Bhac by Bike
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:55 pmShort November day. Long approach. Answer - the push bike. We pedalled off from Braemar on a motley collection of bikes - two hybrids, two MTBs and an old Falcon which required two people to lift - dubbed the uranipede being slightly lighter than depleted uranium.
I'd not used my bike much for the hills much but was pleasantly surprised. The bike coped with the track reasonably well, cycling in boots was not too hard.
Some pointers -
1) Carry at least two spare inner tubes. One of mine exploded before we'd left tarmac and it's replacement punctured near Altanour. The anticipated effortless trundle down the Glen can turn into a demoralising plod.
2) Don't take the puddles too fast - you'll get soaked.
3) Be prepared to get very muddy indeed.
4) Take a substantial lock.
Anyway two punctures and an hour and a half later we were locking up the bikes at the ruins of Altanour Lodge.
From here we followed a muddy 4X4 track which eventually disappeared into mud and heather at some shooting butts. Not an adrenalin fuelled one this. We slowly plodded higher and the view of round brown hills all around got wider until we hit the sprinkling of sparkling quartzite and a broad view from the top.
Beinn a Ghlo made an interesting pyramid shape.
and there was a long view across the empty lands between Geldie and Tilt to the distant high Cairngorms.
A pleasant stroll back down, The setting sun turned the heather a pleasing chocolate brown.
With the wind now behind us we flew down Glen Ey and ground our way past Victoria Bridge and up a hill that we'd barely noticed on the way out and kept going until we drew up outside the Fife Arms - who advised us that they were serving food until 9....but that's another story.
I'd not used my bike much for the hills much but was pleasantly surprised. The bike coped with the track reasonably well, cycling in boots was not too hard.
Some pointers -
1) Carry at least two spare inner tubes. One of mine exploded before we'd left tarmac and it's replacement punctured near Altanour. The anticipated effortless trundle down the Glen can turn into a demoralising plod.
2) Don't take the puddles too fast - you'll get soaked.
3) Be prepared to get very muddy indeed.
4) Take a substantial lock.
Anyway two punctures and an hour and a half later we were locking up the bikes at the ruins of Altanour Lodge.
From here we followed a muddy 4X4 track which eventually disappeared into mud and heather at some shooting butts. Not an adrenalin fuelled one this. We slowly plodded higher and the view of round brown hills all around got wider until we hit the sprinkling of sparkling quartzite and a broad view from the top.
Beinn a Ghlo made an interesting pyramid shape.
and there was a long view across the empty lands between Geldie and Tilt to the distant high Cairngorms.
A pleasant stroll back down, The setting sun turned the heather a pleasing chocolate brown.
With the wind now behind us we flew down Glen Ey and ground our way past Victoria Bridge and up a hill that we'd barely noticed on the way out and kept going until we drew up outside the Fife Arms - who advised us that they were serving food until 9....but that's another story.
