The Ciaran Path By Mountain Bike
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- Strava Link - / strava
I had seen this route done by others many times. but had never ventured out to do it myself, despite it being just up the road.
It was a big old day, even on the ebike, with plenty of rocks and drainage ditches en route along with the odd bit of exposure here and there.
Honestly, I think this day would have been quite taxing on me if I had taken the regular bike, this is something that I have heard from others to be fair. That being said, I would happily do it all over again.
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Awesome riding there Andrew take hat off to you mate, stunning views, always enjoy your videos best mtb videos on TH-cam 👍👍👌👌 looking forward to your next adventure
Much appreciated Dave 😊
Hello Andy, really enjoyed your Vlog, there is only one thing I would like to suggest, at the end off the Vlog a map showing your route.
What are your thoughts.
Regards Iain
I put a link to my Strava from the day in the description for most of my videos, you will get even more information from that than you would from a map at the end👍
Love your knowledge of your surroundings, mountain names, lochs etc. Amazing video as usual!
Tbh, I know some of the info, but have to google the rest. Hopefully I remember the info in the future though👍
Sweet trail. Like how you paused to take in the scenery as well. Top video 👍
Gotta love the views 👍😍
Back in 2012 after 4 solid days of riding ( Torridon area) we decided to do a loop out of Kinlochleven ending on the Ciaran Path ..talk about biting off more than you can chew after running out of food & water ..I totally bonked and came to grief falling off my bike and rolling down a steep section where a rotting tree stopped me from ending in the gorge ..I ended up walking down the rest of the path from a lot further up as I couldnt concentrate properly on the trail..not getting to my mates van until 9.45 pm ..in the dark ..we had to get back to N.W.Northumberland and eventually did at 3.45a.m the next morning after a food & a rest at a couple of service areas ..
A vital lesson learnt in terms of not underestimating the ride after an already tiring week and always to carry more food & water than you actually need ..
I've not made the same mistake since 😊
That said the technicality of the path in places would be totally beyond my ability ..even at 100% ..
That's a brutal trail that, have done it on a trials bike and it was hard work, the dam was actually over flowing down the sides, quite scary stuff.
I'm not saying I'm super jealous of what you have almost on your doorstep, but.... I'M SUPER FUCKING JEALOUS OF WHAT YOU HAVE ALMOST ON YOUR DOORSTEP.
Awesome shit as usual.
😂😂 sorry about that 😜
thanks andy for the video, nicely edited! for ALL the people riding real mountain bikes please be aware that this is a very demanding ride and takes some real physical grit.. I would say not very flowing at all, but with an Electronic assisted bike it may be nicer.... with my full sus bike (and experience of black routes) i had to stop and start way too many times to really feel like i was riding at all. Get fit if you really want to ride this route... its a tough one!!!
It’s a hell of a day Kirsty and a real slog, even on an Ebike. The descent is also quite frustrating too, worth a lot of awkward sections that not everyone will be able to ride.
TH-cam you are spoiling these Vlogs with soo many ads at random times in the footage ..who the F@#$ thought that made good marketing sense!!!! Andrew as ever your footage is crazy .. looked like a riverbed at times loved it !!
To be fair, I enabled mid role ads on my videos but TH-cam decides where and when to put them. I make almost no money otherwise 🙁
McJank Rider for sure! I liked that bit near the end when you were about to go sideways down the rock slab! Unlucky with the flats but at least you could walk out 😁
I do like my Jank😜 That slide was both surprising and terrifying at the same time 😬
Hi Andrew was go I to join Patreon earlier was showing subscription in dollars not I pounds couldn change it. Is this Wright subscription in dollars? Cheers bud
Thanks for grabbing a look Dave 😊 Yes, it is in dollars in Patreon, which works out to be about the same in pounds by the time VAT is added.
It’s an American company, but I wish they would allow me to display in pounds.
@@McTrailRider no problem just checking thats me now joined your Patreon 😊😊
I seen you up the Ciaran path! I wasn't sure if it was you so I didn't say anything, I was fly fishing with my brother. I was going to say hi when you went to the chippy afterwards but I still wasn't sure if it was you, I'll definitely say hi next time :)
Ha, I think I see you to then, two teenagers? I met you when I was walking back up to meet my girlfriend?
@@McTrailRider only seen this now haha, but yeah you were heading back up towards the blackwater reservoir, seen you a couple of weekends ago as well but I was in a bit of a rush, I'll definitely say hello next time haha
Looking good, broski! Looks like you've been working hard on the channel. It's grown a lot. 😊👍
Always working hard on the channel 💪 unfortunately due to the channel getting hacked, I’m only a little further on than I was in January 🙁
@@McTrailRider Oh yeah! I almost forgot about that. Glad you got your channel back. It must have been a nightmare. 😦
Ran ooty battery, flat tyre.... Fuck it... Well said. ✊
How Scottish of me😜
Think that's a universal attitude, probably has its origins here in scotchland though.💪
Didn't realize you were on the ebike until the fatal flat and you said "out of battery" and showed the bike. At the start you were pedaling up the path quickly & I thought, "damn he's hungry for a ride today" but maybe it was the ebike assist? :D The descent after you met Alex was nice & chunky.
Also, EXO+ seems undergunned for the extra weight & plantedness of the ebike. Especially if you're of average weight or heavier, & not a skinny sort. I get away with std EXO F&R but I weigh only 150 lbs and I don't bash into stuff, and I'm not on ebike.
I would have been absolutely knackered if I’d tried those speeds climbing on a regular bike 😬😄
The bike really made the day more enjoyable. The tyres are just what came with it and I didn’t want to change them until they needed changed👍
@@McTrailRider Probably the great majority of the riders of ebikes don't push them as hard as you, or ride as chunky trails. Hence EXO+ spec on rear tire. Which means, either ride like Grandma & not flat, or... ride like you, get the flat, decide to change tire to DD or DH casing. Not a bad expense really if you like the ebike. Which it seems you do!
awesome video once again Andrew :) Are you still recording your audio on a seperate GoPro or is this purely from having a wind shield on the camera? Can't beleive how quiet the wind is (None!)
The first half of the video was recorded through an Instamic audio recorder and the second half through the GoPro with wind covers.
My Fleming family came over to Boston from Paisley in 1850. You show me views of Scotland that I love to see. Thank you.
Happy to help Might Micheal, I’m about 85 miles from Paisley 👍
Hi, really love watching your videos. You certainly live in the most beautiful area of the UK. Shame it's so far from me, living in Surrey i'm nearly as far south as you can get from the Highlands. Maybe next year if all this Covid s**t has died down i'll come up with my son for a week and ride some trails. If they happen to pass a distillery or two, well that's a bonus.
Keep the videos coming.
Best wishes, Mark (a sassenach)
You sassenach’s are allowed up right now, plenty of you already are 😜
It is a hell distance right enough though 😬
Great vid fella...cheers. Been up that path many times on a trials bike at the SSDT. I fitted Vitoria airliners to my Kenevo and have been mighty impressed. 600 miles with lots of water bars and no puncture as yet. I’m sure you’ve used them in the past....but no dinged rims so happy days. Expensive for a bit of foam but in my opinion worth it...once you get the technique, easy enough to fit....but entertaining if putting one in a Eddy Current. Steel core levers a must. Keep the vids coming....really enjoy them
I’ve previously run the airliner, and to great effect. I’ve decided to not run any rim protection on my new bikes to see how I get on. The Eddy Current is an absolute beast though and should be strong enough in its own🤞
Wow I'd never heard of this place!! Drainage ditches / channels / annoying-diagonal-kerb-water-directing-thingy's galore!! Up at Bennachie near me, there's a descent with probably 50 of these. Bunny hopping proficiency guaranteed after just one run!!! Cheers, TEC
I’m familiar with Bennachie but yet to ride it. Definitely got plenty of water bars😬
Brought back memories of my 1997 ride over Devil's Staircase on a Rocky Mountain Equipe. I think you had more fun!
The little motor and battery may have had something to do with that 😜
Hi Andy..... loving your videos. As an expat now in Oz you are making me really homesick. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Eric, sorry you feel homesick😢
Niiiice work, seriously chunky in places. Will check it out in the next couple weeks.
Do you run any tyre inserts? Or did the chunk just rip through them n' all?
No tyre inserts in at the moment, and it shows 😬
25yrs since I 1st rode the devil's staircase, looks in a lot 'improved' state since then. Good skills on the Ciaran path looks as knarly as I remembered, not exactly flowing! Interesting re your battery, how many hrs was that before it went & what size battery is it. Cheers keep up the vids.
This was my first time on both trails but I did notice that the devils staircase section looked pretty fresh/new.
As for the battery, I’m not sure exactly how much distance/height I had done but I wasn’t surprised it ran out. It’s a 504wh.
Great vid, rode this route a few times but not in the last few years, they seem to have done a lot of path work on Devils staircase, it used to be really rough and boulder strewn all the way down to the junction for the pipes run to dam. Shame too not getting on the dam as it looks as if the have upped the security. The other side going down to Glencoe is a good run. Current Eddy's are unbeatable on the ebike only ever had one flat in 7 months due to a heavy ding on the rear rim, I've put a nukeproof ARD insert in the rear so now practically indestructible.
The path certainly seemed fresh/new, I suppose it is a very popular route so it’s worth investing in.
The dam annoyed me, I really wanted to cycle over it, I love dams! 😄
Brings back memories passed through this way a few years back when I biked it from Fort William to Cumbernauld got a puncture here and destroyed by midges character building though 🤣 ps this is my decoy account on TH-cam 🤣 Sam._.santacruz 👍🏼
That’s a biggy! Character building, but sole destroying Sam😂
Great video...I lived in Kinlochleven as a young kid, never done any biking up there but your video has inspired me to get back up with the ebike 🤘
Good to hear Bobby 👍 These trails are pretty tough for biking though 😬
You always have the perfect camera angle just seeing the bars; much more enjoyable for the viewer to "ride" along seeing the trail ahead. Far too many other riders use a steeper angle showing too much of the cockpit and top tube.
It’s a hard thing to get right tbh, glad I got it right though 👍
Nice video Andy. That Ciaran trail looked immense, will definitely be up for riding that in the near future!
The Ciaran path is a beast! Good challenge👍
once again good vid , ave watch a few vid of ppl doing devils stairs and said to my self mc trail rider no don it yet ... .. nice how ya show the surroundings that wee graveyard innthe middle of no wher ... class would never of know it was ther only every drive thro places like that .. keep up the good work
I was definitely over due for doing this ride. The graveyard was of some of the people that died making the dam and associated structures.
Great vid Andy.
You make some of the best MTB vids on TH-cam.
Thanks Simon, glad you like the videos 😊
amazing veiws but way too many rocks and what were rounds stones doing there way up in the mountains
You can never have too many rocks 😜 I guess they are round due to erosion, or mountains are some of the oldest in the world.
A great day on the bike and looked like the pivot had no problems with all the rocks and the water and not to muddy 👊
The Pivot has proved to be a very capable bike indeed 👌
Brilliant trails
What happened to the Michelin wild enduro tyres?
They are on my other bike, getting on gear with them 👍
Beautiful damp scenery. Nice to see Alix again!
Damp indeed. Good to have Alix out into the hills for sure😊
Real mtb Andrew, good edit. Challenging conditions too.
Thanks Kevin, definitely challenging towards the end 😬
Some speed on that final section! Had you ridden that before?!
The very last 30 seconds or so were part of an enduro that I have done before, the rest was new to me.
Epic mate mad skills riding on that terrain im amazed the tyres held up as long as they did cheers
I’m surprised by the tyres too, even called a puncture at the start of the video.
Part of that trail is part of the West Highland Way, I guess? From the Devils Staircase to Kinlochleven? Great trail!
Yes, the first trail is part of the west highland way 👍
@@McTrailRider I am actually planning to ride the whole West Highland Way, but it will take some losing weight and better fitness to be able too. Working on that :-)
Hello buy a downhill casing tire
Got a heavy duty tyre now👍 I was just using what the bike came with first.
Love this ride starting from Glencoe side. Back when I did it you could still climb over the fence of the damn. How did you manage to cross over the water??
I think the dam was still crossable as recently as last year tbh. There is actually a path that goes along the bottom of the dam thankfully.
McTrail Rider good to know. Credit for saying best not to skid on the staircase, I’m always conscious of that myself👍
Like ur videos. But Sorry hate ebikes.
No need to apologise, have you tried an Ebike?
No dude i havent and probably never will. O im sure they r amazing bikes no doubt but when u you tubers get them, u then distance ur selves for the average viewer on his £1000 hardtail. 😁👍
Johnny Cochrane honestly, try one, they are incredible👍
I actually gained a lot of subscribers after I got an Ebike, off course, I will have annoyed some of my subscribers too. At the end of the day though, my videos are a byproduct of my life and not the other way round.
Yes I agree do what makes u happy and I will keep watching ur vids. Also U would gain subscribers ebike or not because of ur great content. Thanks for the chat pal. 👌
Was that a 504wh battery you flatted on that route?
Yes, 504👍
nice ride that for sure ,ye got to love them ticks lol
I love them.... and they love me 😜
Still putting out some of the best content in the UK
Good to hear dude 😊
You make climbing look so easy lol
You should see my in turbo 😜
Great place great riding 👍
Thanks buddy
How you getting on with the pivot? Great vid too,been thinking of buying one
Really impressed with the Pivot, the battery/motor isn’t as good as the Levo but everything else is better 👍
McTrail Rider yeah,I’ve heard the same,can’t decide if I go to the dark side lol
Love the vid man keep up the great work. The beauty of Scotland is so stunning.
Thanks Chris, it’s some place 😍
@@McTrailRider I've been there on holiday twice, my gran is from south England but I'm always drawn to Scotland for so reason,
I live in the mountain bike capital of Canada in Squamish British Columbia about an hour from Whistler.
Chris Gould I must admit, I do envy you just a little bit.
@@McTrailRider 20 min climb and I'm shredding Squamish slabs and hour to Northshore by car.. I thing I've noticed you guys in the UK ride rain or shine ,no one rides in the rain here. If they can help it. Something about falling off a mountain that ruins your day. LOL
Haha I sit watching these videos looking at all these beautiful and cool trails and I'm stuck with cathkin braes Its a good wee place just doesn't top this though
I still have to travel to get to trails as nice as this to be fair.
@@McTrailRider ano is there any place you would reccomend I've recently started getting into moutain biking?
@@Athenalmao Get yerself over to The Kilpatricks.. Hunners up there
Cheers mate
Was this what replaced the ballo ride?
Yep 👍
@@McTrailRider you were right to leave me at home lol looked brutal. nice comparison between sanitised paths and well worn ones.
Stunning !!
I here ya 😍
epic.
Thanks
I think that's a first time I've seen you come across a locked gate
I think your right.