Words: Rachel Bennet, Tom Hutton, Hannah Bailey & Claire Sharpe
Photos: Hannah Bailey & Tim Wilkey
Imagine cruising along centuries-old singletrack as towering mountains guide you through heather-strewn valleys scattered with wild deer, making you feel like you’re in an ancient oil painting. Or perhaps you’re spinning through tall Sitka spruces and as you come to the tree line, a fresh sea breeze hits your face and you hear the sound of crashing waves.
There's nothing quite like a mountain bike adventure – the peace, the fresh air and clean smell of the great outdoors, and the amazing locations your bike can take you. With careful route-planning and navigation, you could experience moments like these, which allow for a deeper connection with the surrounding environment and enhance your mental and physical wellbeing.
Planning your next adventure
Route planning can be a tricky skill to master, but it's worth the effort to get the most out of your mountain bike adventure, ensure you stay safe and make it as enjoyable as possible. Here are some factors to consider when you next get the urge to get out and explore.
Weather
If you’re planning a ride high up in the hills or in a remote area, check and recheck the weather before you set out. Pay attention to wind speed, direction and ‘feels like’ temperature, as well as precipitation and actual temperature. Consider the number of daylight hours available and always leave some slack. If in doubt, leave it – the mountains will always be there another day.
Route choice
Do your research, looking at books, online route and MBUK’s ride guides. Apps such as OS Maps, Komoot, Outdooractive, Ride with GPS and Strava are great for finding pre-planned rides that you can download as a GPX file and use for navigation on your GPS device or smartphone.
Navigation
GPS devices are great for navigation. They’re easy to use and, often with turn-by-turn directions, can make the ride run a lot smoother. Technology isn’t infallible, though, and batteries can run out, so make sure you have a back-up. Always have a good old-fashioned paper map and compass stashed in your pack, and, just as importantly, ensure you know how to use them!
Share your plans
It’s essential to let somebody know where you’re going and when you expect to be back. Give them an overview of your planned route and an exact time when they should call the emergency services if they haven’t heard from you. Remember to let them know if this changes, and to inform them once you’re safely back home.
Ride safe
When you’re a long way from help, adjust your riding to suit. A rescue team will take at least an hour to scramble, then more time to reach you. We'd advise riding in a group, but if you are heading out alone, consider fitting a helmet-mounted crash sensor such as those from Tocsen and Specialized, designed to alert your emergency contacts in the event of an accident.
What to take
Packing the right gear is just as important as the planning process. When heading out on a bigger ride, there are some additional items that are worth taking with you, along with your usual riding gear.
- Insulated jacket with hood
- Emergency shelter
- Map and compass
- More snacks and hydration than usual
- Spare mech hanger, brake pads and chain quick-link
- First aid kit
- Spare gloves
- Small battery pack and charger cable
- Zipties and gaffer tape
This is by no means a complete list, but all are items worth having on an adventurous ride into the wilds.
More help needed
Want a little nudge in the right direction? Check out our regular Big Ride feature in the mag. Every issue, MTB guide and Rough Ride Guide author Max Darkins shares some epic routes for you to download, from England, Scotland and Wales to the Isle of Wight and Isle of Man. There's no shame in following other people’s routes!
If you want to delve deeper into the world of route planning with some expert guidance, then check out a couple of workshops we've hand-selected to help you on your way:
Scotland
Wandering Workshops, a Community Interest Company founded by three-time Olympian snowboarder Lesley McKenna and professional photographer Hannah Bailey, have partnered with MTB coach and guide Fiona Finnie, of Elevate MTB, to deliver new mountain bike and gravel bike workshops, designed to make the outdoors and action sports accessible to more people.
During the two-day workshop, participants will learn the basics of route planning, navigation and safety in the outdoors, as well as enjoy shared meaning-making, storytelling and yoga sessions. The gravel bike workshop takes place on 1-2 July and the MTB one on 8-9 July.
Both are open to anyone with basic bike-handling skills and some off-road cycling experience. Participants will need to bring their own bike and equipment, but rental options are available upon request. The workshops are based in Aviemore, where participants can enjoy the stunning scenery and explore the nearby trails. For more information, visit www.wanderingworkshops.com or @wanderingwrkshops.
South West England
The Bristol-based All Terre Gang – who describe themselves as "a community for people who want to have fun and shred off-road" – are holding their first route-planning workshop on Sunday 6 August. They say: "If you want to know where you can ride your bike, how to turn a route into a magical day out or how different tools can be used together to give you superhero levels of knowledge – then this is for you!"
The session will cost just £45 to join and will cover using both paper maps and digital tools. It'll finish with a short ride to bed in all the learning, plus goodies from Komoot, Odd Outdoors and All Terre to take home. Spots are limited, so make sure you bag your space now. Visit www.allterregang.com/events or @all.terre.gang.
