After 6 days of truly awful weather it was good to get back in the saddle today, we did have an ice warning until 10am so I waited until after 11 to be safe! The afternoon temp was 5C but light rain was due around 3pm and sleet/heavy rain was due to arrive around 4pm! Amazingly they got the forecast right for once so I was glad I finished my ride at 3.30pm, about 20 minutes after I got home the heavens opened! The wind was from the SW and around 20-25mph so I headed NE to enjoy a nice tailwind, thanks to the sun it didn't feel too cold!
I grabbed a few photos on the road from Longriggend to Slamannan, the Campsie and Ochil Hills had a nice dusting of snow!
The Campsies!
At Slamannan I took the back road towards Avonbridge, lots of climbing before this awesome descent and I hit just over 40mph with the tailwind helping!
After the descent I turned north towards Shieldhill, I had a big climb here after this short descent!
The Ochil Hills were looking amazing today, I'm hoping they will fix this patchwork road one day...
The mountains to the north of the Campsies were fully covered in snow!
The descent down into Glen Village beckoned, almost 42mph down this one at the steepest part!
I then made my way to Linlithgow which was all downhill and lots of fun and then started up the big climb to Beecraigs Country Park!
I stopped on the way up for a few photos!
Now I had the amazing descent down into the valley to look forward to, the climb in the distance was awaiting me!
More stunning views of the Ochils on the way down!
I had a nice clear view of the bridges over the Forth also!
After tackling the climb out of the valley I stopped for a break and a snack and grabbed some photos looking back down the valley!
I then turned south towards Dechmont on the rollercoaster Burnhouse Road, the Pentland Hills were also white with snow!
I enjoyed the descent down into Dechmont where it was time to turn directly into the headwind after 32 miles! I joined the cycle path to Whitburn here and then took the cycle path up to Armadale! Then it was the back road to Blackridge where I turned for home battling the headwind all the way, 5 miles from home I got my first rain shower! It was short lived thankfully but it was enough to make things uncomfortable! I had another couple of light showers before arriving home at 3.30pm! What a great ride that was and the amazing views were a real bonus, I'm hoping to get out again tomorrow afternoon with another ice warning in place from 6pm tonight until 10am tomorrow!
It was good to see you posting again Flora
@Readytoride you have been missed!