2025 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos

[Jeremy McCreary]

This was one of the generated images 'I' created for my space telescope video, whatever you say about AI, it knows how exactly what you want.
This is the prompt..
'man riding electric mountain bike towards a gigantic alien radio telescope along a treelined wavy path with puddles english countryside dramatic sky low sun long shadows sky , follow drone shot, golden hour, warm color grading'

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Impressive result! I bet the accuracy had a lot to do with a skilled prompt on your part.

What AI site or app did you use? I might want to create an image of me winning the Tour de France on Pogi's yellow Colnago with a superhero physique under my yellow jersey with Mount Ventoux and a million screaming fans in the background.

 

[Chargeride]

I tried my best, but might have left a few prompts out
its https://perchance.org/ai-text-to-image-generator if you want a try.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I tried my best, but might have left a few prompts out

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Part of me feels like I ought to thank you.
;^}

 

[RabH]

So, the calendar rolls over yet again… what will it be this time? Will RabH decide to test the 7000 mile barrier?

The answer is yes and I still have a couple of weeks to add to my 7018 miles, when Dave posted this at the start of the year I wasn't so sure if I could get there as I had a lot going on but losing my brother in April just inspired me to get out and enjoy myself as much as possible! Life is too short to wallow in self pity...

A rare calm and mildish day came along so a ride over the Campsie Hills was my plan, I was shocked to discover my last ride there was way back in August! I made my way down the back roads to Falkirk, hitting over 44 mph down the big descent into Glenn Village, then down into Bonnybridge where I crossed the canal!

I then headed north into Denny and made my way up the big climb into the Carron Valley, part way up I spotted some Highland cows in the field so I stopped for a couple of photos!

I was glad to make it to the top of the climb and was looking forward to the flatter parts along the valley, the River Carron was flowing extremely fast so I was sure they had opened the dam at the Carron Valley Reservoir!

The geese were taking advantage of the flooding...

The road is in great condition for the most part!

I wasn't wrong about the dam...

Then I got a huge shock as I made my way along the valley, they had felled a huge amount of trees and it looked like a completely different road!

The road was wet after heavy rain yesterday but there was very little flooding!

I was hoping the reservoir would be flat calm but the wind had picked up a little in the afternoon, not that it was choppy or anything but I was hoping it would look like glass!

The sun was trying hard to break through, it never really got there but it made for some nice photos!

The first proper descent in the valley!

Soon after I enjoyed a massive and very fast descent!

This was looking back up the hill I had descended, the photo doesn't do it justice!

I was nearing the bottom of the valley and getting ready to tackle the big climb over the Campsies, a look across the valley at the road I would be climbing very shortly!

It starts off with a very steep twisty part, I stopped for a few photos before continuing up the next steep part!

Another couple of miles up the climb I stopped for this photo and decided it was time to get my head down and get home before darkness just after 4pm, so this was my last photo!

I was now looking forward to the awesome descent down into Lennoxtown, despite some very wet parts due to run off from the very sodden hill and it was an absolute blast! I arrived in Lennoxtown and headed east for Milton of Campsie before turning south towards Kirkintilloch where I passed the 7000 mile mark! I then joined the back road to Twechar and east towards Cumbernauld, then I joined the cycle path to Lenziemill before heading up the big climb from Luggiebank to Wattston with only 5 miles to go over the back roads to home! Once again I made it home just before darkness fell, another brilliant day on the bike! Tomorrow is looking very similar to today so I'm going to make it 2 days in a row with the remainder of the week not looking too clever...probably just a 50 miler this time!

I grabbed a screenshot from my phone...

 

[dodgeman]

RabH, your very efficient, 0 calories burned, you must coast a lot. You guys that have somewhat decent weather are killing me.

 

[RabH]

RabH, your very efficient, 0 calories burned, you must coast a lot. You guys that have somewhat decent weather are killing me.

Its hard to coast for almost 454,000 ft... Yes I am very fortunate to be able to ride all year round, I feel for you guys that have to sit it out for months!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I think @Chargeride would starve in Poland, because...

...Cheddar is hardly available in my country It is either Edam or Gouda or Tilsit (my favourite) or Emmentaler through any of hundreds local cheese types to imported and specialty cheese but no Cheddar A picture taken this evening at a very small supermarket which is exactly 2 miles from my place

 

[Chargeride]

Im a Red Leicester man myself.
Buy a cheap Pizza and cover it in grated Leicester with sliced tomatoes.
If you dont clean bite you pull the entire topping off the slice.

 

[Chargeride]

im going on a ride tomorrow, just 15 miles, really boring place and Im going to do my very best to find something interesting.
Theres always something interesting.

Posts picture of a cloud thats shaped a bit like Belgium

 

[Stefan Mikes]

its https://perchance.org/ai-text-to-image-generator if you want a try.

AI sucks!

 

[Chazmo]

Life is too short to wallow in self pity...

Ain’t that the truth.

 

[Chargeride]

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AI sucks!

thats me right now

 

[Stefan Mikes]

thats me right now

Wrong e-bike!

This is how AI fancies @Brix

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

If you dont clean bite you pull the entire topping off the slice.

You Brits can be so backward sometimes! Here in the US, we prevent that with edible cooking rivets.

;^}

 

[RabH]

I probably should have taken it easy today but just 8 miles in I had already climbed 1000ft... It was way colder than yesterday despite the forecast showing 6C like yesterday, I even had sunshine for most of my ride but it didn't seem to make any difference to the temp! Just 2 miles into my ride I started the first big climb from Plains up past the Blackhill transmitters near Kirk of Shotts!

Its just climb after climb!

I finally had a nice descent down to the main road where the climbing started again up past Kirk of Shotts church, then came the awesome descent down into Hartwood! I was a little worried about this one because there was a big flood at the bottom of the hill recently, thankfully it was fine today! From Hartwood I turned east towards Shotts which meant yet more climbing with a couple of descents thrown in! From Shotts I joined the main A71 for a short time before taking the back road up to Climpy, another big climb...

Then the big descent down into Forth, lovely smooth tarmac makes this one a real gem to ride!

Just before the descent I stopped for a short break and a snack and was surprised to see some frost in the field just after 1pm! Proof that it was colder than the forecast was saying...

Looking back up the hill!

I had a nice view of the Pentland Hills way in the distance at Forth!

From Forth I turned north towards Whitburn and I now had a nice 15mph tailwind helping me up the climb to almost 1100ft, then I had the awesome descent down into Breich to enjoy!

Just over 41mph down this one, its not the smoothest road but still a real blast and its very undulating! I had many fun motorbike rides here in the past, taking those undulations at high speed was so much fun! I continued north towards Longridge, where I stopped for a couple of photos at Valley View Steading!

After the big climb up through Longridge I enjoyed the descent down into Whitburn, I was hoping to continue north here but a road closure had me turning west instead! So I joined the cycle path towards Harthill and turned north towards Blackridge, then I continued north up over the climb at Heights!

I grabbed a few photos at the top of the climb before hurtling down the big descent!

Then it was another big climb followed by this amazing descent!

I stopped at the bottom for a couple of photos before joining the back road to Slamannan!

Another few photos before the next climb!

Part way up the climb, looking back down the hill!

At Slamannan I took the back road towards Longriggend but I turned off when I spotted some new tarmac on a little back road that joins the main road towards Greengairs instead! I took another back road to add a couple of miles to my ride to make the 50 miles, its a nice twisty and undulating road that ends with a big climb up to Greengairs!

I grabbed a couple of photos on the way up the climb!

From Greengairs I turned south over the back roads to home and caught the sun setting behind some cloud!

Another fantastic and very hilly ride, with bad weather forecast for the rest of the week its time for some rest now!

 

[Chargeride]

I rode around Heswall which is the leftovers of a Victorian riverside town, this all used to be white beaches, but nature has reclaimed it

All the bridle and byways have become private roads in various states of repair, they are not maintained by the council to tarmac road standards

Further up the coast towards Thurtaston the cliffs are eroding very quickly

This one cottage right on the miles of beach

Retired couple looking over the River Dee to Wales

The bread was ludicrously thick at the cycling cafe.

Im sure that speed sign is designed to attract attention ,quite a clever trick

Beautiful churches and halls.

I rode through the common, it does show the paths as public rights of way, but there was no one there anyway.

A very challenging ride to the top over wet roots

Gorgeous 360 view with North Wales in the distance.

This strange outcrop in the centre is called Thors Stone, Thurstaston" comes from Old Norse/English for "Thorsteinn's farm/village, The area was part of a 10th/11th-century Norse settlement, with a Viking village (Straumby)

Moggy Minor behind a tiny Toyota Ago

No caption

Thats quite old I suppose

I know this pub, on sunny weekends it is completely rammed and chaotic and the trafficis gridlocked, people buy pints for car passengers, which is actually completely legal in the UK.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Hahaha!

 

[Mulezen]

Is that distant figure wearing a kilt? I blew up the picture as best I could.

 

[stompandgo]

What was Miss No Captions' name?

Cask ales, yum.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Available in London UK on the 3-4 January 2026. Friends and visits?