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Post by hodgy on Sept 8, 2014 16:43:50 GMT
We were planning to do a circular ride from St.Marys Loch on Saturday only to find that what would normally be eerily quiet trails will this weekend have a 2 day triathlon event taking place!
Not wanting to show them up ( as if ! ) ... We are still heading that way but starting our ride a little closer to Selkirk at Yarrowford ...starting with a bitch of a climb up to The Three Bretheren ( probs a push at some stage) following the old drove road (Southern Upland Way) to Minch Moor and taking the upper part of the man made trail from Inners to the top ... Descending back to the trail we got here on and heading back as far as the Minch Moor Road which should give a bit of a flyer back to Yarroword
Lots of ups and downs should give a good work-out ...with the option of another loop in the woodland opposite the start if we haven't had enough!
Starting at 10.00 a.m...5 confirmed so far... anyone else for a toughish ride at a relaxed pace?... bring yer bait!
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Post by lowcogger on Sept 8, 2014 16:57:18 GMT
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Post by hodgy on Sept 8, 2014 17:40:51 GMT
The cairns that are the 3 brethren are just as impressive... Don't do yourself down regarding the climbs ... You ain't seen me yet and I'm no great shakes!
So are you coming...we are a friendly little group and you would be more than welcome
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Post by lowcogger on Sept 8, 2014 17:55:03 GMT
I`d love to but the only time I get to ride in Scotland is when I`m up there on holiday.
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Post by hodgy on Sept 8, 2014 18:18:14 GMT
Sorry yes ... I just realised after posting that where you are from.
Still if you fancy an early start !!!
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Post by bewilderdave on Sept 8, 2014 23:03:40 GMT
Sounds great but we are doing Bowderdale on Sunday. Enjoy
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Post by Admin on Sept 8, 2014 23:19:25 GMT
Does soung good but unfortunately I am working on Saturday  Pitty really as I want to get back into more natural riding as spending far too much time at Glentress these days. |
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Post by hodgy on Sept 9, 2014 6:18:09 GMT
Euan & BD
Sorry you can't make it...some other time ...it will be good to put a face to the names at some stage
You should still have dry conditions for that fantastic drop into Bowderdale ( a whole 7km of it!) ... My envy is only tempered by the fact that I am well aware as to the work needed to get to that point!
Bewilderdave....you must be fit if you can match Gerard and Ricky on the climbs!
Have a great day yourself.
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Post by hodgy on Sept 13, 2014 17:55:23 GMT
Six of us turned up in the end ... Gins, Jean & Dave , Graham & The Don Jaconnelli fresh back from his Sicillian holiday ... meeting up with the members of his family.. hitching a ride with myself .
I haven't a clue what that white stuff was that he asked me to try in my coffee when he met me at Otterburn at 8.15 .. But it was either that or the superb bacon sandwich I was devouring that really lifted my spirits.. I know for sure that it wasn't sugar .. but he reckons he has a rather large shipment making its way into the country from Palermo
( if there are any customs officers reading this ..this is a rather long standing joke.. Honest!).
Anyway to the ride ... Having turned up with a flat .. Gina tried to inflate it with one of those 12v compressers and forgetting about it managed to blow the thing up .. With a massive bang ! Brown pants all around and a wale up call for the residents of Yarrowford
Once repaired we set off down to Broadmeadows to begin the massive ascent to The Three Bretheren ..it's a grinder and will have all but the very fittest off and pushing ... sooner rather than later..
The early morning mist / haze was taking its time to clear but it was bloody hot ..
We hadn't done too much of the climb/ push when Gina's tube went again ...and refusing all offers of help to repair or replace decided enough was enough and called it a day
This was a real shame because once we had gained the height and with the trails being so dry the rest of the ride was superb.. The only downside being that the mist had turned to a haze so the views while still being good were not as outstandingly spectacular as I know they can be .
The highlight of the ride was undoubtably the return to Yarrowford on the Minch Moor Road.. 5k of mainly singletrack downhill with chest high ferns to the side giving a greater sensation of speed .. I have taken some pics which I will post later...but none of this descent ... it was just too fast and good to stop !
Go do it before things turn soggy
My thanks to all for their excellent company and craic ( as usual ) ... It was one of the best rides of the year so far .
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Post by hodgy on Sept 14, 2014 6:56:39 GMT
 Half way up the first climb to get to the 3 Bretheren .. Yarrowford is in the valley floor to the right Gina also to the right of pic ...called it a day shortly after this after her second flat of the day! |
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Post by hodgy on Sept 14, 2014 7:02:32 GMT
 Cresting the first hill R-L :- Dave, Graham, Jean, Paul ( The Don Jaconnelli) |
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Post by hodgy on Sept 14, 2014 7:06:06 GMT
 Nearly there ....The Three Bretheren |
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Post by hodgy on Sept 14, 2014 7:09:05 GMT
 Atmospheric .....Man! |
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Post by hodgy on Sept 14, 2014 7:12:46 GMT
 Scottish tradition... But nothin since 2011.... |
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Post by hodgy on Sept 14, 2014 7:18:28 GMT
Dave Tasker (talisker) and friend Frae Nithin Smaw.... Got the first word (from) ..what does the rest mean ?  |
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Post by hodgy on Sept 14, 2014 7:24:28 GMT
 Southern Upland Way ...the first drop from TTB...that singletrack in the background was just gnar (errr I think!!) |
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Post by hodgy on Sept 14, 2014 7:27:53 GMT
Further along the way to Minch Moor ... Yeah Graham forgot his baggies ...nearly didn't ride with him!
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Post by hodgy on Sept 14, 2014 7:28:14 GMT
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Post by hodgy on Sept 14, 2014 7:31:10 GMT
 One for Lowcogger ...bait time at the cairn on the top of Minch Moor with my baby resting against it ! |
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Post by hodgy on Sept 14, 2014 7:36:05 GMT
Jean near the bottom end of the 5k singletrack drop down The Minch Moor Road ...you can see where it has come from in the distance...this part looks quite tame but the top end is fantastic !
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Post by hodgy on Sept 14, 2014 7:36:28 GMT
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Post by scott on Sept 14, 2014 13:50:12 GMT
5K decent would be awesome, looks like a blast of a ride. Need to do more natural riding me thinks! Missing out.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2014 18:28:16 GMT
Yes, I was there, in the lycra, sorry. But thanks for the route, and the pics. Here are a few words of appreciation.
The punishing push up to the Three Brethren was not a joke. This was a very welcome resting point with superb views, that I had trouble seeing for the sweat blinding my eyes and almost no breath left to enjoy it with! The mist and haze never really completely cleared but that did help to stop the overheating and sunburn. The ridge ride along the Southern Upland Way started with a fast rocky swoop down from the cairns where I somehow managed to lose my bike computer from it's handlebar clip but as it was only £6 from Aldi I didn't think it worth the ride back up that rocky descent for the small chance of finding it. The rest of the ridge was a great ride, a mixture of down and up, mostly ridable but some bits of pushing. But it was always inevitably a climb as Minch Moor our destination was the highest point. We finished off this climb on the last sections of the jagged rocky Innerleithen single track climb to the trig point where we had a well deserved lunch in the hazy sun. Then off down the hill on the grin-inducing singletrack bombfest till we rejoined the SUW again and headed back the way we came, taking some care to deal with the waterbars which interrupted one section. This time gravity was mostly on our side, thankfully, as my legs were feeling like they belonged to someone else! The last incredible blast down the Minch Moor Road (the narrowest 'road' in the world) was really worth the whole days slog. Fan-bloody-tastic! What's more it was so grassy, dry and heathery that it cleaned the sheep shit off our tyres to perfection!
One to do again definitely.
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Post by hodgy on Sept 14, 2014 18:33:00 GMT
Nice write-up... Have you done this sort of thing before?!
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Post by Admin on Sept 14, 2014 18:38:45 GMT
Cracking pics and write up guys
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Pitty really as I want to get back into more natural riding as spending far too much time at Glentress these days.
