Mabie and Ae
Dohboy78
Posts: 172
Hi guys,
Just had to share my weekends riding with someone!! Spent 2 days up in Scotland riding with 4 buddies (Mark, Sam, Luke and Kath). One day at Mabie and one day at Ae. The weather was very cold!! snow, frost ice etc etc. You get the picture. Mabie was fantastic!! Great trails and I really let loose. I grade myself as a reasonable rider, but just had to "off the brakes" on a lot of descents that would have had my rotors smoking! Its amazing how much easier it is sometimes just to balls out and fly! Only hampered by 2 flat tyres (Luke!!) and one dodgy mech (Sam). Must apologise to the guys for winding them up too! I pretended to fall off the massive Northshore log which is about 30ft long, when they were up the trail a bit, they came round the corner to find me on the floor with my bike on top of me.... Sam was actually concerned for me!! Bless.
We stayed at the bunkhouse in Mabie forest for the night. Kicked it in the outside hot-tub looking up at the stars with a beer or two, jumping into the "ice shower" then into the Swedish sauna. Mint. All for only £15 for the night. Have to admit the room smelt pretty bad with all our wet gear "drying" out in it. But can't grumble! I even managed a note or two on a digerydoo!
Next day wake up to a fresh covering of snow and head to Ae. It was so cold here that even the bloody ticket machine had frozen solid!! The trails here really reminded me of South Wales (Cwm Carn)... Dead rocky, a bit gruelling but so much fun. Had a few mechanicals... ie one of my mech wheels froze, and Ice forming on the pedals. Had a few scetchy moments on the black ice too. Two wheel power sliding is a bit unerving, but makes your heart beat. Some of the Northshore had me on the edge too... there a bit which starts on an up slope and continues for about 200+ metres about 2 foot off the ground... awesome... Nailed it first time. (Probably my greatest accomplishment for the weekend) I just wish I had a bit more energy for the end of Omega man, still loved it though. Found this a tough ride, really drained by the end of it. But loving it big time. Cant wait to ride Kirroughtree (Spelt right?) I hear its singletrack mecha!!
Really starting to be "at one" with "White Lightning" (My custom built DMR Exalt) Sweet! Just need to give her a well deserved clean, service and replace the brake pads. She was covered in ice mud after the ride. Just thawing out now in her warm little cupboard.
Big thanks to the drivers!! Got my car "stuck" in 3ft of mud in a ditch the weekend before and fried the clutch so was unable to drive. (Anyone want a Subaru Forester??)
Hope you all had as much ear grinning fun as I did this weekend!!
Just had to share my weekends riding with someone!! Spent 2 days up in Scotland riding with 4 buddies (Mark, Sam, Luke and Kath). One day at Mabie and one day at Ae. The weather was very cold!! snow, frost ice etc etc. You get the picture. Mabie was fantastic!! Great trails and I really let loose. I grade myself as a reasonable rider, but just had to "off the brakes" on a lot of descents that would have had my rotors smoking! Its amazing how much easier it is sometimes just to balls out and fly! Only hampered by 2 flat tyres (Luke!!) and one dodgy mech (Sam). Must apologise to the guys for winding them up too! I pretended to fall off the massive Northshore log which is about 30ft long, when they were up the trail a bit, they came round the corner to find me on the floor with my bike on top of me.... Sam was actually concerned for me!! Bless.
We stayed at the bunkhouse in Mabie forest for the night. Kicked it in the outside hot-tub looking up at the stars with a beer or two, jumping into the "ice shower" then into the Swedish sauna. Mint. All for only £15 for the night. Have to admit the room smelt pretty bad with all our wet gear "drying" out in it. But can't grumble! I even managed a note or two on a digerydoo!
Next day wake up to a fresh covering of snow and head to Ae. It was so cold here that even the bloody ticket machine had frozen solid!! The trails here really reminded me of South Wales (Cwm Carn)... Dead rocky, a bit gruelling but so much fun. Had a few mechanicals... ie one of my mech wheels froze, and Ice forming on the pedals. Had a few scetchy moments on the black ice too. Two wheel power sliding is a bit unerving, but makes your heart beat. Some of the Northshore had me on the edge too... there a bit which starts on an up slope and continues for about 200+ metres about 2 foot off the ground... awesome... Nailed it first time. (Probably my greatest accomplishment for the weekend) I just wish I had a bit more energy for the end of Omega man, still loved it though. Found this a tough ride, really drained by the end of it. But loving it big time. Cant wait to ride Kirroughtree (Spelt right?) I hear its singletrack mecha!!
Really starting to be "at one" with "White Lightning" (My custom built DMR Exalt) Sweet! Just need to give her a well deserved clean, service and replace the brake pads. She was covered in ice mud after the ride. Just thawing out now in her warm little cupboard.
Big thanks to the drivers!! Got my car "stuck" in 3ft of mud in a ditch the weekend before and fried the clutch so was unable to drive. (Anyone want a Subaru Forester??)
Hope you all had as much ear grinning fun as I did this weekend!!
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Will defo give it a blast. Its going to be after Christmas now though!!0
