Posts for August, 2022

The Family friendly Aviemore CycleMore starts at the Old Bridge Inn, Aviemore and ends at the Rothiemurchus Triangle.
Our route starts from the Old Bridge Inn, on the banks of the river Spey. You will cross the river by the old bridge, and follow the old Logging Way cycle route (beside the road) up to Inverdruie. There are 2 road crossings on this section, care is required. You will then turn right, following the minor road gently uphill to Blackpark. The route then forks right on a well-used landrover track, descending slightly to the entrance to Loch an Eilein car park. The clear and wide track continues beside the Loch for 1.5 km before turning left uphill on another clear track. This ascends steadily with a couple of steeper and slightly rougher sections for a further 2.5km to reach the historic Cairngorm Club footbridge.

Once you have negotiated the steps up to the bridge (assistance will be available), you will continue through the pinewoods on a good track. There may be one or two muddy sections here, before the track climbs more steadily to meet the private access road for Rothiemurchus Lodge. Turning left here, there is a level section for 1.5 km towards Loch Morlich. This is the half-way point, but you will have done most of the hard work! Turning right, you will head anti-clockwise around the Loch on forest tracks, emerging onto the Glenmore road at the Hayfield. Refreshments and 1st Aid will be available here, and there are toilets nearby at Glenmore Visitor centre and at Loch Morlich beach.

From the Hayfield, there is a short on road section passing through Glenmore Village, before turning right off the road to join the Old Logging Way. This is an established cycle route, which leads back to Rothiemurchus, and is mostly downhill. The route crosses the road above Coylumbridge, and there is a short pavement section at Rothiemurchus campsite. A further 1.5 km brings you to the finish area at Inverdruie, where you can enjoy a well earned rest, and of course collect your medal!

Thrive Bike Friday 23rd September to Sunday 25th September 2022

Kate Allum and Susan Stewart



Thrive Bike is an action packed long weekend of energy, excitement and entertainment.

Our goal is to motivate people to cycle, improve their wellbeing, and help the local community prosper while protecting our environment. With a range of organised rides, events and attractions, all people are welcome and respected at Thrive Bike. Along with our business partners Cyclehighlands, Astar Digital and BioCom, we love Ballater and want to see its community benefit from adventure tourism.

At Thrive Bike we have top bike brands offering demo rides including Headline Sponsor Kona and Project Sponsor Merida.

We have guided electric and non-electric mountain bike rides for adults, including women only, and children. Our partner, Eguide Scotland, provides a mix of guided rides so there is an opportunity to get on a bike no matter your ability. Scottish Adventure are facilitating two road rides in The Ballater Dash and The Ballater Reliability Rides.

The Ballater Dash is a personal challenge designed to test your route planning, navigation and riding skills at your own pace and ability. The Ballater Reliability Rides are self supported on a choice of organised routes. Riders navigate their chosen route and complete the course without external help, other than from fellow riders. We recommend stopping to take photos, or for cakes and coffee!

We have a children’s play area; Stunt Show, Climbing Wall, Sender Ramps and a host of other things to do for non-bikers. You will also learn more about how you can take care of your personal wellbeing and contribute to the community, economy and environment in the Thrive Zone. The Food Zone provides a chance to replenish your energy at one of the local food vendors.

Profits from Thrive Bike will be invested in the local trail network by working with landowners, the Aberdeenshire Trail Association and existing, sanctioned projects.

As we go to press we are securing Guest Speakers and more activities so please visit the website and find us on social media.

Join us in the beautiful Cairngorms for Aviemore Triathlon: enjoy an open water swim in the cool, calm waters of Loch Morlich and enjoy mountain biking and running on the trails of Glenmore Forest.

The loch has been chosen for its superb water quality and spectacular surroundings. Coupled with fantastic MTB trails (forest road, easy track as well as sections of singletrack) in the forest, this is one of the very best locations in the UK for off-road racing.
“The Long Hard Durty”, this Standard distance race will be a stiff challenge on a tough course in a spectacular location. .

Long Hard Durty:

1,000m Open Water Swim, 18km Technical Mountain Bike, 9km Trail Run

“The Short Fast Durty”, this Sprint distance race will be a stiff but achievable challenge on a great course in a spectacular location.

Short Fast Durty:

500m Open Water Swim, 12km Mountain Bike, 5km Trail Run

Don’t miss Thunder in the Glens Rocky Mountain High as they ride up to visit us on Cairngorm Mountain on Sunday 28th August. Enjoy food and drink at The Cairngorm Cafe.

The Bikeathon is back for 2022

The Kingussie Bikeathon is a family-friendly, fun cycling event through 25 miles of marked and marshalled roads in the Cairngorms National Park.

This year the route will return to an old favourite, heading out of Kingussie High School and out through Newtonmore, Laggan, up the hill to Glentrium and the Centre of Scotland returning along the NC7 through Newtonmore and back to Kingussie.

Entry fees are held at £15 for adults and £5 for kids. Ticket sales from this community event will raise funds for Kingussie High School*. We encourage participants to raise additional sponsorship for a cause, club or group of their choice.

Registration will be open on the day from 9.30 am with the ‘grand depart’ at 10.30. Take as long as you wish to complete the route and enjoy one of our refreshment stops and entertainment along the way.

The finish line will be at the popular Duke of Gordon Hotel where refreshments and entertainment from Speysound Radio will be available along with some spot prizes for those completing the ride.

We look forward to welcoming you to Cycle Friendly Kingussie.

*Event entry fees in aid of Kingussie High School Parent Council, Scottish charity number SC045172.

Glenlivet Enduro

We are excited to bring you the Glenlivet Enduro. Glenlivet is filled with a fantastic, flowing machine built single track, fresh-cut goodness and a world-class jump trail that will make you want to leap back onto your bike and do the whole thing again. Glenlivet offers fabulous views and scenery during your cycle around the route. There is also a café that offers delicious food and a warm seat at the end of your ride. Riders are timed in stages that are primarily downhill, with neutral transfer stages in between. Our event routes are around 25km long, with six timed single-track stages aimed to be rideable by reasonably competent mountain bikers.

Our one-day events have a fun and friendly atmosphere. They follow government and other relevant requirements to minimise COVID-19 related risks. We attract all levels of riders, from the seriously competitive to those just looking for a brilliant day in the hills in good company. We also have tasty food on offer, which will support various local charities providing the catering – so make sure to bring some change!

Race Categories

This year we have a record number of rider categories, with seven for our full route and another four for the ‘lite route’. The full route takes in six timed sections of the trails in the area. The ‘lite route’ omits the technically most demanding downhill parts. All categories have great prizes provided by our valued sponsors, all of whom are businesses based in North East Scotland, catering for all your biking needs.

Full Route

Female (aged over 12 years) Bike Remedy
Junior Male (aged from 13 – 17 years) Cyclehighlands
Male (aged from 18 – 30 years) Gamola Sports
Senior Male (aged from 30 – 45 years) Bike Remedy
Veteran Male (aged over 45 years) eguide Scotland
e-Bike (mixed aged over 12 years) eguide Scotland
HardTail (mixed aged over 12 years) Cyclehighlands
‘Lite’ Route

Female Youth (Females aged 9-12 years) Cyclehighlands
Male Youth (Males aged 9-12 years) REM Bikes
Male (aged over 12 years) Banchory Cycles
Female (aged over 12 years) 20Twenty Bike Store
Age and Race Capacity Limits

Entrants need to be a minimum of nine years old on the day of the event. Your entry category will be based on your age on the 1st January 2021, although eight-year-olds who have turned nine by the date of an event may enter it as a Youth (see below). Youth riders (and their chaperone) may, although are not required, ride together in a group, guided by our experienced, qualified Youth Group Leader – Chris Roper from Ride In Peace Adventures.

We have an overall rider limit of 250 participants. We are expecting a sell-out, so sign up soon to not miss out!

Youths

Each youth rider must have an adult chaperone.
The chaperone must accompany the youth to race registration
The chaperone can only look after a maximum of two youth riders.
The chaperone will ride behind the youth participant and be available to take care of any issues with the youth, e.g. bike problems, injuries or withdrawals.
Youth riders plus chaperones will set off half an hour before the main group.

Special Thanks

A huge thanks to Add Energy for sponsoring the number plates for this year’s events; their fantastic media apartment even came up with the awesome designs we will be featuring! Also, our thanks to Bike Glenlivet for permission and support to host the event.

Photography/Videography

By entering and participating in the event, you consent to be photographed, filmed and/or otherwise recorded. Your entry constitutes your consent to such photography, filming and/or recording and to any use, in any and all media.

Refunds/Cancellations

If you need to cancel your entry, please email us. If you cancel before entries close you will be refunded your entry fee, less a £5 administration fee. After online entries close, refunds will not be given, other than exceptional circumstances at the discretion of organisers.

DoonThaBrae Events organisers shall not be held liable in any way for any loss, damage or accidents that may occur during the event. Riders are aware that cycling is potentially dangerous.

Kingussie lad Russel Jones has cycled many of the classic long distance routes across the world including Trans America, Norway to Spain and of course Lands End to John O Groats.
Quality raffle.
Bar
Gin Tasting at Interval

Ballater Business Association (BBA) & Ballater (Royal Deeside) Limited SC026254 (BRD), in conjunction
with Ballater Films and the V&A Halls, are delighted to announce our 1st Mountain Bike Festival. We intend that this will become an annual event.

We are especially delighted to be the chosen Scottish venue for the premiere of ‘The Big Bike Film Night’ at 7 pm on Saturday 11th September at the Halls.

Our action-packed programme kicks off on Friday 10th September with ‘Bill & Ted Face the Music’ Film Night at the V&A Halls.

Continuing over the weekend of the 11th and 12th September, there are various activities provided by

‘Ride In Peace’, ‘E-Guides’ and ‘Live Life Aberdeenshire’.

There is also the added attraction of the ‘Tour of Britain’ coming through the Village on Sunday 12th September between 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm.

And after all that exercise, we have plenty of options for being ‘fed and watered. There are a wide
range of cafés, restaurants, pubs, and hotels in the village and we will also have several takeaways
stalls on the Church Green throughout the day, along with some of our artisan local food producers.

When you’ve had your fill, take the time to explore our unique shops.

Further afield, to the east of Ballater, we have a baker, cheesemaker and café at Cambus O’May & a
hotel at Dinnet. To the West, there is the well known Bakehouse and Ptarmigan café in Crathie.
Look out for posts of our ‘Trails’ of Food & Drink Offers, Retail outlets, and Mountain Bike Trails.
To find all the current information go to www.visitballater.com/event/mountain-bike-festival/.
Thank you to North East Adventure Tourism (NEAT) and Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland for their support.

eguide Scotland (www.eguidescotland.com) offers ebike rental and guiding in the heart of Royal Deeside and the Cairngorm. They will be with us on Saturday 11th at their Gazebo on the Green offering general information,
demonstrating some of their skills, and running two specific sessions.

Morning session introducing to e-biking:
An easy ebike guided ride around Ballater and its surrounding countryside.
Suitable for ebike novices.
Ratio 1:6 £25 per person (ebikes available to hire for the session – £30 extra).

Afternoon Session of big ebike fun:
An intermediate to advanced guided ebike ride around Ballater taking in some
of the best trails the village has to offer. Suitable for for ebike/ mountain biking
regulars.
Ratio 1:6 £25 per person (ebikes available to hire for the session – £30 extra).

Supported by Deviate Cycles (www.deviatecycles.com), the showcase of the UK premiere of The Big Bike Film Night, a collection of short and documentary films that has everything a cycle-centric audience could want – action, drama, humour, and plenty of inspiration; the evening is unashamedly designed and devised the two-wheel devotee!