Cairngorms Loop

Remember folks, the group finish this year is on the 26 July! We’ll finish at Dalraddy holiday park again, where there are food vans and the pub is a (relatively) short pedal away in Aviemore. Remember to book a spot if you’re planning to stay at Dalraddy. See you there?

You can join the Loopy Loop WhatsApp to discuss tyre pressure, snack choices or find a riding buddy:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/DHzuPWBbJEW0iXvaMd6Kz5

New FKT!

Last Friday Nat Munro sneaked in a ride with the last of the good weather, whizzing around the ‘original’ route in 21 hours 22 minutes, setting a new fastest female time by a few hours. Well done Nat!

The newer, slightly longer route has a fastest female time of 33h 40m, so will we see a speedier ride of that this year? 🤔

26 July is your date for the groupy loopy group finish. The plan is to use Dalraddy holiday park as a basecamp again. See you there? Sunshine is already booked in 🌞

The Groupy Loopy is back in 2025 (with better weather than last year). Get the 26 July in your diaries!

Quick last minute FYI…

At Feshiebridge a short section of track is blocked by fallen trees. You want to follow the red arrow around it (rather than the blue). The RWGPS track is updated, so you can just re-download if you want. Thanks to the all-seeing eyes of Andy for spotting it.

Last call for a Looping good time...
I'm setting out on the XL Loop (the sooper dooper looper) tomorrow evening, so here's a last reminder about how things are working this year before things get real.

Pizzas! If you would like a nutritious and delicious pizza from G's Pizza Box on Saturday afternoon, message him to order one! Because they'll likely sell out and then you'll be sad.

Parking. If you're staying at Dalraddy then book a spot for a vehicle if you're needing one. But their wee carpark isn't a good spot to dump cars/vans for several days as they'll be busy enough with the start of the holidays. Better parking can be had either at Feshiebridge sculpture park/Feshiebruach, or at Coylumbridge. Both are just a couple of miles away. If you're not staying at Dalraddy, wander down to the camping field and come say hello.

Join the chat and share photos/nonsense here too if you'd like:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/DHzuPWBbJEW0iXvaMd6Kz5

That's about it by way of organisation! The 2024 route is on this page and on the website, but you'll be fine with the 2023 version too. Remember that this a self-supported thing — carry what you need to keep yourself safe, and remember that good decisions weigh nothing and count for a lot more than a fancy head torch or carbon wheels...

And the main thing is have fun! Whether you ride the full thing, some of the thing or various bits of the thing all stuck together wonky.

See you Saturday, if not on the trail.

Huw

Here is the (only very slightly) updated gpx for this year, starting and finishing from Dalraddy:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42745223

Anyone starting soon?

June 2024 Cairngorms Loop Group Finish 313.2 km, +4032 m. Bike ride in Highland, Scotland

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Graham the pizza wizard 🧙‍♂️ would like an idea of numbers for pizza on Saturday so that he can do the right spells. So hands up here please, and send him a WhatsApp( G's Pizza Box ) to order one!
Ta.
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XL loop anyone?

Two weeks to go until group finish time 😁
For anyone that fancies it, I’ve made a gint Cairngorms Loop that’s in need of some beta testers. As well as being longer, it’s a bit hillier and more physical than the standard route, but you get to traverse the southern Cairngorms (four times) and see some lovely places from the saddle.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43249923

The ‘standard’ loopy loop will be the same route as last year, with just a tweak to start from Dalraddy.

Who’s keen for the big yin?

CL XL? 494.4 km, +8444 m. Bike ride in Highland, Scotland

Group finishers!
G's Pizza Box will be at Dalraddy on the 29th if you feel like you’ve earned a tasty pizza. If you want one, please get in touch via his facebook/WhatsApp to book a slot for the afternoon, and mention that you’re a Looper 😄
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Hi ay Loopers, there’s been a stream of folks signing up to the group finish in June, which is ace 😃

Remember, the start/finish this year will be Dalraddy Holiday Park, where there’s also a food van, camping, showers and a wee shop. Ideal. If you’re planning to stay there, you’ll need to book camping through their website. If not, the nearest long-term parking is either Feshiebruach again, or Coylumbridge (both just a few miles).

Send me a signup message/email if you’re planning to join but haven’t done so already, and sign up to a group WhatsApp if you want to chat tyre pressures and snack strategies etc:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/DHzuPWBbJEW0iXvaMd6Kz5

Keep eyes peeled for a route file soon, with minor changes plus this XL version I seem to have commited to…

See you in June!

Get this one in your diaries: 29th June 2024, the group finish will be back!

FKTs:
Funkiest known time belongs to John Maclean.
Funnest Known Time is Beckie and Helen (hard to measure mind).
Fluffiest Known Time is undisputedly the Feshiebridge Highland Coos.

Any more gpx files from this year? Get them sent over to add to the growing completion list for the new route!

See you all next June, I can’t wait 😁

After some subtle fettling, Feshie singletrack south of Ruigh Aiteachain is passable again! 🎉