singletrack forum ride, pitlochry....

today i was reminded of why scotland is regaurded as No1 mountainbiking destination in europe...for its natural scenery..
what ever time of year the highlands is just stunning...
i was up early sunday for a 200mile round drive to the central highlands to pitlochry...picking up friend andrew who had invited me along to a ride orginised on the singletrack magazine forum...
it was misty and muggy here at the coast but once over the forth road bridge it came on heavy rain as we drove up the A9,thankfully stopping as we arrived,9 of us set off following jimmy who orginised the ride and colin who had the only map!,
up up up leaving pitlochry below above the mist...

hot work climbing...

up to our first descent where we rode down into the mist...

wet grass and slippy small rocks made any easy looking trail quite tricky,colin got caught out first (unfortuantly for him caught on my helmet cam) then steven further down as the trail wound down at a good speed between walls...



if it wasnt for the 3 gates this would be a real fast descent...

heres film of the first descent...



then onto some estate roads and slowly we climbed to a food break at a farm where an estate employee gave us a better route up than we had planned...
only andrew and myself brought full suss bikes unsure of what we would be riding, but it was a hardtail day with all the climbing...
most bikes here are very similar set up and typical UK trailbikes...

up up up to this pass...note everyone trying to not look at whats ahead!

well done to day leader jimmy who cleaned this and andrew who got 2/3rds up and steven who was singlespeeding it!, me i was sweating far too much in the heat and was off my normal pace...will clean it next time!...
view at the top...we climbed from the tree`s...


break time...



and a short wander around these quarry pools...



then the long descent down...although landrover track (twintrack) it was fun!


unfortuantly andrew had an off 3/4 the way down-crossed rutted but luckily walked away unscathed!

heres the film...



regrouped it was then along the road above the river tummel...


and a wooded riverside trails all the way to killiecrankie...




heres some more film...



a few of the guys headed for a loop up around another hill above while we all headed for the pub for a pint,burger and chips, i think the heat got to more than just me today...look at the climbing graph!...

a great ride with good riders,great banter and the best scenery you can have...the scottish highlands...