Help & Advice • Alpine Bikes

My favourite trails aren’t necessarily the buffest or the most technical - rather, its those that are most familiar, the ones I can pin every time, that I get the most out of.

I’ve been putting together loops on Pressendye for more than a decade, and I’ll never get bored of it- it’s steep, varied and the views are the best in Aberdeenshire. The ridge runs along the Deeside-Donside border, and is obvious on approach as a big whaleback on the skyline. People have lived here for thousands of years - the actual summit cairn sits on a bronze-age grave mound. But, it’s the recent influx of horse riders, dog walkers and mountain bikers that has led to the amount of riding here.

To attain the ridge you’ll have to be the kind of rider who’s about the ups as well as the downs. Get to the summit and there are various lines back down to the bottom, from easier fire roads to rocky, loose and eroded singletrack. All are as fast as you can handle- fast enough to leave enough time for another lap.

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Pitfichie Forest is situated on the B993 between Monymusk and Alford. A couple of miles out of Monymusk there is a right turn marked Whitehills Cycle Trails. Follow this road for about 0.5 miles to the Whitehills car park.

The forest has an excellent selection of trails for every level of rider. The Blue way marked trails are ideal for the beginner. At roughly 8.5 miles long they follow the lower edges of the forest round Cairn William and Pitfichie Hill, mainly on fire roads with easy climbs. The Red route is a fairly conservative red with drops and jumps small enough to be rolled at low speed for intermediate riders. This route takes you over the top of Cairn William Hill on some nice singletrack at a height of 448 feet. Some steep rocky sections and berms to help you maintain your speed on the descent.

The end of the Red route takes you to the foot of Pitfichie Hill; climb the 379 feet to the top and you’ll be at the start line of an official SDA downhill race course. This Track is really only suitable for experienced mountain bikers who want to try their hand at some of the most technical descending available to the North East. Knee pads and full face helmet are advised for this downhill course!

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One of my favourite road rides from Edinburgh is a loop out East through Portobello, Musselburgh to Aberlady then inland to North Berwick and back along the coast via Gullane. At approximately 40 miles, starting from the centre of Edinburgh, this route makes an excellent leisurely weekend ride or an ideal after-work blast, particularly in the summer.

Starting off along the A199 out of Edinburgh through Portobello and Musselburgh the roads can be fairly busy. Follow the B1348 along the coast through Preston Pans, Cockenzie (past the power station) and on to Aberlady. There is some beautiful scenery once you pass Port Seton, with the road running next to Seton, Gosford and Gullane sands. Aberlady is a picture-postcard village and it is here that I turn off the main road just before it goes through Gullane golf course, instead using a quiet inland route through rolling countryside. These virtually car-free country roads pass through the likes of West Fenton and Kingston en route to North Berwick, an ideal stop for a mid-ride break and perhaps even an ice-cream or two.

Heading West out of town along the A198 can be quite busy and is also often the moment when you realise that you have been benefiting from a tailwind up to now, as the prevailing wind is from the west or southwest. It’s a good idea to take a small detour and head through Dirleton, firstly because it takes you off the main road and also because Dirleton Castle is very impressive and well worth a look. From here you’ll soon be in Gullane. Leaving Gullane, with golf courses on either side of the road, you’re now virtually back in Aberlady and can retrace the original route back into Edinburgh. There are many excellent road rides out of Edinburgh. Spokes produce several excellent maps of the area which highlight recommended roads for cyclists and make planning an interesting route easy.

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Situated at the western end of the Ochils, Dumyat provides a fulfilling post work ride. Starting from Bridge of Allan, taking in Stirling University’s Joyce Dun walk up to a doorway in the boundary wall, you then climb on roads to the foot of the hill. It should be noted that this is a ride for the fit and competent, but is rewarding in the spectacular panoramic views of the area.

Riding on mainly grassy single track with short technical rock sections, it’s a slog on the way up to the 418 meters summit, but a blast on the way down. At the weekend you may encounter some walker traffic, so make sure you give them space and say ‘hi’ so you represent your fellow cyclists well.

There are many opportunities for refreshment in the area, my favourite being Corrieri’s Café, just up the road from the University. There you will find coffee and bike friendly staff, all you need after your jaunt.

View location of trail on map

If you live in Edinburgh then you can’t miss the Pentlands - those large hills that watch over the city. With the success of the 7-Stanes trails in the Borders, the Pentlands seem to be getting overlooked by many. People who have never ridden here would be surprised at the number of great trails that they have, literally on their doorstep. When up there it doesn’t seem that you’re so close to a major city, given the ease of access.

Part of the beauty of riding here is the variety of terrain on offer. I can guarantee that there are routes to suit everyone. From short easy going trails that are ideal for beginners and family cycling, through to longer and more technically challenging terrain to suit the seasoned mountain biker.

It’s become a bit of a ritual for the Edinburgh guys and girls to go riding here every Wednesday night after the shop is finished for the day. And with the help of Lupines excellent lighting systems, yes we even go out in the winter at night!

Trails in the area are easy to find thanks in part to the work done by the Pentland Ranger Service and Scottish Rights of Way Society. Over recent years there has been work done on signposting over 100km of tracks and trails in the area. Route planning and riding is fairly straight forward as most of the trails interlink with one and other.

It is possible to piece together a ride lasting from a short 40 min loop to a day long epic, where you won’t venture onto the same trail twice. Terrain in the area is mixed. Again thanks to the Ranger service, there are a number of trails that have been well surfaced, and are rideable all year round. There are others however, that are not. As anyone who rides here regularly will tell you, there are some routes where, especially in the winter you had best be prepared for a lot of mud - all part of the fun!

View location of trail on map

It is never going to be a topic that is on the front of the cycling press, but commuting by bicycle is on the increase, with 2% of all journeys in the UK made by bicycle (figure quoted from The Independent) and although this leaves us lagging behind our European neighbours, the figure is heading in the right direction.

I personally use my bike to travel the 6 miles each way to and from work and attribute this to my continued good health. From home to work takes 30-35 minutes which, because I work a 9-6 job (and am therefore travelling during peak times), is quicker than travel by car or bus, both of which I’ve tried. The main reason for this is the network of cycle paths and lanes which cross the city and allow a steady cycle rather than being stuck behind traffic all the time. This is all within the Highway Code, so I’m not saving the time by illegally jumping red lights, cycling on the pavement etc.

An additional benefit to a daily commute is the low running cost of a bicycle. With a good quality hybrid style city bike costing from as little as £200, even when factoring in additional equipment and replacement parts (inner tubes, for example), you could run a bike for a little over £1 per day. This beats the cost of parking in a congested city centre and is about the same as you would spend on the bus. So it’s potentially faster, potentially cheaper and good for you. Go on, why not?

My Top “commute tips” are:

• To help avoid punctures, use a puncture protected tyre like a Bontrager Satellite Elite Hardcase, or use Panaracer Flataway kevlar felt in an ordinary tyre.
• Always carry a spare tube and pump in case you do puncture or for a fast fix use “Innovations Seal and Flate” which will seal the hole and inflate your tyre in one go.
• Function Over Fashion. Mudguards are not the coolest looking thing on a bike, but they certainly help to keep you dryer and cleaner when they’re on your bike.
• A pair of jeans and a cotton t-shirt just don’t cut the mustard in terms of comfort. The correct clothing on a bike will increase comfort with better breathability and fit.
• A little bit of TLC on the bike will go a long way. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to keep the bike running smoothly, but a little bit of oil on the chain and air in the tyres will keep your bike running that little bit better (meaning less effort on the bike too).

Choosing the right bike for your needs and budget can be confusing, so the first step is to ask yourself what you will be using the bike for. We’ll be talking here about bikes suitable for off-road use. “Off-road” can mean very different things. For one, it could be riding on canal towpaths, while for another it could mean riding purpose-built mountain bike trails such as those offered at the 7-Stanes riding centres in the Scottish Borders. For each of these riders quite different bikes would be appropriate. With several sub-divisions of off-road bikes, the prospect of buying a bike can be a little daunting, but with research on your part, and some expert advice from our experienced staff, you should be able to purchase a bike that suits your specific needs.

Hybrid bikes

Hybrid Bikes are literally a cross between a traditional bike and a mountain bike and are most suited to light off-road use, such as forest paths and canal towpaths, as well as for city/commuting use. Standard Hybrids with a relatively upright riding position (such as the Trek 7000 series Hybrid bikes) offer sprightly performance on all firm, relatively smooth surfaces. Alternatively, the Comfort Hybrid’s (such as the Navigator series from Trek) are aimed at those who want a more sedate, comfortable ride. These have several comfort orientated features; a very upright riding position, suspension seat posts, generously padded saddles and larger, softer tyres.

Mountain Bikes

Mountain Bikes have diversified as the sport has developed and can be loosely categorised as follows:

• Recreational Mountain Bikes – aimed at those who want to take their first steps in off-road riding. A good example of this would be the Trek 4300.
• Cross-Country Mountain bikes – aimed at those who want to ride more aggressively, and faster, both up, and downhill, but for whom the climbing performance (and hence weight) is key. These bikes, such as the Trek 8000 or the Santa Cruz Superlight come with either front or full suspension (3”- 4” travel).
• Trail Mountain bikes – for those who still want to be able to climb and cover long distances, but also tackle more technically challenging terrain with jumps, and drop-offs. A bike which is more robust, if a little heavier, with a control orientated riding position. These again have either front or full suspension, but will typically offer more suspension travel (4”- 6” for greater control). For examples, take a look at the Genesis Altitude 2.0, or the Trek Fuel EX series.
• Freeride bikes and Downhill bikes tend to be big, burly full suspension bikes with between 6”-10” travel. Of little use for covering distance, these are the fastest (and most fun) bikes on very steep, rocky, extreme terrain. The Iron Horse Yakuza, 7 Point and Sunday ranges, as well as the Trek Sessions are good examples.

Ultimately, within the cycling market you definitely do get what you pay for…lighter/more durable/increased adjustability/more refined performance etc.

Bikes for Women

Women aren’t forgotten. Women’s specific models are available in several categories including Hybrids, Recreational Mountain bikes, as well as Hardtail and Full Suspension Cross Country Mountain bikes. These feature frames designed to fit women and tend to feature different saddles, handlebars and grips, brake levers, and softer suspension for better ergonomics and functionality. See Trek’s WSD and Gary Fisher’s GS offerings.

Finally, having successfully identified a suitable style of bike, the most important consideration when purchasing a new bike is sizing: getting the correct size is critical for the rider to feel comfortable and in control on their bike. If possible try several different bikes and ask your local Alpine Bikes expert to check your position for you.

Scouring over the forums and countless magazines that represent modern mountain biking in the UK, one thing becomes evident – we agonise over tyres like no other country. I won’t say that I’m not guilty of it, but I think I may have settled on a tyre that takes me and my Heckler anywhere I want it to – the Bontrager Big Earl Wet.

In its folding guise (the most sensible option in my opinion) you get dual compound, relative lightness – 725g on a 2.5” tyre - and big, open tread which allows mud to clear whilst giving maximum traction. Puncture protection is also high – I can count on one hand the amount of times I’ve had to replace tubes and I’ve been using these tyres for nearly two years now.

So far, this tyre has been dragged round many a trail centre, Mugdock Park and my regular jaunts over to Arran. On natural terrain or anything with big rocks and roots, this tyre seems to be at its happiest. The softer compound grips onto anything and its actually difficult to make the thing spin up! When it starts to get sloppy, the open tread digs in then sheds any mud as quickly as it can.

When it comes to the newer, man-made trails, however, the tyre can start to feel a little draggy – especially on the “kitty-litter” style trails. But, if your riding is swayed more towards natural trails, or you want one tyre to rule them all, definitely look at Big Earl.

Are you sitting comfortably? Good. Then I will begin.

At first glance Fizik’s Gobi Ti saddle looks like cruel and unusual punishment but fix that bad boy to your seatpost, jump on and ride - you will feel the reality is very different. Beautifully designed and extremely comfortable; this gents saddle consists of a light plastic/carbon body finished with a leather covering (with no stitching to chaff those sensitive areas) and super light titanium rails.

There is also a removable plastic plug on the bottom on the rear on the underside for a Fizik LED. The wing flex parts are the sides of the saddle which are dropped so when putting the power down your aren’t rubbing the inside of your thighs making up hills anymore unpleasant. I bought this saddle and used it in conjunction with a light carbon seat post.

This saddle will be a fabulous addition to anyone’s bike. Not only does it look and feel great, it has an awesome bling factor that will have your mates cooing over how smart it looks! £80.00 does seem a lot for a saddle, I agree but as the old adage goes - to ride it is to love it.