Applecross Weekend

Last weekend saw me and my friend Tony head to the Applecross peninsula. Its a fairly remote part of the west Scottish Highlands, not least because of the road in, the highest in Britain. The road is the Bealach Na Ba (Pass of the Cattle) and rises from sea level to 2053ft. This was the focus of our journey, to cycle up and over it.

Day 1 Applecross - Sheildag - Pass Loop


So on the first day we set off in very wet and windy weather to circle the peninsula and finish with the pass. Despite the weather it was still enjoyable as the single-track road was well surfaced and had spectacular scenery. Some very testing climbs descents and bends made for a great cycle.
We even managed to snag a burger at the Sheildag gala day, an acheivement in itself as there are very few places to grab hot food in this part of the world.

The journey from Sheildag to the foot of the climb proved to be windy with a full force headwind which was to continue with a vengeance on the Bealach na Ba.

I managed to make it about two thirds up the climb before on the turn of a corner before the switchbacks a full force 40mph headwind made it impossible to cycle. Sadly a section had to be walked before I was able to get back on the pedals and take some pictures of Tony down the pass, before heading to the top.

The weather at the top was horrendous. It was blowing a gale, the rain was sore and I could only see 3ft in front of me. I waited for Tony at the top before we made the scariest decent ever to the campsite in the crosswinds and devoured some well earned pasta.

Day 2 Sheildag to Loch Maree (and back)



Day 2 yielded much better weather. The journey took us along Loch Torridon and then into the Glen of the same name before cycling to the top of Loch Maree. It was still fairly windy but cycling in sunshine and short sleeves was great. There were still some very challenging 15% climbs but it was a great 100km cycle and earned us (if we don't say so ourselves) the lobster, steak and chips at the Applecross Inn.
A superb weekend was had and I'll definitely be back to cycle that mountain pass again!

Mallorca

Just back from Holidaying in Mallorca. While there I did a Mountain Bike Tour with http://www.bikepointmallorca.es/. I dont have any GPS of the trail but the details are in the following link, ableit, in German unless you have a transaltor. http://www.bikepointmallorca.es/index.php/de/tour-1

Bike Point kindly emailed me maps of the route. I think our route may have been slightly different as the group were quite fit and further detours were taken,

The trails were dusty and the heat was a bit intense. Not many photos but the highlight was followiung a dry riverbed to a completely hidden cove surrounded by cliffs, on which there were free climbers doing training.
Have a loook at the photos and if the German on the tour remembers to email his pictures there may be more to come.
Sidenote, the roads are amazing and I  cant wait to take the road bike.

Ardochrigg Loop

Back Shifts

Its back (no pun intended) to smaller cycles in the last week after an enforced 3-4 weeks off the bike.

Severe pain and back spasms coinciding with a house move and 3 job interviews conspired to curtail the cycling, the Loudoun Academy trip included. I did get some quality drugs from the doctor for the back spasms. After the first round of tablets I almost understood the mindset of John Lennon when he wrote “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds!”

Anyway, back to some of my local loops to get back into the swing of things and burn some calories before I head to Mallorca for two weeks of eating, reading, splashing and general atrophy!

Check out the new hidey-hole set-up below. My new garage well and truly claimed as “The Bike Cave!”

Selkirk Sunshine

This weekend saw me take on the 50km route at the Selkirk MTB Marathon. For once on a sportive the weather was gorgeous. Sun was shining and the trails dusty (nearly) and the toes nice and warm for a change.
mccrackenprocycling provided support for the day as I was entered under that team name for the first time. Support of a van ride their, coffee and cake before hand and a welcome coca-cola and venison burger afterwards is perfect, as well as the photography thrown in.
The warm weather did make this a challenging route but at least I knew what was coming having done this route 3 years ago. I knocked an hour of my previous time so all in all a great day.
(Last time 5hrs30mins this time 4hrs 30mins)
Side note - The bikes are away to a secret destination for a holiday while I move house and try and recover from my latest bout of bad backedness but soon as my new garage is ready it will become my bike cave!
Check out the route and photos from Selkirk below!

No Cycling

No cycling this weekend owing to the state of my back and the pain therein. Met up with the cyclists from Loudoun though at their coffee stop at Whitelees windfarm and took Hannah, my daughter, to meet them all.
Here is two composite group shots firstly of last weeks cycle over the Firth of Clyde and the Group this Week (including Hannah in her pram) at the windfarm!