A beautiful but very windy day, around 12C and a southerly wind around 30-35mph! I decided to head south and fight the wind to enjoy a tailwind on the way back, it was hard going at times and the crosswinds were insane sometimes! I stuck to the back roads as much as possible, making my way down into Allanton and over to Carluke where I enjoyed the awesome back road to Yieldshields!
This photo was taken just after passing through the village looking south with the Pentland Hills way in the distance!
I battled crosswinds for a couple of miles after this before deciding to turn north at the end of the road which meant I had a lovely tailwind for 3 miles until I passed through Forth where I took the back road through Wilsontown out to Auchengray! The wind was relentless here until I had this downhill directly into the wind followed by the big climb into Auchengray!
This was from the railway bridge looking back down the hill!
Then the steepest part of the climb directly into the strong wind!
From Auchengray I turned south for Kaimend, although it was directly into the wind I had some shelter from the trees!
Its such a fun twisty road but mostly uphill!
Another photo just before the big descent into Kaimend!
Then it was another big descent down into Newbigging, I was on the main road for a few miles here but its such a great road!
The scenery isn't too shabby either!
I was going to continue using the main road all the way to Elsrickle but just after Newbigging I decided to take the back road towards Biggar, its a beast of a climb but well sheltered from the wind for the most part! In fact this was my first time using this road in this direction, I have used it a few times before in the opposite direction! Going up the climb you get some amazing views of the Pentland and Coulter Hills!
Looking back down the hill, I have enjoyed hammering down this descent a few times!
Eventually the road descends down into the valley, some clouds blocked the sun here but not for long!
At the bottom of the descent looking back up the hill!
Now it was time to turn north towards Libberton and Carnwath which starts with some big climbs but the 30mph tailwind made the climbs a real breeze, its such a great road also!
Some Spring lambs were enjoying the sunshine!
The last part of the climb before the road plunges down into the valley!
The descent was incredible thanks to the tailwind, some parts were a little scary due to crosswinds though! Then it was another big climb up into Carnwath!
At Carnwath I turned north towards Braehead and my plan was to keep riding north all the way to Westfield which would be 20 miles with the tailwind pushing me all the way, it was just incredible with lots of big climbs and big descents with the highlight being the descent down to Breich where I hit 43.5mph!
It would have been way faster but the wind was swirling a bit so I pretty much freewheeled at 43.5 mph!
I continued north through Longridge, Whitburn and Armadale before arriving in Westfield where the tailwind came to an end!
The Westfield Viaduct!
One final photo looking north before I took the awesome back road to Avonbridge!
From Avonbridge I turned west for home which meant crosswinds for 13 miles now, thankfully I had some tree cover which helped on some stretches! I was heading up the final big climb towards Limerigg and spotted 2 roadies in the distance, it was a couple and the guy was sheltering the girl from the wind! It wasn't long until I breezed past them and we exchanged hellos, I think the guy wasn't too happy about me passing though...
As I was passing through Limerigg I looked back and he was standing on the pedals and closing me down, a short time later the road descends a bit and they passed me but the road then ramps up and I closed them down instantly and soon passed again! I commented about the wind and the girl smiled but the guy was poker faced!
I put quite a distance between us up the climb but there were descents coming and I knew they would close me down again, I arrived in Caldercruix and there is a fast descent followed by a steep but short climb and the guy was absolutely hammering it down the descent determined to pass me (he did get really close) but I wasn't hanging about myself and as soon as the road ramped up I left them for dead!
They sure made me work but I was up to the task...
I arrived home very tired but very content after a brilliant day on the bike!
