Scotland weekender (again!)

SCOTLAND - 26th to 29th September 2009
Put the dates in your diary, the money in the bank because yes, Fearingout are off AGAIN for a long weekend in the Tweed Valley.
This time round the plan looks like:
> Friday - Ae Forest
> Saturday - Glentress (black, then park)
> Sunday - Innerleithen (black, then Caddon Bank)
> Monday - Glentress (red - then home!)
The B+B is booked and currently Jon, Chris, Leo and myself are travelling up and hopefully meeting Ste and Scott for at least a days riding if not more.
We'll be doing a little filming at the places new to this years DVD (Ae and Inners black) but focusing on photography this time out. We may even have some Wideopen longterm test bikes in tow ;)

I personally can't wait. See you there!

Lee Quarry - Bacup

Headed over to Bacup to try a new trail yesterday, the fairly new and unpublicised Lee Quarry. Jon, Chris, Ross and myself joined new boy Damian and after a few issues finding the trail head we were all set in decent weather.

The actual trail is graded red, and was built with grants from the North West development agency. It's fairly short, probably only 30-40 minutes - but that in itself is a positive as you can session it very easily. That would be a problem if it was pants, but it actually is very well designed and flows quite well.

After one circuit we went back up and sussed out the Black section - this was Black as in technically difficult, not knarly fast downhill and the rock slab sections were hard to negotiate on a full bouncer. Good fun though and again well designed.

Will we be back? I'd have thought so - though next time on a hardtail!

3rd time's a charm?

Well, Llandegla...

I tried to keep an open mind after my previous two visits (reports here: 2005 and 2006) so when Jon and I decided a mid-week blast would be good for the system, and with just a day and not wanting to travel too far, Llandegla seemed a logical choice.

So third impressions? The old bits are still rubbish... the black bits we'd ridden before better, but the new black sections - awesome!! Proper flow at last... and something to return for...

Jon was on board the Pitch and not really feeling it, so I ended up leading most sections on the Chameleon. Awesome fun flicking about on a hardtail, well worth the effort to push back to the top of the black, despite taking 30 mins!

I'd say up from a D to perhaps a C+ or B-. For me it still needs something challenging and flowy on the way back to the car from the last of the black sections... still maybe next time!

On a more personal note, a sad and happy day for me - the last ride aboard the Chameleon as it's getting stripped down to build up a Dialled Prince Albert. It's taken me across the country and been a solid part of Fearingout and my riding progression for the last 5 years - I know already I'm going to miss it - how long before parts get sourced to build up a 3rd bike? :) Not long I can tell you! :D


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Wideopen Mag ISSUE 7!!!

Issue 7 is out now - go check it out and download it's lovely goodness...

WWW.WIDEOPENMAG.CO.UK

110%?

Jon and I headed out for a blast last night - after a few wet days here recently the going was surprisingly dry. Setting off in the glorious sunshine was nice, and we had the video camera in the bag too! Jon (who was in jeans as he forgot his shorts) was fully faced up - and looking smooth on the Pitch.

We filmed a bit on the climb up, at the location of Scott's Swansong last year. Good little chortle, not that fast but looks quite arty.
On to the main event - Charity Lane - and we went to town filming, stopping in total about 7 times! FLAT OUT in highest gear down most of it, it looks awesome on film. Great camera work too from Jon, you can tell he's been watching a lot of the Extreme channel!

Out next Thursday, probably Llandegla, and then Delamere on the Bank Holiday weekend.

Will post one or two mini clips later.