Pentland crash!

Early morning start on Sunday for a long ride over the Pentlands to do the descent from Cap Law on a small ridge called Monk's Rigg. Straight out to Harlaw along the Water of Leith, then up Black Hill, a gentle but slightly technical ascent. Push up from Green Cleugh to the 'Redd Road' which goes across Haw Hill, and up the pass between West Kip and Haw Hill. Fast climb all the way.



Then onto new tracks- the Monk's Rigg descent is fast on grass, no rock, so let go of the brakes. Great fun.


At the bottom we turned left, rather than right, hoping to avoid the road and get along to the track up through the farm at Eight Mile Burn. However the path just goes up and up - a couple of pushes included, and a slow hot ride back up to the pass again. Fun ride across the top with little jumps and then aiming down towards Bavelaw. I jumped off the path and fell off slowly, and when I caught up with Neil he was lying in the heather not moving. He was not too hurt, but the bike was - he had landed very heavily on the front wheel and it was rather an odd shape.

When Neil recovered we stood on either side of it and managed to straighten it again, but the disk brakes were rubbing. At that moment a very friendly bunch of mountain bikers came by and helped out with assorted tools and suggestions. Wheel back on, nearly straight, no front brake, but fine to descend and fast back home along the Water of Leith from Balerno. 49km round trip - 5hrs out, 4 riding.