Lammermuir Hills cycle...

I organised a cycle up into the Lammermuirs and was joined by friends Stuart until Gifford, then on with Craig and Donald and a 27 mile loop which would take in the trails from Bolton to Gifford, then up into Yester Woods, then on to the Hopes and up onto the Lammermuirs and Lammer Law Cairn, before descending to the woods and back to Gifford...

Here is the 1st of films through Bolton Woods...
Song is `Before You` by The Brian Jonestown Massacre


Autumn Woods Cycle; Bolton to Gifford Nov 17 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.



Riding on we were blessed with amazing cloud formations over head...

Up to the Hopes and a dam built of stone that once housed possibly a prison of some of the most violent times in Scottish history, and now it is set in one of the most scenic places in Scotland...

Climbing up onto the hills and a climb that  is a good workout...

And zooming in on the previous pic is `The climb of Doom` a dead end shooting track that would be a real brutal hill climb challenge...

We joined the ancient track from Lammerlaw to Carfraemill and branched off to the cairn on Lammerlaw...

It was stunning views up here but baltic!, puddles were frozen....

We huddled in a rock wind breaker for a bite to eat and soaked up the views...

Some film from Hopes to Lammer Law...


Hopes to Lammerlaw cycle; Nov 17 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.

Then it was down to the descent off the hill...

The sign at Long Yester...

We dropped down to Gifford through Yester Woods and enjoyed the late afternoon sunshine on the Autumn cloaked trees...

A short detour to enjoy some nice woodland single track  named `Spare Nought`...

Here is some film here in Yester woods....

Some film,
song is  `A Forest` by The Cure


`Spare Nought` trail- Yester Trails Nov 17 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.


`Spare Nought`... `Kill everyone`...

Back into the woods to Bolton and the racing the sunset as the last light of the day  lit up the Autumn gold...

A great days riding with friends...


More soon...

Into winter; Bright days and dark commutes...

 High pressure weather pre sunrise commuting view east to North Berwick...


Winter... folk moan about it-dark nights etc, working out doors i love it!, fantastic sunrises and sunsets in high pressure weather like today...

 Once the sun is up the Beech trees come to life in a glow of fiery red...

Bringing a bit more magic to the woods :)...

End of grass cutting season as Autumn gives way to winter, and other jobs now to do...

Winter bikes;
Err built for winter!, and now the salt is out on the roads i`m commuting on the 1920`s style Pashley Speed 5 Path racer which is ideal for the job with it`s drum brakes allowing a complete coating of GT85...

And the big reveal!, built for under £300 and could have been cheaper if i had waited for more used parts to turn up, an alloy frame Charge Cooker Maxi 1 (17mm offset frame, same as the Surly Pugsley) frames only are being sold off at Transition UK for £80 posted - check them out on eBay, available in size Large and XL...

I already had a steel Charge Fatbike fork i bought used, along with a square taper 100mm VP bottom bracket, and complete wheel set, i added used parts and new 1 x 10 Sunrace/ZEE drive train along with new Avid BB7 brakes....

The Charge was built up as i have been looking for a cheap used frame to build a winter beach bike to replace my original 10 year old Pugsley which i want to strip and rebuild to how i got it originally and semi retire it from the harsh riding conditions of the coast.
My Surly Wednesday (below) is also my hardtail MTB with + wheels and suspension fork and dropper post so i want to also reduce the wet sand riding it does, so the Charge will be ideal for coastal cycling in the winter months...

More on the Charge soon...

With 2 years fire wood cut and drying and more to add all the time i`m all sorted for winter inside and out side...

More soon...

Tweedsmuir Hills cycle...

A great days cycling around the Hills of Peebles, organised by Stuart, I gave Craig a lift down and we met up in the town along with Brian, Jason and Mark for what would be a cool but superb day up on the hills in winter sunshine the Larch and Beech trees golden brown in the low sun...

The ride started with a tough climb out the town onto Venlaw, this ride Stuart had planned a ride of approx 25 miles of proper old school cross country with 3000 feet of big climbs, superb views and fun descents with two options to finish back in Peebles depending on time of day, energy of the group and any breakdowns etc, always good to have a shorter option to end a big ride esp in winter...

First of the big sky views, looking NW across to the old Roman road  that leads to Romano Bridge and on to West Linton, the route followed on the Capital Trail as it returns to The Pentland Hills and home to Edinburgh...

South to the hills around Hundleshope  Heights and The Drove road west of Cardrona Forest...

Up past the old house at Shieldgreen, that would make a great Bothy, and into Glentress Forest...

We joined the black route and climbed up the old original black route climb now a shared path and rejoined the route up to the mast where a large group of riders had stopped for a breather, there was friend Donald out with the group and after a chat they continued on the Black route while we descended on forest tracks to leave the forest where we were met with superb views across to Leithen Hopes...

The grassy track descent down to the Whitehope Farm is superb and fast, my bike was flying with the 29+ wheels down here and the wide bars and forks  made the bike planted on the soft ruts in the grass, `this is what I bought this bike for` I said to myself as I descended off the brakes and grinning like a dafty while also trying to soak up the views...

Regrouped we took to the main road then rode down to Innerliethen and south of the town rode through Glen House estate and more climbing/ hike a bike up by Ochard Rig...

With 20 miles now ridden with a lot of climbing Stuart/we decided to take the shorter option and skip crossing to meet the Gypsy Glen Drove road and instead descended down through Cardrona Forest...

Winter has certainly arrived!, the temperature had plummeted with a real damp cold as we returned along the old railway path to Peebles and grabbing some hot food returned to the cars and enjoyed having the back of the van to sit it and east and reflect of a great days cycling, proper mountinbiking,

Here is some film from the route,
Song is `Cello Song` by Nick Drake...


Tweedsmuir Hills  XC cycle Nov 17 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.

More soon...