I wanted a challenge this weekend, but with the weather picture changing constantly I had to be flexible with my plans. Friday night in Tesco's I wondered if I had dithered for too long as I frantically tried to shop and get high energy food for Saturday. I also had another last minute worry as I'd asked Tom and Sheddy what they thought of my plan and Tom's reply 'Chafing is our enemy gentleman' didn't help and sent me into the pharmacy aisle madly looking for a bike crevice lubricant cream!
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| here we go.. |
The best weather was on the East and so I decided I would be brave and go for a 90-100km mt bike loop of the Cairngorms (I'm not sure of exact length). I'd seen this loop years ago in a book and it vaguely suggested to split it into 2 days. I did want to bike pack and stay out a night, but it still being midge season, and the fact that the half way point is a very busy bothy got me thinking that it would be good to challenge myself and do it in a single day.
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| Bridge 2 |
I headed south early and parked up near Glenmore lodge setting off at about 7am. I had no concept of how long it would take because I hadn't set foot on about 50% of the tracks but the bits I knew were easy fast tracks. I estimated 12 hours, but took lighting just in case!
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| Rothiemurchus bothy |
Gliding along the initial tracks, bypassing Loch Morlich the forest was serene with no-one around, a light dew on the ground and I was breaking through the morning cobwebs across the trail.
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| Inside the new bothy - Glen Feshie |
I was absolutely filled with uncertainty and worry about how the day would go, which is strange, and not so strange. I guess I normally bike 25 - 40 km routes so this was a big(ger) undertaking for me, but I also had thoughts of what if I get stuck Braemar side..... what would I do!
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| Leaving Glen Feshie behind round the next corner |
Delightful riding saw me over the cairngorm club bridge, past Loch an Eilean and heading to Glen Feshie. When you get past the road terminus I love riding down this glen, and I was also excited about seeing the newly renovated bothy.
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| Another bridge! |
Like moths to a candle the new bothy was heaving as I stopped for a quick peek at about 8.30am. What an amazing bothy complete with toilets, outdoor BBQ pit and a stags head. There were a couple of mt bike groups here (holiday with group leader I think) and I wondered how they had got their large cool boxes full of beer and food here as I zipped past. These were the last people I would see for many hours.
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| The haribo section |
The next section was unknown to me but really nice as you continue to follow the river Feshie South, and then East. There was a little pushing (boggy), before a fantastic section of single track near the Geldie Burn before again hitting the fast landy track, past a poor ruin and onward to White Bridge.
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| Tumble down ruin/shelter with dirt floor and the odd plank to sit on |
Again beautiful (sunny) cruising to the Linn of Dee and people again, well cars! For many hours I'd decided that Bob Scott's bothy at Derry Lodge would be a crucial point to get to and that I would have lunch here so I was pleased and quite tired when I got here at 1pm.
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| White Bridge |
I had a proper rest and some food in the bothy, it was idillic with the smell of people and the fire from the night before, but the floor was swept and everyone had gone, I'm sure filling again this particular evening once more.
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| Resting in Bob Scotts |
The next section North up Glen Derry is great and I know it well. A 'helpful' 'jogger' in much lycra informed me that the bridge was closed further North! Which I found bizarre as you can ford the river nearly anywhere, and I wasn't going that way! I wished him well, thanked him for his important warning (I think he was a little unsure where he was going...) and carried on.
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| Glen Derry - love this section |
I love this section as its so scenic as you feel you are getting into the heart of the Cairngorms. I'd only ever been as far as the 'closed bridge' before, the junction to then go West to the shelterstone/Hutchinson bothy etc. Today I was heading due North through the Lairig an Laoigh and old drovers pass.
I knew that this would be the hardest bit of the day and due to being on the last quarter of my ride/day tiredness really got to me and I really slowed down pushing my bike up the generally rocky trail to the pass. My worst fears were also confirmed and I had to walk the bike down and along the other side to the Fords of Avon, but I had pretty much expected this!
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| Into the showers, and head for the pass |
I'd always wanted to see the bothy here, I was amazed at how small it is, but a life saver in bad weather I am sure. I met some other bikers here who were just starting the Cairngorm loop, a 300km unofficial race which happens every year. They informed me that only 3 people were starting this year. They had exotic bikes strewn with (small) bags and equipment. One on a rigid fat bike, the most interesting some form of 29er hardtail with front powered hub (for GPS/lights etc) and amazingly skinny tyres. I suspect he was a well seasoned endurance cyclist. They weren't carrying much for the 56 hour time limited route/challenge!
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| Top of Lairig an Laoigh - sadly only ridable for 100m! |
The sun finally came out as I left the bothy on a mix of rideable and unridable trail. I knew I would make it now, even though I couldn't ride for toffee at this stage and bounced from rock to rock somehow missing the sandy trail in-between!
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| Fords of Avon - I will make it! |
Finally pushing to the shoulder of Bynack More I knew it was downhill all the way back to the van. The descent was great, but super concentration required with all of the steps and drainage channels to dodge. I cruised back past the green lochan and finally stopped at the van, 11 hours after setting off!
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| Bynack Moor, the sun and finish beckon |
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