Si, Kaiser and myself diligently recce'd Glentress today. Notes were made, routes were timed and various options weighed... Although mostly we had a great day out, interspersed with a chain snap and puncture or two. And here's a tip, if you're out riding with a niche merchant on a 29'er, his inner tubes will fit your titchy wheels and get you home Only took a few pics...
The AECs enjoy an intimate moment at the bottom of Tower Ride...Obviously it's not easy making a long distance relationship work over the internet.
And the inevitable tab afterwards... Kaiser thinks of pizza, or rolling over and going to sleep.
Sheltering from the umm, err, fierce afternoon sun at the top of Shieldgreen Kipps...The waterproofs were simply to stop the sun burn.
OK, combined aftermath / recce... The consensus is the Black up to the radio mast then down to Spooky Woods is a go-er for the 'fit' group. 'Soor Plooms' is just as rocky as I remembered, but as long as the rigid retro-ers take it canny on the day and don't get carried away on their first taste of black, it'll be fine. 'Goat Track' is great though, nice and fast chasing the contour of the hill up and down, with a short, steep, rooty and stoney descent to keep you on your toes as you turn almost back on yourself to follow the hillside around. Then the push/slog up Tower Ride, with the steepness of the climb lessening as you hit the the Kipps with their never ending bloody switch backs, until finally popping out at the photo-op shelter. From then it's a short climb up to Britney Spears, probably the best bit of the black we'll ride... Starting rocky and exposed, then bermy, staying tight and fast through the trees. Too short but very sweet and a decent pay-off for all the climbing... Then the final rocky slog up to the high point of the radio mast, then hoor it back down the really fast fire road to Spooky - fair enjoyed that, I'd never came down that way before. Timing wise, we're reckoning 1h45m from freeride park to Spooky on the black - that's allowing for quite a few stops and/or pushing up the steep bits.
After that we took the red straight down, missing out Pie Run for the climb back up to The Matrix and Lombard Street. I reckon play this one by ear on the day, possibly split the group again for those wanting the full on Red experience and up for 'one more climb'? Magic Mushroom was good today (weeeeee, new section of trail is fast, although I kind of miss the detour that they had in place while they were building). One last climb all the way back up to the Buzzard's Nest car park, then a full on no stop till the bottom blue descent, cutting through the Red Squirrel car park to finish on the last section of red/black.
Cake, hot drinks and grub, and a bit of blether to finish off a grand day.
TK, I have ME as you know and I can ride what was described. Remember its a day out not a race, your fit enough for the fit group and with luck you'll be fitter than some of the visitors
Whats the proposal for the non fit group, red/blue/boom or bust combo perchance.
I'd be happy to lead the less fit group as the fit riders route I've done many times and thus would not feel left out. Thus others in Macretro's core could join the epic fit route
Whats the proposal for the non fit group, red/blue/boom or bust combo perchance.
I'd be happy to lead the less fit group as the fit riders route I've done many times and thus would not feel left out. Thus others in Macretro's core could join the epic fit route
both TK and Gazz have offered to take the other group, we were hoping we all left together and then met up at the top of spooky. the differecne being the climb. One group up the black and along the landrover track and the other either up the red or the landie track. From the freeride park to the top of spooky via the black its 1:45ish we reckon for a big group. That means the other group can have a hoon round the freeride park/skillsloop/boom or bust etc then meet us at the top of spooky. Spooky should be possible for all. Then we could split again and meet back at the freeride carpark. Or summat like that.