We met, as planned at 6pm and, determined to change recently formed habits, starting cycling after only five minutes of faffing! The ride started with a leisurely warm up as climbed Dingleton Road, up to Bowdenmoor Reservoir. Happily we soon left the tarmac behind and started the ascent onto Wester Hill. This was a pretty unforgiving climb which saw a few riders reduced to a walk.
of the ride after hitting a hidden rock. Luckily he landed on his head so no lasting damage was done.
After stopping to admire more views, we rode the long and entertaining descent from the saddle between Mid Hill and Hill North, all the way down to Rhymers Stone. Happily, this was event free and everyone arrived at the bottom in one piece.
Inaugural MTB Border Evening Ride - Eildon Hills
The fifteen minutes or so of effort was well rewarded however with fantastic panoramic views. This was when the fun started with a singletrack descent through the heather which ended with a short, steep and loose drop with was met with a period of contemplation by most riders, and was ridden by (almost) everyone. The singletrack continued to flow as we contoured around Mid Hill. Unfortunately it wasn’t flowing for Big W, who had the first off
Rather than head back via Melrose we decided to extend the ride and continued up behind Eildon Hall to join St Cuthbert’s Way. B1rac picked up a puncture but after a lightning quick fix (which involved another flat, another spare tube and plenty of cursing) we were off again. We completed the ‘figure of eight’ by re-ascending onto the saddle between Hill North and Mid Hill.
At this point we picked up another puncture and our second 'off' as I took a detour into the gorse bushes.
A quick blast back down the hill saw us back at the cars for 8.00pm. It was a memorable first evening ride, and one well worth repeating.
A quick blast back down the hill saw us back at the cars for 8.00pm. It was a memorable first evening ride, and one well worth repeating.
Riders: Rossi46, PDC (author), Big W, Dunks, Lorris65, B1rac, SniperKona.
Mountain Bike Borders
