Bikepacking weekend August 2023
Hervelo is a cycle club based in Edinburgh. It has around 50 members, mostly women and aims to encourage women to join sociable rides, either on or off road, via either road bike or mountain bike organised rides. In the last couple of years, several members have acquired gravel bikes and there have been some ‘easy’ group gravel day rides. However, members expressed the wish to do something a bit more adventurous, involving bike-packing and more technical routes, but felt they did not have the necessary knowledge/experience so it was decided to organise a 2-day bike-packing trip with the assistance of Jenn McKillop of A Wee Pedal. As this added significantly to the cost, we successfully secured some funding from Scottish Cycling to defray some of the expense.
It was decided to cycle from Aberfoyle to Strathyre, staying in pre-booked accommodation, and returning to Aberfoyle the next day. About three weeks before the trip, Jenn ran a workshop demonstrating the elements of bike-packing and checking that our bikes were all suitable for the terrain to be covered and answering all our questions. And so five of us intrepid adventuresses (aged 54-67) were packed and ready to go one Saturday morning, meeting up with ourselves and our guide in Aberfoyle.
Day 1 was relatively easy terrain – wide flat cinder paths - and it was a joy to be in the forest of Queen Elizabeth . Within the first two miles we had seen red squirrels, foraged for blaeberries and quenched our thirst ‘naturally’ with water squeezed out of sphagnum moss. Rain did not dampen our spirits though we opted not to wild swim in Loch Drunkie but pushed on to Strathyre.
Day 2 was warmer and drier and some of us could not resist a quick dip in Loch Venacher before the hard work started as we headed off on the RobRoy Way, starting with a push up a steepish hill. This route was a lot more technical than day 1 and the track became narrower, eventually becoming a stoney (and often muddy) walking trail, stretches of which we had to ‘hike-a-bike’; but it was fun and Jenn was careful to explain what was coming up whenever there was a change in terrain so that there were no unwelcome surprises. And then we were back on the road and into Aberfoyle.
What did we learn/enjoy? I think all of us gained confidence in ourselves and our bike handling skills. One individual was please she could do the weekend just by changing to more knobbly tyres on her bike. Flat soled mtb shoes with recessed cleats made the walking sections easier. The hills were at times challenging, but there is no shame in walking when needed – it’s all part of the adventure. The wild swim was not initially appealing but awesome once in. We got to see red squirrels which was fab. The scenery was great. Spending time with like minded people. And last but not least, Jenn was a great tour guide – we would highly recommend A Wee Pedal.
We are very grateful to Scottish Cycling for the funding support. All of the club members that came along are planning another outdoor bike packing adventure and the club is looking to do another similar activity with more members next summer.
Photographs: Jenn McKillop of A Wee Pedal; Sheena Wight, Hervelo member