Dec 28th Carrbridge Meet car park Village Centre 6.30pm

Wed 21st December Grantown on spey Meet Car Park opposite Fuel Station,

Opportunity for Pie n Chips afterwards.

Wed 14 Dec Nethybridge Meet Hotel Car Park 6.30pm

Wed 7th Dec Old Bridge Inn Aviemore for 6.30pm start.

Wed 30 November Uath Lochans Glenfeshie for 6.30pm start

Wed 23rd November, Grantown (car park opposite petrol station )

Weds 16th Carrbridge Meet car park centre of village 6.30pm

Weds 9th November Kincraig Meet Village Hall 6.30pm.

Weds 2nd November Aviemore meet Old Bridge Inn 6.30pm

Next ride Wed 26 October Carrbridge village carpark for a 6:30 ish start

Next ride Wed 19th Oct Nethy Bridge for a 6:30 ish start

Wed 12 October Grantown on spey meet car park opposite Petrol station 6.30pm Pie night after !!

Next ride Uath Lochans Wed 5 Oct, for a 6:30ish start

Next ride Wednesday 28 Sept, Aviemore, Bridge Inn for a 6:30ish start

Wed 21st September Carrbridge Meet Car Park centre of village 6.30pm

Wed 14th September, Grantown, 6:30pm

Wed 7th September, Glenlivet Bike Trails, 6:30pm

Wed 31st August. Feshiebridge. 6.30pm

Forestry car park below bridge

Loch Dallas ride

A couple of pictures from yesterday's exploration from the Knockando/Dallas road. Wonderful names here, Moss of Bednawinny, Lochs of Bogmussach, Burn of Clashgour amongst others. This area is heavily forested but is now being steadily harvested in several different areas. Unfortunately there is  no view of Loch Dallas from above but there is a good track down. The loch is a lovely peaceful place with a fine fishing hut and pier. The purpose of this ride was to check out the possibility of a loop ride from Glenernie viaduct using the old "Lone road" across towards Dallas (see heritage paths website) and back to Glenernie this way.

Wed 24th August, Carrbridge village car park, 6:30pm

BBQ afterwards at John & Fi's if weather ok, bring your own burgers etc.

Glen Affric

I was at Glen Affric today and came across a hydro development above the yellow brick road. The track from Cougie to Loch Affric is to be prepared for vehicle access to a new dam high on the Allt Garbh. We came along this track on a day ride some years ago. Pity, as this is one of the great Highland bike routes, and  the route is one of my all time favourites.

Wed 17th August, Aviemore Old Bridge Inn 6:30pm

Wed 10th August, Tomatin Village Hall/ Sports Tunnel, 6:30pm

Wed 3rd August, Boat of Garten, (village hall car park) 6:30

Wed 27th July, Uath Lochans Glenfeshie, 6.30pm

Wed 20th July. Dorback, Nethybridge, 6:30 pm

Meet at Dorback road end

Wed 13th July. Kingussie Railway Station. 6.30

Corgarff to Inchrory and Bridge of Gairn.

I did a nice route today, and anticlockwise circuit from Corgarff castle car park to Inchrory, Loch Builg, Bridge of Gairn and back via tarmac road and the Wade road. It's a mixture of various surfaces, with tarmac, smooth and rough estate tracks and some singletrack. There are several water crossings and three big gates, all of which were unlocked. Shortly after Inchrory I came across a pair of almost new Zamberlan boots sitting neatly by the track side. They were bone dry and lay beside some flattened grass. So I guess somebody packed carelessly after a nights camping and walked off without checking. How could you miss them? What was the owner wearing when he left? I turned them upside down to keep them dry till they are collected. Weather was good but it started to drizzle as I reached Bridge of Gairn and all the way back to the car. But it didn't amount to much. Good route I recommend it. Here's a few pics.

Weds 6th July Nethybridge, meet car park at hotel for 6.30pm

Next ride Wed 29 June Suie Hotel, Kincraig 6:30ish start

Next ride wednesday 22 June Tomatin Village hall for a 6:30ish start

Weds 15th June Carrbridge meet car park centre of village 6.30pm

Faindouran lodge

Good ride today with George from Tomintoul up to Faindouran lodge in wall to wall sunshine. Ben Avon looked fantastic with snow patches.Never saw a soul all the way up even though Queen's view car park was full. Repairs to the bothy are now complete. On the way down we met a couple at Pony men's hut who were doing a bird survey. Further on we met another couple climbing up from the bridge on bikes who said they were heading for Derry Lodge and Invercauld today. This was about 3.30pm. They seemed not to know that it was hike-a-bike all the way from Faindouran to Fords of Avon and then even more a good part of the way to Derry lodge. They didn't look like proper mountain bikers. I wished them good luck, at least it was good weather.

Weds June 8th Tomintoul, Meet Car Park Queens View 6.30pm,If its wet the Square

Glen Feshie

Went up Glen Feshie today now the river has gone right down. Beyond the wooden bridge there is a lot of damage on the right bank. The new path is damaged and looks like a large section of it will be gone in the next flood. The crossing of the Allt Garbhlach has vanished as well and there's massive damage there. Any one going up should swing left on the old path and use the old crossing, largely intact. Then opposite Carnachuin about two hundred yards of the track have also completely gone. You can pass by climbing up the slope, but it's hike-a-bike. Further up it all seems ok as it all spread out on the flood plain.

Weds 1st June Meet Ralia Car Park south of Newtonmore 6.30pm

Mannoch road follow up.

As I still had a bee in my bonnet over the above I tried the Northern approach today. Rode in from the Dallas road and past the Carn Uish windfarm. Since my last ride up here years ago they've cleared pretty much the whole forest and put up some of the tallest turbines I have ever seen. They weren't noisy either. After the windfarm the track deteriorates markedly being largely water filled ruts. This got much worse on the northern approach track up to the end where the new trees obscure the old road. Pushing through it improves to a grass track. It's only about 500 yards to the southern section but it's all wet hike a bike. Shame as there's a good circular off road route possible down to Craigellachie and back along Speyside way.

Wed 25th May, Grantown (car park opposite petrol station) 6:30pm

The Mannoch road

I have been here before and knew the map showed a path between two ends of the Mannoch road. It's an old right of way north from Speyside to Elgin. I found a description somewhere on the internet and someone had claimed a way through thick trees and wet ground although the path shown is now non existent. I went up from Knockando along the Spey and up through Archiestown. From there it's a nice open forest road with great views of Ben Rinnes. You then turn right up the road. It's a fine track though appears hardly used by vehicles. There were signs of a bike and some boot prints. Unfortunately it comes to and end at a swamp with thick trees ahead. Pity as there a couple of good options if you could get through. On the way back I had a look at a lunch hut off the track a bit. Apparently little used there were signs of recent joinery repairs. There was graffiti though saying the hut was built in 1914 and other scribblings from 1926, 1932, 1935, 1948 and more recent. Half of it is quite usable still. I took a few pics on the way.

Ballater ride

Went across to Ballater today which was nice and sunny. Did a fairly gentle route to Lock Muick and back via the way we came up a few years ago - Glen Girnock.   I came back along a wee section by the river which passes the footbridge at Pohollick but there was  about 100 yards destroyed by the floods. Amazingly this is the only piece of the many biking tracks in the area which was destroyed.

Wed 18th May, Nethybridge Hotel, 6:30

Corrour station

Good ride today up to Corrour station and round Loch Ossian. I took sandwiches then discovered that the cafe at the station is now open all day. It was only serving evening meals for a couple of years but new owners have opened it up again. Quite a few hillwalkers were in there. So anyone heading up there for the ride can use the cafe again. Great scenery all the way, it's one of my favourites.

Wed 11th May, Tomatin Village hall / sports centre, 6:30pm

Weds 4th May Carrbridge Meet car park middle of village 6.30pm

Farr windfarm route

These pics are from a route from Tomatin, up the Garbole road and over to the top of Farr windfarm. Return via right bank of the Dulnain.

Next ride Wed 27, Uath an Lochans for a 6:30 ish start.

Next ride wednesday 20 April, Aviemore meet in the carpark near mikes bikes for a 6:30 ish start

Wed 13th April, Nethybridge Hotel, 6:30pm

Wed 30th March, Aviemore ( Mikes Bikes car park) 6:30

Wed 23rd March Glenmore Lodge for 6.30pm start.

Wed 16th March Nethybridge Hotel car park 6.30pm

Wed 9th March Kincraig, Suidhe Hotel car park, 6.30pm.

Glen Feshie flood damage

Had a nice ride in beautiful sunshine today along to and up Glen Feshie; Stuck to road as tracks in the woods are crusty snow and ice. Feshie was fine though but there's massive flood damage at the first burn and then the bridge has been bent by the water which had gone right over it. It's about 20 feet above the water too. The track across to it is badly washed out. Further up at the next burn there's huge erosion and rubble everywhere. Then below Ballintean the river has cut further north again on the left bank, removed the path completely and filled the lower bit of path with debris.I took some pics.

Wed 2nd March, Carrbridge village car park, 6:30

Wed 24th February. Aviemore, Mikes Bikes 6:30

Wed 17th Feb, Boat of Garten ( Grampian Crescent), 6:30pm

A9 Dalraddy to Slochd Consultation

The consultation for the A9 dualling between Dalraddy and the Slochd is in progress at the moment until the 6 March. This section contains 21 non motorised crossing points, the ones we regularly use for biking to access tracks either side of the A9 corridor. The consultation is gathering information on these at the moment and specifically asks for information on "If you will be affected by the closure of any of the access (directly to the A9), we would appreciate your views on the potential impact to you".

I think it is important that we submit responses to this consultation to highlight the value of these important crossing points if we don't there is a risk they could be closed.

Further information can be found here:

http://www.transport.gov.scot/project/a9-dalraddy-slochd

The following link is to the consulation feedback form:

http://www.transport.gov.scot/system/files/documents/projects/A9%20Dualling/A9%20Dualling%20Dalraddy%20to%20Slochd%20feedback%20form%20-%20February%202016.pdf

Next ride Wednesday 10th Feb Grantown on spey meet Car Park opposite Petrol Station 6.30pm

Next ride wed 3rd Feb, Aviemore meet at carpark by mikes bikes 6:30pm

Next ride wednesday 27 Jan, Nethybridge hotel car park, 6:30pm

Glen Einich

Today I tried to get up Glen Einich to do the loop but had to turn back halfway up the lower track due to large sheets of water ice on the track. The flood lower down has mostly drained away and the track is clear there now. On my way home the freewheel started sticking spasmodically and then just 100 metes from home seized up casting the chain onto the road. Never had that happen before. Once home I dismantled it all and the freewheel is locked solid. Whilst doing this my cassette cracker broke in two. Yeah, s**t happens!

Wed 20th January, Carrbridge village car park

Cyclocross Bike for Sale

Verenti Substance Cyclocross bike, small frame, virtually unused, £300 o.n.o.
More details Here or Here
Tel 01479 831095 or 07542 708214

Loch Einich track.

The large lochan now straddling the Loch Einich track. I wonder what it's like further up by the river.

Wed 13th January Uath Lochan Glenfeshie for 6.30pm

Footbridge washout

One of the footbridges in Glen Feshie is down in the floods. It is the first bridge you come to crossing from Stronetoper towards Corarnstilbeg. There is a major washout and the whole bank has gone, the bridge left hanging from one side. Probably be months before it's repaired. Might be ok to wade in low water though.