is choice, there's just not enough time to ride everything. Allan and myself regularly drive up through some incredible scenery with a frankly obscene number of trails visible from the road, yet never stop and ride them. Until today.
For years, one track snaking up the side of Meall Breac has caught our eye in particular and today it was finally ridden. One problem with many of these trails is that while they tease from a distance, it can be bloody tricky to actually get to them. Take our planned bothy trail- its a four mile walk from the car to the start, with a choice of routes involving either cold mountain stream crossings and bogs, or full on river crossings.
Today's obstacles were the main railway line to Inverness and the River Garry lying between the road and the trail. Not only that, but the parking at the side of the A9 dual carriageway is more than a bad idea...
As it happens google maps suggested that there was a potential parking spot hidden off the road, near a bridge over the river, the only potential issue being that if we missed the turn its a 10 mile round trip to try again.
We got lucky.
Then there is the question of whether the track is actually rideable or not, once you get there. That snaking switchback could in fact be nothing more than a boulderfield once you get there- or worse. The walkers path up Schiehallion is great on paper; smooth surface, winding, nice gradient. But the reality is the worst part about these paths- stone water bars, essential to prevent erosion. Its fine to ollie the odd one or two, but on Schiehallion they were so close together it was impossible to generate enough speed to clear them, and if you did, the next one was waiting.
Now that the race is done and dusted, we decided to revisit the trail we rode on World Mountainboard Day this year, this time with BFC hero MJ in tow. We hoped for better weather this time, so were pleasantly surprised to see blue skies and sunshine as we charged up the A9 on the way to Aviemore.
At the carpark I instantly realised my walking boots were still in the boot of my car, a good 80 miles south, so was forced to ride in my battered skate shoes which meant dodgy grip levels for walking and minimal levels of control for the way back down.
After 30 minutes sitting by the road waiting for the ski bus we checked the timetable to find there was no bus, so jumped into MJ's car and headed uphill to the ski area, kitted up and began the long walk to the Ptarmigan Cafe...
THE way to tow a noSno
The weather at the top was still sunny, but well windy, which would make the descent slow in places, blowing straight at us on the one small flat section of the track.
On the way back down, Allan showed us a new line he'd found, using the old road with a few hairpins and some rollers which were built for a Red Bull event last year- great bit of track, but it did mean 50yds of walking on the main road before we could ride back to the car- at least there were no water bars or gates on this one though!
Don't forget about the Perth riding day on the 21st October, meet at the track at 11am for some brake free japery...
So Round 3 seemed to go well, from what I could tell everyone had fun, I won Masters and Allan came second, and we were graced by the presence of some scottish boarding legends...
Then there is the question of whether the track is actually rideable or not, once you get there. That snaking switchback could in fact be nothing more than a boulderfield once you get there- or worse. The walkers path up Schiehallion is great on paper; smooth surface, winding, nice gradient. But the reality is the worst part about these paths- stone water bars, essential to prevent erosion. Its fine to ollie the odd one or two, but on Schiehallion they were so close together it was impossible to generate enough speed to clear them, and if you did, the next one was waiting.
