Braemar To Aviemore - A Trail Too Far
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- čas přidán 5. 09. 2024
- This week I thought I would attempt to cycle from Braemar to Aviemore through the Cairngorm Mountain Range in Scotland on my gravel bike - how hard could it be really?
Answer: very hard!
Come with me on a slower-paced journey through the Glens of Lui and Derry through the Fords of Avon and around Brynack More as I attempt to traverse this section of the Cairngorms Loop mountain bike trail.
Route Profile: www.komoot.com...
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a new path to explore cairgorm i have ever seen and share by you,buddy,thanks
I would highly recommend glen Bulig for a south to north gravel ride rideable all the way to Tomontoul and beyond beautiful glen and surface
That's on my plan for next summer when I do it again I think. Great advice cheers.
Well done for getting round on a gravel bike. I found it hard on a good mtb. Stunning part of the country 👍🏻
Thank you. It really is an amazing part of the world around there!
Just before I Brexiled myself to Tasmania I rode the western route from Linn of Dee, via Glen Feshie, to Aviemore. The plan was to return on your route the next day, but my arse was so tender after nearly 8 hours in the saddle it didn't happen - and likely won't now. Saor Alba!
Wow. Fabulous. That would have killed me!!
Well done and thank you for the video.
Bold choice Rusty - well done! I can recommend the Ryvoan pass if you're lingering in Cairngorm - all ridable on a gravel bike (a few weeks ago at least) coming from Abernethy to Glen More with a thrilling waterfall descent down from the bothy to the green lochan.
Cheers Jason - I am definately planning another go around the area and the Ryvoan Pass is on the route plan.
nice job, loved the autumn colours, well put together - big endeavour 👍🏻
Did that route in reverse on 1 Oct circa 2010, we were meant to continue all the way down Glen Tilt but ran out of light by time we got to Linn O Dee so had to abandon, call a taxi from Ballater to come take us back to Glenmore to then drive back to Braemar through a snow storm, pick up rest of lads then drive around to Blair Atholl to collect remainder of the cars and drive home, got home about 3am 🥴
Wow! That's quite the adventure!
That was tough looking route, a lot of walking. I'm always leaving glasses behind 😁 Yep, a nice forest trail, we have plenty of those but we're never really in a remote location like you are....👍
Just happened upon your channel 👍🏼. Next best thing to being out on the bike exploring is enjoying watching someone else’s adventures. This looked like an eventful day out, but as is often the case I’m sure you’ll look back on the achievement and thrill of it all. Nice upload.
Nice to have you along for the ride! You are right, my memory had already glossed over all the walking and slogging through bog and is tricking me into trying other daft routes!
Well done Rusty, certainly didn't look very enjoyable, think I would have packed it in before. Suppose you had to get to the end though as you'd been dropped off.
Haha yep, there was no option to turn back for me!
+1 for the Braemar - Loch Builg -Tomintoul route. Plus the through route to Dorback.
This video is super useful for planning - thanks for sharing! Curious whether you think any equipment differences would have made it more ridable on your gravel bike? Particularly thinking tyres as it looks ftom 2:20 that you're on 40mm, and I wondered whether 55mm at lower pressure would help (maybe no to ve fair!). I also don't have an MTB but would like to try routes like this one day.
Why did you ignore the sign at 5:00 that said to go right to the Fords of A'an? The route you took is the old track, there's a new and good track on the other side of the glen, I think NTS moved everything over about fifteen years ago, you picked it up at the 8min mark after the locked bridge.
Fair play to do it on a gravel bike - I've done it on the Cairngorms Loop twice in the other direction on an MTB and it was tough even then. The Fords can be a stopper - the first time I did them they were near waist level and quite frightening.
As others have mentioned the tracks via Loch Builg and Glen Avon are much more suited to gravel bikes. Look at the outer part of the Cairngorm Loop for where to go.
Hi - I have since re-ridden the route via Loch Builg as you suggested - search for that on the channel :)
I ignored the sign as I was indecisive on which track to take when plotting - I didn't want to deviate in case for whatever reason I got lost so deemed it safer to stick to the planned route just in case. It was a 50/50 chance I guess and I got the wrong one.
Well done, that looked pretty tough but fantastic views and beautiful autumn colours. I bet you were glad to get a hot shower afterwards! 😆
Thank you, it was definitely made bearable by the views. Scotland never disappoints in that regard. Also, the thought of the warm shower at the end was definitely motivating!
What’s that mad thing on your cycling helmet?
Hi rusty avon in the cairngorms is pronounced Ann in Scotland why I do not know why but is as useual not being a smartass just trying to help done tha walk 40 or more years ago at the new year spent the. Night in ryvoan bothy brilliant memory’s thanks for the vid
Hey, I correct the pronunciation of Avon in the video coming out this week - I revisit the route via Tomintoul to see if it's any better. Thanks for watching hope you enjoy this week's revisit to the area too 👍
Fantastic terrain and scenery, have your feet dried out yet ?😉
They have, but my shoes still smell slightly of peat!
Lays bare the limitations of gravel bikes
I think it laid bare my limitations more 😄
Nice video. Just so you know, River Avon is pronounced Aan or Ahn.
Cheers for the pointer, I found out after making it that I had pronounced it incorrectly. Seems to be a theme with me and places. I am trying harder to research names before I go now!
Hi Rusty .. can you link the gpx / Komoot file?
Hi Stephen, links to the komoot routes are in the description of all my videos. Cheers for watching :)
@@RustyRidesGravel Sorry - never saw it. Just wanted to check the route you did - part of the inner Cairngorm loop - that section is defo MTB territory! ;-)
It didn’t look fun for a gravel bike, deffo mtb, I don’t have the money to have a road, mtb and a gravel I think you are limited with gravel and to be honest don’t think they are needed
Interesting point, I chose the gravel bike because I also can't afford 3 bikes. The gravel bike allows me to play about everywhere - a jack of all trades I suppose. Sometimes I find the limits of it on both the road and off road, but generally I like the fact it can do most of the stuff I take it to. But when it does reach its limit, like here, it's noticeably hard and not enjoyable for sure.
@@RustyRidesGravel I see your point, I suppose it’s a case of what kind of cycling you do, I like the road and I’ve just got a new mtb to replace an old Gary fisher paragon with 100mm fork travel , the new one is more trail with 140mm and to be honest I’m not sure if that was the correct choice, deffo a lot slower than the old bike, need to get fitter
Sometimes I look at satelite imagery and I think, that looks rideable. The reality can be some aweful hike a bike, rocky bogfest, not much fun at the time but at least I can say " I aint doin that again".
This is what I am guilty of all the time. Over ambitious routes based on satellite images gets me in lots of trouble!