The Cairngorms Cyclist Issue No 2: Spring 2015 Welcome to the spring edition of The Cairngorms Cyclist, a free seasonal E Newsletter which highlights just a few of the many world class cycling opportunities that the Cairngorms has to offer. Keep up to date with the latest local cycling developments, and remember, if you have a cycling story to tell, we’ll help you tell it! Pedals turn, revolutions begin! Kingussie is perhaps best known locally for being near the geographical centre of Scotland. But now, thanks to a new community led initiative, it will soon be at the centre of a new cycling revolution! Members of the Kingussie community have been working hard behind the scenes and in November, Kingussie Community Development Company successfully secured funding from Cycling Scotland, and ‘Cycle Friendly Kingussie’ was born. Local resident and cycling enthusiast, Bob Kinnaird, explains more. ‘Our project aim is a simple one. We want to significantly increase the number of people choosing to travel by bicycle around our community, whether it’s for their daily commute, for fitness, or purely for fun’. Bob doesn’t underestimate the task that lies ahead; ‘We know that there are many reasons why people find cycling a challenge, and we need to provide them with solutions. That may take the form of providing some training and information, or perhaps just the right bit of encouragement; for example organizing a leisurely group ride or highlighting a suitable safe route’. Over recent weeks, the steering group have been recruiting local volunteer ‘cycling champions’. ‘The next phase of the project is to train up our volunteers as Cycle Ride Leaders. We will equip them with all the necessary skills such as first aid and Velotech bicycle maintenance, and they will then help run our activity programme’. Although still being finalised, the programme is being tailored so that there is something for everyone, irrespective of age or ability level. It is envisaged that activities will include regular themed led rides, confidence building sessions and bicycle maintenance workshops. There will also be events to mark Bike Week and Cycle to School Week. Bob is also optimistic about the economic impact of the project; ‘Cycle tourism is becoming increasingly popular within the National Park, and our activities and events will help draw more cycling visitors into Kingussie and the surrounding area, which will be good news for local businesses’. Cycle Friendly Kingussie will be launching its Activity Programme at Kingussie High School on 21st April, 7pm (everyone welcome!), and will be celebrating all things cycling at their annual festival Bikefest Scotland, which takes place in Kingussie on 13th June. For more information on the project or for a copy of their spring activity programme, contact: [email protected], visit the website, or find them on Facebook. Extending the Speyside Way Local Knowledge! David Clyne, Recreation and Access Manager, CNPA Are you new to the area? It’s early March and snow is falling heavily in Aviemore. Surely no one Just visiting? What better would want to cycle in this weather? Or consider building a cycle path? way to get ‘up to speed’ on Not so in the Cairngorms! You just have to spend a day or two in local routes and trails than Glenmore or Aviemore and see how many brave souls head out on their mountain bikes, or even cooler, their ‘fat bikes’. Cycling in cold to join a local ride-out: weather is an amazing experience, offering the rider stunning views and Mike’s Bikes Aviemore icy challenges, particularly at night. Tuesday evenings, check Building cycle paths in the their Facebook page for winter is an altogether trickier details. challenge. The Cairngorms National Park Authority Bothy Bikes Aviemore (CNPA) is in the final stage of Wednesday evenings, extending the Speyside Way check their Facebook page path from Aviemore to Kincraig – due to be for details. completed by the end of April 2015, weather permitting. Additional useful sources of information: It’s a path for a wide range of non-vehicular access takers, linking people Visit Cairngorms to the wider path network in the Cairngorms. The route has been financially supported by two amazing public bodies: SUSTRANS Cairngorms National Park (Community Links) and Sport Scotland (Legacy 2014). The project is Authority managed by Cairngorm Outdoor Access Trust and constructed by Aviemore based contractor, McGowan Ltd Environmental Engineering. Mountain Weather Infor- Overall, an excellent example of partnership working. Watch this space mation Service for news of the official launch - with a very special guest - in June 2015. Upcoming Events: The CNPA plan to extend the route from Kincraig to Newtonmore and upgrade other existing sections within the next 3 years. When the Speyside Way extension is complete, we look forward to welcoming May even more cyclists to the Park – whatever the weather! King of the Mountains Sportive 16th May Download your free guide to the Speyside Way HERE. The Cairn O Mount Chal- lenge 30th May Active Cairngorms 3 Pistes Cyclosportive The development of assets such as The Speyside Way brings huge Aviemore, 31st May rewards, not only to our tourism economy but also for our physical and mental well-being. Designing, managing and promoting active places is a June key goal for CNPA over the next few years. Bikefest Scotland The Park’s aspirations are set out in the new outdoor access strategy, Kingussie, 13th June Active Cairngorms, which recently went out for consultation (now closed). This new strategy aims to get residents and visitors to use the Scottish Bikeathon Park for physical activity at least once a day. Initial indications are good. Kingussie, 14th June Recent path usage counts on the path linking Aviemore to Glenmore shows a big rise. Over the year from 2014-15 users on the ‘’Old Rock & Road Festival/ Logging Way’’ have jumped by over 8,000 to a total of over 70,000, with POC Enduro more than 20 extra cyclists using the route every day. Glenlivet, 13/14th June A Local Inspiration Who are you, what do you do, and what’s your connection with the Cairngorms? My name is David Smith, and I’m a Great Britain Athlete. I grew up in Newtonmore and now live in Aviemore. I won a gold medal at London 2012 with the GB Paralympic Rowing Team. After London I decided I wanted to challenge myself to make it to another games, but this time swapping boat for bike. For me, the Cairngorms offer lots of varied terrain for training, and make an ideal base for me. ‘Fat tyres’ or ‘skinny tyres’? I’m a road biker, so lots of Lycra and power meters for me! I use my Garmin to record all my training sessions and these are sent to British Cycling every day so they can keep track of my training. So there’s no hiding…not even up here in the Cairngorms! Gold for David Smith, London 2012 ‘Coffee and cake’ or ‘tea and scones’? There’s nothing better after a hard weeks training, than setting out on a café ride, we’re spoilt for choice up here, and there are lots of great little cafés along the roads in the Cairngorms. One of my favourite rides is out through to Lagan, and I’ll usually stop at Newtonmore for a brew on the way back home! Your cycling highlight of the year? The best day I’ve had on my bike in the Cairngorms was a route which took in the full National Park; we did 160miles, setting out from Aviemore at 6:30am. It was a fantastic day of riding with several café stops along the way. Setting off that morning was beautiful. As the sun rose over the mountains you could see your breath and only hear your heart beat as you watched the day unfold on the road ahead. With some brutal climbs thrown in to add to the fun, it was the perfect way to spend a day on the bike. Your next ‘dream ride’ in the Cairngorms will be… Well for me this is massive, as I’ve recently come through more spinal surgery to remove another tumour, which left me learning to walk again. I’m back in full-time training now, and steadily building myself back up. So for me, every ride is a ‘dream ride’. I just love being back on my bike, and every time David presenting medals at Bikefest Scot- I’m out I treasure the beauty of the Cairngorms! Family cycling on the Deeside Way If you are looking for family friendly cycling routes, you’re spoilt for choice in the Cairngorms! One such route is The Deeside Way, a long distance path running from the center of Aberdeen, all the way to Ballater in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, famous for its Victorian Heritage and links to Balmoral Castle. The path is Route 195 of the National Cycle Network. The route follows the line of the Old Royal Deeside Railway from Aberdeen to Banchory, through woodland and farmland to Kincardine O’Neil and then rejoins the old line from Aboyne to Ballater. The total distance is 41 miles. Along the way there are many opportunities to see remains of the old railway infrastructure as well as stunning views of the River Dee with the Cairngorm Mountains as a backdrop. Most of the route is off road with gradual gradients making for easy going…a perfect route for a family cycling trip! Visit www.deesideway.org for excellent downloadable maps and route descriptions, and a guide of things to see and do along the way.