Cairngorm Loop - Sharing the pain

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donaldbmcintosh
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Cairngorm Loop - Sharing the pain

Post by donaldbmcintosh »

Read about my catalogue of errors, misjudgements and bad planning on the Cairngorm Loop last weekend. Huge experience, learned a lot... and still one of the best things I've ever done.

https://www.donaldmcintosh.net/bike/cairngormloop
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NorwayCalling
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Re: Cairngorm Loop - Sharing the pain

Post by NorwayCalling »

Nice to see a write up from a "normal" rider - gives hope to us ordinary folk that this is both achievable and within the grasps of the mortals. :-bd
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Bearbonesnorm
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Re: Cairngorm Loop - Sharing the pain

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

Aye and 'bikepacking superstars' were all 'normal' riders once :wink:
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ScotRoutes
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Re: Cairngorm Loop - Sharing the pain

Post by ScotRoutes »

Thanks for writing and posting that. As I said elsewhere, it's very intriguing to see what other folk make of the area I know quite well.


The black birds with white under the wings would be Black Grouse.

And there are no crossings of the Feshie required :wink:
AlasdairMc
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Re: Cairngorm Loop - Sharing the pain

Post by AlasdairMc »

Glad to see you had a good ride too. A lovely route with plenty of amazing trails. The guy with the Leftie, Louis, did pull out in Aviemore. He describes his Sunday as being a combination of eating and passing out - perhaps the jet lag from the transatlantic flight kicking in.

I was the guy on the Jones, unsure if we spoke at all, but I agree it was amazing. The Cairngorms Loop is by far my favourite two day bikepacking Loop.
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Ray Young
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Re: Cairngorm Loop - Sharing the pain

Post by Ray Young »

A great read, makes me want to have a go at the group start.
donaldbmcintosh
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Re: Cairngorm Loop - Sharing the pain

Post by donaldbmcintosh »

Cheers for replies, comments and ornithological identification.

And yes I remember the Jones rider. Well done on your finish as well... in a slightly quicker time I suspect! Looking forward to seeing all the 2017 finishers on the site to see how it all ended up.
ianpv
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Re: Cairngorm Loop - Sharing the pain

Post by ianpv »

Great write up - very honest and straightforward - your packing doesn't look that heavy (did you have a big rucksack as well?!).

It's a great route. i was one of the ones that didn't show up for the mass start, I did the Lakeland 200 instead. It's a tougher route but the conditions were better I think!
donaldbmcintosh
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Re: Cairngorm Loop - Sharing the pain

Post by donaldbmcintosh »

Cheers... I'll need to check out the Lakeland for another year.

Yes the bags don't look that big but the packing was compact. Had poles, tent, pegs, fuel bottle, sleeping bag... all the usual stuff. I did have a bag around my waist as well for the camera etc. The weight was certainly a factor, but my (lack of) fitness was probably an equal factor!
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99percentchimp
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Re: Cairngorm Loop - Sharing the pain

Post by 99percentchimp »

Nice write up - really enjoyed that. Loved the photos from the second camp and the description :-bd :grin:
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Richard G
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Re: Cairngorm Loop - Sharing the pain

Post by Richard G »

Good read, cheers. I love seeing deer so getting to ride with them for a bit would have been the highlight of the trip for me. :grin:
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