East Lothian Rideout, October ...Autumn Delight

Sunday i led another days trailriding around some of my local trails...
after an add on Singletrack forum and MTBscotland 19 riders made it to Longniddry Rail station,some friends couldn't make it and some new faces came along...
was a great day weather wise as after Saturdays washout Sunday dawned clear and drying fast with a brisk cool Northerly wind...

lots of bikes...

down through Gosford Estate and around the ponds,trees an Autumn bronze looked stunning in the sunlight...



through the estate and along the road into the next estate at Luffness...


and down the trail to Biccertons Tomb, in the ruins of an Abbey is a tomb to Sir David De Lindsey a crusader Knight...

then onwards and leaving the estate a short road ride to pick up the old railwayline into Gullane Village...


leaving the old railway line we joined the John Muir Way into the village...


then it was the only climb of the day up Gullane Hill...i was leading but Shane blasted up ahead on his Singlespeed...hence a pic with me in it...



regrouped up top at the millenium cairn we had a break and a group photo...

i had a camera mounted on the bars of my On One 456 which friend Ian was using and a rear rack mounted camera on the pugsley...
heres some film of some of the trails up to the break on Gullane Hill...



then it was all down to the coast...

stopping at the Clifftop WW2 anti tank blocks,i didnt take pictures here but did some film, then it was down to the beach and showtime for Pugsley,those who had a shot were amazed at the bike on the sand...i was impressed also at TJ solo on his tandem on the beach!...



its worrying though when the possible future of complete fatbikes being imported into the UK falls off though!...
thanks Shane for capturing this!



he loved it and says will be on the phone monday!
heading across the reserve for Aberlady...

and Brad got a bit too excited and jumped of the end of the bridge...which resulted in this!...

spokes were all still ok so he set about trying to straighten it...

can it be done?,yep watch this...thanks again to friend `Sharky` Shane...



he could of borrowed the wheel off this Halloween witch at the road side to Aberlady village but he got it going again!

next stop was the cafe...


Gavin getting into the halloween spirit...

was a great mix of bikes today including a cyclocross bike,tandem and my pugsley...

from the cafe we followed the coast back to Longniddry village on the John Muir Way Trail...i rode along the beach below and filmed...




heading back to the Rail Station car park we stopped off for a while at the kids bmx theme cycle track and enjoyed the warmth of the Autumn afternoon sun and goofed around on the track like big kids...

getting some airtime Mr Pugsley style...

heres some film of some of the trails from Gullane Hill back to Longniddry Village...



this area is where i grew up and means alot to me...
its great to show friends around my old backyard and everyone seemed to enjoy the day out...
its nice to make folk happy...

Pentlands Skirmish, 10,10,10

Sundays weather was disappointing for friend Rob`s birthday rideout on the Pentlands..most folk couldnt make it with other stuff on but there was 3 solo`s and Mr & Mrs TJ on the tandem and we had a great days riding...
we headed off from Bonaly for clubbie dean, great wee trail through pines...


i had hoped to bring you all some pics of views but with grey overcast and a wet mist i did however film most of the good trails and descents...let you see how good it is up there and right on the edge of Edinburgh City...
some of Clubbie Dean...



we then headed up to the gate between Harbour Hill and Bells Hill...and first time i noticed this survey mark on a stone on the style...

south up Harbour Hill and this innocent looking descent i haven't ridden before down into the mist...

"theres a wee steep bit" said Rob who headed down to film us...i headed down and it was quite steep,i dabbed the brakes on the wet grass and oh-oh here we go again as wheel locked i took off screaming like a dafty!...as the bike gathered speed Rob captured it on video!,funny thing is he calmly says "is ok just roll"...easier said than done when your arms are locked solid and not dropping the seat i cant get back on the bike, as i plough of the trail into the bracken i waited for the hidden ditch or stone to pitch me over the bars but thankfully stopped without drama...it raised the pulse...but still laughing my head off- that's a sign of fear -:)
Mike got a bit sideways too...



and from the saddle...



rejoing TJ who rode the tandem down and around to Logan Cottage we headed up to climb up Hare Hill towards West Kip where we passed loads of hill runners in a race...



before the climb up West Kip we descended a brilliant trail back down to Loganlea where TJ was waiting...

the descent was very wet but not yet soft...so no damage done but this is a trail that really is unsuitable to ride after prolonged wet weather, glad it rideable after a dry month to get on film...name the tune then!



after a nip and some jelly babies it was downhill on tarmac where TJ`s tandem cleaned up as it took off and around Glencourse up to the Army range...


and that steep little climb up to Castlelaw farm...its steep but the solo`s cleaned it...the climb from Castlelaw on the track is hard usually either when with cold legs from the car park or during a ride but today after yesterdays Wanlockhead ride and 3 evening riding last week my legs were shot...but we all kept going and i felt a kind off second wind as over the climb we were in low cloud and living on the east coast i love it when we get this..here its cloud-on the coast we call it Harr...
freewheeling down the track we took a nice little bit of singletrack around to Caerketton Hill...2 wet burn crossings we dismounted for as dont want to cause unnessecery damage...heres some more film...one of my favourite bands...



no view over Auld Reeky today but more jellybabies and a nip and with tea/coffee and cake at Robs garage soon spirits were good...


i love this descent...we call it Jurrassic..as in summer its shoulder high either side with brackin...you know that bit in jurrassic park when there running through the field and the velosoraptors close in?...watch how long we freewheel for as i tail Mike down...



the tandem wasnt ever that far behind all day...

very well ridden by Mr & Mrs TJ the Cannondale tandem is a MT800 which is very well set up,bomber forks, Hope Big Un`s hubs and 6 pot brakes...this is a serious machine...as specialised as alot of our own bikes...
as promised i made a Tandem film too as we headed down for a bite to eat at Robs garage after another great days biking with friends...



heres Rob`s garmin readout of our days climbing...