Cairn O'Mount

Another weekend past, brrr you can almost feel winter coming. Friday was an easy but very wet ride out from Aberdeen to Aboyne.
Saturday, a mixed activity day. Auntie Lorraine is bowling for the ladies, Leona and Tabitha are planning on doing nothing much. Daddy will be cycling over the Cairn O'Mount.
9am Saturday, still in bed and no wafting scent of bacon. I get up to investigate the lack of breakfast. Simple,, there is no bacon and worse there is no bread. So back to bed.
40 winks later I rise. Lycraed and caffeinated I set off with waves and ta ta's behind me.
Drizzly rain has forced the waterproofs out of the pack, so spinning and sweating I reached Strachan to find blazing sunshine. I peeled and searched out a watering hole.. none found but I did locate a General Store. Two pies purchased, 1 eaten 1 packed. A glug of juice moistens the palate before the ride out to the Cairn.
Please be mindful, I had never been over the Cairn O'Mount not even in a car, I had heard many rumours aboutthe Cairn. " it is very steep" " I couldnt get the car up the bottom section" "be careful on the Devils Elbow". So I was somewhat anxious as to what I would find.
A serious climb. Starts with a 1 in 10 just past the Feugh. A lumpy 2 miles follow. A sharp 1/2 mile climb, another lumpy 2 miles. Wow a very sharp descent, down a right hand bend at 1 in 10.
Another 1 in 10 climb out of Glen Dye, then one more sharp descent before the climb proper.
2.5 miles, average a strong 1 in 10. climbing to 1400ft or thereabouts. The descent on the southside is shorter and steeper 14%, 16% and steeper stretches.

The Clatterin' Brig cafe was a welcome sight. Bacon, cakes and tea. Then wait. The Grampian DA were out on a run through Inverbervie and returning via the Cairn. The rain was 20 minutes past, the road drying. Then on the bridge a bunch of Yellow Jackets. I joined them for the return climb up the Cairn. Now my choice of gearing was seeming odd. All the others were riding in the inner ring of the triple. Yours truely was on 53/42 with an 11/21 block. Early doors the hill was tough on 49/21. Rpm down to 50's. As the climb rose the gearing was tortuous, causing 1 stop but no walking. Eventually to the top, amazingly not last or close to last. Definately need to choose 50/39 with 12 27 next time.
A short pause for sweeties at the top, then descent and lumpiness back to the Penny Farthing for more hot drinks and the usual debates over speed and calories.
For me, job well done. over the Cairn in both directions in one day.