NEW TRAIL-CONSTITUTION HILL TO KINTYRE (PAPINE)

Regular explorers Boogie and David were joined by Keith and Gavin, who was trying his first serious trail.

We rode up to Lindo’s Gap from Liguanea, a 90 minute negative gravity experience, where Boogie punctured twice and I muffed a gear change and fell without damage on one of the steepest bits.

We stopped at the Gap for Boogie to interview a Rasta man for more trail information and spent another thirty minutes uphill to Constitution Hill. It is in fact a Gap or pass with trails in several directions (more exploration to come!).At the village square we had some cold ones, whilst Boogie was interviewing further holders of trail information. One told us it would only take fifteen minutes to get down to Kintyre (actually it took 29).

The trail starts on a narrow tarmac road to local housing and gradually deteriorates. Finally we hit the loose earth and stones and were soon on a single track on the side of the big ridge that overlooks Kingston. At this stage there was a drop off on the right.

We then hit a well defined path but with tall grass making it difficult to see forward. The drop off was now on the right and vertical off the single track. Gavin slipped and fell slowly, fortunately to the left and avoided the big drop. We continued and came to a plateau at the end of the ridge, overlooking Kingston.

From here the real descent started with a narrow rocky single track but not too difficult, although us “hardtailers” had to walk some short bits.

Keith had been complaining of brake fade so he and Boogie swapped bikes: result Boogie with no brakes went faster and Keith with Shimano Saints (the bees knees) felt safe!

Then we met a farmer, (this signified a better defined trail from locals walking it) and the single track became really rideable and fun but Boogie had a puncture on Keith’s bike, so we stopped again.

The trail became wider and we zoomed down some steep slopes to the Kintyre road and back to Papine for breakfast and a cold Red Stripe (Thanks Keith).

Verdict on the single track trail: probably with de-grassing in the middle, most people with full suspension would enjoy it and the “buzz” from the sheer drops on the edge of the tail. It could also be linked up with some of the trails from Flamstead to make a marathon endure/downhill.

Let us also “big up” Gavin who complete what is not the best trail to start with, and no bitching! Congrats Bro!

By David Linehan

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