Northern Coast to Coast '08

Six intrepid riders set off from the old kirk on Evanton beach early on Saturday morning for a planned rendevouz with Team toxic in Ullapool later in the day fresh from their Hebridean tour.

The crew were faced a fierce battle with a headwind for the 60miles to Ullapool.  Jackets were the order of the day as the picture at the bridge by Glen Calvie lodge show.   Numerous rain showers of varying strength battered us on our travels.

After Strath Cuilenach a three way split happened with Ewan, Gordymac and John M heading the charge whilst John H and Colin accompanied Swayndo with his sore knee.   Reaching knockdamph the obligatory signing of the visitors book and a good strahoak of the bothy was undertaken.

Knockdamph signalled the last push in to Ullapool with the quarry road being a welcome sight after 58miles. 

Once in Ullapool the first order was for a bag of chips to fuel our hunger and then a cool refreshing pint at the Ferry boat inn to quench our thirst.

 Next day ride- Sunday 27.07.08  

Ride to be announced on Friday.

  Next evening ride- Tuesday 29.07.08   

10@ Kirroughtree- Saturday 12.07.08

Fyrishbikes.com have returned as double winners of the 2008,  10@ Kirroughtree with Ewan winning solo and the team winning the quads.

Lap by lap times now on the spotlight page.

Full results available by clicking on the external link.

10@ Kirroughtree- Saturday 12.07.08

The team are off on their travels, Full report when we get home.

10@ Kirroughtree- Saturday 12.07.08

This weekend sees Fyrishbikes.com make the long journey to Dumfries for the second 10 of the year at the fantastic Kirroughtree trails in Galloway forest park.  Ewan will ploughing a lone furrow in solo.   Darren, Gordymac, Kyle and Mike retain the same team from 10UTB riding in the fours.  The team will be hoping for a similar result as they had in Fort William but as many will tell you anything can happen in bike racing.

A full report of the race and pictures will be posted on the teams return.

Strathspey Shenanigan- Saturday 20.09.08

The beauty of the scenery directly contrasts with the intensity of the cycle throughout Inshriach Forest and Rothiemurchus in this challenging sponsored mountain bike event. Race through the 38 mile route or do the fun ride on the 38 mile or 17 mile routes. The fun kicks off at 11am.

Fyrish- Friday 04.07.08

Team rider Tic sustained a broken collarbone whilst descending the hill with some of the crew late on Friday evening.  Ewan and Mike made a very good improvised sling out of Ewans riding jacket to allow Tic to gingerly walk down the rest of the trail to the car park where Sean was waiting to transport Tic to hospital.  The hospital confirmed that it was indeed a bust collarbone.   All at Fyrishbikes.com want to say a big thanks to Sean for coming to the rescue and wish Tic a speedy recovery.

Dawn raid- 28.06.08

Fyrishbikes.com were out in force at the Dawn raid at Golspie over the weekend.  This new event was held from 8 on Saturday night until 8 on Sunday morning.  The start was in the spectacular surroundings of Dunrobin castle and followed a route through Golspie and up onto Ben Bhraggie on the stunning Highland Wildcat trails.

Ewan adjusts his forks for the offroad.

Luckily the event was blessed with good overnight weather and the various bands played into the early hours.

Sunrise over camp Fyrish was around about 02.30.

Once morning arrived and the event wore on team bikes were simply abandoned on returning fron their laps.

Things get quite cluttered at endurance events!

A big thank you has to goto Donald our team support, who worked tirelessly during the night keeping all the team fuelled with tea and cakes.

There is no doubt the teams performance benefited from Donalds timekeeping.

Once results are available the teams performances and a lap by lap breakdown will be posted on the spotlight page.

Dawn raid- Stop press

Fyrishbikes.com have returned from a very successful Dawn raid at Golspie. Ewan won the solo category completing an incredible 23 laps and the Quad category was won by the team of Darren, Gordymac, Kyle and Mike completing 26 laps.  Kyle also took home the prize of first rider to the top of Ben Bhraggie/ fastest first lap. Gordymac and Ewan shared the fastest lap of the event at 24.01 minutes.

Full report to follow after some much needed sleep! 

 Dawn raid Golspie 28.06.08, 20.00 Saturday to 08.00 Sunday

"Fyrish Summer 12"-  Postponed until August

Due to a busy July and our ride being planned for the same weekend as the Sxc in Fort William it has been decided to postpone the "Summer 12" until sometime in August.  Keep your eyes peeled for a new date in the next few weeks.

2008 Raasay Rumble postponed- The full details

It is with great disappointment that I must confirm the postponement of the Raasay Rumble 13-14th September 2008.

During our recent recce visit, it became apparent that camping grounds would be insufficient. Raasay Outdoor Centre looks sad in its scaffolded state and the building works are intrusive. The best transition area ever, is out of bounds ... 

And to top that off? The island is dry! The Borodale Hotel is without a licence to sell beer. Although The Isle of Skye Brewery inflatable pub … you’ll see it next year … was going to be with us; I’d wager that the hotel bar would have been utilised quite extensively … 

Raasay Rumble 2009, Spring. Yay!

It is with a very light heart that I can say that we are already planning the Raasay Rumble in 2009. Stay tuned to these mailouts for updates. In the meantime, you can follow the Raasay House Blog on developments in the renovation project.

Also, during our recce visit, Raasay Rumble 2007 was remembered fondly by the locals; among the many good comments was a constant about ‘the kind of people who took part’. The 2007 stalwarts are admired for their determination in the face of adversity and also their respect for the local community.

So thank you from the Raasay Rumble team and look forward to seeing you all in 2009.

There are only two weeks left to get your entry in for Scotlands most Northerly endurance race.  The Dawn raid on Saturday 28th June will be run as a 12 hour race but with a midsummer twist, starting at 20.00 and finishing at 08.00.  Teams of four, two and solos will race through the night experiencing very little darkness on their way.  With an evening of music and entertainment planned for spectators there will be something for everyone at the Dawn raid.   Fyrishbikes.com will be represented by Ewan racing solo and Darren, Gordymac, Kyle and Mike in the fours with all five riders receiving technical support from fellow team rider Donald.

A full event report and pictures will be posted after the race.

10 Under the Ben 31.05.08

Fyrishbikes.com have taken the win in the Quads at The 2008 Benromach 10 Under the Ben.

Fyrishbikes.com/Fat tread bikes rider Ewan took 3rd and Alek 18th in Solo.  Finally Cher and Mhairi riding as "at last... a Fyrish team minus the testosterone" finished 4th in the female pairs race.

Full lap splits are available on the spotlight page.

10 Under the Ben 31.05.08

The vans are packed and bikes race prepped and as usual the heavens have opened!  Things could be muddy at Nevis range on Saturday but then it wouldn't be Fort William without it.

Keep your eyes peeled for a full race report and pictures on Monday.

10 Under the Ben 31.05.08

Saturday sees the Scottish endurance racing season swing into action with the 4th running of 10 Under the Ben.  This years event centre will be in the Nevis range car park and not the auction mart of old.  Fyrishbikes.com will be represented by Alek, Ewan and Henry in solo, Cher and Mhairi in pairs and Darren, Gordymac, Kyle and Mike in fours.

Sxc3 Fyrish placings- Updated

Sunday saw the Sxc return to Fyrish for the first time in 12 years so the local lads were keen to do well and that they certainly did.  Glorious conditions greeted all the riders with dust being the order of the day.  In Sport Ewan riding for Fyrishbikes.com/Fat tread bikes took home the win in convincing fashion.  Ewan was followed home by Kyle in 3rd a Sxc career best for him.  Mike finished a very respectable 4th in grand vet after a gruelling four laps of the Fyrish course.  Alek also had a career best finish of 15th in Masters.

All at Fyrishbikes.com would like to thank Mr Munro-Ferguson at Novar estate for very kindly letting us use the hill for the race and also to Steve at Square wheels for the organisation, Lastly a big thanks to all the trail crews and marshalls that spent many an evening and weekend out on the course preparing and marking the course.

Provisional placings and all lap times are now available by clicking the external link.

Sxc3 Fyrish- Sunday 25.05.08

The Sxc on Fyrish is fast approaching.  Almost all of the course is ready with only a few small things left to do.  Reports coming back from the course is that it is still dry and bedding in real nice.  Hopefully the weekend will bring us good weather so keep your fingers crossed.

A full report and pictures of how the Fyrishbikes.com riders fair on their home turf will be posted next week.

Arkle loop 08- Saturday 17.05.08

Five riders made the trip up to the wilds of North West Sutherland on Saturday to ride the Arkle loop.

Alek, Ewan, Greig and John take stock at the top of the first climb of the day above Lone bothy.

Ewan samples some of the varied riding on offer through to Bealach na Feithe.

Alek tops out on Bealach na Feithe after a pretty arduous climb.

The descent down the other side is long and again varied as it drops through the forest to the bridge up from Gobernuisgach lodge.

The sight of Ben Hope means that lunch is not too far away by the waterfall in Glen Golly.

It was then the turn of John to have fun with the trail by doing a spot of mountain bike long jump into this mud bog, If only you could do scratch and sniff on your computer screen you would know how smelly it was!

The Arkle loop really does throw up some stunning scenery.

The two massive boulders after the Allt Horn descent lets you know that your almost back at the car park....................

.............where a picnic awaits after a hard days riding.

Sxc3- Fyrish- Marshals needed.

We are on the lookout for marshals to help at the Sxc at Fyrish on Sunday May 25th. 

• You will be required from 09.00 until 16.00 approx. 
• There will be a marshals breifing in the Novar quarry at 09.30 where you will be given a high viz vest and walkie talkie before heading out to your position on the course.
• Refreshments and lunch will be provided for you.
• If we get enough volunteers we can rotate positions on the course during the day.

If you are interested in marshalling and helping then get in touch via the guestbook or by contacting Gordymac or Steve@ Square wheels.

Trail clearing update

12.05.08 

There have been some alterations to the route of the course today.  A new section of singletrack has been opened up lower down the hill from old skool.  The trail traverses the hillside and drops onto the wet climb just below the exit from old skool.  Another section of singletrack has also been opened up on the windfarm road descent below oil drum run, this is a bus stop section to scrub some speed on the descent.  All other sections remain unchanged.

08.05.08

Thursday evenings trail clearing saw the group clear the short link section between the two dead end trails,  this section is now available to be ridden to bed it in.  Also it still has to be named so suggestions please!

Continual trail work now means more of the trail is ready for the Sxc.   As of now Oil drum run is clear and fully rideable along with the entire length of Mdr.  Boggy burn has been worked on and is now ridable through the stream and up over the logs to Fairy glen.

23.04.08

Following on from our meeting with Mr Munro-Ferguson at Novar on Tuesday, part of the course has to be altered to avoid passing through a private area of the estate.    Due to this slight alteration to the route a small section of trail through a small wooded area will need to be cleared to allow us to link up two dead end trails.  Once complete the new section will rejoin the original route on the track which leads onto killer climb. 

Fyrishbikes.com has now passed through 50'000 hits in a little over a year, to date there has been 50'054 hits.