Taken from the Blazing Saddles Column in the Tayside Courier Weekend Supplement 2.6.12

A summer of cycling brings a smile to the face of Scot Tares.

 “When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

In the last few weeks I have been bumping my gums more than usual. Living in Scotland I know that my weather related expectations should be less than sanguine, but my hopes do rise as we get a few days of sunshine, only to see them saturated and battered in endless days of wind and rain that follow.

As I write this late in the evening with the windows of my study open and the heat of the day still drifting into the room on a gentle breeze, the last few days of glorious sunshine and the prospect of more to come fills me with hope of a beautiful summer of cycling. Today I rode a gentle pace and mileage on off-road cycle paths and quiet roads just to enjoy the bike and soak up the beauty of Scotland. And when the weather is good, even the cycle path that runs along the back of Inveralmond Industrial Estate in Perth felt beautiful. The smell of grass and blossom filled the air and lots of people were out cycling and walking, all with smiles on their faces.

For me, rides like that of today empty my mind of everything that life can throw at me and is a better tonic for the heart and soul than many a GP could prescribe. For the majority of those who read this column, I would expect a similar response, but how do we prescribe two wheels to the unconverted? Well, the “Summer of Cycling” is one way of trying to encourage others to get out on a bike. It’s a simple plan and the website looks for each cyclist to pledge that they will get one saddle-shy friend out on a bike this summer. I’ve already made my pledge, although the first my “saddle-shy” friend may know about it is reading this article.

Scot Tares

Cycle Route – Almondbank

The route this week follows mainly off-road cycle paths and some short quiet road sections, making it an ideal ride for a family with older children

Details:

Copyright DC Thompson 2012

Taken from the Blazing Saddles Column in the Tayside Courier Weekend Supplement 26,5.12

Scot Tares finds there is more to riding a bike than just pedalling

“You want to ride like silk gliding on soft air. Think slow and smooth and one day you’ll discover you’re riding so easy you’ll laugh out loud at the joy of it all”  – Hank Barlow

In France a smooth pedal stroke is elegantly described as “souplesse”, an apparently effortless pedalling motion. The achievement of such a pedal stroke is beneficial for all who cycle as eliminating any dead spots in the pedalling action, relaxing and avoiding a choppy rotation, can save you energy and make riding easier and more enjoyable.

There are many ways to improve your “souplesse”, such as riding on fixed gear bikes or undertaking various pedalling drills and workouts. However, simply being aware of your pedalling technique and motion can be a very good place to start.

A simple way to improve pedalling efficiency (and one that often strikes fear into the very core of many who cycle) is by using “clipless pedals”. Clipless pedals are a misnomer as they actually refer to both feet being clipped into the pedals using a mechanical device on the pedal and a “cleat” attachment to the shoe. The discrepancy in the name derives from the historical use of toe straps and toe cages, where riders would “clip-in” to pedals by pulling on a strap that tied their feet to the pedals. When the strapless pedals came to the fore, due to the absence of the toe cage and strap, they were described as being clipless. Confusing? Yes, especially so as many cyclists refer to clipping in, despite clipping in to clipless pedals!

The clipless pedal as we know it today was originally introduced by the French company “Look” who applied their technology used in downhill skiing to cycling. This innovative design was then developed further by Shimano with their SPD (Shimano Pedalling Dynamics) pedal system. This system meant the cleat was recessed into the shoe itself, making it a popular choice for mountain-bikers.

The worry of many who clip in to their pedals is that they won’t be able to get their foot out in time when they stop and the ignominious fall at traffic lights has been a feature for many who have newly adopted the clipless pedal; but perseverance and practice pays dividends and the efficiency achieved when the skill is mastered is worth the effort, especially when it comes to up-hill efforts.

For those who wish to try out their new found souplesse, a favourite route of mine that heads out from Inchture and up through Abernyte is a great climb to start on. It’s steep, but the road surface is good and if you continue over the top towards Coupar Angus you can combine it into a loop that includes the ascent of a previous week’s route up Tullybaccart.

Scot Tares

Cycle Route – Inchture to Abernyte

Copyright DC Thompson 2012

Taken from the Blazing Saddles Column in the Tayside Courier Weekend Supplement 19,5.12

Scot Tares bites off more than he can chew cycling at the Highland Games

“Bike is a terrible thing that drives you to make excessive efforts, inhuman efforts. It takes a racing cyclist to understand what it means to hurt yourself on a bike. Apart from that, everything else about cycling is wonderful: the friendships, the tactics, the ambience, the glory” – Jacques Anquetil

One of the great pleasures of cycling is the variety of disciplines within the sport; indeed, even the term ‘mountain biking’ is a generic phrase and covers many different activities that simply take place off-road, from downhill riding to dirt-crit racing.

One of the lesser known cycling disciplines is grass track racing which happens regularly throughout the summer at various Highland Games events around Scotland. The first Highland Games of the year that features grass track racing is Blackford, on 26^th May, but Tayside and Fife have an abundance of games throughout the summer which include Dunkeld, Markinch and Glenrothes.

Races are usually run on a 400metre lap and several different races take place, usually culminating in a “Deil tak’ the hindmost” showdown. This a frantic multi-lap sprint where the last rider across the line each lap is withdrawn from the race until the final three fight it out for the top places.

From a spectator’s point of view the racing is great viewing and closely-fought competitions provide great excitement. For the riders, the effort is full-on and lung-bursting where knowledge of the track conditions at each event is invaluable in choosing the correct gearing. At tracks such as Blackford where the back straight drags up, too big a gear can prove to be fatal and the rider will “blow” as he sprints to maintain the pace on each lap.

I remember watching my first grass track race in Dunkeld years ago and thinking, “That looks easy!” I duly registered with the Highland Games Association, picked the games I was going to ride at and arrived at my first race full of confidence. How wrong I was; despite having experience in hard track racing atCairdPark, road racing and XC, I suddenly found myself hanging on for dear life. Despite being way out of my depth back then, both in knowledge and fitness level, I learned a lot and had the time of my life as we raced in front of large crowds often just inches away, racing full-on, shoulder to shoulder, doing some of the most exciting cycling I’ve ever done.

If you are interested in racing, then I would heartily recommend “grass track”, and for youth and junior riders, it’s a great experience to ride in front of cheering crowds and have a great day racing on the bike. Even if you don’t want to race then they are still great races to spectate at; just don’t go thinking, as I did, “That looks easy”.

Cycle Route – Kinkell Bridge to Balgowan

If you are heading to Blackford then this short road loop in Strathearn is a lovely ride on quiet roads:

Copyright DC Thompson 2012

Taken from the Blazing Saddles Column in the Tayside Courier Weekend Supplement 12,5.12

Scot Tares enjoys a family day out on two-wheels

“Bicycles have no walls” – Paul Cornish

Cycling is an activity that does not discriminate against age and this makes it the ideal activity for a family day out. Kids of all ages love the sense of freedom and adventure and the adults accompanying them can, usually, just about keep up. From as soon as my children were born we would take them out in a twin trailer, but very soon they were riding their own bikes. One of my first articles for the Courier was extolling the virtues of “balance bikes” and I can’t praise them enough as they have allowed both our children, from the age of three, to progress onto pedal bikes, skipping the phase of stabilisers. This has allowed us to go on big camping adventures into the Cairngorms and access places that would be difficult if we expected our young children to walk.

Already a family favourite in the Tares household and very popular with lots of cyclists and walkers across Courier country, the Loch Leven Heritage Trail in Kinross is an ideal venue to cycle with families as the trails are flat and well surfaced and suitable for all abilities of cyclist, from the youngest to the oldest. Along the way there are interpretive boards describing the wealth of historical and natural attractions around the loch. There are also plenty of beautifully carved benches and nature hides to stop and rest at and refreshments can be found at several cafes dotted around the route. When we go we like to make an adventure of it for our young children and fill backpacks with food and drinks, so we can stop and have impromptu picnics; cycling can be thirsty work and regular stops for snacks are a great way to keep energy levels and enthusiasm high. The trail, which is in a National Nature Reserve, has a fantastic website which has downloadable maps of the full 12.5km loch-side trail broken down into sections, and there is even a “kids fun page” full of activity sheets.

Scot Tares

Copyright DC Thompson 2012

Taken from the Blazing Saddles Column in the Tayside Courier Weekend Supplement 5,5.12

Scot Tares looks forward to tomorrow’s Etape Caledonia with three road routes on Schiehallion

“You can say that climbers suffer the same as other riders, but they suffer in a different way. You feel the pain, but you’re glad to be there” – Richard Virenque

Cyclists are a masochistic bunch. Not just content with being the engine to their chosen form of transport, they look to make this harder by seeking out bigger and better climbs to ride up. The Etape Caledonia, taking place tomorrow in Highland Perthshire, is one of the biggest sportive events in the UK and the climb that takes centre stage for this event is that around the slopes of Schiehallion. One of the great reasons to ride on Schiehallion is that it has three different routes of ascent:

The Braes of Foss

This is probably the most popular route on Schiehallion as it is the route used on the Etape Caledonia itself. The steepest section is on the lower reaches of the climb as the road “hairpins” back on itself just past Crossmount Farm. This route also offers the best views of the summit of Schiehallion, visible as you break out from the trees at Lochan an Daim.

Tummel Bridge

This is a less well-known route on Schiehallion, but is a favourite of mine. The road here is wider and the surface smoother than on the other ascents and it is also the longest of the three. For spectators of the Etape Caledonia this is a good viewing point to see the riders at the top of the climb and can be accessed on the day via the south of Loch Tummel.

Glen Goulandie

Many riders don’t get the chance to appreciate the open views and beauty of Glen Goulandie as they hurtle down this side of Schiehallion on the Etape Caledonia; but this is a great way to ascend the mountain.

Scot Tares

Copyright DC Thompson 2012

Taken from the Blazing Saddles Column in the Tayside Courier Weekend Supplement 28.4.12

Out on a bike in Tayside

Get on your bike – Scot Tares highlights the fitness benefits of cycling and urges us to get out on two wheels in Tayside and Fife…

“Bicycling is a big part of the future. It has to be. There’s something wrong with a society that drives a car to work out in a gym” – Bill Nye

The health and fitness industry is full of ways to convince us that this year is the year when we are going to lose some pounds. Often those pounds are lost, but usually not from around our waist. Sometimes we can spend more time thinking about getting fit, and spending money in the pursuit of that svelte figure and less time actively pursuing it.

Cycling is not just one of the best exercises out there; it is also great fun too, and how often can you say that about getting fit? Even when it does feel like exercise, rather than a jolly on two wheels, the simple fact of being out in the fresh air and beautiful Scottish countryside makes it seem so far removed from your usual idea of ‘exercise’ that you are far more likely to want go out again.

One of the many great things about living in Tayside is the direct access to the countryside that we have. Even if you live right in the heart of the city, you are never more than a few miles from some green space or countryside; which means lots of free exercise space. Whatever your taste is in cycling, I firmly believe that we are blessed in Tayside and Fife with the finest on and off road cycling anywhere in theUK. There are endless mountain-bike trails suitable for all abilities and a huge spider-web network of relatively traffic-free roads, with a variety of flat terrain and mountain passes that ensures riders come from all over the world to cycle here; just look at the international popularity of the annual Etape Caledonia for evidence of this.

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With all this on our doorstep we should be out there enjoying and exploring our own Tayside and Fife on two wheels.

Cycle Route – Dundee to St Andrews

This week’s route is a family-friendly cycle route, that combines cycle path, short on-road and longer off-road sections.

Copyright DC Thompson 2012

Taken from the Blazing Saddles Column in the Tayside Courier Weekend Supplement 14.4.12

Scot Tares rides in a wilderness just at the back of Dundee

“Shred Lightly” – Scot Nicol

For me mountain biking can be a moral dilemma. On one hand I love the wilderness and unspoilt beauty of many areas, and want to protect that; on the other the rush of “shredding” down some single track is a strong pull, but there’s no denying the tyre tracks I leave behind. The rise of the trail centre, man-made tracks with plenty of technical features to please the majority of riders in many Forestry Commission owned properties has somewhat appeased the impact that knobbly tyres may have on the environment. However, I still yearn for those real hill and mountain days, where you plan a route of your own and embark on a full or multi day expedition very much alone in the wilds.

Many independent studies have shown that the impact of mountain biking in wild environments has no more a significant impact than of, say, hiking. That however does not absolve the cyclist of their responsibilities and our actions now leave a legacy for the future; each of us has a duty to protect the trails we ride and respect other users in these fragile areas. The International Mountain Biking Association UK has a detailed list of trail essentials that include “low-impact cycling” and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code further details the overall responsibilities that all outdoor enthusiasts should abide by, whether on horse, bike or foot.

Part of the dilemma I mentioned above is that guide-books and articles such as this detail routes and introduce people to areas that they may otherwise have been unaware of. The popularisation of these routes increases the pressures on these vulnerable areas and it is only with awareness of the impact that our actions have can we enjoy such areas now and in the future.

One area that I have a great affection for is the “Seedlees” and in particular, for mountain biking over Craigowl and Balkello to Auchterhouse Hill with its summit top earthwork remnants of an Iron Age fort. I have been walking and riding on these prominent hills on the Dundee skyline since I was a boy growing up in the city in the ‘70s following the example of Dundee’s most celebrated lover of the Seedlees, Syd Scroggie. Syd now has his own memorial atop Balkello Hill and this has become a well-known rest stop today amongst the next generation of hikers and bikers to follow in his footsteps.

The trails here are varied and in places can be fragile with a soft top layer of peat, so it is essential that riders stick to the trails, avoiding the more sensitive areas. However many sections can be enjoyed to the full and a favourite section is the quarry area on Balkello hill that has many technical sections to test your bike handling skills. For those who wish to go further afield, then a full route can be taken north towards Kinpurnie Hill with more remnants of a hill fort and crowned with the shell of a 19^th Century observatory built by James Stuart-Mackenzie.

Scot Tares

Route details:

Copyright DC Thompson 2012