One of my best ever bike rides plus 100 miler number 4 for July, what a month!
I set off just before 6am this morning with a ride out to Aberfoyle and over the Dukes Pass in my planned route, on reaching Aberfoyle I had a change of plan and what a decision that was! I made my way north down the back roads to Croy, stopping at the canal for this early morning photo! The wind was a westerly and pretty calm at 10-15mph but due to increase in strength throughout the day!
I then turned west towards Twechar and Kirkintilloch where I had this stunning view of the Campsie Hills!
After passing through Kirkintilloch I turned north towards Torrance and over the back roads to Lennoxtown and then west towards Strathblane! Then it was NW through Dumgoyne and north to Aberfoyle, I was just about to start up the big climb over the Dukes Pass when I decided to head west towards Stronachlachar instead with the intention of riding round the very beautiful Loch Katrine, on the way I passed many lochs, Loch Ard being the first one! I was hoping the wind would still be calm as I passed the lochs but it wasn't to be so I had to settle for choppy water...
The road to Stronachlachar is just incredible with some pretty rough parts and super smooth parts like this!
Loch Chon was next!
Then came Loch Arklet which is surrounded by the mountains of the Trossachs!
I stopped at Stronachlachar for a much needed break and some snacks and grabbed my first photo of Loch Katrine!
The rider round Loch Katrine is 13 miles of ups and downs and twists and turns, it really is superb and has stunning views of Loch Katrine all the way round!
I was glad to turn east as I rounded the loch and had a lovely 25mph tailwind at my back now! The stunning views just kept coming around every turn!
This descent was amazing!
Then I had this view of Stronachlachar from the top of the climb!
Some of the path is very smooth and some is very rough, as the old saying goes you have to take the rough with the smooth!
I was getting close to the pier at Loch Katrine now, the open water was very choppy even close to the pier! Way in the distance here is the Steamship Sir Walter Scott, I had the privilege of sailing round the loch in her at the end of May in perfect calm conditions!
The path is very wide here!
The Lady of the Lake was docked at the pier!
The road out of the loch is badly in need of repair, they have fixed some of it but some parts are ridiculous! I continued east passing Loch Achray and the Tigh Mor holiday apartments!
I was now at the eastern side of Loch Achray and stopped for this photo!
I then passed Loch Venachar but the water was extremely low just like last year, I didn't bother stopping for any photos! At the end of the road I arrived in Kilmahog and headed east into busy Callander where I stopped for lunch, it was time to ride the main A84 for 10 miles! Thankfully with the 25mph tailwind I was flying along, every now and then I pulled in to let the traffic pass and got some nice cheery waves from some of the drivers! I'm sure many were cursing me also...
I was glad to finally leave the main road and turn south on the B8075, a couple of roadies had actually joined the road and were just ahead of me and they also took the road south! I then saw them turn east on a little back road so I decided to follow, I have passed this road many many times and I have been missing out for years as its just amazing! I actually thought it was a farm road...the views are just incredible all the way along it!
The Ochil Hills!
The road brought me out near Stirling, I will be using it again for sure! I made my way though the city, it has some very nice cycle paths! I then decided to head up the big climb from Whins of Milton up over the Campsies at the Stirling end, at this point I had covered 97 miles and changed to my final battery! With a full battery at my disposal I thought I would brave the climb into a 25mph headwind...
I passed Loch Coulter near the top of the climb!
The main reason I chose this climb was the 4 mile descent down into Denny with the wind at my back all the way down, it was just superb!
From Denny I headed for Bonnybridge and passed over the canal just as this little boat was passing, they had a little sausage dog with them and it was loving it!
Check the old guy on the right, I was sure he was going to dive in...he didn't!
From Bonnybridge I headed south on my usual roads with lots of big climbs and arrived home at dinner time absolutely buzzing but totally knackered after a truly incredible day of cycling!
This ride will live long in my memory, I was so glad I decided to ride round Loch Katrine! I am now nearing 48000 miles on my amazing bike, just 93 miles to go and a week remaining in July! What a month it has been with 4 big 100 mile rides, 674 miles from just 7 rides which is an average of over 96 miles!
