Loch Ordie loop Aftermath 2009 - Macretro 24th Jan Dunkeld

As I cruised up the A9 with Back in Black blasting out of the CD and the
Sun rising behind me, catching the snow kissed mountains in the distance,
I had a feeling this would be a good day.

We met up at 10.30 - a little later for the lost Kaiser and Jimi and set
off just after 11am once I had finally packed my toolchest into my
backpack and AC had put back all the tiny ballbearings that fell out of his
SS freewheel.

photo left to right...
Kaiser; Jamie Dyer; AwayCaboose; ClockworkGaz and JimiHendrix
GT Karakoram, 88 Stumpie, OnOne SS, Cannondale SS and Orange SS

I'm on the camera and riding my GT Xizang.

The Tracks were very icy but the sun was blazing so we didn't mind.
As usual I met the others about five minutes after they finished the first
climb. Jimi was the first to go down on the ice but he didn't have time to
bleed so we pushed on to the first loch.

Every lochan we passed was frozen over, the climbs were steady
though despite the ice. Looks like I missed the winter photo competition,
oh well, so we stopped for our first photo shoot for the up and coming
kerrang cover...

For a while the trail ice cleared up, we saw deer in the distance,
as we headed on to the half way point of Loch Ordie.

Fab day and I missed it, I'm gutted

Jamies Stumpy helps me date my Hardrock though as it has a very similar paintjob in pink and white so its late 80's at least, fantastic

Lucky people !!!!!!!!!!!

Lets start planning the February meet

Cheers

Velo

Loch Ordie was absolutely stunning half frozen over, we stopped
for a slap up lunch of caramel logs and peanut kitkats.

After that we decided on a route change as the way up was far too
icy to enjoy on the way down, and we actually wanted to extend the
run because we were having so much fun.

We looped around the back of of the loch crashing through the icy
puddles. We all fell off at some point and there were several amazing
recoveries with side slides not unlike a scrambler race.

We found a single track that would take us back over the hill but it was
unfamiliar territory. the weather had greyed now and as we pushed our
bikes up an unridable track a snow flurry hit us.

We started to wonder when we would make it back? We were looking
for the forest on the map, Gaz's wisdom told us that it must start at the
trees up a head. The forest was a head of us a good sign it signified
what we thought might be the way down, and it was.

I reckon it was about 1.5 miles of reasonably fast wet and icy downhill, it
was fantastic. We split up when we reach the first loch again with Jimi and
AC heading back to dry off.

The rest of us continued on another mile long wide forest track with rock
jumps everywhere, it was well worth the final slog along a road back to the cars.

A grand day out was had by all, hopefully we could persuade a few more
to come along next time.

Right in the middle of my write up! You plonker rodney

It was fantastic Velo you and the others missed a brilliant day - the best
yet in my opinon, we like to come back here in the summer so you'll get another chance.

Fantastic day, ride and place , definetely one to do again in the summer, would love to do the downhill again if it was a bit dryer and less icy though that was an
experience yesterday, first time i've properly came off a bike in ages (twice) , single speed was great, no real major climbs.

Jamie's Stumpie looked fantastic Velo, superb original condition

Some great pictures ken- can feel my nose getting cold just looking at them.

My legs are sore this morning, what with all those tyre spins and power slides as well as the singletrack detour over the snow field (whose idea was that anyway,edjit).

Was a topper of a day and I kind of enjoyed the numerous ice falls and I did get a good load off practice :roll: . It was also a great route for a SS no real need for gears apart from that downhill road section- damn you Kaiser, damn you to hell :twisted:

My bike of the day was the spesh- great to see you jamie and thanks for coming down from the top of the isle, most dedicated macretro rider of the month award will be sent to you on monday.

I'm with Velo on this one, lets get a feb meet sorted out- AC mentioned that he might be going to carron valley next sat. and if I can finesse the pass authorities then I think I might head over too.

Seeyou next time lads.

Excellent pics Ken and an absolute hoot of a day, lots of muscles used that I didn't know I had , a couple of extra points

Jamie's stumpy was really nice

Gazz and Jimi's SS'ers were superb for the $$ vs kg's, very blingy in their polished frames

As mentioned the singlespeeders didn't seem to loose anything without their gears

Gazz had womens tights on and allegedy exposed his knackers to a group of female walkers :roll:

I think its worth mentioning again that I beat gazz on that downhill section

Jimi gets the nails award for falling, gashing his knee and not realising

Ken gets the handbag award for complaing about his cold tootsies

Blood was taken from away caboose and it was verified he isn't a manifestation of gazz's mind.