Read our quick-fire questions with Hannah here.

Filmed by Liam Murphy (@liammurphyfilms).

Day 3 – Mar Sein Leibh Loch Carrann

After what can only be described as the fastest consumption of dinner and deepest sleep ever, we were primed and ready for our final day in the mountains. Having been out for so long the day before, we opted for a ridiculous combo of porridge and a cooked breakfast. Both Rosie and I struggled to finish the latter portion but certainly made a hefty dent. Much needed fuel for the day ahead. After mucking about with Woody the Collie for the final time, we settled up and said farewell to our most excellent hosts, the rather lovely building and of course, Woody. More live Iron Maiden got us primed for another long day out; we couldn’t wait, not after the previous day’s antics.

Rosie saying a final goodbye to a rather rad pup.

For the final day, we’d be joined by Fort William supremos Joe Barnes and Fiona Beattie. This mirrored the trip we’d made here in October as the group comprised only of people who would much rather be out in the hills on bikes than doing anything else. It also meant that everyone had someone to chase/put space between. Huw had his eyes set of hunting Joe down, me and Sam exchanged places more times than Sam had punctures (that’s a lot of times) and there was now a duel in the ladies’ camp between Fiona and Rosie. All good natured and never planned, but just another facet of the final day.

The rough plan was to again head from the same spot, not that adventurous to be fair, but the path that follows the Fionn-abhainn is a great way of accessing the very heart of the area best known for its amazing descents. We’d again be heading up to, and past, the bothy. The plan was to again ascend to Bealach a’ Choire Ghairbh and around the back of Maoll Chean-dearg, skirting Loch na Eion and off the top of Bealach na Lice.

Skirting Loch an Eion looking out at Beinn Damph, Joe and Huw miles ahead.

We bumped into a local member of the Marines out on his own, heading over to Torridon and back, who said our chosen route was not the most optimal as there was no real descent around the back of the peak and we’d be better off heading in the opposite direction. Everyone knows that while big days out on the bike are the business, there has to be a descent that warrants the amount of climbing involved. Seems like common sense doesn’t it?

Pete taking in the Highland scenery.

We took the Marine’s advice and turned our route on its head. We’d ride a familiar climb before hooking left between Maol Chean-dearg and Meall Dearg. The trail that skirts Loch na Eion is a blast, another case of ‘get out what you put in’. Not massively steep, but with good flow and quite technical in spots. This trail was new to us all and I had one of the most bizarre crashes I’ve ever had only a few corners in. Some walkers had stopped to let us pass shortly after the trail crossed a stream. The stream looked fairly non-descript but was far deeper and the sides more precipitous than I had anticipated. I managed to send myself over the bars, but with my hands on the ground, my feet clipped in and the bike hanging vertically in perfect balance. Fiona arrived shortly afterwards and couldn’t get any words out she was laughing so much. She’d seen the whole event unfold and almost fell over laughing. I was pleased to provide her with amusement, which seemed to last most of the day…. The loch still had some thick ice where the sun hadn’t paid a visit, but was far from ride-able, despite Huw’s investigation. We spent some time trying to skim stones into a large hole in the ice some 30 feet out. Joe proved once again that he is the stone skimming World Champion and made us all look fairly average. Is there nothing this guy can’t do?

How to ruin a perfectly good view, part 2.

From the ice smashing, we headed up a fairly gentle and fast climb where it was all about the legs. Where the trail peaks, the view across Strath a’ Bhathaich and to the Beinn Damh massif matched the surrounds of the previous days and would produce a postcard in any direction. From here our movements were hampered by a number of landslips that had seen the original trail long gone and the going more stop-start. We eventually decided to turn back on ourselves. The lure of the descent out of Bealach na Lice was too strong. We’d ridden up it 3 times now, so it was very familiar and we knew fine well that we would be descending for some time on some sweet singletrack all the way back to the van.

Joeman showing us how it’s supposed to be done.

We weren’t to be disappointed. Swooping turns punctuated by ridiculous rocky gulleys that promised to snap off all extremities of bike and body came thick and fast. There’s no reason to back off where the going is good. The standard trail format here is a 3-foot wide patch of white quartzite gravel that weaves its way across the valley floor. Staying light on your feet and on the brakes pays dividends, rewarding your efforts for preserving momentum. The sun was still high and the breeze light, what a day for riding bikes! We were all having far too much fun to stop and regroup, everyone assuming the bothy would be the best place to get back together so the hammer was down. Joe made haste and proved his talent on a wee bike is not to be taken lightly. His change in velocity in all situations has seen a major jump over the winter. Huw set about hunting him down, using all the knowledge he gained guiding in the Alps and his XC racer legs to keep Joe in check. Sam and me were again at each other’s rear tyres until I had a big moment and let him pass. I left a big enough gap to not see him again until the bothy. By now, Rosie was in a sugar coma, but still trucking well with Fiona not far away. I forget which order they were in….

Pete starting back towards Bealach na Lice.

Between the bothy and the bridge, the trail starts to hit you with relentless water bars, each one vying to steal the wind from your tyres and at this late stage, 7 hours in, any one of us could have fallen foul. Luckily, we all managed to steer clear of the flats and made it to the bridge. The last few corners before the river crossing are high on grip and flow, offering some sublime riding. A short, sharp climb from the bridge presents possibly the second best descent on offer from the 3 days. It appeals to me, as it’s suitably long and rough, with multiple line choices favouring a cheeky backside of a rock to clear the rougher sections. My riding style in a nutshell. By now fatigue was setting in, so it was all about riding hard but keeping it in your pants. I’m sure we all had a moment or two where the bike decided it was going one way, followed by a strained facial expression and a summoning of all available strength to save the situation. The final stream crossing spells the end of the proper descending and was a chance to regroup and watch Rosie try and negotiate another river (she’s not a fan).

Huw getting his rear wheel steer on under the watchful eye of Sgorr Ruadh.

The last blast to the road is another where a decent set of legs and an inclination to pedal pays off. By this time I’d bonked, as had a couple of others. Rosie and myself had notched up 20 hours riding here, on top of the 6 the previous two days. We were all a little wrecked. There were no major style points available on the last section, so it was seats up and spin to the road.

The latest in helmet technology as modeled by Huw Oliver.

Another amazing day out in the wilds of Highland Scotland and more reason to go again. If we’d arrived earlier on the Monday we could have easily made it 24 hours riding in 72. It’s almost too easy to make a steady ride here last all day; even if you’re cracking on you’ll be out for several hours.

The Knowledge

We attacked this trip from Lochcarron, opting for the shorter drive but perhaps missing out on the ‘classic’ Torridon descents. Glen Torridon and the village itself has plenty of facilities much like Lochcarron but is obviously going to take longer to get to. We couldn’t find anything wrong with Lochcarron that would make us want to go elsewhere.

Travel 

Trains: Only an option if you live near or can get easy access to the Inverness-Kyle of Lochalsh line. Lochcarron would be the best as it has the best facilities. A multi-day trip would mean you’d need to carry all your kit, plus the bike on the train. Bonuses are you don’t have to worry about driving or checking in. Downsides are listening to gabba blaring out of a youth’s phone for the duration of the trip.

Planes: Inverness is the nearest airport, an hour and a half away. This option would still leave you needing to catch a train or hiring a car. Bonuses are access to Inverness from most of the UK and you cover most of the distance very quickly. Downsides are you have to deal with ‘suits’, luggage restrictions and waiting lounges. 

Automobiles: If you’re lucky and own a suitable vehicle, this option allows the greatest flexibility. Put the fuel in and drive. Yes it requires one of those riding to get behind the wheel unlike the other options, but the scenery is the best, you can take as many pee breaks as you want and you get to choose the music you listen to. The major downside is the cost of long chain hydrocarbons to fuel said vehicle, small roads and crap drivers. 

Other options: Andy McKenna of GoWhere Scotland plies his trade here and seems to be the best at doing so. Nobody knows the best places to ride in this part of the world more than Andy. If you’re looking for the all-inclusive or a tailor-made package, do yourself a favour and give them a shout.

Accommodation: Rosie and me stayed here. Emma was the perfect host, had plenty of good chat, knew the area very well, had the best sheepdogs and even offered to let Huw and Sam camp on their lawn and use our shower. Breakfast options were hearty and varied to suit all tastes and the shower, while not enough to take your scalp off, was certainly a potent machine. Prices are £30 per person per night which is buttons considering what you get. The bed was so comfortable it almost made me forget my own bed. There are plenty of other options in Lochcarron, ranging from cheap to ridiculous and for those going solo or large groups.

Food: The Lochcarron Hotel is the best place to fuel up after a day’s riding. Dinner finishes serving at 9pm and we almost missed the cut on the first night but the bar staff clearly saw we were desperate and made room for us. Much of the food is caught, reared, grown and made locally and is all top notch. Service is rapid and the desserts to die for. Local beer, ale and whiskey is all available, just take it steady, you’ll want to be riding in the morning!

Part 2 of the story here.
Part 1 here.

Part 1 (Barcachd) here.

Part 2 – Achadh nan Seileach

Our second day in Lochcarron started well. My original plan to wake at 6am to see the sun rise was thwarted by my ability to sleep through even the harshest of onslaughts on my ears. We’d opted to stay indoors, defying the very spirit of adventure, but saving our energies for time on the bike rather than burn all available stokens by shivering to death in a tent. Our erstwhile colleagues, Sam (Rosie’s brother) and technical riding wizard Huw Oliver, had joined our party that night. Sam hopped aboard the Iron Maiden train in Fort William while Huw drove his Berlingotron solo the previous night from Dundee. We were all in for a treat.

How to ruin a perfectly good view.

Our accommodation was far plusher than the price tag would have led us to believe. Loch Dubh B&B sits unassumingly above Lochcarron but offers a frankly ridiculous view across the loch and beyond from the solid oak breakfast table, flanked by two stag heads. With the sun crashing through the large ceiling-high windows, we knew the Achnashellach loop was going to be a winner. After we’d shovelled down porridge, two rounds of toast plus gallons of coffee and orange juice we were ready to hit the hills.

Woody and the Blingblingo

Every trip to the van was delayed by Woody. Who’s Woody I hear you ask? He’s the 18 month old Collie that is as stoked on everything as I am, possibly even more so. He’d have happily joined us for our adventure, if he’d been allowed. Both Rosie and myself planned to steal him, but decided against it in the end as we planned to return!

This shot captures a rare moment of composure on the loose rubble.

We arrived at Coulags to find Huw and Sam in deep discussion about the dashboard features of the Berlingo. Sam, most inquisitive about the automobile’s many functions, listened intently as Huw laid down the knowledge. Anyway….bikes, yes. We had a long day ahead as both Huw and I knew from riding this loop before. Both members of Clan Holdsworth hadn’t and were most excited. Me and Huw weren’t exactly calm either. I’d say we all involuntarily hit every surface of our respective vehicles on the way there, such was the anticipation. Rosie smacking the first disc of Iron Maiden’s ‘En Vivo’ into the CD player got us to fever pitch, with a perfectly timed track change to ‘The Trooper’ seeing the occupants of our van almost self combust.

Snow starting to make its presence felt.

The faff was unusually limited as we’d all ridden the day before, so bags just needed a quick change of water, sweets, gels and tubes. A brief pedal across the bridge from the car park gets you onto the public right of way to Torridon towards the Coire Fionnaraich bothy and beyond. The first climb was the same as the previous day, so needs little introduction. Rather than hook left at the first split in the path towards Bealach a’ Choire Ghairbh we kept turning right, taking us towards Loch Coire Fionnaraich. It was here we took our first pit stop and looked back at the distance we’d already covered. The beauty of riding in this part of the world is that you never feel like you’ve ridden as far as you have. The trails are as engaging as the landscape, so you’ve little time to spend thinking about tired arms and legs.

The trails are as engaging as the landscape, so you’ve little time to spend thinking about tired arms and legs.

At the loch, you can see why coire, a Scottish Gaelic term for cauldron, is used many times in these parts. The UK’s glacial past is very obvious here as the mountains rise sharply from the loch damned in by the deposited moraine. The loch itself sits at 236m above sea level with Meall Chean Dearg and Sgorr Ruadh rising many hundreds of metres above it. All the surrounding peaks are as impressive as they are imposing, especially when still capped by winter snow still clinging to the higher peaks.

Huw can’t beat Pete’s time on the bridge wrestling.

The climb from the loch towards Bealach Ban is less gentle than its predecessor but is mostly ride-able if the legs allow. A few steep, loose climbs punish tired legs, as they are unable to meter out the power to find whatever grip is available. The views keep improving until you scale the 45-degree quartzite slabs at the head of the bealach. There is only one view on this route that gets better than this. From here, there is an uninterrupted view of the Liathach, a 5 Munro mass that rises sharply from the deep Torridon sea lochs to over 1000m at its height. Skye can be seen to the west on a good day and the view from where we’d come from was only smeared slightly by, almost unbelievably, heat haze. We took a moment to sample the unrivalled grip of metamorphosed quartzite by stoppying down, and wheelying up, the steep slabs of rock. The grip was so readily available that Sam’s jaw dislocated, as can be seen in the photo below. Luckily, he didn’t require medical attention and another stoppy in the opposite direction saw his jaw swung back into place.

Sam negotiating the paved section on the climb to the bothy.

And then came the snow

Above the slabs, the terrain became tougher going with the addition of wind-hardened snow. What had been a fast and flowy trail before the scree slope below Coire Grannda was reduced to walking pace and finally, walking itself. I paused at the top of the scree slope to ensure our companion Stuart, a gentleman in his late 70s walking the route on his own, made his way up safely. In all fairness, with all our stops to admire the view, he wasn’t too far behind us. The coire offered sights we hadn’t yet seen, owing to the presence of the sun beforehand. The amount of snow and ice here confirmed its northern-facing aspect and the quantity of frozen waterfalls were immense. Everything here was covered in snow fallen weeks ago or ice that had been that way since winter first came to say hello. I was slightly concerned as even as dry as the climb up the corrie wall was last time, it wasn’t easy. Being covered in snow and ice would be another matter altogether. This is where the adventure portion of the trip came into full effect.

The rather impressive frozen waterfalls in Coire Grannda.

At the base of the corrie wall, it was clear we wouldn’t be walking on rock or earth at all until we were some way down the mountain. The presence of snow and cramp-on marks made me even more worried, but upwards we went anyway. Being a midget in these circumstances is never the best. Where the snow was deepest and had sat above gaps in the rocks, I lost most of my leg into the snow. Weighing in at just under 9 stone makes me 20% heavier with a bike on my back. It was tough going until the snow hardened enough for me to play my trump card and not break the surface.

Weighing in at just under 9 stone makes me 20% heavier with a bike on my back. It was tough going until the snow hardened enough for me to play my trump card and not break the surface.

That was soon ruined by the presence of sheet ice and I must say, my bottom was all a-quiver. This was something I was completely unprepared for and the group of walkers with full winter climbing gear made me realise how daft we were in pursuit of this descent. The view from the top of the corrie is the business. Again, the Liathach is in full view but you can now see the descent stretching out in the opposite direction down to Achnashellach railway station. The line here is accessed from Inverness and runs all the way to Kyle of Lochalsh, but is a fairly roundabout why of accessing the area from the south.

Huw makes up for the bridge-wrestling by owning the frozen lochan. Don’t try this at home.

With that out of the way, we quickly decided to try and ride across the frozen lochan. Huw was confident that it was ride-able when one of the hill walkers smacked the ice with his axe and barely marked the surface. Rosie played it safe and stuck to the path, while me, Huw and Sam set about seeing how brave we wanted to be. Huw won by deploying a one-handed wheelie on the ice. Good effort sir.

We had a brief time riding on snow before the sun finally had the height to peak over the top of Sgorr Ruadh and find the ground below Benn Liath Mor. The upper stretches of the track here are littered with bright white quartzite that presents itself as the loosest surface going. Rocks of varying size lie upon a fine gravel of the same stone. The best approach is to hit everything flat out and allow the bike to handle the task of dealing with the hits while having the reflexes to make split second decisions should things start going wrong. Lines don’t really exist as the trail doesn’t see any significant traffic and the weather is the determining factor to trail conditions. After some wild rides above Loch Coire Lair, the trail flattens out but still offers some amazing riding if you have the pistons to make it happen.

After some wild rides above Loch Coire Lair, the trail flattens out but still offers some amazing riding if you have the pistons to make it happen.

A decent trail bike, a dropper post and a pair of well tuned legs will love this part of the ride as you get from it exactly what you put in. At full chat, which is the only way we saw feasible, the trail comes alive. Water bars and natural jumps come at you thick and fast, leaving you wanting more. Speed allows you to use transitions to great effect with great sections of trail cleared with the wheels off the ground. Where the trail widens, the surface worsens with a few hairy gullies to negotiate. I’d said my goodbyes more than once on this section. Where the trail starts to climb is always a good place to regroup and we all struggled to get the words out while breathing heavy and thinking of enough superlatives to do what we’d just ridden justice. Me and Huw were wide-eyed, knowing full well the descent that was about to come, Rosie and Sam could only sit gawping when we pointed out we were still 300m above the road. We’d already been descending for a good 25 minutes!

Sam takes the pro line and adopts Pete’s ‘puff your cheeks up’ technique.

The trail splits several times more but sticking to the left of the River Lair reveals what this ride is all about. In stark contrast to the loose rubble of the upper reaches, the dark quartzite slabs offer unrivalled grip. Where a dropped banana skin has the lowest grip coefficient of anything known to man, the rock slabs above Achnashellach are the antithesis of that. This surface has to be ridden to be fully understood. Both times I have ridden this section of trail, I have immediately wanted to ride it again. My mind conjures up how much faster I could have hit every section only once I’m done. Needless to say we spent some time sectioning the best bits as the sun was still very much on our side and the trail had definitely given us a second wind.

Before the final descent starts proper, there is what I can only describe as the best section or sections of any trail ever. A fast double-track with rolling slabs offers multiple options to double things up and make yourself feel like a king. Shortly after there is a mega rocky section that can only be hit flat out for good effect with a couple of pro lines and finally a right-hand rock berm followed by a left-handed rut full of gravel (that offers no option but to rear wheel steer the living daylights out of it). From here on down, water bars are maybe the only complaint. These can be easily negotiated with a decent hop and are usually just before, on the apex of, or after a turn, so there’s no relaxing top to bottom. The gradient sharpens in the best way possible and with the exception of Sam racking up yet another puncture, it was as good as it could have been. I sectioned one corner maybe 15 times while waiting for the wind to return to Sam’s rear tyre. I was far from bored.

The final section seems like what would happen if trail centres occurred naturally. A 4-foot wide trail, hardpack with loose native pine needles covering the upper layer. Again, maximum attack is the only way here as you weave your way down through the native trees with the River Lair in a deep crevasse below. Once through a deer gate it’s all over. How do you go about describing the best ride on the planet? I can honestly say, I don’t know of the right words to truly explain the Coulags-Achnashellach-Coulags loop, it really has to be experienced.

This is the end

From the foot of the trail, a quick blast down fire road and you’re back to relative civilisation. We only saw enough people to count comfortably on one hand all day. While that offers a unique experience with regards to truly feeling like you’re in the middle of nowhere, it’s also important that you have everything you need for a full day in the wilds. Regardless of what time of year you visit this part of the world, the proximity to the sea and the prevailing wind, plus the height of the mountains can put you in a sticky situation very quickly before accidents and mechanicals are factored in. Thankfully, we got very lucky with the weather and in fact, got ourselves a suntan. While you can buy a whole host of traditional Scottish delights from the shops in Lochcarron, a tan from a high Scottish sun is a rare treat no money can buy.

From Achnashellach, the pedal back to the car park is all on road unfortunately. Thankfully the road only has one climb, which is over fairly quickly. The A890 is technically singletrack with passing places and the locals are well versed in keeping out of the way of other road users, so it’s certainly not a dangerous stretch by any means.

With the vehicles packed, Huw and Sam made straight for the Lochcarron Hotel while we took advantage of a much needed shower and got cleaned up before heading for food. (The Lochcarron Hotel is a fantastic venue for post-ride banter and foodstuffs. The food is most excellent, being cheap, awesome and plentiful. The menu will have you guessing until the moment you place your order and the desserts are the bomb.)

Following dinner and after a couple of rounds of board games, we were all spent and made our excuses. We’d been out for 9 hours; many folk would have been in work that long on the same day.

It’s not too often you end up getting only as much sleep as you rode your bike the previous day.

Final part of the story coming tomorrow.

Endura’s Singletrack II gloves really fit the bill nicely.

A Terry towel sweat/snot wipe on the thumb is a generous size. The elasticated cuff is easy to pull on and there’s no Velcro to wear out. This does mean they’re a bit harder to pull on, but once in place they’re more comfortable around the wrist. The 4-way stretch mesh nylon upper is breathable and hard-wearing, they’ve survived crashes and other abuses. They’re a good glove in a range of temperatures, they’re obviously not designed for keeping your fingers warm in the current cold weather, but I was surprised how well they coped.

Tough palm with a bit pf padding and makes them comfortable.

The fit of the gloves is spot-on, and they’re available in several sizes so getting the right fit should be easy. On the bike they’re very comfortable. They’re a thin glove – I like my gloves thin – and the huge silicone print on the palm gives a stupendously high level of grip on the, ermm, grips. They’re robust and after a fair amount of riding show no sign of wearing in the usual weak points for gloves, at the seams and between the thumb and forefinger. They’ve also been through loads of washes with no ill-effects.

Sticky silicone details increase grip on the, emm, grips.

Another classic from Endura, a bombproof glove with some real attention to detail makes them a hit for the trail rider.

Price: £26.99
More information: Endura Singletrack II gloves

• 4-way breathable stretch mesh
• No-fuss elasticed pull-on cuff
• silicon grip prints on palm and finger tips
• lightly padded palm
• Monster Terry sweat wipe
• Backhand silicone design

“Mountain biking gloves have to work hard. We expect them to protect our hands not only during long rides but also in case of a crash; we want them to be comfortable and padded in all the right places to absorb shock and to prevent sore spots – and yet we also want them to fit like a second skin. Oh, did we mention grip yet? Also, it goes without saying – at least here in Britain – that mountain bike gloves should keep the rider’s hands warm but not sweaty. And useful features like a sweat/snot wipe are generally expected as well. So we are lucky that the Endura product team has worked hard to make sure that the Singletrack II Glove ticks all the above boxes – and that it does so in style!”

Andy McKenna.
Photo © Andy Lloyd

GoWhere now has a new package added to the roster of quality trips and this one’s good for those keen to witness the incredible action of the Fort William World Cup.

Here’s the low-down from GoWhere:

WORLD CUP SAFARI BY GOWHERE SCOTLAND

Words: GoWhere Scotland

Dates

9th to 13th June 2013

What is it?

A four day ‘mini-mountain bike ‘safari’ of Scotland’s big mountain riding. Riders will enjoy epic trails around Scotland’s World Cup epicentre – the infamous Mamore mountains and the trails of Kinlochleven – before taking to the high seas in search of hidden gems!

Who is it aimed at?

Anyone with a taste for ‘proper’ mountain biking, and already up in Fort William enjoying the World Cup looking to extend their trip and turn it into a real mountain biking adventure.

Summary

Kinlochleven and the surrounding mountains are home to some of the most rewarding back country and enduro mountain biking in Scotland – and in the same way that good things often come to those who wait, the big downs and wide smiles come only after you’ve scaled the Heights of Kinlochleven™.

The riding around Kinochleven divides opinion; some love it, some hate it. Why? Because the descents are tough enough to make the fainthearted wince. Yes, the riding falls squarely into the more demanding end of the spectrum but if you can handle big mountain ascents and the occasional sustained hike-a-bike knowing you will earn the country’s most exciting technical descents, this is a trip that will leave you with a story to share forever.

With sea level as your starting point…you know what’s coming next…each day begins with a challenging climb to gain some incredible views deep into the Mamore mountain range and out to sea. In this landscape of giants we’re nothing but insignificant dots, and if your idea of the perfect mountain biking adventure involves forgetting the daily grind and getting lost in the most immersive riding experience ever, then you’re in the right place.

And we mix things up with a mini-adventure WITHIN the BIG adventure: we hop on a private boat to access Scotland’s remotest ride, and spend a night on Scotland’s last great wilderness – The Rough Bounds. We may even strike out for the Isle of Skye in search of singletrack and whisky beneath the shadows of the Cuillins!

For more information: www.go-where.co.uk

Words: Duncan Nisbet
Photos: Ian Linton

The second round of the Alpine Bikes sponsored 2013 Innerduro Series took place on Saturday 2nd March at Forestry Commission Scotland’s 7stanes Innerleithen mountain bike trails at Traquair Forest. The event, organised by Innerleithen MTB Racing, was again completely sold out weeks in advance as some of the best Enduro riders from across Europe descended on Innerleithen for this exciting style of mountain bike racing. Riders followed a course to the top of the forest before riding two special timed stages over technical rooty and rocky terrain, with a climb back to the top between stages. Following a rest period as the sun set, riders then repeated the route in the dark (with the aid of lights!). The cumulative time for the predominantly downhill stages would determine the winner.

Downhill legend Crawford Carrick Anderson made another appearance, it’s good to see him back racing.
Photo © Ian Linton

Competition was expected to be fierce among the 170 or so riders, with World Enduro Series riders Joe Barnes and Katy Winton joined by previous Trans-Provence winner Dan Darwood, Elite World Cup downhiller Jack Reading and mountain bike legend Crawford Carrick-Anderson.

The course really had something for everyone. A real mix of manmade and hand cut trails, flat sections, steep sections and even the odd climb. As usual at Innerleithen, there were roots, rocks, drops, jumps and very tight sections through the trees that proved tricky for those with wide bars.

Following the mud-fest of Round 1, the weather Gods were kind to organisers and competitors as clear blue skies and sunshine led to balmy conditions for practice and daylight racing. Warm enough for Joe Barnes to ride the first stage topless following an incident with a tree.

Once darkness fell, the temperature also dropped, but stayed relatively mild for the time of year. By 2pm, the marshals were in place, there was a feed station at the top of the hill to keep the riders energised and the photographers and spectators were selecting their vantage points for the day and night entertainment.

Katy Winton – expect to see her on the new Enduro World Series circuit this year.
Photo © Ian Linton

Stage 1/3 followed the Cresta Run for the top third, before a loamy transition into 39 Steps. The route then linked onto the old XC route – descending the traditional climb. This section wasn’t technical, but tested the riders’ ability to take on flat turns at speed. The final section dropped riders onto the old motorway and round the bombhole for some off- camber fun into the fast and furious finish. A quick breather and time to swap stories with riding buddies, then a gentle ride back to the top for the next stage.

Stage 2/4 headed down the Wall and round the gap jump into the Tunnel for a fun blast down to the Luge. A quick sprint along the forest road led into the classic Deerhunter and Cresta before a steep and rooty blast to the finish with little room for error.

Innerleithen MTB Racing’s Duncan Nisbet said after the event; “Following the sell-out first round, we are delighted to see this round also sold out. The final round on the weekend of 30th and 31st March looks like selling out too, so we must be doing something right.

The weather for this round was unbelievably good and the tracks were running extremely well. I’d like to thank all the riders, marshals and organisers for making this such a successful series. Thanks also to our sponsors Alpine Bikes for supporting this local series.”

Joe Barnes taking his first win for new sponsor Canyon Bikes.
Photo © Ian Linton

Results

In the Ladies race, local star and Enduro World Series rider Katy Winton took the win by over 3 minutes from Fiona Beattie, with Sophie Buckingham taking third.

1st          Katy Winton                                  28’ 18”

2nd         Fiona Beattie                                31’ 54”

3rd          Sophie Buckingham                      33’ 26”

In the Junior category, Lachlan Blair took the win by under 30 seconds from Drew Carters, with Stuart Wilcox taking third.

1st          Lachlan Blair                                 23’ 37”

2nd         Drew Carters                                24’ 03”

3rd          Stuart Wilcox                                24’ 50”

In the Veteran category Crawford Carrick-Anderson took the win  with Justin Grice in second and Simon Sharp in third.

1st          Crawford Carrick-Anderson          22’ 27”

2nd         Justin Grice                                   23’ 11”

3rd          Simon Sharp                                 26’ 55”

And so to the Seniors category. Enduro World Series rider Joe Barnes took the win with the fastest overall time of the day with Jack Reading taking second and Alex Stock in third.

Racing took place during the day and at night… More like this?
Photo © Ian Linton

Full results and photos are available at: http://www.innerleithenmtbracing.com/

Many thanks to Alpine Bikes for sponsoring the series and to all the marshals and volunteers that makes the event possible. Thanks also to the competitors for supporting our event – we hope to see you for the rest of the series.

Round 3 is a standard Enduro on the weekend of 30th/31st March.

Further information and details on how to enter can be found on the Innerleithen MTB Racing website at: http://www.innerleithenmtbracing.com

Torridon in Scotland is as close to wilderness riding as you are likely to find in Britain, but even at the opposite end of the country there is superb natural riding on Dartmoor and the Quantocks.
Photo © Andy Lloyd.

The five places I’ve listed here do require some basic map reading skills or a suitable GPS device, don’t expect to rock up to a trail centre-style car park with a cafe and waymarked route, it ain’t going to happen. Perhaps the easiest way to discover trails in these, and other places, is to hook up with some local riders who’ll happily (most of the time) show you the way around. The Bike Magic forum is a good place to start.

Of course, this is only a tiny fraction of the vast array of natural riding all Britain, most of which casuses little confliction with other trail users as, perhaps, it may have done only a matter of years ago. Britain is embracing two-wheeled sports of all kinds and now is a brilliant time to ride here if you live outside of the country.

My top 5 natural trails:

It’s hard to find proper wilderness in this overpopulated country, but Scotland still offers the sense of escapism many mountain bikers crave. Torridon is one such destination, on the west coast of scotland 100 miles north of Fort William.

Go-Where offer guided riding if you’re keen to explore the area, click here to find out more.

A little bit easier to get to and still rating very highly for Big Landscape, though you will have to share with loads of walkers in the busier summer months, the Lake District is a stunning place to explore on the bike. There are a couple of trail centres which can form part of a trip, but make sure to hit some of the natural trails that abound in the hills.

Get a map and explore the many bridleways that criss-cross the hills, and both Helvellyn and Skiddaw can be climbed to on such paths. You could take in Stick’s Pass, a tough trail with rock gardens, old mines and sweet singletrack.

Check out this video of the descent.

Peak District

There’s a hell of a lot going for the Peak District as contender for the best natural mountain biking in the UK. It’s handily placed, close to some large population areas and also to the motorway, and offers some really rocky and challenging trails that will keep the most demanding riders happy.

There’s a good variety of trails, from the coarse gritstone of the Dark Peak to the north and the limestone of the White Peak to the south. No matter where you start from there’s good riding to be had everywhere, with a loop taking in the infamous Jacob’s Ladder sure to be one you’ll remember forever. The riding is punishing on bikes and body, but the rewards of huge views and cracking descents more than make up for it. Ladybower and Edale are popular starting points, from where you can access the good stuff.

Have a look at this video.

Often overlooked in favour of nearby Dartmoor, the Quantocks offers some staggeringly good riding. Look at it on the map and it doesn’t cover a very large area, but what it lacks in size it makes up for with altitude and quality trails, the descents are steep and fast and you’ll remember the ride long after you’ve left.

Every ride starts with a serious lung busting climb, so make sure you’ve let your breakfast digest before riding here.

I’d recommend the Vertebrate Outdoors South West Mountain Biking guide to discover the trails.

If you like your climbs long and hard, then you’ll love Dartmoor, a big expanse of exposed moorland and forested trails in the south west of England. The riding varies from super techy rock gardens to flat-out blasts across the bleak moorland tops. You can be guaranteed of a hard day’s ride on Dartmoor.

Popular starting points are Postbridge and Princetown which take in a lot of the moorland riding, while North Bovey lets you access the techy trails of Lustleigh Cleave.

Here’s a video that gives as small taste of the riding.

Where are your favourite natural trails in Britain?  

INNERDURO SERIES 2013 ROUND 1: 50 SHADES OF MUD

Words: Innerleithen MTB Racing
Photos: Ian Linton

The first round of the Alpine Bikes sponsored 2013 Innerduro Series took place over the weekend of 2nd/3rd February. The event, organised by Innerleithen MTB Racing, was completely sold out weeks in advance as some of the best enduro riders from across the country descended on Forestry Commission Scotland’s 7stanes Innerleithen mountain bike trails at Traquair Forest for this exciting style of mountain bike racing. Riders followed a course of around 20km in length, with three special timed stages and over 1100m of climbing/descending. The cumulative time for the predominantly downhill stages would determine the winner.

Competition was expected to be fierce among the 170 or so riders, with local Enduro expert Gary Forest joint favourite with mountain bike legend Crawford Carrick-Anderson in the men’s event and three of the UK’s top female enduro racers in Helen Gaskell, Sarah Newman and local rising star Katy Winton battling for the honours in the ladies event.

The course really had something for everyone. A real mix of manmade and hand cut trails, flat sections, steep sections and even the odd climb. As usual at Innerleithen, there were roots, rocks, drops, jumps and enough different mud types to keep a pedologist satisfied for days.

Innerduro Rd1: Crawford Carrick Anderson riding fast and showing that age doesn’t matter!

Saturday practice went well with just enough of a frost to keep the mud solid and therefore running fast. A few new lines were already opening up by the end of the day and that was to be a feature for race day as roots and rocks were uncovered in the most unfortunate places.

So, race day came and things were hotting up enough for the mud to defrost and become more of a feature than on practice day. The marshals were in place, there was a feed station at the top of the hill to keep the riders energised and the photographers and spectators were selecting their vantage points for the day’s entertainment.

Stage 1 followed the excellent rocky and rooty “Alistair Lees” track down to a forest road where the riders turned left for a short, sharp, lung-busting climb to the entrance to “Mince Baby Mince” for a fast and furious descent through the mud and over the furrows to the end of the Stage. A quick breather and time to swap stories with riding buddies, then a gentle ride back to the top for the next stage.

Stage 2 started with a furious pedal through energy-sapping sodden peat and heather before dropping onto the old “XC enduro” trail. Line choice through this section was paramount to avoid the deepest mud sections before crossing into the “Plora Craig” section of the XC course. This was a fast, pedally section on manmade trails, that included the “Razor Rock” black section before turning off onto the “Classic”; a trail that requires every bit of concentration and physical control that you have. The road at the end of the stage was strewn with bikes and bodies as riders recovered before the gentle, but long ride back to the top for the final stage.

Stage 3 started on the manmade upper sections of “Make or Break” before a road crossing into a fresh, loamy track that lulled the riders into a false sense of security. It then got steeper. And steeper. And steeper again! Throw in lots of roots and rocks and you have one challenging descent. Add to this thick clay that has just had 2 weeks of snow followed by 5 days of rain and you have comedy central. There were cheerleaders to welcome the riders onto the road at the end of the section, before a short uphill to the final section – “Jane’s Lane” into “Caddonbank”. The final manmade trails are fast and furious with lots of jumps, drop-offs, doubles and even a bomb-hole. The end of the stage was greeted by the riders with wide grins and a sense of relief that it was all over.

Helen Gaskell took top honours in the ladies race.

Innerleithen MTB Racing’s Duncan Nisbet said after the event, “We started enduro style events here at Innerleithen a few years ago and they’ve gone from strength to strength. We take feedback from riders very seriously and they repeatedly ask us for more of this type of event. Our chilled out approach to race day and the relaxed attitude to transitions, allowing competitors to ride with their mates, always seems to go down well and the introduction of a feed station was well received. To sell out so far in advance of the actual event is all down to the riders themselves and hopefully that is repeated for the other two rounds.”

Results

In the Ladies race, local star Katy Winton was forced out with illness, leaving Helen Gaskell and Sarah Newman to battle it out, Helen eventually taking the win by a minute from Sarah, with Emma McRobb taking third.

1st          Helen Gaskell                               32’ 25”

2nd         Sarah Newman                             33’ 25”

3rd          Emma McRobb                             40’ 53”

In the Junior category, local boy Brodie Hood took the win by over 3 minutes from Scott Lindsay, with Grantown’s Donald Rodgers taking third.

1st          Brodie Hood                                  27’ 42”

2nd         Scott Lindsay                                30’ 52”

3rd          Donald Rodgers                            31’ 24”

In the Veteran category, as expected, Crawford Carrick-Anderson took the win by 2.5 minutes from Justin Grice, with Patrick Bruce not far behind in third.

1st          Crawford Carrick-Anderson          23’ 59”

2nd         Justin Grice                                   26’ 35”

3rd          Patrick Bruce                                26’ 53”

And so to the Seniors category. Gary Forrest, riding a new bike, took the win with the fastest time of the day and the fastest stage time in all three stages. Chris Buchan came closest and to take second with Calum McRitchie taking third.

1st          Gary Forrest                                 22’ 08″

2nd         Chris Buchan                                24’ 45”

3rd          Calum McRitchie                          25’ 09”

Full results and photos are available at Roots and Rain.

Innerduro Rd1 winner, Gary Forrest.

Many thanks to Alpine Bikes for sponsoring the series and to all the marshals and volunteers that make the event possible. Thanks also to the competitors for supporting our event – we hope to see you for the rest of the series.

Round 2 is a day/night enduro on Saturday 2nd March.

Round 3 is a standard enduro on the weekend of 30th/31st March.

Further information and details on how to enter can be found on the Innerleithen MTB Racing website at:

www.innerleithenmtbracing.com

About Innerleithen MTB Racing

We are an Innerleithen based race team and event promoter with supported riders in many cycling disciplines. We are a ‘not for profit’ volunteer organisation with the aim to stage fun, friendly and challenging events for all disciplines of mountain biking. Over the last few years we have organised the British Cross Country (XC) Championships, numerous XC and Multi-Stage Enduro races, a Mini DH race series for under 18s and the very successful iXS European Downhill Cup.

About Alpine Bikes

Alpine Bikes was founded in Aberdeen in 1989 by Dave McKay. Since the beginning, Alpine Bikes offered not only the best bikes, cycle clothing and accessories, but provided an unrivalled level of customer service and aftercare.

Alpine Bikes is now the biggest independent cycle retailer in Scotland and prides itself on offering exceptional service as well as quality and value. They have built strong relationships with suppliers to ensure they can pass on the best and most varied products to the customer. Initially starting with mountain bikes, their product line up now includes all kinds of bikes.

Andy McKenna is a great rider, a character and of course a brilliant guide.

Andy has just added this Enduro Adventure package to his list of options and it sounds like it could be the holiday of all holidays. The deal includes racing in a Bluegrass enduro race plus five further days of riding.

Here’s the word from GoWhere:

Photos: © Andy Lloyd.

Race. Learn. Explore!

A trip that includes free entry into Europe’s most exciting Enduro event – the Scottish leg of the Bluegrass Enduro Tour (15^th and 16^th June 2013).

The adventure begins in Kinlochleven, home to No Fuss Events iconic big mountain adventure races and The Dudes of Hazzard ‘This is Enduro Now’. The Enduro Adventure Scotland guarantees two incredible days of racing and five more days exploring Scotland’s epic big mountain riding plus world-class Enduro coaching from Dirt School (whose director Chris Ball is one of the brains behind the Enduro World Series).

Fancy some backcountry Scottish riding?

The Enduro Adventure is exclusively for Bluegrass racers: working closely with the event’s organisers, we’ve taken the best rides from two of our most iconic mountain biking adventures: the Heights of Kinlochleven™ and Torrid Affair™ tours – and given them the Bluegrass twist! And with expert coaching delivered by the best in the business you’ll be leaving Scotland all set to tear the competition apart on your next enduro race.

What can you expect from the riding? Put it this way, if you can handle big mountain ascents and the occasional hike-a-bike knowing you will earn the country’s most exciting technical enduro-style descents, then the Kinlochleven area will feel like mountain biking heaven.

Just as you’re falling under the spell of Kinlochleven we up the tempo – it’s time to embark on a ‘Torrid Affair’ and enter a place that leaves everyone (and we mean everyone!) awestruck…no matter how often we ride in this remote corner of Scotland the sheer scale of the mountains and the beckoning quality of the trails never fails to captivate as we unload the bikes and take our first tentative pedal strokes deep into this magical wilderness. Big climbs, insane descents, you’ll see what we mean.

Adventuring in Scotland with Andy McKenna.

On the Enduro Adventure Scotland, every sense, every muscle, every skill in your enduro armoury will be challenged and rewarded in equal measure. We see it as a truly must ride trip.

And as if the opportunity to ride these remote wilderness trails wasn’t reward enough, we’ll sample the (whisky and…) trails on the Isle of Skye and take on the might of the rugged Cuillin mountains. On a trip that keeps on giving, we’ll hop on our private boat to access Scotland’s remotest ride, and spend a night within Scotland’s last great wilderness – The Rough Bounds.

All-mountain+ with coaching
Advanced

7 nights / 8 days

June 14^th to 21^st 2013

If you need to ask it’s probably not for you!

• Expert Leadership and Professional Guiding
• Two Day’s Professional Mountain Bike Coaching from our partners Dirt School
• Self catering hostel accommodation (or upgrade to Hotel / Guest House Accommodation including breakfasts)
• Private boat access to remote trail gems
• Transfers, ferries and private transportation throughout the trip
• Mechanical Support
• Detailed pre-departure information
• Trip video and photos

Available for a group of up to eight riders (with or without coaching):

Including coaching: from £990 (self catering / hostel) or £1195 (Bed and Breakfast / hotel / inn / guest house)

Excluding coaching: from £870 (self catering / hostel) or £1075 (Bed and Breakfast / hotel / inn / guest house)

Click here to find out more.