singletrack with lots of technical rock sections. With so much fast, technical riding we had a few sketchy
moments as we were still pushing our limits as we started to tire. Near the end of the ride the trail joined
back up with the Red Route and finally the Blue. The trails became gradually less technical but this just
meant the trees flashed past quicker and the pace could be sustained for longer.
moments as we were still pushing our limits as we started to tire. Near the end of the ride the trail joined
back up with the Red Route and finally the Blue. The trails became gradually less technical but this just
meant the trees flashed past quicker and the pace could be sustained for longer.
|
I was taking the Oneplanet Adventure Shop Ride to the 7 Stanes MTB centres for the weekend so me and
Paul decided to arrive a day early and ride the Black Craigs Route at Kirroughtree. We drove through
some nasty weather on the way up but thankfully this transformed into blue skies and sun by the time we
reached the car park at Kirroughtree.
Paul decided to arrive a day early and ride the Black Craigs Route at Kirroughtree. We drove through
some nasty weather on the way up but thankfully this transformed into blue skies and sun by the time we
reached the car park at Kirroughtree.
my chain was skipping badly in the middle ring. After
dusting off the full-sus from its winter hibernation I’d
had to replace the shifters and swap the crankset
around the day before. Everything had worked
perfectly when I’d tested it on the road in front of my
house. Oh well, nothing I could do about it until the
next day when I could visit the bike shop in Mabie
Forest. I would just have to ride around the
problem. At least the granny and big ring were
working fine. To add to the fun I noticed one of the
main bearings on the swing arm was worn so I would
also be riding with a slightly flexy bike all weekend.
The full-sus is great fun but definitely a prima donna,
always requiring more attention than my hardtail.
dusting off the full-sus from its winter hibernation I’d
had to replace the shifters and swap the crankset
around the day before. Everything had worked
perfectly when I’d tested it on the road in front of my
house. Oh well, nothing I could do about it until the
next day when I could visit the bike shop in Mabie
Forest. I would just have to ride around the
problem. At least the granny and big ring were
working fine. To add to the fun I noticed one of the
main bearings on the swing arm was worn so I would
also be riding with a slightly flexy bike all weekend.
The full-sus is great fun but definitely a prima donna,
always requiring more attention than my hardtail.
| Paul climbing through the blue bells |
| Paul riding the rocks on the Twister |
A couple of layers were left in the car and we wished we had packed some sun
screen. With bikes assembled we climbed away from the car park only to find
We had a quick spin round the skills area to warm up our technical skills then
headed on up through the forest to continue the climb. Or cold legs were
forgotten as we rode up through a carpet of blue bells illuminated by bright shafts of sunlight. Not long
after we hit the first sections of flowing singletrack, interspersed with the signature Kirroughtree rock
features. It rarely gets better than this. The first black option, a quick up and over on a large steep
boulder, resulted in a pinch flat on the bottom of the drop. I gave my bike a stern look, if this carried on we
would be having serious words. There wasn’t even a rock at the bottom of the drop that looked capable of
inflicting a pinch. A new tube later we were rolling again, off down another section of sinuous singletrack
that ended with a drop and a section of firetrack that took us out to the Black Route.
after we hit the first sections of flowing singletrack, interspersed with the signature Kirroughtree rock
features. It rarely gets better than this. The first black option, a quick up and over on a large steep
boulder, resulted in a pinch flat on the bottom of the drop. I gave my bike a stern look, if this carried on we
would be having serious words. There wasn’t even a rock at the bottom of the drop that looked capable of
inflicting a pinch. A new tube later we were rolling again, off down another section of sinuous singletrack
that ended with a drop and a section of firetrack that took us out to the Black Route.
The Black Route started with ‘The Judgement’ trail,
where I was found slightly lacking. At the first little
rock section I cleaned the easy line but needed a
good few attempts on the hard line (video). We both
cleaned it but only after I’d had a couple of comedy
offs. The trail just got better as the rock sections
got bigger and more technical. Our speed and
commitment increased the further we rode. We
emerged from the trail breathing hard and full of
adrenaline. The firetrack that followed gave us a
chance of some easy riding and a chance to recover
before McMoab.
We were soon following the blue arrows directing us
over the huge lumps of rounded granite. It was hard
| Judgement Trail, first rock, easy line |
| Paul Judgement Trail |
| Me, Judgement Trail, rock steps |
| Paul trying to get up the steep slab on the Judgement Trail |
as our legs. The camera came out
on a couple of sections to get
some video footage. It was here
Paul found out why you shouldn’t
use a camera while walking
backwards on top of a large
granite boulder, thankfully he only
lost a little skin in his fall. I
managed to ride all of McMoab
this time but still not clean as I
needed to repeat a couple of
sections. Paul's biggest problem
was the last boulder, his
on a couple of sections to get
some video footage. It was here
Paul found out why you shouldn’t
use a camera while walking
backwards on top of a large
granite boulder, thankfully he only
lost a little skin in his fall. I
managed to ride all of McMoab
this time but still not clean as I
needed to repeat a couple of
sections. Paul's biggest problem
was the last boulder, his
going with our arms working almost as hard
Marzocchi 66s’ were just too long to allow him up the steep climb. He had no problems on the steep chute
on the other side though.
on the other side though.
| Paul, McMoab, The Ridge |
| Paul riding off The Ridge |
| Paul on the chute finishes McMoab |
Video: Paul starting McMoab, Me on The Ridge, Pauls cameraman crash
It was then time to climb into the hills on the opposite side of the road for the
return leg of the route. The return was the same as the ride out, lots of great
It was then time to climb into the hills on the opposite side of the road for the
return leg of the route. The return was the same as the ride out, lots of great
| We got back to the car tired but happy after an excellent days riding, looking forward to the next visit when we can hopefully allow more time to play about on the good bits. |
| Paul climbing Heartbreak Hill |
(Left and above) Paul riding some of
the rock sections on Talnotry Hill
the rock sections on Talnotry Hill
