The first ever Cycle Cairngorms took place on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September 2007.

Eight cyclists took part in the challenge as part of a pilot to test the route in order to broaden the appeal of the event and aim for a large scale cycling event in 2008.

Day 1 saw the cyclists leave Badaguish Outdoor Centre (the charity organisation who are the events organisers), cycle through Nethy Bridge, Tomintoul, Bridge of Brown and through over the Lecht, taking the competitors up to 2090 feet.

The road from the Lecht flowed down into Gargarff and Cock Bridge before finishing in the Main Square in Ballater, covering a total of 54 miles on the first day.

All the competitors completed day one in just over 3 hours.

The event organisers put on a BBQ at Cycle Highlands shop for all the competitors and supporters on the Saturday evening, there were a few tired people who headed off to bed early to prepare themselves for the Big Second Day!

An early start on the Sunday morning saw the competitors leave Ballater for the long second day -120 miles back to Badaguish Centre and pass by Balmoral Castle and through Braemar before the long climb up and over Glenshee - the weather had turned a little and there was a strong head wind, the group battled on and were all happy to reach the top!

From Glenshee the rolling road took the cyclists through to Kirkmicheal and down into Pitlochry.

Passing through the small towns of Killiecrankie, Blair Atholl, Bruar and Calvine the route picked up the sustrans route all the way up to Dalwhinnie. Again there was a stong head wind as the competitors cycled over Drumochter.

From there it was the final stretch home to Badagusih centre, where a small crowd had gathered to welcome the cyclists home!