Newcastleton ride

Newcastleton in South Scotland has a great mountain bike park which is part of the Seven Stanes. There is a Car park, Toilets, visitor area and many maps for walking and riding. Biking wise; it has a skills area which is perfect for warming up and getting ready for your ride. The red route is great fun, with no long descents and no long hills, it stands in the middle. Most of the ride is going up then going down. They've built it like this because of the lack of gradiency on the hill. It is only a small hill, but this ride does get you around. The way they've dealt with the lack of hill(iness) is very well done. The ride is a mix of many things, but definitely worth a look at one afternoon.










^The Newcastleton border Stone -
One side English, the other Scottish

Winter is here!

The leaves have fallen, the constant rain and wind is causing annoyance, the cold nights and mornings are nearing and the puddles just keep getting bigger. People begin to rush indoors, shops are having to stock up on tissues every day, the cattle go indoors and the day's are short. The spades comes out as diggers across the world march towards a new line. Bikes come home from rides less dusty and more muddy. Downhiller's xc or all mountain bikes come out to an unpleasant surprise of mud, bleak sky's and rain.
    My list could go on all day about mountain biking and winter, but if we're all so passionate about mountain biking then we should forget the weather, forget slow awkward rides and get into the open so we don't get beaten by another Winter. It can be fun(ny) at times, you've just got to remember that there will be a summer and Winter isn't all doom and gloom. Last year we had weeks of dry weather to the end of Winter, this was perfect for us, but we still complained.

 And if there is snow, well don't go as far as getting snow tires, get on a sledge and ride trails.

Monday Memes - first in the series

A little brake meme!

Finding The Right Trail For You

Many people find it tough to find the right trail for them which is understandable due to different terrains etc.
Some people like fast, smoothish, singletrack that goes on for a long time, but some people like singletrack that winds down fast and flowy man made tracks with lush bermed up corner's. Many Cumbrian mountain bikers like the intense rock gardens that sneak up on you after you're 30 minute climb. The young un's like jumps, whatever the size, as long as they're in the air. It's the tabletop's that attract many 'air' junkies to some trails. There's the people (rad people) who like to do massive doubles (gap jumps) on bmx's, jump bikes or freeride/downhill bikes, but you've got to be a monster to do big trails like that!
And there's the people who like to drag an innocent mate who has a pick-up along to a downhill track so they can get free shuttle runs back to the top. Persuade. Ride. Beer on the house! Many people like many different trails, whether it's jumps or bedrock poking out of the ground; we all like a certain type of trail. Just look around and you'll know when you've found it!

The invisible bike helmet - MUST WATCH

The invisible bike helmet     Be patient for things to get going though.