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

[Stefan Mikes]

Is SRAM up next?

No way. To prove it breaks, too?

 

[RabH]

Another nice day for a ride, not even close to Stefan's 24C temp (thankfully), more like 12C which suits me nicely! Our easterly winds are finally gone and been replaced by westerlies, although it felt every bit as cold as the easterlies we have been experiencing lately! It was around 20mph and I decided to head south for Garrion Bridge in the Clyde Valley, I stopped on the bridge for this photo of the River Clyde!

I then made my way along the western end of the valley towards Hamilton, where I turned south on the back road to Strathaven! This road is a real gem but a little rough in places, the first descent is amazing! Tinto Hill is in the background here and I had so many views of it today from many different places!

I had just started up this steep climb when a pickup and a tractor were heading down, its very narrow so I pulled in to let them go and got a pleasant wave from the farmer!

The sun was coming and going and the temp difference was very noticeable, but with no rain I wasn't complaining!

Soon I had another big descent just before arriving in Strathaven, I was freewheeling down it at over 35mph!

Another lovely descent after passing through Strathaven on the road to Kirkmuirhill!

I stopped part way down for this photo!

I passed over Avon Water at the bottom of the descent and stopped for this photo!

I spotted these 2 beautiful Clydesdales as I was passing one of the many farms!

The road to Kirkmuirhill is great fun, its very twisty and undulating and I had a nice 20mph tailwind all the way to the village! I then used the excellent cycle path down to Lesmahagow and stopped for some photos on the way!

Sadly the path ends after a couple of miles and you have to join the main dual carriageway, this used to be the main A74 trunk road from Scotland to England and was one of the busiest roads in the country back in the days before they built the motorway! Its much quieter now thankfully!

I joined the cycle path again at the top of the climb and took the back road through the wonderfully named Brocketsbrae, another fantastic road that leads back down into the Clyde Valley at Kirkfieldbank! The road starts with a big climb and I stopped part way up for this photo of a young Clydesdale lazing in the sun!

Then I had this awesome descent!

I stopped part way down for this photo, Lanark is in the background high up on the hill which I would be climbing soon!

I got another photo of a young Clydesdale on the way down!

The final descent into Kirkfieldbank, very fast and very twisty!

Then came the big climb up into Lanark but with a nice tailwind helping, I chose to continue east to enjoy the tailwind and was heading towards Ravenstruther and was rewarded with this stunning view of Tinto Hill!

Another nice descent soon followed!

Another lovely view of Tinto!

I was now heading for Carstairs Village and stopped for my final photos just before the village with views of the Pentlands and Tinto!

From there I took the back road to Yieldshields and Carluke and then Allanton, then up the big climb to Hareshaw and over the back roads to home! I started the day needing just 19 miles to reach 46000 so that was passed early in my ride and now stands at 46054! What a brilliant day once again and I got home with a spotless bike for a nice change!

 

[JGcycle]

A few pics from today's 23km ride:

 

[JGcycle]

A few pics from today's 17km ride:

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

A few pics from today's 17km ride:

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So much blue in your world!

Works for me. Since moving to coastal SoCal 4 yrs ago, we've gone totally coastal, and not by any intention. The blue of sea and sky just begets more and more blue everywhere else — in our home, clothing, etc.

On our bikes.

Even on the the dog.

If you want to see what "going coastal" looks like, Coastal Living magazine is a good start. (If you've ever rented a beach house, you probably found one on the coffee table.)

You think it won't happen to you, but resistance is futile.