This Descent Did Not End Well

[@KevinMcAfee]

I had to remind myself to stop grinding my teeth when you were going through those long sections of chunk. Epic ride, mate!

[@McTrailRider]

😄 thanks Kevin 👍

[@neilcopeland165]

Had a few days up in Aviemore two weeks ago and did your Sgor Goaith ride from a previous vid of yours. Big push up, no great view of Loch Einich because of low cloud but what a tremendous descent and a truly memorable day on the bike. Thanks

[@McTrailRider]

Nice! That route is fantastic, I really enjoyed it when I did it👌

[@DrGeorginaCook]

Great video, did same loop last week, but luckily I know the right ending, down to Creag Follias and weather station and sweet zigzag trail. Hope you get to do it again and enjoy the better trail down at end. That long ridge up top is awesome though, nice to relive it on the vid.

[@McTrailRider]

Sounds h more enjoyable than this option 😜 I will get back very soon and get it right 😜

[@GrumpyOldMan70]

I really enjoy watching you ride man. You are very positive. I would have been cussing my face off at the times you were laughing. And "unscheduled dismount" is now my favorite OTB comment. Travel safely.

[@McTrailRider]

To be honest, I edited a lot out of this video. I was pretty pissed of a couple of times😄

[@samhayman5191]

Love your videos, just makes me get out and ride everytime 👍 The 530 is decent as well, bloody love mine.

[@McTrailRider]

Great to hear Sam, I’m loving the Garmin so far 👍

[@philthorley5229]

@@McTrailRider don't forget to use the lanyard to the bars, it will come in handy 😀

[@tonyguest8154]

This is just spectacular! I must admit I had battery range anxiety watching this, just love the footage and scenery, bravo to you and your mate 👍🏻

[@McTrailRider]

Thanks Tony, the battery usage wasn’t actually too bad all things considered 👍

[@kevinwilleford7876]

That was a proper adventure guys! Glad you made it out in one piece.

[@McTrailRider]

Thanks Kevin

[@Ey_up]

Beautiful day! I once walked 2 miles in the wrong direction on the Cairngorm plateau...map was upside down. It took knee-deep heather wading to get back on track. I feel your pain(?). Doh!

[@McTrailRider]

I think we’ve all been there at one time or another 😬

[@5492sparky]

Nothing compares to an adventure in the hills! Great edit Andrew. 👍

[@McTrailRider]

I hear ya Mark 👍

[@stevegraham3041]

I took a wrong turn and walked up that last bit you came down earlier today

[@thebarofclay6100]

"one of those crash things" haha I've had a few of them my time... At least the heather is a little softer than rock

[@McTrailRider]

It was quite an enjoyable crash to be fair 👌

[@richardeljay]

Great persistence in the face of adversity..beautiful weather must have helped..and decided to sign up to your Patreon as a result.

[@McTrailRider]

Thanks buddy 😊 Looks like my persistence paid off in more ways than one 👍

[@DizRidesMtb]

Absolute pleasure watching ur channel again bro. Fab advice fab ridin awesome trails too m8 😎

[@McTrailRider]

Thanks very much 😊

[@HallMarc_Trails]

That last descent looked like a challenge haha, great video 👍

[@McTrailRider]

Just a little challenging 😂😢

[@gregorydobson4307]

20 minutes in and that's real hard tracks, but fantastic scenery guys.

[@McTrailRider]

Very testing tracks towers the end for sure

[@Bessunger]

Beautiful landscape, as always, that is so great. I enjoyed you having fun and repeatedly hoping that you finally hit the right path, however... it only got worse. Glad you did it in one peace. And please do not repeat that you're cheating. e-mtbs are perfectly fine and acceptable

[@McTrailRider]

Thanks Thorsten😊 The Ebike comments are kind of a running joke tbh, I absolutely love them 🤗

[@alaninman4474]

Was up there with the Highlander a few weekends ago. Pushed 90% of that hideous fireroad up 🤣 1st time up so thankfully done the dh route you done last time. Much fun was had!

[@McTrailRider]

I can imagine that fireroad in a regular bike 😬😢 The descent you took though is amazing! There is a hiking trail that is more direct if you go back again.

[@recsund]

the footage quality of your channel is grand, looks the dream, especially down here in flat london :P

[@bobmarley6161]

Wow... Stunning.... Fantastic.... Love the scenery..... And beautiful weather..... I want a trek mountain bike I really like them....

[@McTrailRider]

That Trek was very nice 👍

[@TheAquanomad]

The weather looks amazing! I was lucky enough to get a week like that a couple of years ago when I did the Cairngorm loop. Now I have an emtb I'm really eager to get back up there!

[@McTrailRider]

The weather makes such a big difference. Get back as soon as you can dude👍

[@craige2877]

That view down to loch Einich has to be up there with the best in Scotland. If you come up a bit further along Glen Feshie your can knock off 3/4 Munro's.

[@McTrailRider]

It’s truly spectacular! So much higher and more dramatic than any camera can give it credit for.

[@craige2877]

@@McTrailRider aye you were brave cycling right up to the edge, I crawled up after ditching the bike further back. 👍😂

[@vert_n_dirt]

Good stuff! Amazing views on the last couple vids

[@McTrailRider]

More of the same to follow too 👍

[@chrisgould9101]

Now that's one thing you do not see a lot of here in BC E bikes, places sell them but not many people ride them here. A lot of trails don't allow them yet. Love the video nice way to spend a day just cruising the mountain side.. Cheers bro keep them coming....

[@McTrailRider]

I hope you guys and the USA come round a bit more to them, they really are fantastic machines 👌 This day was so much better because of them 😊

[@chrisgould9101]

@@McTrailRider I think there great idea honestly cause we have a few older guys in the group i ride in and they could benefit with the added boost to help with climb up to some trails. i demoed a Norco sight vlt last summer i thought it was a blast.

[@TuckRob]

There's a lot of options coming off Sgor Gaoith. I don't think I've stayed entirely on the right route of the few different descents I've done. If you do go back to ride the switchbacks on what was your intended route make sure you take the track from there back to Lagganlia. I took the path on the map that heads towards Loch Gamha on the way back to Aviemore (despite being told to avoid - I forgot the advice). The heather, birch and young pine scrub became so inpenetrable that I ended up walking up the burn with the bike on my shoulders. The heather at the side of the switchbacks was great though. Just a nice cushion for the comedy falls. Great video. I enjoyed seeing that long high level ride across the tops again.

[@McTrailRider]

The amount of options seems to be both a blessing and a curse at the same time. I hope to try some more options, then maybe one day I will get it all right 🤞 I will avoid loch Gamha😜

[@taffycymroukmtb9073]

Proper RUGGED at the End 👌🚴🚴 looks like you both enjoyed buddy 👌😉 great views buddy 👌

[@McTrailRider]

Thanks Taffy 👍

[@pdpcycling248]

Great adventure, mate. Kudo for that!

[@McTrailRider]

Thanks buddy

[@jamespaterson6550]

Enjoyed another crackin' vid , you got some fantastic weather for it.👍

[@McTrailRider]

My only compliant was it was a bit too hot 🙄

[@stuartwoodburn2653]

You must have been tiered at the end as you sat down a lot! I have been there nice video.

[@McTrailRider]

I was starting to wear both physically and mentally towards the end 😓

[@StoneAgeProductionsAdventure]

Sick one lads. The trail after the wrong turn looked like hell.. I was up there for a week with my crappy junk bike a few weeks ago. I can't believe my bike actually survived the journey, the downhill sections and Ben Macdui! Just wish I had a full-sus e-bike for it and not a hardtail lol... Videos of that adventure coming soon 🙂

[@McTrailRider]

Your bike can’t be that bad if it stood up to that punishment 👍

[@StoneAgeProductionsAdventure]

@@McTrailRider True! but it is a teenager's Baracuda hardtail that I got from the skip for £10 a few years back..

[@Doogiehowzer]

A couple of classic comedy offs 😂 great content as always 🤙

[@McTrailRider]

I was only laughing on the outside 😢😜

[@Thepoeticmtbr_The_poetic_mtbr]

First half I was ready to comment and praise your knowledge of the area and trails etc etc .....and then it all when tits up 😄 happens to the best on occasion 😉 great quality vid as always and the views were stunning 👋 continue to inspire 👍

[@McTrailRider]

Just as well you waited then 😜 You win some, you lose some, this being a lose. Still a great day out on the bike though👍

[@2508Nivag]

Sure thats 2 for 2 with your fellow riders having an off defo sticking to watching your rides rather than trying to emulate. Great video as usual.

[@McTrailRider]

People seem to always eat s#*t when they ride with me 😂

[@rascott1970]

Good place for an ebike! A bit old school but an actual map and compass is worth taking to the hills. Gives you options when the route finding goes wrong...

[@McTrailRider]

Very true with the map and compass, but the problem I had here was that the trail was marked but probably shouldn’t have been 🙄

[@rascott1970]

McTrail Rider yep I do a lot of walking in Scotland and what’s a luxurious motorway for walking would be tough to ride on. Good effort, I’ve never fancied lugging a bike up a Munro.

[@robadobdob]

Good to see some people still keeping the GripShift faith.

[@McTrailRider]

It’s funny, I never really used Gripshift back in the day, but love it now 👍

[@johnnybigood4708]

I have to go here, 1 problem I'm not sure my old saracen raw2 with its standard suspension would survive, but I'm gonna give it go anyway. Love it 👍

[@McTrailRider]

You could ride it on a hardtail to be fair, so you should be grand 👍

[@23sunderland]

Andy looked reluctant once he realised the situation

[@McTrailRider]

That’s what my rides do to people 😂

[@23sunderland]

@@McTrailRider he lives in flat land . I am cutting my teeth in Rocky cornwall mine waste lumpy granite land it looked do able to me . But fair play he hung in there no one hurt . Love the vids mate

[@streetpigeonmtb]

You did well to stay chill. I think I would've launched the bike and walked out 🤣

[@McTrailRider]

You should see how much I edited out then Jamie 😂

[@Scottishebikeadventures]

Excellent video. Defo taking my E-bike up this within the next week or so. I'll not be taking that descent path tho lol Just need a decent weather window 🙏

[@McTrailRider]

Highly recommended....... excluding the final section of course 😆

[@Scottishebikeadventures]

@@McTrailRider of course... I don't like falling off, I'm allergic to it 😁. I'll be gopro'ing it.

[@andyraven6219]

That was some serious Bush whacking at the end.

[@McTrailRider]

Unfortunately so 🙄

[@andyraven6219]

@@McTrailRider unfortunately when discovering new trails, some you win some you lose. Stay safe and keep up the great content.

[@peterbeer4746]

Another great day out on the bike with great views , how is the pivot performing ??

[@McTrailRider]

Indeed 👍 The Pivot has been great! The motor/battery aren’t as good as the Levo was, but when it comes to descending it’s very comparable to a regular bike, so very capable👌

[@twdmullins]

Out of curiosity, when you are in the middle of nowhere like that and an injury would mean an air ambulance, do you ride well within your limits? A broken bone out there with changing weather would be one bad day! Keep up the great work, love the riding, the details of where and what you ride, just a good all round viewing experience.

[@McTrailRider]

As a general rule, I try not to ride outside my limits at all. Obviously the further away I get from potential help, the more I try to dial it back.

[@Swaggerlot]

I'd put the wee lanyard onto the 530; they can fly a long way in a tumble.

[@McTrailRider]

Good call 👍

[@01FozzyS]

Well now that was an adventure! lol

[@McTrailRider]

😄

[@Rightbyme]

Hi what tyres do you use on this bike for these Munro’s ?

[@McTrailRider]

Maxxis dhf our front and Schwalbe Eddie Current on the back.

[@GrahamStorr]

Andy did you have to add the shimano wireless unit into the steps system to get it to pair to Garmin ?

[@McTrailRider]

I did, and that really annoys me tbh. Extra cost for very little reason imo

[@GrahamStorr]

@@McTrailRider ye its very annoying most of the other systems don't need it just shimano,the GREED will never end lol 😆

[@nmealey]

Excellent video, you continue to inspire me! Quick question.. how are you mounting your camera to your front. In is it chest mounted or bottom of helmet?

[@McTrailRider]

Thanks Neil, I mount the camera to the chin bar of my full face helmet.

[@nmealey]

@@McTrailRider excellent, thanks.

[@dcdiagfix]

How do you find the 530? Does it good off-road mapping?

[@McTrailRider]

I’m really liking it so far, unfortunately it can’t tell you if a trail is good for biking or not, just that there is a trail which is what happened in this video.

[@jbs11]

the scenes!!!

[@McTrailRider]

😍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@pauldolman7487]

another great ride 👍. can you do trailforks for maps as I don't use strava anymore and unlike strava, trailforks maps are free.

[@McTrailRider]

I don’t think you have to pay or even be on Strava to view the activity, do you?

[@pauldolman7487]

@@McTrailRider I would like to use some of your trails on my Garmin but you cant download them on strava unless you pay the subscription.

[@McTrailRider]

Paul Dolman 🤔 I will need to look into that then 👍

[@johnwilliamson9453]

You're a skillful rider, BUT you should be wearing protective gloves, especially in that gnarl! Lovely ride, Strava doesn't do justice to the rough rocky descent!

[@McTrailRider]

Thanks John, I get comments about the gloves quite a lot. I just prefer the feel, still wear a full face helmet and knee pads almost religiously though.

[@johnwilliamson9453]

@@McTrailRider Well I'm a bit more careful of the hands after breaking the 4th metacarpal in a relatively simple "get-off". Now I always wear POC DH gloves. Seems like the hand is the first thing to hit the ground, unless you're adept at the tuck-and-roll, which I am not. BTW, what is your bike setup? Thanks for bringing us along for the ride!

[@McTrailRider]

John Williamson it’s a natural reaction to put your hands out for sure, but I don’t see gloves preventing me from breaking bones, only saving skin which is obviously still important. Bike is a Pivot Shuttle gx.

[@MTBScotland]

you missed out on the tiny ride up to Mullach Chlach a Bhlair

[@McTrailRider]

Didn’t even notice it tbh 🙄

[@MTBScotland]

McTrail Rider it’s only worth doing if you go that way. It’s a perfect ebike route apart from the lifting over the fence

[@kevinelias6129]

That looks so rough to ride on , the speed your doing makes it look easy but I know it really isn’t .

[@McTrailRider]

I appreciate that Kevin 😊 these modern bikes really help to be fair.

[@Adasrast]

When we will see You on Ben Macdui? ⛰🚵🏻‍♂️

[@McTrailRider]

Planning on hitting it in the next couple of weeks 👍

[@paterjo8561]

Thanks for the video. Guess it shows you should not follow Garmin tracks with out doing your research :)

[@McTrailRider]

I don’t know why that last trail is even marked to be honest, I don’t think it’s even meant to be used at all😳 Everyday is a school day 👍

[@kennymathieson6471]

Certainly not meant for bikes, but then again, none of the mountain trails were. Some work, some don’t, and if you survive the latter, you’re ahead of the game!

[@breathenarrative]

Today Andy rides in Skyrim!

[@McTrailRider]

Had to Google that, I’ll take your word for it 👍

[@greencroft]

I recognised that "path" down having descended on foot that way with my son in the snow one year a while ago. Still, the views from the top on a day like that should have made up for the struggles later on? I came down the other track on my bike in July - the one you featured in an earlier video. I had the whole hillside to myself as the sun was setting and it has to be up there with one of the best MTB experiences for me ever.

[@McTrailRider]

Yes, the top made up for the bottom section, although I would not wish to repeat it 😜 The other route, that you took on the bike, is so good! I was giddy when i done it.

[@triciamcintyre4947]

Jealous guys,what a day,how's the e-bikes when over the 15 mph limit.👍🚴🌅

[@McTrailRider]

My bike is not too bad over 15mph, not any noticeable resistance at the cranks but the bike is heavy and you feel that.

[@triciamcintyre4947]

We call a 25kg electric MTB really heavy,I was looking at a Frey electric MTB from China,it was 35kg,yes that's right,well it's got the bafang motor,160 nm💥

[@kennethmorton7671]

I've finally had a shot of an E bike. They are definately cheating but are also great fun.

[@McTrailRider]

You spelt winning wrong 😜 but yes, they are fun 👍

[@kennethmorton7671]

@@McTrailRider 😂😂😂

[@andyclarke2969]

Thats a shame as that is a cracking loop, you do realise you went wrong at the end and should have stayed on the high ground to the small mast, an old stalkers path descents from here with some great switchbacks.

[@McTrailRider]

I realise now where I went wrong, will get it right next time 👍

[@bradgriffith6234]

The video quality was not the best on this one. Did you change cameras?

[@bradgriffith6234]

Meant to say the initial part of the video

[@McTrailRider]

Usual setup on the Hero 8 for this, 99% of the time, it’s the internet connection at fault. Try it later on maybe?

[@br1200]

🤙🤙

[@McTrailRider]

🤘

[@jamiepybus6195]

8:56 why not go behind instead then

[@McTrailRider]

Because Andy didn’t want to go first

[@Itsthejourneynotthedestination]

Enjoyed that, well except for your mates shirt 🤦‍♂️ Do you not concern yourself about ticks wearing shorts up there ?

[@McTrailRider]

Don’t worry, I have a word with him about that in a couple of videos time 😜 If I worried about ticks, I would mountain bike to be honest. Didn’t get any on this occasion👍

[@gregbess3302]

love the channel, watch it a lot ,,, please, please,please stop buying into the narrative that e-biking is cheating ... even as a joke .... its jjust another mntn bike platform ,,, you pays your money you takes your choice ... if you are on a mountain bike and off the tarmac you ARE mountain biking ,,, lets keep this sport inclusive ... please ....AND .... loved the vid :-)

[@McTrailRider]

I think your thinking about it a bit too much Greg. People can think and do what they want, unfortunately I get a lot of comments telling me that ebikes aren’t real bikes, it’s cheating, etc etc. So I like to make tongue in cheek comments towards those people.

[@cameronharding7646]

Go the the masts you’re not that far

[@McTrailRider]

I know that now 🙄😄

[@johndarch5439]

ebikes are not cheating!!

[@McTrailRider]

If the competition is to have to most fun possible, then they are absolutely cheating!😜

[@johndarch5439]

@@McTrailRider I suppose it depends on what you want to get out of your mountain biking. They do help those of us who are getting a 'little older' to still tackle the trails we did when we were younger. Ours certainly keep us riding more than we otherwise would and we can still have a good workout if we so choose. I found your descent of Ben Macdui fascinating as I climbed that route back in the 70's before heading over Cairngorm and down to Loch Morlich. A long days walk from the hostel at Inverey. Now that's something I couldn't do today! Keep up the good work with the videos great entertainment when stuck at home.

[@ltendler3]

I’m just here to complain about the ebikes. 😛

[@McTrailRider]

Quite right, they’re just the worst😜

[@ltendler3]

Well I’m glad your ashamed of yourself. Great vids thanks

[@stugw4839]

Fack the haters, mon the ebikes 👍

[@McTrailRider]

🤘💪💪

[@hoboheathen8926]

Too many adverts.

[@McTrailRider]

It’s a necessary evil I’m afraid. Can’t make any money unless I allow mid roll ads, it’s the same for most channels tbh. I ended up getting KZbin premium which does away with adverts.