You’re probably wondering why you follow this blog. It’s been months since I posted anything noteworthy. I think my last decent trip report was back in May! So what’s been going on? Well, I’m not sure TBH. There was a virus of unknown origin that took me out the game for the best part of a month, closely followed up with a head cold, courtesy of Margaret and the nice students of Edinburgh University. There was some decorating and that’s about it I think.
You’ll have noticed I don’t walk much anywhere these days. Since I started riding my bike again a couple of years back I’ve felt the benefit of much improved fitness and weight loss, which I was never able to achieve by walking. I’ve recently started riding with some workmates which has brought on my fitness after my summer of malaise and I’m feeling all the better for it, not to mention it makes cold/wet winter riding a bit more tolerable if you have someone to share it with.
So anyway, since May there have in fact been three failed attempts at bikepacking, adventure touring or whatever you want to call it, ‘bike riding’ will suffice. The first was a southern Cairgorm Loop starting and finishing at Blair Atholl, taking in Glen Bruar, the Minigaig Pass, Feshie, Geldie and Tilt. Some folk do it in a day, but I’d intended to camp in Glen Feshie somewhere. I thought it’d be a good follow up to my Tyndrum to Taynuilt trip. Unfortunately, I decided to do it on one of the hottest days of the year and wasn’t really enjoying myself, I cut it short and returned home.
Next up I planned a similar route, but this time starting at Braemar taking in Rothiemurchus, Glenmore and and returning to Braemar via Lairig an Laoigh and Glen Derry. This time, I barely got past White Bridge before a rear shifter failure put an end to proceedings. What a waste of petrol.
This past weekend I thought another attempt at the Blair Atholl route might be worth go as the weather was looking favourable. The drive up the A9 was surprisingly swift and everyone was well behaved for a change. I’d made some enquiries about the snowline, although the bulk of the miles were through the glens, the minigaig was likely to be under snow. I was hoping it would be a dusting given it’s a bit lower than the ski resorts. Well, I expect you’ve noticed the photos by now…
I’m not going to say it was impassable, the snow was only a few inches, but it wasn’t ridable, not by me anyhow. I could just about pedal when the gradient eased off and I mashed my way from heathery outcrop to heathery outcrop. Despite the exertion, I was getting cold. My toes were frozen in my SPDs. Another 8km and 150m ascent to go and less than two hours of daylight left. I really didn’t fancy a long night on the hill, I’d packed relatively light in hope of four walls and a fire at Ruigh-aiteachain bothy.
Jacket on, I turned tail and pedaled off the hill, easy going when gravity assists. Back in the glen, still frozen, I had some food, decided I may as well stick my dry socks on and instantly felt better. I’d been feeling good during the pedal out, but now I could give it some beans on the way back to the car, no need to take it easy. The ride back down glen was swift. The whole day I’d been thinking how great my Race King on the rear wheel was. Fast rolling, yet somehow grippy and really comfortable, even at moderate pressures. Probably not best suited to a rider of my weight though, as I managed to puncture the sidewall on…a puddle. I dunno, I’m as confused now as I was then. Of course, I assumed that the Stan’s sealant would seal up the hole, I set the bike puncture side down, so the sealant could work.
Nope.
My feet were too cold for this shit. Spare inner tube out the framebag and Stan’s fluid all over my rim (fnar). I reinflated and cracked on down Glen Banvie, unintentionally two wheel drifting on the wet leaves at one point. Back at the car a I consoled myself in the certainty that my next bike packing trip can’t possibly go wrong. I reckon I’ve got some unfinished business with the Minigaig in spring. In the meantime, I’ll be sticking to the glens.
So there you have it, no decent trip reports, no decent photos due to leaving my big camera at home. Some lessons learned, possibly, about planning and preparation. Time will tell.
They are decent photos to me! I would appreciate the simple breath to be able to look out over some of what you spoke of. 🙂
I appreciate your travels and your images as they give me places to go, to breathe in cold scented air and not to complain about what I cannot do, but glory in the experience that I CAN. I dunno how old you are, but I can share that for as long as I have been living, life on life’s terms keeps on doing its thing despite my intentions. Each small thing that I can notice as beautiful or moving, to me is the stuff of life and of living and I am glad for it.
Thanks Elisa. I probably sound more miserable them I am. I enjoyed each of those rides, but am a bit frustrated none had panned out as I’d hoped. I look forward to writing them up, hopefully the next one will turn out better…
No worries. I was simply sharing how I have similar feelings and can wreck the wee good bits I might gather if I let me get me into a funk.
I don’t know whether to laugh (at you) or cry (with you). Still, common sense prevailed and you might not have had the luck of three girls turning up at the bothy armed with firelighters!
I think either is an acceptable response 🙂
A fat bike,earlier start and promise of bothy girls would’ve seen me through.
I always enjoy your posts and think these photos, especially the top three, are excellent. Far from a wasted trip. However, I understand your frustration. In my case I can’t abide the summers; the bugs love me too much, and I can’t tolerate heat (my idea of “heat” is anything above 75 degrees Faehrenheit). A dear friend of mine lived in Scotland a couple of years in the late 80s while studying at U Edinburgh and still loves and returns there when he can (he used to hike the Monroes in his younger days and still goes on his favorite hikes though without that demanding elevation gain); in fact he was there for a month in August/September. He sometimes brings me calendars and picture cards of the top photographers. So, your posts always remind me of that scenery he shares with me and also remind me of my trips to the fjalls of Sweden — as I believe you and I had discussed once before, it’s the same range of mountains, the Caledonian Range. So, please don’t give up, your posts are always welcome whenever you manage to get to them.
No chance of giving up, glad you enjoy the trips as much as I enjoy writing them!
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Wonderful photos. Love the abandoned farm house. Lovely work.
Thanks!
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Cool shots and nice write up. Looks like a place I’d love to explore. Good to see you back.
Cheers Chris!
Not every trip can be an epic and as long as you learnt something from the experience then it’s never time wasted.
Keeping your feet warm on the bike in those kinds of conditions is tough. Last winter was my first over here riding my bike and I soon learnt that traditional UK methods for warm feet (two pairs of socks and some over-boots) don’t cut it.
On the road bike I’ve been experimenting with VBL socks with great results but with a fatbike and winter conditions imminent I’m having to consider further adjustments. Chief of these might be the switch from clipless to flat pedals. Sure, you can, at a price, buy specialist winter cycling boots like the Lake 303 and the 45NRTH Wölvhammer but I’m convinced the metal cleat in clipless systems acts as a heat-sink. I’m starting to think that losing a little bit of perceived pedaling efficiency for the absolute warmth of a more pedestrian, insulated boot and substantial sock system might be an advantage.
I’ve been looking at what’s on the market SPD wise. My budget won’t stretch to the Wölvhammer or even the Fasterkatts, but they do look good. I’ve heard of folk taping a bit old inner tube over the cleat area, under the insole. Might give that a go, and add some of these for good measure:
http://www.woollyshepherd.co.uk/felted-products/category/26-bootliner-insoles
I have some in my trainers and like them a lot.
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Beautiful photos! I miss the colours of home. Thank you.
Cheers! 🙂
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Very well captured – yeah (mountain) biking are a great pleasure… 🙂
I like them useless trip reports. And also the rubbish photos. And the utterly shite writing.
😉 Well done Fraser. Better to get out and home with a miserable story then sitting at home with a cold beer and crisps!
I dunno, cold beer and crisps have their own appeal… 😉
Hi Fraser, I use 3 season mountain boots on flats for fatbiking, using sealskinz as a VBl when it gets really cold. As my riding style differs in winter I am happy enough on flats, and the(inevitable) hike a bike is a lot easier for sure.
Nice blog, liking the write ups and pics, especially given it is on home turf:-))
Great blog you’ve got there, plenty of inspiration for my trips north!
I came pretty close to getting some winter SPD boots, but am still undecided as my other bike has flats on, so I’m still trying to decide what would be best. Lots of folk do seem to swear by walking boots on flats…
Thanks, just been out on the Pugs for a test ride after having a new back wheel built, and as the snow hasn’t really arrived yet I am toying with trying SPDs with my touring shoes. They will be plenty warm enough at present and I can get a feel for how I get on with clips in what little snow we have.
My main concern would be that the plates ball up with ice when it hovers around freezing. Only one way to find out I guess.
I was out today in freezing conditions with merino socks, neoprene booties and my mavic soft shell SPDs. All was well until I dunked a foot in semi frozen mud. By the end of the 15mile cycle home it was pretty uncomfortable, by the time I’d stripped off, the thawing out of my toes was very painful. New strategy required…
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Spent most of the evening looking at the 45NRTH Wolvhammers, gonna need to sell something to buy ’em though!!
Do you have a firstborn?
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I love the second photo with the lonely house un the field. Great composed and just amazing to me:)
Thanks Linda!