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Laura Martin: HB.130 Scotland Trip

09.10.2020
 

Having received my shiny new HB130 I knew there were a few places I really wanted to go riding. Then bam just like that lockdown hit us all. This was a big knock for all of us and it was hard going, to say the least. Once the restriction lifted here in Scotland there was one place I was itching to travel too. The tweed valley. I am so lucky to have Nevis Range in Fort William as my local trails believe me I know that but the Tweed valley is one of my favourite places to go riding. There are so many options down there and I knew as soon as I could I wanted to pack up my van conversion and head there.  I am not going to lie the new normal is a lot to get our head around and this trip was a bit daunting to make the trip south again. From here it takes me about 4 and a half hours of driving to truck down to Peebles. I don't know about any other biker but I love to travel and find new trails to try out and find my feet with. I knew I had about 8 nights in the Peebles area and I knew I wanted to hit as many new trails as I could. So I packed up the van with my bike, biking kit and the dogs oh and the husband and we set off. 

Of course, this is Scotland and as soon as we arrived we were hit with some of the worst rain I have seen since winter. That’s ok I am a highlander after all its time to pop the waterproofs on and hit the trails anyways. Since the weather was so bad we decided to hit Glentress first for some fun on some local trails. Two full-on days here in the rain it was. Not being local to the area finding local trails can be really hard. I would really recommend if you are new or a seasoned biker to join some mountain bike group. I am part of some amazing woman's mountain biking groups and it is such a fun a supportive atmosphere. Here is where I met a lovely local called Lynne who was so kind to point me in the directions of some amazing trails. I have spoken to so many lovely people over the years through these groups and Instagram. Do not be afraid to put your self out there. Especially if you are looking for help or advice or even when restrictions ease people to ride with. These groups are a wealth of knowledgeable people. I was armed with Lynne’s kind directions and off I went in the mud and rain and found some of the best riding I have ever done at Glentress. The trails I particularly liked are Jailbreak, Careless Whisper and Thunderstruck. These were really fantastic intermediate/hard local trails. The tweed valley has some of the best trail builders in Scotland in my opinion. 

After two amazing fun days riding in the mud and slop it was time to head to the Golfie. Now, this is my idea of biking heaven. There are so many good trails over there. The first day one of our friends who are new to biking joined us for a ride. It was lovely to show him around the local trails that we know at the Golfie. He is based in Edinburgh and Stephen and had never done the Golfie before. This was a more tame day hitting trails like Big Ball and Flat White. It was time for a day off and a much-needed tourist day in the area, something we have never done before. But after a lot of miles and a lot of climbing my legs needed a rest. 

It was time to head back to Glentress. Our friend Stephen was back with his really new to mountain biking friend Joe and it was time to show them both around the trail centre. This was such a fun day. I really think it is important to help introduce new people to mountain biking. I really love showing people why mountain biking is a great thing to do and that anyone is capable of hitting the trails. There are so many options in the biking community from beginners to professional mountain biking is awesome. If you are reading this I dont need to tell you this. Do I. I like to help new riders with little hints and tips to help them progress and become more confident and safe on their bikes. It is so important in the biking community to support each other. Fantastic day with the boys at Glentress. 

It was our last day in the Tweed Valley and It just so happened two of our best friends Dave and Fiona were staying in the area. So we made a plan to hit the Golfie one last time. I am really lucky with my group of friends they are all really supportive and without them, I would not be the rider I am today. This day at the Golfie was no different. We headed up to do a lap of Big ball before they arrived and then rolled down to meet them for the long climb back up. We headed to New York, New York. Now I have to say it has been years since I did this trail. I normally spend all my time in the wooded area at Glentress practising roots and drops. But we all decided to head up to give New York, New York a try and I could not be happier this trail was so much fun. Why have I not done it in years. It is bermy fast and tight fun and techie. It was heaven and I can not wait to give it another go. From here we were all in need of cake so it was time to find a route to the nearest cafe. We chose the trial Spanner. Woo now that is a hard trail. This is steep and very techie with some drops and jumps thrown in for good measure. I think this is the hardest trail I have done at the Golfie and I loved it. I find riding with my husband and our friends the perfect time to push my limits as I feel the safest and most comfortable in their presence. They are good at trail reading and also stopping to look at the feature and line choice. 

At the beginning of the week, we had made the decision to head to Pitlochry. To check out Ben Cathros new trail ending our time in the Tweed Valley early but the chance of riding the new trail in the sun was too good to miss. So it was time to head back up north and say goodbye to the Tweed Valley. I feel the Tweed Valley is such a good place to really get to grips with my new HB130. No matter what kind of trail I though at my bike she could handle it. I did everything from fast and opinion blue trail centre trails to hard techie Rooty steep local trails. There seems to be nothing that this bike can not do for me. I have found my bike has really helped to improve my riding. I can get more air when jumping, I am climbing faster and tackling harder trails.

I have been a Hope Tech fan for a long time and I accredit my Hope E4 brakes for changing my riding for the better. I was so excited to get the chance to be a Hope Tech ambassador and own one of their HB130. It really is a dream bike for me. Not only is it British made by the best craftsmen to the highest standard but it is also just so pretty. Yes, I went there. It is a work of art in my opinion and the spec on this bike is incredible. I am so happy to be Hope Tech ambassador and can not wait to make new memories on my HB130 and I am excited to share my adventures with you all. 

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