The Hardest Race In The World - The Strathpuffer

THE TRIP & TALES
As we loaded up the MountainBikingScotland.com Team Van (my wife's Scenic with the back seats out) our anticipation and excitement of the road trip ahead was hard to contain.
As usual I had packed 2 0f everything and a spare one just in case, filling more than half of the space in the boot, whereas Ross had 3 bags and a sleeping bag for the whole trip.

We wound our way North past Perth and onwards as the wind blew harder and all around us was getting colder, snowier and icier!! Was this the shape of things to come?
After two and a half hours of pointing in a Northerly we pulled into the Ralia Cafe on the A9 for a bowl of the best tomato soup I have tasted in ages and a double shot 'milky one' to set us up for the final furlong.

Dingwall was passed and onto Strathpeffer to the Ben Wyvis Hotel where after checking in and heading to the bar we heard the rumour that due to the high winds the campsite was closed and that the registration had moved to the Community Center. After a beer or two we dashed up but found it closed, so we got back to the bar as quick as we could to hear the tale that there would be an announcement at 7am out side the Square Wheels shop.
Find out what happened tomorrow.....

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

Scottish Champion Cyclist Dies In Road Accident

Jason MacIntyre, who broke cycling legend and fellow Scot Graham Obree's 10 mile time trial record last year, died in hospital from injuries he suffered during the collision with a Highland Council van, near his home town of Fort William.
Jason, 33, was a triple British and multi Scottish champion road and time trial cyclist.
He lived in Fort William with his wife and eight-year-old twin girls.

The athlete was looking forward to the new season, writing on New Year's Day on his on-line blog: 'Having made it through Christmas and now New Year, all be it overfed and over weight, I'm looking forward to January and a 2008 to see what it brings.'
He was born in Lochgilphead but had lived in Fort William since the age of 10.
He trained and finished his time as a printer and lithographer at Nevis Print in Fort William.
His entry to the sport came late, taking to the road at age 18. Since then, coaching himself, he had gradually progressed, winning the Tour of the North in Ireland at the age of 23.
He achieved selection to represent Scotland - in the Road Race & Circuit Time Trial - in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
The cyclist won the British 25 mile Time Trial twice and was the first Scot ever to win the British Circuit race Time Trial Championship.
Last year Jason broke Obree's 10 mile time trial record, clocking 18 minutes and 47 seconds.
Image by Ian MacIntosh at Imac Images

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

New Video Site Partner

We have teamed up with The Review Junction to supply an exclusive page for us of Mountain Biking in Scotland videos.
Check it out here.

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

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!"