An EPIC Scottish Adventure: Loch Lomond & The Trossachs By Gravel Bike | Cycling Weekly 

What bikes where used on the ride?

@@sintjinansley6107 I was on a Genesis Datum, Rupert was on a Cervelo Aspero and Katherine was on a Ribble Gravel bike but I’m not 100% sure which line.

You’re going to love it Simon! So many route options, a great wee village and vibe and just a braw time on bikes. Have a fab time 💃🏻

@@kerrymacphee3664 I’m sitting in Liz MacGregors having a toastie and tea after finishing The Big Day Out. Wow, that was epic. Loved the bit to the north. It was sunny and everything was right with the world. The second was something else. The downhill to Loch Lomond was terrifying. I’ll sleep well tonight.

@@Ballacks101 ahh, a rare RU-vid comment that was pleasure to read. Congrats on a kool ride. It's a little far for me in the US. That scary downhill sounds great, I just got disk brakes! P.S. What is a 'toastie?' I'll guess some kind of donut?

That's because we're totally psyched on our gravel! Come and visit :-)

Agreed 😬😬😬

Thank you Crispin! - Rupert

Also conveyed the absolute suff of the WHW section. Compulsory mechanical and sense of impending doom

Wow, thank you!

Thank you! We'd love to have you visit Gravelfoyle!

I had a total hoot riding with this pair for the first time! The stunning location defo helped but the patter and bike escapades made for an amazing day out… Cannae wait to repeat it again ☺️

Don't make me blush

I think we can chalk this one up to 'pilot error' - Rupert

Move to Scotland don't you mean ;-)

Thanks Tajul and I know that stretch of river well as it's my local! - R

You should pencil in a wee holiday to Aberfoyle! Jump on the train to either Glasgow or Stirling, pedal over to Aberfoyle and base yourself out of there for a few days ☺️ Absolutely worth it for all things Scottish, gravel, scenery, lochs, amazing food and equally amazing humans ☺️

@@kerrymacphee3664 @Kerry MacPhee If I had to sum up parts of Scotland I've already visited into one word, I'd say breathtaking. 😳

Don't worry, we used specially trained stunt ice cream. It had a happy ending.

You spelt hunners wrong 😜

It's always sunny in Scotland!

@@kerrymacphee3664 😂

😂😂 Couldn’t help it 😂😂 Had it been Katherine that crashed, my sympathies would have been through the roof, but seeing as it was Rupert 😜! It’s only funny after you check they’re OK and they are indeed OK 😂

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Yep, this is the solution. Split, shorten and rejoin the the chain using a quick link. Bypass the rear mech and turn the bike into a single speed. Will get you home.

only a couple of km... a long way for a cyclist ;-)

Seemed like a serious lack of gear on all their bikes. I've seen this before with roadies treating gravel like it's road - only to beg others for tools and such.

Agreed Working Guy. Hacking around the Pennine Hills for me at least brings an understanding of what you take with you when off road. I wouldn’t leave home without a mech hanger, power link, cable ties, multi tool, Co2, tube, tyre leavers, gaffs tape and a £20 note

I’m a mountain biker and gravel rider not a roadie, thank you! I tut tutted Rupert too 😜 And we actually did have all the tools we needed on us (pump, tube and chain link on my frame and taped to a cable, and pockets full of spares and snacks just not see through enough for you to spot 😜). In Rupert’s defence, a rear mech is not something you typically think to take unless this very thing happens to you as it’s quite rare so I reckon he won’t be riding without one again which makes it a valuable experience ☺️ gravel is for everyone, even roadies and heaps of them have more gear than me a lot of the time when they join as they are used to being far away from home and needing to be self-sufficient.

Hi Kerry, my comments are only an observation and in no way a criticism. Riding as I do in Rossendale there plenty in the Pennines to wipe out you rear mech, hence why most of us don’t leave home without one. Reflecting positively on the video it has opened my eyes to a great riding are. Hats off and let’s have some more

There are two gates on that section, both open easy enough and provide access to push your bike through.

It was summer... we were warm and stoked on no gloves :-)

Wouldn't you if you fell off? I was actually holding the camera persons while they diligently worked... R

​@@cyclingweekly Yep, I'd want all the sympathy I could get!

I was a bit sceptical before I rode on flares and now I’m a total convert. For fast swoopy stuff you just feel more stable in the drops and the bike feels a little more malleable and like you have a little more control. And it’s really comfy too!

More stable when you are in the drops. Useful when doing descents on uneven road surfaces as it makes steering easier. Mountain bike handlebars are really wide for this reason.

The gate is locked ☺️ And we have right to roam in Scotland so can pretty much go anywhere we want on our bikes if we do so respectfully. It’s actually a Scottish water ‘bridge’ so theirs to look after.

I run 650bx50 for these type of trails. Definitely more comfy than the 700cx40 option. Better traction, and just as fast when your not riding tarmac anyway IMO.

Nah we gave him a lift back in the support van

I was wondering if they traded her for Ollie. If so, who got the better deal?

👀👀

Komoot? And if you have to pay, it's not a bad thing. I've put a lot of effort into plotting routes for people to access for free and the platform allows for this. Plus an app isn't free to produce so I personally don't begrudge paying towards a fantastic product and what it allows me to access.

@@kerrymacphee3664 well said! And I’d like to thank you for the time and effort of your Komoot gravel routes 👏🏻

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You could quite comfortably ride 99% of this on a gravel bike for sure. The descent from the top of Comer is a bit fruity and was the only part I felt under biked ! - R

There is sooo much fast stuff 🤩 Any bike works on Gravel to be fair and there’s definitely an element of fun and exhilaration pedalling a gravel bike on more gnarly stuff but over the course of that 80k- the gravel bike reigns supreme 🙌🏻 But as Rupert says… very occasionally an XC bike would defo be optimum 😂

😂😂😂 This route is mega for gravel bikes! We covered way more distance than we would if we were just on mtb’s and the technical parts just make it more interesting but are relatively short over the course of the whole route. I was sceptical of gravel bikes initially too coming from XC but I love it! They’re so versatile and you can chug along at a good speed on gravel, in the wild and off road. I’m a convert 🤓

The midge love goes both way eh 😜 You don’t notice them too much when you’re going by bike so all good on that front 😃

Great ride for that style of bike. Much faster and a little more of a challenge on some tech sections compared with a XC bike. My wife has an emtb so I’ll do this with her on my cx/gravel bike as fitter and should be a good balance between us. Thanks for opening my mind to this area.

Midges don't come out of lochs, they come out of the damp foliage. And they don't come out in bright sunshine or a breeze.

Twaddle