Glentress Again (and the kindness of strangers)

Decided on the spur of the moment to go to Glentress(better option than the gym). Got to the top of Spooky Wood and just before the bottom of the section got a flat. When I got the spare tube out the valve split leaving me to repair the tube old fashioned stlye with glue and a patch. Light was fading and while waiting for the patch to dry and fearing riding from near the top of the red route in the dark another biker gave me a tube. Its good to know there are kind mountain bikers out there. Thankfully I met up again with the stranger in the car park and was able to return another new tube to him I had in the car. Riding in the dusk through the trees was hard enough. I wouldnt want to have done it in the dark!!!

Glentress

Went to Glentress. Fun was had despite the fact it was freezing freezing cold and very wet.

Thorny Isuues

Went on a wee trip out the back of Darvel on a back road to Strathaven. Was looking for another entrance into the back of Whitelees to avoid bog crawling. Found a few possibilities and also a few impressive thorns in my tyres which now means I now have to flat tyres in the hut. Thorns are on show both in and out the tyres!!!

Darvel - Whitelee - Kilmarnock

Decided to cycle out the back of Darvel to the far end of Whitelee and through the wind farm on into Kilmarnock. Managed the journey all the way to Kilmarnock. HAd to cut through a bog to access the windfarm although I could see the windmills close by. Apparently there is a road I can take in order that I dont have to take the bog route.

Plan was to go the road back to Darvel from Kilmarnock but a sore knee resulted in a lift home from the parents.

Good run though and well worth attempting again. Maybe in the other direction.

Best development was the new bike hut and showers at Whitelees. Already alot of bikers on the tracks. With luck this is a pre-cursor to proper mountain bike trails.

Mabie For a Surprise

Decided to nip to Mabie near Dumfries for some 7 stane action. Went along with my mate Chris Didn't take any pics but as we were the only people on the whole trail, we took the oppurtunity to shoot some video clips. Heres two we made earlier.
Good to get out on the trails when you didnt expect to be able to and to have them all to yourself!

Whitelees

Whitelees Wind Farm is now open with 80-90km of track. AS of yet its all fire road but apparently there is a mountain bike trail and centre in the planning!

Galston

Been out and about in the irvine Valley again. Found this good track. the "Burn Anne" walk. I saw other mountain bike marks in the dirt so I obviously wasnt the first biker there. The walk leads into Cessnock Woods and Burnside woods which also have good trails so more good local stuff....on my own!!

Carron Valley

Haven't been on for a while owing to PC problems. Back though and went to Carron Valley at the beginning of Septemeber. Wasn't alone for a change but glad of the complany for the return to the scene of my broken bones crash last year.

Yesterday

Went out yesterday in the rain to investigate my new surroundings in Darvel and the Loudoun Valley. Found a couple of nice wee bits of singletrack. Feel free to join me next time I'm out.

Stumpjumper Trail Crew

If the question is, Am I Stumpjumper Trail Crew? The answer would be, I AM SPECIALIZED!

4 years ago I bought my second hand hardtail stumpjumper and rode it into the ground through, rain, wind, snow, sunshine and one almighty crash. Did I give up? No. I'd fallen in love with a sport and with a bike. I mended the broken bones, got the helmet on and bought a brand new full suspension stumpy. Even better I did up my hardtail and got my 55 year old Dad into mountain biking.

Living in the heart of Scotland I have some of the worlds best mountain biking on my doorstep. Whether its natural exploration or the singletrack buzz of the 7stanes, Im there. As soon as I can whenever I can, leading groups of friends up impossibly steep climbs or hurtling alone down singletrack bliss I'm there. And at the end of it all Im usually on twitter or bebo posting the pictures and telling everyone and anyone that'll listen why they should open their hearts to Mountain Biking Stumpy Style.

So bored with having no trail I could just ride to I was delighted to find the local cycle club (Walkers Cycles) building a great trail at Craufurdland Castle, Kilmarnock and looking for volunteer trail fairies.

Biking is now my life and my Stumjumper is my constant companion.

If you want Trail Crew who wake up and think "When Can I ride?" then I'm your man.

If you want a specialized fanatic who is so much so he even has his own "Stumpy " idol in the garden, then I'm your man.

I am a Stumpjumper

I can be Trail Crew

John McCracken is Specialized

Whinlatter

I recently went to the Lake District and to the new Altura Trail at Whinlatter near Keswick. It has a Blue Red and Black run and I did the Red. It was quite technical at parts but fun. I'd say more red and a half. Enjoyable and was good to go somewhere different from the 7stanes.

New Trail In Kilmarnock

There is a new trail in Ayrshire. Near the Dean Park in Kilmarnock on the Craufurdland Estate. The estate owner has built his own trail and is upgrading all the time. The trail isnt weather proof yet but alot of fun and very much appreciated in the trail-less Ayrshire. As of yet there is only about 8km of trail but no road and 100% singletrack. Lets hope this is a pre-cursor to more ayrshire trails, maybe even one at Whitelees Windfarm. Heres some pictures.