Sideshow Bob falls for the Bandit!

Mark and I were out on the bikes last night and met up with Robbie Ballantyne who rejoices under the nickname of "Sideshow Bob" (don't ask me why!). Bob asked for a short ride on Mark's Bandit and immediately fell head over heels for it, announcing that it was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with (I may have overdone it a bit there). Anyways we enjoyed a great wee ride together in the evening sun and its not often you can say that in a Scottish summer!  

The bandit returns from holiday and Baz and Dougie get competitive!

The Bandit ready to be unloaded after a weeks holiday!

A few laughs in the hills with a couple of riders we met.

Baz and Dougie lift over the fence at a remote reservoir pump house.

Couldn't resist this picture of pink water lilies up in the Pentland Hills.

After a week's holiday it was back to the hills for Mark on Tuesday night, though to be fair, he had done a bit of biking when he was on holiday in Greece. He did say it was quieter back in Scotland, there being a lack of wild dogs and snakes that he'd encountered out there when out on a bike!

Wednesday night and it was out with Baz and Dougie and the favourite Strava challenge of the moment which is Phantoms Cleugh a mixture of ups and downs, slightly technical ditch crossings but at the moment fast and dryer than I've ever seen it. Dougie set the initial fastest time only to be then pipped by Baz, expect this saga to run and run......

The Pentland Skyline.....has it ever been dryer? Oh and Andy Murray won Wimbledon as well......

dougie completes the hike a bike to the top of West Kip favouring the "over the shoulder" method.

The bikes appear to be having a conversation, probably why two idiots have brought them up here....

On Wednesday night Dougie suggested an assault on the Pentlands Skyline on Sunday morning so we set off at 7am (no Baz so it was not in Dougie's words "stupid o'clock!). The weather was perfect a light south westerly breeze and a slight cloud covering to keep the temperature reasonable, there is after all a fair bit of hike a biking to be done. the look on hill walkers faces when they see two guys puffing up a steep track near the top of a mountain is priceless, I'd like to hear what they say about our sanity! The descents were a bit hairy a times, it's so dry just now (I cant believe I've written that about Scotland!) that the tracks a very loose and slidey but apart from the odd foot down (from me) there were no accidents. Just to finish things off the sun popped out on the final mile back home to bump the temperature up, and even better to finish things off, Andy Murray won the men's singles at Wimbledon, though I couldn't bear to watch some off it and went out for another12 miler!!   

First walk the dog then out on the bike!

Baz's dog, Rebus, looking suitably disgusted at being told to pose for a picture.

Clive leading the way......

First of all this morning it was dog walking duties with Rebus, Baz's pooch who's on holiday with me, actually it's Baz who's gone to sunnier climes for a week (that wouldn't be hard) and the dog's being fed, watered and walked by me. So at 5.30am it was out to see if Rebus would do his duty, and he duly did, in the long grass at that. By 6.30 Clive was out and we were off up the hills for Clive's last ride before his holidays. Considering it was mid-summer in Scotland the weather could have been worse, it could also have been better, but at least it was dry, what more can you ask? 25 miles ridden and for the next two weeks its going to be Sunday morning solo rides for me.

Bandit country up the Pentlands.......

The Bandit (which one?) undergoes pre-ride scrutiny! 

Mark descending at speed down Torduff Hill Strava segment.

Dougie in hot pursuit!

Dougie, Mark and me out last night up the Pentlands, Mark aboard his new Transition Bandit, resplendent in a fetching blue hue putting our drab dark coloured bikes to shame! Don't know if it's the new bike or new fitness but Mark certainly made his mark (?) last night with new PRs on several Strava segments both uphill and down! A great nights riding only marred by the appearance of the infamous Scottish midge which did its best to inflict as many bites on us as possible!

A weeks holiday in Cardiff then back to the Pentlands

The entrance to some of the tracks in the woods near Castle Coch outside Cardiff

Logan, age 7 casually cycling behind his dad in Heath Park, Cardiff.

Dave does the "wet feet" crossing.

I had a pinch puncture doing the "wet feet"!

The new addition to the family in Cardiff, Oscar the collie pup.

Logan in the park again

Sunday morning and its back up the Pentlands to low cloud and drizzly rain!

The view's not quite so spectacular in the rain!

After a week of holidaying with Dave and family in Cardiff and a fairish bit of mountain biking as well it was back this morning to the usual tracks up the Pentlands outside Edinburgh. The weather started off sunny at 6am but turned wet around 8am but didn't stop us managing just under 30 miles. The forecast for next week looks good, so here's hoping for things to dry up again so I can see what Mark and his new bike are like!

The last day of the charity ride

Mark surveys his bike which went into the front axle in muck, it would have been a spectacular over the bars!

The scenery around here is fantastic

This sign certainly describes the roads

 

The guard of honour line up at Ardnamurchan Lighthouse, the end of the ride and the most westerly point on the British mainland.

Julie being "coaxed" or is it bullied to do the ceremonial jump into the sea from the rocks!

Twin sister Karen shows how to do it in style!

Husband Rab's style is more basic!

The charity ride was completed in the 4 days with 161 miles covered, no accidents, apart from a few over the bars on the off road parts and only 2 punctures. The weather was amazing, not too hot and not too cold, the scenery was spectacular and most of all the company and friendships that were made will last a lifetime.

The Russell Hogg Trust Charity Ride, from Inverness to Ardnamurchan Lighthouse....

Big Alan trying to get some sleep amidst the chaos in our bunk-room the night before we set off!

Karen, Rab, Julie and wee "Brookie Wookie" with Gordon managing to get in on the act as well!

Brooke the "team mascot" limbering up just as we set off from Inverness!

Drumnadrochit Loch Ness visitor centre, has it ever had so many half daft bikers at one time?!

I tried to swap this humble abode for my house near Edinburgh but couldn't strike a deal.... 

Jaclyn did the river crossing in style at the Nevis Range trails.

The misery that is a bike push, it was just impossible to cycle up this section of track.

The hike a bike was all worthwhile when we ended up at the cairn at the summit where a hill walker appeared from nowhere and kindly took our picture before we rattled back down the descent to Strontian.

This was four of the best days I've ever spent on a bike with the greatest company you could wish for, mountain biking will never be the same again!!!