F.B.R.O.T.Y

First big ride of the year and it wasn't exactly 'planned'. I dallied on google earth this morning, as im trying to find a way out to mugdock area, without using the road. I got pretty close today, though at times i felt i was (or maybe actually i *was*) in peoples back gardens. Still, no one threw a golf ball at me - at least one that got close...



I eventually found my way onto the Allander Walkway. This trail is a nice singletrack that runs along side the high flowing Allander river. To go to mugdock, you have to follow it towards source, which i did before jumping onto the west highland way and out trough Milngavie. I then headed out to the park proper, before taking a north towards the campsies, over the Dumbrock Moor.



It was here that Adrian, Mr Chops and myself rode the other night. At one point the trail goes down a series of 3 steps, the last being the biggest. As it was raining, at night and there was a steepish drop to the right, i decided against riding it (fixed...) Adrian seemed keen enough to ride it that we had a small coming together. He managed to get up on his front wheel, burl around, and sort of side swipe me as i stood like a buffoon at the top of the drop. Needless to say we went down in a heap. Bruises were handed round and we limped off to take the dyke road.



I decided today that i was going to ride it. Hey, it wasnt raining eh? So i came into it cautiously, aligning my pedals, and .... stalled. Nuts.

And again. This time i rolled the bugger, with only a near cataclysmic release of adrenalin. Up the dyke road, and then onto the singletrack section that climbs back from the corner of the woods towards the WHW. Then i saw a wee glimmer of a trail. I followed it and lo' and behold found another area with some nice rooty/rocky steep and slidey track, including one drop im going to have to go balls out for.



Anyway, tidying things up i spent a little while wandering around on what i can only assume are poachers trails, before finally making it back onto the WHW and into mugdock again. Thence back to the Allander water path which i decided to follow to its conclusion.



Interestingly enough, although the path is in disrepair, it is good riding. But then, at the last, just as i was about to duck under the bridge into Dawsholm park, the path stopped. Seems someone decided that when they built their new house, the path was just so much to be ignored. Large baskets full of stone dumped into the river, acting as a wall behind which the foundations could be laid. I had no choice other than to go back (not so easy given the dimming light, and the lack of knowledge as to my exact whereabouts) or to climb up, and into the property. At that point i only new that it was a building, not a house. Turns out its for sale, with 24 hour security, and a big electric gate. Welp, i was reduced to shimmying up the fence, and dropping my bike over. Calories were depleted despite a late in the day mule bar, and i needed to get home and eat.

Up the road, through the Vet school singletrack and back.

A good ride and 5 hours of pain on the fixed. Not one dropped chain, and only 1 crash. Woop!