flattyres mtb routes
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After a 20min drive to the other side of Dumfries we arrived at Ae to the sight of DH bikes sailing off the
large drop at the bottom of the downhill track, visible from the entrance road to the car park. In the car
park we were greeted by the even better sight of Steve and Jim. Re-united we got ready for the Ae Line
Trail, a longer and more technical than the mornings ride. The theme of Ae is rocks, berms, jumps and
drops, although not the preserve of big travel bikes as just about everything is rollable and if not has an
large drop at the bottom of the downhill track, visible from the entrance road to the car park. In the car
park we were greeted by the even better sight of Steve and Jim. Re-united we got ready for the Ae Line
Trail, a longer and more technical than the mornings ride. The theme of Ae is rocks, berms, jumps and
drops, although not the preserve of big travel bikes as just about everything is rollable and if not has an
easier option. By now the sun was well
and truly out and our legs soon warmed
back up as we sweated our way up hill
through a switchback infested climb.
Eventually the ground flattened and we
found ourselves flying through the trees
on the Granny Green Luv trail. The ride
had a different feel from the trails ridden
in the morning, as it was a little tighter
and rockier. Everything continued quite
normally until the first table top was
spotted through the trees. The trail then
showed us it’s true nature becoming
and truly out and our legs soon warmed
back up as we sweated our way up hill
through a switchback infested climb.
Eventually the ground flattened and we
found ourselves flying through the trees
on the Granny Green Luv trail. The ride
had a different feel from the trails ridden
in the morning, as it was a little tighter
and rockier. Everything continued quite
normally until the first table top was
spotted through the trees. The trail then
showed us it’s true nature becoming
| The car park at Ae where we found Jim and Steve |
| Andy legs akimbo on after Rab's Slippy One |
| Shane prepares for a small drop on Granny Green Luv |
| Graham after Rab's Slippy One |
wider and traversing the hillside through a number of table tops, whoops,
berms and step downs. For those who weren’t confident of getting air the trail
had a rollercoaster feel that was still great fun to ride. This all ended in a
steep, loose, rocky descent down to a bridge over Capel Water. At this point
Andy decided to go over his bars, escaping injury by tucking up and rolling
berms and step downs. For those who weren’t confident of getting air the trail
had a rollercoaster feel that was still great fun to ride. This all ended in a
steep, loose, rocky descent down to a bridge over Capel Water. At this point
Andy decided to go over his bars, escaping injury by tucking up and rolling
| Jim and Andy at the Capel Water bridge |
Sonic the Hedgehog style. There were a few more adrenaline fuelled grins at the bottom but these didn’t
last long as we ground our way up the next climb. The pay back came in the form of the Bran Burn Bash
trail a fast and flowing descent with a few step downs on the way. An enforced break while Dave fixed a
puncture was made longer when Paul only noticed his slow puncture when we set off again, doh!
last long as we ground our way up the next climb. The pay back came in the form of the Bran Burn Bash
trail a fast and flowing descent with a few step downs on the way. An enforced break while Dave fixed a
puncture was made longer when Paul only noticed his slow puncture when we set off again, doh!
Me, Dave, Libby and Paul on The Edge
| Ken and Steve on The Edge |
The group slowly made their way up the
next climb while me and Dave waited for
Paul to fix the puncture. We didn’t have
to race too far to catch up as everyone
was waiting at the start of The Edge.
This began by weaving between tree
stumps on a dusty trail with a big, steep
drop to the left. Sometimes the drop felt
a bit close for comfort but it increased
the excitement on what would otherwise
have been a pretty straight forward
piece of track. A couple of steep berms
later we returned to the trees for
another helping of tight woodland
singletrack. There was only one more
next climb while me and Dave waited for
Paul to fix the puncture. We didn’t have
to race too far to catch up as everyone
was waiting at the start of The Edge.
This began by weaving between tree
stumps on a dusty trail with a big, steep
drop to the left. Sometimes the drop felt
a bit close for comfort but it increased
the excitement on what would otherwise
have been a pretty straight forward
piece of track. A couple of steep berms
later we returned to the trees for
another helping of tight woodland
singletrack. There was only one more
| Paul fixing his puncture |
Libby, Paul and Shane on The Edge
significant climb left on the route and thankfully for our tired legs it was mostly
firetrack. The long climb led to the Ae line a descent packed with jumps,
tabletops and drops. As with the first section of the descent to Capel Water,
this trail was great to ride for everyone irrespective of their level of skill. With
everything still rollable it was a rollercoaster ride for the less able, packed with
jumps and drops for those who can handle some air and for the seriously brave
firetrack. The long climb led to the Ae line a descent packed with jumps,
tabletops and drops. As with the first section of the descent to Capel Water,
this trail was great to ride for everyone irrespective of their level of skill. With
everything still rollable it was a rollercoaster ride for the less able, packed with
jumps and drops for those who can handle some air and for the seriously brave
| Paul riding the berms off The Edge |
most of the jumps could be taken as doubles. I got in one double before a steep, rocky, bermed ‘S’ Bend
but it was only a baby one, nowhere near the size of others. A short climb brought us to the final descent
of the day and once everyone was aware of the safety warning down we went. I can’t believe I bottled it on
one of the really small steps at the top but my brain thought it looked wrong and made my fingers pull the
but it was only a baby one, nowhere near the size of others. A short climb brought us to the final descent
of the day and once everyone was aware of the safety warning down we went. I can’t believe I bottled it on
one of the really small steps at the top but my brain thought it looked wrong and made my fingers pull the
Andy and Dave on Nil Desperandum
Shane and Ken on the Ae Line berms
| Andy and Dave on the Ae Line berms |
| Don't blame me it had already fallen off the post |
| Shane on the raised wooden planks at the end of the trail |
Steve and Ken on the planks
brake lever. Kicking myself I pushed a little way back up a rode it but I let myself off as I nailed the rest of
the drops, feeling really satisfied as I hit the big drop fast and cleared a lot more distance than I ever have
before. This is definitely somewhere I would love to ride a lot more as with familiarity I could push my
jumps and drops further. Without knowing what’s on the other side of most things I lack the confidence to
really go for it. We got back to the car park buzzing but tired and looking forward to a cold one back at the
Wigwams. A shower and a change of clothes later we were off into Dumfries for what turned out to be a
fantastic meal at Hullabuloo, a restaurant on the banks of the River Nith.
the drops, feeling really satisfied as I hit the big drop fast and cleared a lot more distance than I ever have
before. This is definitely somewhere I would love to ride a lot more as with familiarity I could push my
jumps and drops further. Without knowing what’s on the other side of most things I lack the confidence to
really go for it. We got back to the car park buzzing but tired and looking forward to a cold one back at the
Wigwams. A shower and a change of clothes later we were off into Dumfries for what turned out to be a
fantastic meal at Hullabuloo, a restaurant on the banks of the River Nith.
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