Glentress in the snow

Packed 3 guys and three bikes into the car for an early morning trip to Glentress on Sunday. After surviving the Pentlands, thought we would throw Sampsa down Spooky Wood on my old bike! A cold clear morning had snow on the hills - pretty early since it is only mid November. After fixing on my new saddle - I broke the last one, after breaking the seat post, take a gentle climb up to try the 'green' training circuit. Wooden rideways covered in a smattering of snow and ice, just to make them more exciting. Pretty good place to learn, wish I had come here in the Spring before facing the V-trail. Gave Sampsa a taste of things to come,and Neil and I a good practice, especially over the jumps,as it has been 5 months since we last jumped anything. Round the red trail - definitely harder than 2 years ago - I reckon the builders have been planting more rocks, and letting it get rougher to allow for more demanding users. Except for a few bits, it is not much easier than the V-trail. What that offers is a chance to do some proper climbing and knacker out the legs before getting to the technical stuff, but probably needs volunteers to make more challenging alternatives.

Anyway, as we get higher, the snow is hanging on the tress, the sky blue and the sun rising. Glorious up on the final ridge, breaking the ice in the puddles. 3 guys reached the top before us, we had seen them before, on their 5inch sus bikes and leg armour. They were being cautious as their mate had wrecked himself badly the week before. Great descent of Spooky woods, taking all the jumps, but still not clearing tabletops - not sure I should with a hard tail. Ride back up the return path and past the new helipad - obviously air ambulance gets plenty of clients these days. Second run trying harder, but somehow not so smooth as before. Still need to clear the drop-offs cleanly, somehow I chicken juming them nearly all the time, but when I don't they are straight forward. Good to watch confident riders with plenty of suspension hitting these things. Great riding down the rest of the trail. Fail toto find the switch to the V-trail, but do a fun run through the woods and wet roots. Neil is the only one who braves the final 10ft vertical drop!
Have time this week to do the final descent through the woods - do the log obstacles no problem. I seem to remember last year I could not believe anyone would ride off them.

Great day out! No injuries, or any bits of bike broken either.