Help & Advice • Alpine Bikes

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7 Stanes – www.7stanes.gov.uk

Big country riding, rolling hills, views to die for and mile upon mile of technical singletrack – it's all here in the south of Scotland.

Come and spend a while in Scotland's biking heaven!

Carron Valley – www.carronvalley.org.uk

Carron Valley mountain bike trails are fast, fun and purpose built for year round use - guaranteed to entice you back for more! The routes feature testing singletrack climbs, flowing descents and stunning views of the reservoir and surrounding areas. There is something for everyone at Carron Valley - links provide a short fun route or something longer and more challenging. Whatever you choose the emphasis is firmly on fun!

Moray Monster Trails - www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-6MRFE5

With 30km of fun-packed singletrack mountain bike routes, there’s something here to feed the monster in everyone!

Whether you’re totally new to off-road mountain biking, or a seriously expert rider looking for big thrills, there’s a trail here that’s just right for you, from easy green-graded tracks to severe black-grade trails.

Learnie Red Rock - www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-6NZE9W

The Red Rock trails at Learnie: 16km of trails for all skill levels, combined with some of the best views from any mountain bike trails, anywhere!

There are green, blue, and black graded trails, with a bike park and a dirt jump area (both graded orange). Even our green grade singletrack is not 'billiard table' smooth - it gives a sufficient challenge for those wanting more than just forest road-type mountain biking.

Golspie Wildcat Trails – www.highlandwildcat.com

Expecting to become one of the best mountain biking destinations in the UK, the first £0.5 million phase of Highland Wildcat Trails in Golspie was officially opened in November 2006 by Rhona Brankin, Forestry Minister in the Scottish Executive.

Located in a superb coastal location adjacent to the East Sutherland village of Golspie, within an hour's travelling time from Inverness via the A9, the trails have been designed and constructed to the highest standards

Drumlanrig Trails - www.drumlanrig.com

Since 2002 Drumlanrig has played host to the National Points Series and Scottish Cross Country Mountain Bike Championships. A Mountain Bike Trail was constructed for these events and is now way-marked for everyone to enjoy. The course is constantly evolving with new sections of singletrack being added to extend the overall distance and add to user enjoyment.

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

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.

Thanks to the 7-Stanes trails, local knowledge and countlessother trail centres, Scotland caters for every form of mountain biking for every level of rider. Every trail is an experience in itself thanks to the people who built them and how the lay of the land behaves. Personally, though, Innerleithen is still my favourite. It’s more of a trail centre than just one single trail with various downhill tracks, play areas and, of course, the Traquair Cross Country Loop.

At 12 miles long, it’s not one of the longest routes, but it offers so much that it always seems that little bit different every time I come back. The climb is a long one, but worth every pedal stroke. It varies from fire road to tight singletrack to finish on the exposed Minch Moor. Unlike other 7-Stanes trails, you do actually feel like you’ve made it to the top of a really large hill as the view from the top opens up the whole Tweed Valley. The tough climb ends with a just reward—one of the best descents (in my humble opinion!) in Scotland. Starting on large open corners and berms on the moor, the trail quickly changes to very fast flowing singletrack before linking with Plora Craig.

This section is very technical and rocky (mind the shins!) to catch out the unaware and offers as much of a mental challenge as it does physical. Out of the rocks, into some more of the Tweed Valley’s wonderful singletrack and then onto one of my favourite places in the whole of Scotland—Lower Caddon Bank.

Lower Caddon Bank is probably the most fun you can have on a bike in the Tweed Valley. This section throws drops, jumps, swooping berms and just outright speed at you to guarantee you’re getting off your bike with a smile. And an injury too, if you’re really unlucky! It’s one of those sections where you would consider doing the whole loop again, just to throw yourself back down it. Fortunately, you don’t have to as there’s a nice little shortcut if you know where to look…

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