a lesson: energy drinks are worth the extra cash. But despite my lack of common sense, I placed second overall in the series. So another year in the number two board.

Once again I'd like to thank everyone that's supported my racing this season. My Dad for being my 'bottle bitch', James at Fine A.D.C for finally solving the riddle to my cramp with 'Elite', and of course Whyte Bikes (ATB Sales) for giving me the sweetest bike to ride. Thanks guys.

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

Whyte 19 Trail

Whyte's high-end 19 hardtail has already been a cult success with singletrack aficionados and speed demons, but 2007's line-up has had a complete makeover.
The Trail spec takes the tried-and-tested 19 chassis and adds a long travel fork, chunky tyres and a bigger front disc rotor to the mix. It promises pace with a big-hit edge.



A state of the art hardtail platform that mixes sublime handling, beautiful frame detailing, light weight construction and a unique and innovative dropout system that allows geometry adjustment and easy conversion to a singlespeed setup.
Fundamental to the design is the exceptional quality of the frameset - custom fabricated from AN6, an advanced aluminium alloy that helps us create riding characteristics that are reminiscent of a top quality steel frame with its all day comfort and rapid acceleration, but without the weight penalty.
So now you don’t have to decide whether you want a latest generation performance hardtail, or a simple and elegant singlespeed. With the Whyte 19 you get both.
And at £1995 it has all the equipment you'll need, to have fun going downhill and making it easier going up!!!
See WHYTE BIKES WEBSITE for more details.

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