GMX - The Applecross Edition 8th to 10th Sept 2017
 

Just pondering & planning what my biking passes are going to be used for next year.

Anyone thought anything about it?

Re: Gm10
 

Erm not even thought about it.

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Wherever it is, I'm looking forward to it.

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Is it time for it to move to Northumberland Malc?

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Re: Gm10
 

I racked my brains for a suitable single centered venue last year when Ron was looking and couldn't find one. Moffat is perfect but not single venue.

Re: Gm10
 

I floated the idea last year of dropping the single venue model, and choosing a town and a pub. People preferred the single venue model. But people may have to accept that the options have been exhausted on that one if they want the GM to continue.

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Re: Gm10
 

Northumberland would work using the AR venue

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Re: Gm10
 

Applecross was muted last year at the GM. It's not a single venue but there's no hiding.

Yes it's a long way to go... But my god it's worth it... Breakfast in Lochcarron anyone?

Re: Gm10
 

I thought Applecross had been settled on.

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Something Applecross will probably happen. But I ain't organising it...

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Who's volunteered that then?

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Re: Gm10
 

Applecross is a cant of a long way from anywhere. Setting off after work on the Friday I couldn't have made it there this year, but if nobody is coming from down south then it could definitely work.

Northumberland makes me wriggle a bit. Sure it's beautiful, but it's not very Scotland is it? Is that important though? Hmm.

Single venue vs town & pub is neither here nor there as far as I'm concerned, it's all good.

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Bring the works van, you be with us in no time.

GM10 could be discussed at the Christmas drinkypoos... Let's see what we come up with after 5 or 6 pints...

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I want to come up from darn sarf - Applecross would probably need a couple of days for me to get up there but don't let that stop you ��. For me, GM is all about Scotland so Northumberland would not be quite the same however a) I have only ever done one GM and b) I ain't the poor bugger who has to organise it.

For me, Kinlochleven is a great base however appreciate that has been done before so will watch with interest and see what happens...

Re: Gm10
 

Whoo hoo! Well spread the word down there mate, the more the merrier of course and you can break the ride north up by camping in Kilted Ginger's garden.

Only a matter of time before the works van turns up at a GM one way or another, but yeah, let's talk about it over many beers.

Re: Gm10
 

Unlikely that I'd make Applecross, as Matt says it's 2 days to get up there, then 2 days there and 2 days back. 6 day trip, requiring 4 days holiday, which is 20% of many people's annual holiday allowance.

Last time it went up as far as Loch Ness there were very few attendees from England, which was the original concept of the GM, get them up and show them Scotlands roads, instead of it just being the annual trip down to the AR.

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Re: Gm10
 

I'm quite happy to go anywhere, but I ain't organising it... I would prefer the GM to stay in Scotland, for me that was the point of it...

I know that Applecross is a long way for most but it IS worth the trip.

The only GM location I wouldn't go back to is Tyndrum, it just didn't have the facilities. Everywhere else we've been has been good enough. The biggest issue is we are spoilt rotten in Kinlochleven. But I think the consensus was we need to move somewhere else this year. When I've searched for places in the past its hard to find somewhere that fits the bill...

It's a real shame that Tibbie Sheils, isn't a little bit better equipped because it would be an amazing location. But as it is its a no go...

I'll also be honest is I can't be bothered organising it. Being the way I am I get OCD about it... I annoy the hell out of people asking questions.

Re: Gm10
 

Did I mention that I wasn't organising it :-D

OFT what am I like*









*rhetorical question folks!!!!

Re: Gm10
 

The reason I didn't go Beinglas for this year was they have put up a gate over the entrance which is closed at 11pm.

Despite promises we would be respectful and quiet, they wouldn't give us a key.

So people staying at the Drovers and people staying at the campsite would have to be split up at 10:45pm and head back to thier respective accommodations from wherever they were socialising.

The bar at the campsite now also closes at 11pm, the outside area where the fires used to be closed, and people told it's time to go back to thier tents/wigwams.

We pretty much have exhausted our options for a contained single site in Scotland that ticks all the boxes I think, unless it is much further North.

Further North I'd need to take a week off make it my main biking trip of the year, which is fine I guess as I'm not going to France, Spain or Portugal, which was the point of this thread I suppose, trying to figure out what I am doing for biking trips next year.

I'm not organising either though, as the pack I produced last year is the limit of what can be achieved from 400 miles away. For instance I could never have recce'd and arranged the lunch stop that Bibio did.

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Re: Gm10
 

5 roads caravan site. there is an Inn, there is a we town just over the back with B&B and Hotel. using that as a base we could do the lecht etc.etc.

i'm all for the place sturtyboy used with the caravans and pub again.

Re: Gm10
 

oooohhhh and no i'm not organising it. i dont mind doing reccie and such.

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Which one was that Bib's. North banks of Loch Tay?

Re: Gm10
 

think this was it http://www.cruachanfarm.co.uk/

i enjoyed it.

Re: Gm10
 

Sounds good that. A couple pubs in Alyth too, could do a bit of a pub crawl.

Always wanted to do the Lecht on a GM. It's one of Scotlands very best roads and would show the Englishers scenery that blows the A82 Glencoe out the water.

Re: Gm10
 

Yes, that's it. I did find it split the group into those in static caravans and those in tents though.

Re: Gm10
 

Maybe the responsibilities need splitting up?

Couple of guys to do the route (the most difficult bit once you have decided on accomodation).

Somebody else to book the accomodation

Somebody else to find and book lunch

Somebody else to sort dinner/beer

???

Re: Gm10
 

thats a polite way of saying skint and not skint... lol

the same could be done at kinloch.... or anywhere tbh.

Re: Gm10
 

its the accommodation that the problem. we could easily book any hostel but peeps would need to pay up front.

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i see Mio hanging about. he must have loads of suggestions...??

Re: Gm10
 

I don't think there was much in it money wise TBH, camping was per person and I think our static caravan was £70 split between 4 of us, £17.50 each.

Re: Gm10
 

tbh i dont know what happened there. all i know is i enjoyed myself :-)

Re: Gm10
 

Going past 5 roads on any of your bimbles?

Hostel - when we used to take an annual trip to Aviemore. We used to book out a hostel. Anyone remember how that worked?

One year that was quite a trip I'll never forget.

On the way up over the lecht, sideways wind and rain. I got to the top of the lecht first and stopped to take video of all the bikes coming up the hill blown sideways.

Hazel (KitKat) set her panniers on fire with the exhausts and had to go back to Tesco (Perth I think) for new clothes and PJ's.

That night was in Roo's leap in Aviemore, and several people tried the man vs food challenge.

After that was a nightclub where Al (Tiger55) showed off his dance moves!

Next day I made Mio, Tiger and others wait outside a co-op while I went in to buy marigolds as my gloves were still wet through from the day before and freezing.

It p***ed it down all the way back to Fort William, where we all stripped off our soaking gear, to find Tiger inside his cheap Spada gear was bone feckin dry and very smug at the rest of us.

By the time we got as far south as Crianlarich it was snowing and we rode the rest of the way home on white covered roads.

Like I say, it's not one you could forget quickly.

Good times

Re: Gm10
 

And stuartyboy acquired some wimmin.
The site's crest would look good on a T-shirt?

Re: Gm10
 

Cruachan Farm was excellent, albeit a bit brisk in tent city, we might treat ourselves to a caravan this time.

Five Roads I'm not familiar with but definitely passes the location, location, location test. No caravans there but as Bibs says, folk who can't bare camping or podding could always stay in Alyth. I don't think splitting the group a wee bit is too much of a problem either, we'll still ride and drink together. Not at the same time.

Re: Gm10
 

We don't say cheap, we say modestly priced. :-)

Ride Out Of The Stuartyboy was brilliant, to a large extent because it was such a battle against the elements just to get there. The more miserable the journey, the better the beer tastes. I've still got the dance moves by the way, the great ones never lose it.

Didn't take a whole lot of organising either, just sayin'...

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I want one of these new fangled inflatable tents, camping only would be a good excuse.

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I've had an email from McDonald Hotel asking if we are doing the GM and giving potential dates.

Those dates are

7/4
21/4
1/9
8/9

I'll reply that I'm not organising but have passed the message on.

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Re: Gm10
 

Five Roads might be like Cruachan Farm in that they dont have caravans for hire per say but more like holiday home residents who hire them out when needed/can.

i'm all up for going back to Cruachan Farm. pub with food and a place to sleep.. what more do we need :D

Re: Gm10
 

Kinlochleven has served it's purpose.
The turnout in 2016 was low with only the usual suspects there.
For 2017 there's no point trying to pander to the Golden Era of early GM's where we had a fair few folk come from South of the border so had to keep it accessible.
It's a single weekend, so make it somewhere that the ride there & back is as cool as the actual ride-out.

GM10 - Applecross
There's camping, wigwams, caravans and B&B at the pub.
Breakfast in the campsite cafe and dinner in the pub.
Friday - Folk Arrive.
Saturday - Rideout up the coast to Ullapool via Poolewe and back via Garve and A832.
Sunday - Folk head home or a "Lap of Skye" for the Add-On Day.
Monday - "Add-On"ers head home.

This was drunkenly discussed in The Raven.

I'm happy to put up a dates poll and organise if Applecross is the venue.

Let the discussion continue......

Re: Gm10
 

hello.