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Post by glynnsixo on Feb 21, 2016 18:22:03 GMT
wow that does look incredibly precarious to do with a bike! absolutely no room for error
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Post by windysurfer on Feb 21, 2016 18:27:30 GMT
 f*ck that for a game of soldiers!!
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Post by Marmite on Feb 21, 2016 21:49:28 GMT
Haha not a facking chance  |
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Post by hodgy on Feb 23, 2016 15:22:50 GMT
This has now got me more than a little intrigued ...
Given the conditions that they were riding in ( snow ) ...I'm not at all convinced that the riders ( freelancers ) for MBR actually tackled that section ..so I placed a telephone call and spoke to Paul Burwell who said he would make enquiries ..followed this up with an email and some images.
If this is not do-able with a bike albeit carrying it ..then it's pretty irresponsible to put it into print where at the very least you will have to turn back & retrace your route ...that would totally boil my piss !
Oh ...and the worst that could happen is that you end up dead ..and I wouldn't be too happy about that either !
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Post by hodgy on Feb 24, 2016 16:34:44 GMT
Here is the reply that I have had from Paul Burwell at MBR neil i spoke to one of freelancers who does a lot of riding in scotland, since he lives there. he made a few comments, which are below. one of the guys in the office has also done the out and back and said that's what most mountain bikers do. i also found out the guys who put together the feature in the March issue are climbers, which may have come in handy for this short section and possibly why they didn't make more of it. my advice is to not bother with the extra loop round, it's seems like it's going to be mainly walking and carrying, unless of course that's your thing. cheers pb The actual Sligachan ride doesn't go over to Curuisk, rather heading south to Camasunary via Loch na Creitheach. If you do want to go over to Curuisk and return by the bad step though, the trail up and over is really a shoulder job with a steep drop down to Curuisk that would be a bind to hike back out of. I have walked that trail round and the bad step isn't that bad on foot. It is basically a big crack running across an exposed sloping bedrock which you could carry a bike over if you have a head for exposure but it would be very tricky I would say. I wouldn't fancy it, especially in any kind of crap weather. Not even sure the ride round that coast would be anything more than a hike with intermittent scoots to be honest. From: Neil Hodgson <neilhodgson06@aol.com> Sent: 23 February 2016 14:51 To: Burwell, Paul - MBR Editorial <paul.burwell@timeinc.com> Subject: The Bad Step ,Skye. Hello Paul Following our telephone conversation earlier I'm just keen to get confirmation that the section above from the Sligachan route featured in the March edition ( pull out map ) is actually do-able ! From conversations that I've had with folks who have walked the route and from looking at the images ( attached ) ...I'm not convinced that you would be able to walk this section carrying a bike without a refreshing dip below ! Thanks for your help Neil uk.search.yahoo.com/search?p=the+bad+step+skye&fr=iphone&.tsrc=apple&pcarrier=EE&pmcc=234&pmnc=30Sent from my iPhone This E-mail is from Time Inc. (UK) Ltd., a company registered in England and Wales, whose registered office is at Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London, SE1 0SU, registered number 53626, VAT number 646150645. The contents and any attachments to it include information that is private and confidential and should only be read by those persons to whom they are addressed. Time Inc. (UK) Ltd accepts no liability for any loss or damage suffered by any person arising from the use of this e-mail. Neither Time Inc. (UK) Ltd nor the sender accepts any responsibility for viruses and it is your responsibility to check the email and attachments (if any). No contracts may be concluded on behalf of Time Inc. (UK) Ltd by means of e-mail communications. If you have received this e-mail in error, please destroy and delete the message from your computer. Great savings on over 50 magazine subscriptions at www.magazinesdirect.comPlease consider the environment - only print this e-mail if absolutely necessary |
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Post by glynnsixo on Feb 24, 2016 16:57:44 GMT
makes you think that they should make a point of adding a 'beware' notification in their ride guide. seems a bit irresponsible not to .obviously mtb has its risks but this section seems to go beyond the norm for most buyers of the magazine.
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Post by hodgy on Feb 24, 2016 17:27:40 GMT
I completely agree Glynn ...while I'm happy that I was able to find out ..I do feel sorry for 99.9999% of the mtb riders who may tackle this section without knowing the true facts .
I know that I would have been furious if I had got there and had to turn back ...
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Post by gramish on Feb 24, 2016 22:32:37 GMT
I'm not going all the way to Skye to spend all the time looking at my feet or the next fifteen feet of trail. I want a bit of excitement of course, some technical stuff and a few downward rushes.. but not off a cliff or into the ocean. Most of the excitement I need will be from just being out there in all that stupendous scenery, as well as imagining the lifes of the people who used to live all over these wildernesses before they were moved off for the sheep and shooting. The Idrigill and Suishnish routes you've got for us look like doing all of that +++ I can hardly wait  |
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Post by hodgy on Feb 25, 2016 4:34:08 GMT
..you will still enjoy the Sligachan route Graham ..it's fantastic ..minus the irresponsible bit they have added on !
As a straight there and back there aren't many better and the scenery is stunning ..riding through that valley makes you feel very small ...
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Post by gramish on Feb 25, 2016 8:10:55 GMT
I haven't had a look at the Sligachan route recently. If you have any links available send them here please.
I have also been thinking I need to get an actual camera before this trip. I have two digi-compacts available but both have started eating a full set of batteries almost immediately, some kind of instant power drain, so it's time for a new one. Maybe I should start a thread for suggestions.
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Post by hodgy on Feb 25, 2016 8:24:29 GMT
There is a vid at the start of this thread which has footage of the route ..my route guide is in a book ..
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Post by gramish on Feb 25, 2016 8:48:02 GMT
Doh
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Post by hodgy on Feb 25, 2016 15:28:20 GMT
Just found this vid which features part of the riding that we will be doing on the Wednesday ..two out and backs .
This one from Applecross to Kenmore ..the other is from Toscaig to Ariaigh Drishaig..which also incorporates a fantastic track to Ardbain & Coille Ghillie with a fabulous beach ..which one we do first will be determined by the tide as I'm keen for Dave , Jean & Graham to see the beach with the tide out ...
Anyway back to the vid ..familiar to Dave & Jean ..but not yet Graham ..and as good as the singletrack looks ..it's even better in the flesh !
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Post by gramish on Feb 25, 2016 20:32:46 GMT
Love that |
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Post by hodgy on Apr 13, 2016 20:20:25 GMT
Well further good news ...after our superb bothy weekend..Colin a regular on our mini trips into his homeland has realised how much of a good time he would be missing and is now coming ...even managing to book a room in the same guest house...
Happy Days!
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Post by hodgy on Apr 14, 2016 19:09:08 GMT
Just found this ...part of the Suisnish ride on the last day...a great way to say goodbye to the island
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Post by gramish on Apr 15, 2016 14:04:07 GMT
Really am looking forward to this. Need to get tyres, chain and brakes sorted. Also think I ought to get some long waterproof pants, d'ya reckon?
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Post by hodgy on Apr 15, 2016 14:15:29 GMT
Naaah ...I booked sunshine with a money back guarantee...
That's probably nacked things good n proper
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Post by hodgy on Apr 27, 2016 8:26:54 GMT
Even the doubletrack on the easy ride looks class...  |
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Post by hodgy on Apr 29, 2016 7:39:19 GMT
Many thanks to Ian & Russell and the other two lads who are from Tyne Valley MTB ( and I have yet to meet / ride with )who volunteered to go up to Skye on Monday ahead of our trip at the end of May to ensure the trails were acceptable enough for us to lay down our rubber on them ( oooer missus) , fill in any potholes etc .
Greatly appreciated lads ...look forward to your in depth report ...lol
We unfortunately couldn't coordinate holiday times to go as one group ...although we are riding identical routes on the island !
It isn't looking too favourable weather wise though if Mobile apps are to be believed...cloud & showers forecast for your time there with a high of 10c ....
I hope that's wrong ...but have a great time regardless...
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Post by hodgy on Apr 29, 2016 10:45:19 GMT
Well these came today ...  The book covers the biggest ride which is not covered on the map ...the map covers the other two rides which are not covered in the book ... The book also covers the Applecross ride ..but three out of the four of us have done that before ... In addition I also have Viewranger which shows our location on the O.S.Landranger maps I have downloaded on to my mobile phone at all times ....so I don't think we are going to get lost ( famous last words!) Many thanks to my pops for the Waterstones gift voucher which enabled me to purchase both ...I'm especially pleased to have the second volume of the Wild Trails book as there are a good few routes in there which I would like to tackle ...having pretty much exhausted all of the good stuff in the first volume ... Still a month away ..but can't wait ! |
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Post by windysurfer on Apr 29, 2016 17:06:01 GMT
Wish I was coming with you, looks brilliant  |
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Post by hodgy on Apr 29, 2016 17:08:11 GMT
You would have been more than welcome too Gaz ...maybe next year wherever our Scottish travels take us ?
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Post by hodgy on May 9, 2016 16:53:51 GMT
Well ...I have just spoken to Ian Bell who was part of our scouting party and the word on the street is that we should completely knock on the head our 2nd days ride on the Durnish Peninsula ...which he described as horrendous ...admittedly he did say that the weather on the day had something to do with it ...but still wouldn't recommend it on a good day ! There is however an alternative ...which he has checked out with his mate at the newly opened Bike shop in Portree. I have done a few screenshots to show the route in red ...which is a little unsteady but in the main it's the trail / fire road above the red line ...there is also a chance to visit the fairy pools on this route and ends at Carbost ( where the Talisker Distillery is based and also where Ian & the gang based themselves at the Old Inn which Ian described as fantastic with real Ales and fantastic food . Suggested doing it one way with a car of cars at both ends of the ride ... It also starts at the Sligachan Hotel ...    Shorter than the ride it replaces ...but that's OK .. You OK with this lads & lass? The fairy pools are on the second map where the track splits to go up towards the waterfalls ... |
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Post by hodgy on May 9, 2016 17:05:53 GMT
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f*ck that for a game of soldiers!!
