What a day! Probably one of the best on Bikebus. Not because of the riding(which as usual was great and more on that later) but because of the mid -ride stop off at Innerhaven for tea and cake and, get this, chocolate dipped strawberries! I can still taste them….mmmmm.
As always in this part of the world the riding started with some serious uphill although a few wee downs kept us amuzed on the way up to Kirnie Law and past the old reseviour. Then the fun started. Innerhaven Andy led us all down some STEEP, twisty, fairly technical singletrack This trail was definately ‘local only, hidden, wink wink, hows your father’ type stuff. Hope i can remember how to find it again. Soon enough, one by one we all popped out on the fireroad. I, however decided to sommersault down a steep bank onto said fireroad while trying to walk down with my bike. Even if i do say so myself i dont fall very often but from the howls of laughter if must have been fairly funny.
Another twice we trundled up the fireroad to be rewarded with some superb ‘local only, blah, blah, blah’ singletrack. Thank goodness for disc brakes. Thank goodness for mountainbiking.
Another couple of comedy moments were had before the aforementions strawbs. 1st, i came off arse over tit again(yes i know twice in one day - not good) at a steep shute linking 2 fireroads. Andy scooted down first so the challenge was laid. Steve stepped up to the plate, easy. Next Chris after a few false starts cruised it. I then decided at past the point of no return i didn’t fancy it. I’m getting good at these sommersaults. Next up Iain, getting prepared for his summer in Whistler, grabed the bull by its balls, no probs. By which time i’d scrambled my way back up and at last made it down.
Next stuntman moment was at a fair sized drop-off. Craig(out for the first time in a while using flat pedals) careered off the drop at the same time his foot slipped off the pedal. I hope he’s not planning on a big family as crotch to top tube is never good preperation for that.
mmmmmm….strawberries then followed.
We then hawled ourselves over the Tweed and up to the start of the downhill trails and blasted back down quicker than Steve Peat. Well it felt like it anyway, in reality i assume it was quite a bit slower.
A great day.

On the Bikebus today were Steve, lenka and for comic effect The Winker made an appearance. He’s not all bad though - he did provide us with some lovely bacon rolls en route to what was to turn out to be a virtually perfect biking day at Drumlanrig.

A fairly empty carpark on arrival was given a bit of a jolt what with Winker not being the quietest person.We set off with everyone in good spirits, the sun was trying to make an appearance and our legs were trying to get the pedals spinning. If you’ve never been here before, Drumlanrig doesn’t waste any time in getting straight to business - the wonderful and for a change, bone dry singletrack starts right away and just keeps going and going. As the miles were munched the sun started make it feel like summer  - well a Scottish summer anyway, perfect biking weather so no excuses. The usual sections of trail caused the concentration to be upped, the tight rooty corners after the bomb hole on the way down to the wee bridge over the river and the skinny at the top of the steep climb.

The ‘best’ was saved until last though. The steep drop into the carpark from now on may not be Lenkas favourite bit of trail. A quite spectacular off was had by our Slovak friend - over the bars, full mid air 360 with her bike tumbling behind. Thankfully all was ok(including bike) apart from some battered pride. Fair play to Lenka though - she has bigger kahunas that alot of guys to even  try it. Well done , you gave it a shot.

First ramblings on the blog are about our trip to Kinlochleven.  Started out from Glasgow with Billy, Iain, Steve and Ed and then the usual getting stuck behind a really slow driver on the shores of Loch Lomond - much to the annoyance of Billy. A pit stop at Crianlarich cafe, quickly follwed by another stop to stock up on mars bars at The Green Welly. Arrived at Kinlochleven to meet some friends of Bikebus - Andy and Aneela from Innerhaven. No hanging about and we were soon off up into the hills. A bite sized chunk of climbing and we ended up at Loch Eilde Mor. A pretty muddy(and amusing) traverse followed up to Blackwater dam…and then the fun started.

My brand new forks blew a seal, the rain stared to pelt down and then we all scrambled down to Kinlochleven. Some enjoyed the descent, others didnt. Some looked in full control, others didnt. Soon enough we were in the local pub firing into a nice burger.

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