Cairngorms inner loop ride report: Bosch CX motor, rode using eMTB mode the whole way, two 625w batteries, two days, overnight at Smugglers hostel in Tomintoul to charge.
Day 1: 115km / 1500m all of first bty and 31% left of second. 5:30 ride time, 7:30 elapsed with eating and faff.
Day 2: 83km / 1080m all of first bty and 37% left of second. 4hrs ride time, 6 elapsed with eating and faff.
Reference point for these distances: I usually get 50km/1,000m out of a full battery.
Odd result Day 2, which I can only put down to the bastard headwind for the second half. Was strong enough to pick dust up off the track. Was pedalling all the way down Glen Tilt with significant assist.
The Tailfin rack and bag were sweet, perfectly sized for the Bosch 625 battery. Used a Voilé strap inside to hold it down. Noting Tailfin do not recommend this setup, instead suggesting the integrated, bag-as-frame build. The rack top section did bend a wee bit - I believe because I was dropping the saddle onto the front of the bag.
Having 7Kg of luggage on the back didn’t overly affect handling - was able to nip along singletrack and between rocks easily.
The head of Loch An Dùin is 20 minutes of bog that you’ll never get back. If you’re tasty on the bars you might be able to ride a fair bit of the loch side trail - at your own risk obvs. Factor an hour total to get past the loch.
The Pine Marten pub at Loch Morlich is a good shout if the visitor centre cafe is closed (4pm).
All of the second day is cool, except the upper part of Glen Tilt still sucks, even coming downhill on a big bouncy bike. It’s also sketchy AF from a risk exposure POV as 45° hillside. If you don’t need to return to Blair Atholl, or aren’t happy with risk, I recommend looking at heading south from Braemar to the Angus glens. That’s my next trip.
Even on an eMTB this is NOT a trip for beginners, or new-to-MTB partners unless you actually *want* a divorce. There are frequent large gaps in mobile coverage, and in many places if you damage yourself it’ll be a helicopter trip out. Take a paper map. Www.trailmaps.biz does an excellent waterproof set for this ride called ‘Cairngorms Carousel’.
Speaking of water - very numerous water crossings, from tiny to potentially turn-back-if-in-spate. Waterproof shoes or socks FTW, esp in colder weather.
If you damage your bike it’ll be a looooong walk out from pretty much any part of this ride. Take tools, know how to use them. Even if your bike is in good order, probably a 5-links section of chain and 2 x quick links is a good idea, in case you snap/mangle your chain. Best idea; have a well-serviced bike you trust. Take chain lube for Day 2, there’s LOTS of water crossings and after 115km your lube will be toast.
Rotor/pedal/mech-smashing rocks are EVERYWHERE that’s not pristine estate track. Take care. You’ve been warned.
Parts of the loop are Type III Fun (meaning they aren’t even fun in retrospect). But the bits that are Type I Fun more than make up for it.
The Smugglers hostel in Tomintoul is community-owned and is fab. Locked bike storage shed, drying, shed has power for chargers. £30 for the night, bedding included, comfy mattresses/pillows, towels £3 extra. Various pubs for food. Early Breakfast is non-existent in this town, cafe doesn’t open till 10 so plan ahead if you need to leave early.
Noting the shed isn’t secure to anything like Diamond-rated insurance standards - but it’s Tomintoul, not Glasgow.
I’d recommend not running fork or rear panniers - there’s so many narrow bits to catch gear on, and you’ll be waaay slower through the bits that should be fun. If you can, carry stuff on a rear rack or backpack/bars. The EVOC battery backpack
Cheers all.
Day 1: 115km / 1500m all of first bty and 31% left of second. 5:30 ride time, 7:30 elapsed with eating and faff.
Day 2: 83km / 1080m all of first bty and 37% left of second. 4hrs ride time, 6 elapsed with eating and faff.
Reference point for these distances: I usually get 50km/1,000m out of a full battery.
Odd result Day 2, which I can only put down to the bastard headwind for the second half. Was strong enough to pick dust up off the track. Was pedalling all the way down Glen Tilt with significant assist.
The Tailfin rack and bag were sweet, perfectly sized for the Bosch 625 battery. Used a Voilé strap inside to hold it down. Noting Tailfin do not recommend this setup, instead suggesting the integrated, bag-as-frame build. The rack top section did bend a wee bit - I believe because I was dropping the saddle onto the front of the bag.
Having 7Kg of luggage on the back didn’t overly affect handling - was able to nip along singletrack and between rocks easily.
The head of Loch An Dùin is 20 minutes of bog that you’ll never get back. If you’re tasty on the bars you might be able to ride a fair bit of the loch side trail - at your own risk obvs. Factor an hour total to get past the loch.
The Pine Marten pub at Loch Morlich is a good shout if the visitor centre cafe is closed (4pm).
All of the second day is cool, except the upper part of Glen Tilt still sucks, even coming downhill on a big bouncy bike. It’s also sketchy AF from a risk exposure POV as 45° hillside. If you don’t need to return to Blair Atholl, or aren’t happy with risk, I recommend looking at heading south from Braemar to the Angus glens. That’s my next trip.
Even on an eMTB this is NOT a trip for beginners, or new-to-MTB partners unless you actually *want* a divorce. There are frequent large gaps in mobile coverage, and in many places if you damage yourself it’ll be a helicopter trip out. Take a paper map. Www.trailmaps.biz does an excellent waterproof set for this ride called ‘Cairngorms Carousel’.
Speaking of water - very numerous water crossings, from tiny to potentially turn-back-if-in-spate. Waterproof shoes or socks FTW, esp in colder weather.
If you damage your bike it’ll be a looooong walk out from pretty much any part of this ride. Take tools, know how to use them. Even if your bike is in good order, probably a 5-links section of chain and 2 x quick links is a good idea, in case you snap/mangle your chain. Best idea; have a well-serviced bike you trust. Take chain lube for Day 2, there’s LOTS of water crossings and after 115km your lube will be toast.
Rotor/pedal/mech-smashing rocks are EVERYWHERE that’s not pristine estate track. Take care. You’ve been warned.
Parts of the loop are Type III Fun (meaning they aren’t even fun in retrospect). But the bits that are Type I Fun more than make up for it.
The Smugglers hostel in Tomintoul is community-owned and is fab. Locked bike storage shed, drying, shed has power for chargers. £30 for the night, bedding included, comfy mattresses/pillows, towels £3 extra. Various pubs for food. Early Breakfast is non-existent in this town, cafe doesn’t open till 10 so plan ahead if you need to leave early.
Noting the shed isn’t secure to anything like Diamond-rated insurance standards - but it’s Tomintoul, not Glasgow.
I’d recommend not running fork or rear panniers - there’s so many narrow bits to catch gear on, and you’ll be waaay slower through the bits that should be fun. If you can, carry stuff on a rear rack or backpack/bars. The EVOC battery backpack
Cheers all.
