Which was great until I passed 'Green well of Scotland' and got onto the trackless hillside. From there I pushed / carried the bike all 2614 ft to the summit. It was then I figured mountain bikes aren't for mountains as such. I was living on my own in Linlithgow and would cycle the canal towpath (almost to Edinburgh airport ) also to Blackness in my canoeing jacket to make me sweat. Biggest run was on the old drovers road from Tyndrum to kingshouse hotel and back. Also did many a run in the lakes with Edward Malc and Stephen - a lot out of Grizedale forest.
Fast forward 18 years ..
In '09 did a lot of walking - all on the coast. Started out to Dunure with bus home. Then bus to Maidens and walk home. Big one was train to Girvan and walk home around 20 miles. Brilliant but lengthy - Girvan took me 8 hours.
So this year dusted off the old 'Contour 200' and started a regular training run - home to masts on Brown Carrick then to Greenan then pier - River walk and home. Around 18 miles with 900 feet climb. Got the home to masts ascent down to 60 mins with total run around 100 mins.
By May the old contour was creaking a bit and the brakes were shot. Mo got me a new bike. Specialized Rockhopper - very light, disc brakes, front suspension. So as well as the training run started doing bits of the Carrick way across the southern end of the Carricks. Also found the R Ayr way. Perfect for the MTB. Did the Failford Bridge to pier run a lot. Biggest one (so far ) is the Sorn to Sea (34 miles mostly offroad).
Meanwhile bought David Robertson's wifes nearly new MTB for Mo. Really light. Mo uses it for work when she can. Also did the failford run though the tyres are a bit thin - next time need to put the knobblies on.
Also discovered the '7 Stanes' . Has never been to a pre designed MTB place before. Went to Maibe in April for Stephen's 50th. Absolutely brilliant and designed to be so - berms, jumps just superb. Went back at end of July with Stephen, Malc and Edward. Cut short tho - Stephen twatted his coupon and loosened a front tooth so we spent the afternoon in A and E in Dumfries . The perils if cycling!
While I still have the brochure the new bike is:
Specialized Rockhopper SL - hardtail
Fully butted M4 alloy frame80mm travel RockShox Dart 3 SL fork
Tektro Auriga Pro Hydraulic disc brakes
Shimano Shadow rear dérailleur
Specialized Fast Trak LK sport tyres
http://www.mountainbikereviews.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/specialized-rockhopper-sl-hardtail-bike.jpg
Fast forward to 2012 and through the cycle to work scheme I get a Ridley x-Bow Cyclo cross - my first drop handlebar bike for years and years. A revalation - much lighter, not quite a road bike but great. Put an 11-34 cassette on it and get my Masts run down to 47 mins (a record). Also extend the runs between then and 2013 - favourite is the five ferries (55) which I've done twice, Nick of the Balloch (extended) 71 miles with 5700ft of ascent and most recently Sanquhar, Mennock Valley to Lowther Hill (2500ft in 8 miles). Also did the Craggy Island Tri but that's all off road on the Rockhopper - Also loved doing Wrynose and Hardknott passes in the Lakes in the summer of 2013 with Con - he's a beast when cycling all muscle and no fat - strength to weight ratio of infinite.
An what's next - well its a full road bike - but one of the first with disc brakes. A Whyte Sufflok - hopefully will help with the forthcoming Triathlons (London and Craggy Island).
http://cycletechreview.com/2013/reviews/whyte-road-bikes/3/
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