2026 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos

[RabH]

After Sundays epic ride our weather has been awful once again, today it was showing heavy rain in the morning with light rain in the afternoon! It turned out to be a mostly dry morning after some early rain, heading into the afternoon it was still dry so I decided to go for it but knew I was going to get wet eventually! The wind was from the SSW and around 20mph so I was intending to head south to Lanark and enjoy a tailwind on the way back, I had to abort that idea almost immediately as the sky to the south was looking extremely threatening! So I chose to head east to Blackridge and north over the Heights climb and east to Avonbridge, then I took the awesome back road to Standburn!

Its such a great road but has many steep climbs!

At the top looking back down!

I stopped for this photo before heading for Standburn on the awesome rollercoaster road, its full of ups and downs and just such a joy to ride!

After passing through Standburn I enjoyed the descent all the way to Whitecross, on the way I passed over the canal!

The foliage is really growing due to all the rain!

The bridge over the canal, what a road this is also!

This part is just incredible, just around the bend its a big fast descent!

At Whitecross I turned north to take the road to Polmont, stopping for some photos on the way!

The big climb out of Whitecross, so far it was still dry!

At the top of the climb looking back down, oh look its a car... Just before that 2 big tipper trucks squeezed by each other!

At the end of the road I turned west for Polmont, then south up the big climb into Brightons! Then it was west to Hallglen and up through Lionthorn into Falkirk, where I joined the back road to Bonnybridge!

Another car, yes it was a busy day!

From Bonnybridge I headed west for Allandale and the sky was starting to look threatening just after I turned this corner!

I stopped at the canal a short time later, just before Allandale and the rain started to fall!

I got lucky though as 2 narrowboats were passing each other in the locks, perfect timing!

The rain then started to batter down so I decided not to wait for the other boat, it would have been a few minutes before the lock filled up again so I got the hell out of Dodge!

35 miles in the dry was a bonus, from then on it was almost incessant heavy rain but at least it was mild so I was still enjoying it! After passing through Allandale I turned south and took the back road to Walton, another gem of a road!

Then I took the back road to Arns, love this road also!

After lots of climbing came this cracking descent!

I found a nice shelter here out of the rain for a short break and some snacks!

Then it was back into the rain!

The rain just got heavier and heavier and I wasn't the only idiot...

It was time to forget about taking photos and get my head down and get home for a well earned shower! There were many floods all the way home and a moron in a truck decided to pass me as I was avoiding a big flood and he absolutely drenched me, it went right over my head! I bet he was sitting in his truck laughing his head off...if I had dived into the canal I couldn't have got any wetter than I was! Despite the rain I really enjoyed my first ride after my monster Sunday ride, it felt like a ride round a park compared! After tomorrow things are looking promising, on Sunday I will be heading to Knockhill for the British Superbike Championship and the weather is looking perfect! It will be crazy busy though so the bike will be staying at home, it looks like it will be the first dry race meeting of the year...

 

[DaveMatthews]

View attachment 211567

After Sundays epic ride our weather has been awful once again, today it was showing heavy rain in the morning with light rain in the afternoon! It turned out to be a mostly dry morning after some early rain, heading into the afternoon it was still dry so I decided to go for it but knew I was going to get wet eventually! The wind was from the SSW and around 20mph so I was intending to head south to Lanark and enjoy a tailwind on the way back, I had to abort that idea almost immediately as the sky to the south was looking extremely threatening! So I chose to head east to Blackridge and north over the Heights climb and east to Avonbridge, then I took the awesome back road to Standburn!

Its such a great road but has many steep climbs!

View attachment 211568
At the top looking back down!

View attachment 211569
I stopped for this photo before heading for Standburn on the awesome rollercoaster road, its full of ups and downs and just such a joy to ride!

View attachment 211570
After passing through Standburn I enjoyed the descent all the way to Whitecross, on the way I passed over the canal!

View attachment 211571
The foliage is really growing due to all the rain!

View attachment 211572
The bridge over the canal, what a road this is also!

View attachment 211573
This part is just incredible, just around the bend its a big fast descent!

View attachment 211574
At Whitecross I turned north to take the road to Polmont, stopping for some photos on the way!

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View attachment 211576
The big climb out of Whitecross, so far it was still dry!

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At the top of the climb looking back down, oh look its a car... Just before that 2 big tipper trucks squeezed by each other!

View attachment 211578
At the end of the road I turned west for Polmont, then south up the big climb into Brightons! Then it was west to Hallglen and up through Lionthorn into Falkirk, where I joined the back road to Bonnybridge!

Another car, yes it was a busy day!

View attachment 211579
From Bonnybridge I headed west for Allandale and the sky was starting to look threatening just after I turned this corner!

View attachment 211581
I stopped at the canal a short time later, just before Allandale and the rain started to fall!

View attachment 211582
I got lucky though as 2 narrowboats were passing each other in the locks, perfect timing!

View attachment 211583
View attachment 211584
View attachment 211585
View attachment 211587
The rain then started to batter down so I decided not to wait for the other boat, it would have been a few minutes before the lock filled up again so I got the hell out of Dodge!

35 miles in the dry was a bonus, from then on it was almost incessant heavy rain but at least it was mild so I was still enjoying it! After passing through Allandale I turned south and took the back road to Walton, another gem of a road!

View attachment 211588
Then I took the back road to Arns, love this road also!

View attachment 211590
After lots of climbing came this cracking descent!

View attachment 211591
I found a nice shelter here out of the rain for a short break and some snacks!

View attachment 211592
Then it was back into the rain!

View attachment 211593
The rain just got heavier and heavier and I wasn't the only idiot...

View attachment 211594
It was time to forget about taking photos and get my head down and get home for a well earned shower! There were many floods all the way home and a moron in a truck decided to pass me as I was avoiding a big flood and he absolutely drenched me, it went right over my head! I bet he was sitting in his truck laughing his head off...if I had dived into the canal I couldn't have got any wetter than I was! Despite the rain I really enjoyed my first ride after my monster Sunday ride, it felt like a ride round a park compared! After tomorrow things are looking promising, on Sunday I will be heading to Knockhill for the British Superbike Championship and the weather is looking perfect! It will be crazy busy though so the bike will be staying at home, it looks like it will be the first dry race meeting of the year...

View attachment 211596
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Getting a bit liberal with the car shots are we?

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Isn't there a rule that if you show boats, you have to show as many cars?

 

[Biplaneguy]

My old friend was supposed to stop at our house enroute to look at a sailboat, but he cancelled, as he usually does. I was going to take him to the Shipwreck Tavern, so instead I rode my Radster there, about 6 miles on back roads

Was going to sit outside to keep an eye on the bike (not that it's a high crime area) but it's hot so I found a table by the window inside and still see the bike.

 

[JGcycle]

A few pics from today's 23km ride:

 

[Chargeride]

Just been sent this on the scots group

 

[Rás Cnoic]

A few pics from today's 23km ride:

View attachment 211620View attachment 211621View attachment 211622View attachment 211623View attachment 211624

That's some Windows 98 background you got going there!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

In Olsztynek (Hohenstein), Varmia, Poland. My gravel rally starts at 10:05 CET on Saturday.

https://varmia26r.bbtracker.pl/track/63876

My format is eRide100. Pawel J and my brother Jacek ride a 180 km Classic.

I won before I even started!

Varmia is a historical Polish bishopric immersed in former East Prussia (North Poland today). The northern tip of Varmia is on the Baltic Sea. Nicolaus Copernicus was a canon in Varmia.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Woke up to thick marine layer fog this morning, but by 10 am, the fog bank had pulled back over the western horizon, leaving a gorgeous day in its wake.

That's when I met up with neighbor couple J and G for a fast (for me) rolling 22 mi coast ride north to Oceanside harbor and back. They were on identical Trek Verve 3+ ebikes, and I on my usual Specialized Vado SL 1.

Having ridden much less than usual in the last 2 months for various reasons, I wasn't in good form. And J was in a hurry to get back for an appointment. So she set a steady 15 mph outbound pace into a stiff headwind (note whitecaps above). I usually needed SPORT assist just to keep up.

After a single 2-minute stop near the harbor turnaround, we pushed home — this time with a stiff tailwind. Averaged nearly 20 mph most of the way. And once again, I usually needed SPORT to keep up.

I'm not a particularly strong rider, even at peak, but I tend to put in more rider power than my usual riding partners. Not so with J. Also a runner, she was clearly the youngest and strongest rider in this trio and paced the entire ride accordingly.

Hoping that more rides with J and G will help me get back in shape for the fall, when the riding here's at its very best.

 

[JGcycle]

A pic from this morning's 23km ride:

 

[Chargeride]

Stopped for a ride on the wsy at Aberfeldy

Climbed to the top over a very gnarly trail

Beautiful bridge

Descent was insane, no chance for pictures, this is the river in the town

Coke by the golf club

Very Braveheart

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Finished Varmia Gravel Ride/eRide100 2026!

36/62 overall, 3/4 in eRide format.

Temperature from 26 C (forest) to 29 C (open space). Plethora of long climbs. Sand patches on descents everywhere.

I attacked a long deep sand patch at the full descent speed of 45 km/h. My e-bike made a violent zig-zag and heavily leaned to the side but I still could come out intact from the maneuver.

Atherosclerosis attacked my feet. Came to the finish line crying from the pain. Still, overtook four other riders on a 3 km sprint Rode my Vado SL with Range Extenders.

Pictures and the full story: on Sunday.

 

[RabH]

Just been sent this on the scots group
View attachment 211632

Welcome to Midgeland...

 

[JGcycle]

A pic from the turn around point of this morning's 24km ride:

 

[Chargeride]

On the way to Laggan Wolftrax mtb

Simple but well run

I walk moded to the very top

Incredible view, stinking hot

Ultra clear air, you could see for 20 miles crystal clear

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Varmia Gravel 2026: Full Report

Friday, 19th of June 2026. Anyone who finishes the ride is a winner! (No podium for Ride100 or eRide 100; just a rally).

Trattoria Mamma Mia in Olsztynek (within the event grounds).

Saturday, 20th of June 2026. My brother Jacek (left) and my friend Pawel J prepare for a 184 km Classic Race. See the Bosch E-Bike sponsorship?

"Did you know why the Polish and Lithuanian forces tanned the Teutonic hides at Grunwald in 1410? It was because the allies had prepared for the battle inside a shady forest while the Teutons stood for hours in full armour in the open sunshine..." It was 27 C inside the woods and 30 C in the open on the ride!

Museum of Folk Architecture was the rally base. Here, "The Inn".

"Bliss" the Windows XP background, the Varmian version We found a painted arrow pointing towards a meadow and rode a barely visible trail...

I stopped in the shadow of a big tree to swallow yet another "energy gel", drink more, and enjoy a cigarette "Allez!" I shouted to a girl who passed me by. She uttered a pitiful cry as she could see what I could not see yet. That was the steepest climb en route. I made it in SL Turbo and 32-39T gearing (my 3rd alpine gear).

Soon, a beautiful view appeared before our eyes...

It was the great Lake Wulpink, the biggest in Varmia.

I hoped to get a very good position in the general classification. The terrain and the weather verified that negatively. I stopped at a pit-stop on the 51st kilometre (Nagłady), found a really comfortable folding chair and spent long 20 minutes there. A piece of watermelon, energy and hydration gels, more and more isotonic drink, a cig after a cig... The feelings among the riders were minor. Many people said they could not stand the heat and would consider their withdrawal from the racelly. Boys who worked at the stand were helping the riders, spraying them from a hose on demand... By the way, the girl Justyna (with who I was successfully racing) left the pit-stop before me and crossed the finish line 13 minutes before me.

The worst happened at the 64th km. I went into the full crisis mode. I knew my legs would not carry me to the finish line! I could see a highway by which I could reach Olsztynek easily in a short time. Yet, I had my responsibility (to represent you, my fellows!) and self-pride, so I rested and continued the ride as planned.

The quality of the terrain was not great (mostly forest gravel, dirt and sandy roads). There were many mild but long climbs and long descents. Usually, a descent was crossed by a sand patch, sometimes being deep sand. Once, I let my Vado SL accelerate to 45 km/h on a descent, saw deep sand at the distance, went upright on the saddle with a delicate touch on the handlebars and let my Fearless do the job. The bike swerved, leaned to the side but that beautiful e-bike is great on steering, so no accident happened (I wrote about it before but the situation was the most dangerous of all for me so I say it again!)

At one place, two female photographers set a photo trap by a nasty sandy road. Some riders crashed there, which made many (certainly) memorable pictures I rode by the trap easily but made a very angry face to the camera!

I know Varmian is a dialect of Polish. The locations names are very strange here! It reads "Nodular Stove" but perhaps they meant a "Gas Stove"? @Chargeride: I will agree with you - SZĄBRUK is decidedly a pagan name!

It is not the "Cobblestone KOM Segment"! Here, you can still ride gravel on the right hand side while climbing. The real challenge was the "Cobblestone Climb Segment (E-Bike)" starting at the 86th km!

The real "Cobblestone Segment": 2.5 km, two climbs on rough 100 years old cobblestones! The 4 people here were the contestants of Bosch eRide 100.

My medical condition became terribly bad. Both my feet were "cut off" and I felt pain that made me cry. On the last 3 km I sprinted (2 km on washboard gravel and 1 km on asphalt) to win 4 positions!

Got my medal, congratulations, a coupon for pizza at Mamma Mia so I slowly walked towards the restaurant, weeping inside...

Ride Map with POI.

Many riders told me they experienced medical issues during the race, cramps being the most common. Almost any rider came to the finish line with the jersey covered with the sweat salt! Jacek helped his partner Krzysiek overcome a severe crisis and Pawel J rode onto the finish after 11 hours and 37 minutes!

Sunday 21st June 2026: the Main Square in Olsztynek at 7:14 a.m.

The Teutonic Castle and a former Evangelical church in Olsztynek. The former hosts schools and the latter is a part of the Folk Architecture Museum.

Historical note:
Like any town in East Prussia, Hohenstein was established by Teutonic Knights (namely, a Honstein). In 1525, the young Prussian state (as Teutons collapsed as the result of wars with Poland-Lithuania) paid homage to the King of Poland. Varmia became a Catholic bishopric populated mostly by the Polish. Poles started renaming locations. Allenstein became Olsztyn, and Hohenstein got the name of "Little Olsztyn" or Olsztynek Varmia is historically a very special and distinct area even if it spent a long time under the German occupation!

We started our trip to Warsaw early. As soon as we left the city, the skies erupted with a waterfall and lightnings/thunders! We were so lucky on Saturday!

 

[Chargeride]

The heat overcame me, I pinch flatted my rear tyre while soloing with no repair tools, the walk of shame through the woods wbile being eaten by flies, sweat dripping from every pore.

At least I was spared the direct burn on my face, I wasnt built for hot weather.

I was nearly tempted.

 

[DaveMatthews]

The heat overcame me, I pinch flatted my rear tyre while soloing with no repair tools, the walk of shame through the woods wbile being eaten by flies, sweat dripping from every pore.

At least I was spared the direct burn on my face, I wasnt built for hot weather.

View attachment 211710

I was nearly tempted.
View attachment 211711

Brutal... was the tire pressure low?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The heat overcame me, I pinch flatted my rear tyre while soloing with no repair tools, the walk of shame through the woods wbile being eaten by flies, sweat dripping from every pore.

At least I was spared the direct burn on my face, I wasnt built for hot weather.

I truly sympathise with you!

 

[Chargeride]

Germans at the hotel, Polish in the town.
Very welcome, but were watching.