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

[Chargeride]

The dark voices would have me taking that for a spin.

 

[JGcycle]

The dark voices would have me taking that for a spin.

I've seen that boat in action--it really hauls ass.

 

[Chazmo]

I've seen that boat in action--it really hauls ass.

I believe that’s called a RHIB in the US. Virtually unsinkable.

 

[stompandgo]

An inflatable is unsinkable? One shot would take care of that.

 

[DaveMatthews]

An inflatable is unsinkable? One shot would take care of that.

Three shots for mine, but I hear ya. Multiple chambers...

 

[Chargeride]

They still float with all the tubes flat
Rigid Inflatable Boat

 

[stompandgo]

They still float with all the tubes flat
Rigid Inflatable Boat

A hole in the hull won't sink it?

 

[Chazmo]

A hole in the hull won't sink it?

I don’t think so, Chris. There’s lots of material other than just air. But, hey… I wouldn’t like to be in one if it gets shot up. The boat might survive, but I wouldn’t.

Seriously, check out https://oceancraftmarine.com/

 

[Chargeride]

Weve had a few, the rigid part is foam filled and they can plane without any tubes fitted at all.
We were rescued off a Welsh Island while diving by a club members small rib, we had 12 people in it with all their bottles and weight belts.
It was powering along through three foot waves with the whole rib under water and only the outboard intake at the top of the cover just clear.
Derek was his name, he shouted for us to throw all the equipment out.

No one did , I had to stop my mates bag floating out the back.

He was a crane driver at the docks and was crushed by a manager joy riding a new container loader, huge payout but never recovered properly.

Took up golf.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

So guys, currently my boss is flying United over the Montreal air space towards Houston TX. On Saturday, I get in a private taxi at 3:30. My flight from WAW to AMS is on 6:00. There, I am switching to KLM flight to IAH to get there (realistically) at 2 p.m. If the Americans let me in, I'm taking an Uber to Houston downtown. Will try to report

I don't think I would ride a bike in Texas in the temps of 33 C though

 

[stompandgo]

I am not looking forward to your restaurant reviews

 

[RunForTheHills]

Have a good trip. Don't let your hosts pick the restaurant every night and you might have a better experience this time.

 

[Chargeride]

Im sure Stefan will keep his displeasure to himself at the table.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I am not looking forward to your restaurant reviews

There's no hope for the American cuisine

Have a good trip. Don't let your hosts pick the restaurant every night and you might have a better experience this time.

I'm afraid I wouldn't have much choice. We are hosted by an American corporation

I have put my culinary restrictions in the form: "No poultry, no mutton"

 

[DaveMatthews]

Im sure Stefan will keep his displeasure to himself at the table.

Where's the fun in that?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

On my first stay in the U.S., it was my first experience with a resort hotel buffet breakfast. Among us, there was a French. "Where's the waiter?" he asked.

'It is a free country. Help yourself.' -- I said.

Still cannot understand the general laughter it caused

 

[RabH]

After many days of abysmal weather I spotted an opportunity to get out today, I was almost certainly going to get wet but I decided to chance it! I couldn't get any wetter than last Sunday so why not just go for it? I headed down my usual amazing back roads to Yieldshields and took the back road up to Braehead! During my downtime I purchased a full new set of much needed brake rotors and pads and treated the bike to some new brakes, what a difference I must say!

I was looking forward to the awesome descent from Braehead to Carnwath and it didn't disappoint! I stopped for some photos looking SE before flying down the big hill at high speed, to the south there were big squalls of rain so I wasn't going any further south today! It looked like the Pentland hills were just missing it, I would be heading for said hills soon so I was sure hoping so....

I just love this descent!

The final descent into Carnwath is pretty special also, amazingly Tinto Hill looked clear today!

SE was still looking grim...

I arrived in Carnwath where it was time to head north to avoid the rain, thankfully the awesome A70 was open again, the sky was looking better over Carnwath!

Time for the A70!

Still looking nasty to the south!

The start of the Pentlands!

Looking much better to the north!

Then I discovered why the A70 had been closed for a while, they had been laying the awful surface dressing for a few miles...its basically loose gravel! Back in my motorcycling days it was so dangerous and I truly detested it! Thank you for ruining a perfect road, West Lothian Council...

Still dry over the Pentlands!

It was time to leave the A70 and turn NW towards Harburn and West Calder, another really nice rollercoaster road and thankfully no surface dressing! Its quite a climb to Harburn and then a really fun descent into West Calder! I continued NW to Blackburn where I turned west for Whitburn and joined the cycle path up to Armadale! The wind was from the SW and around 20-25mph, it was great when I was on the A70 but now I was battling the headwind! From Armadale I took the back road to Blackridge, but decided to take the cycle path to the village this time and I reckon it has been a good 20 years since I used this path!

The road is a cracker so it wasn't an easy decision to leave it....

The cycle path starts at the railway bridge at the bottom of the hill! It used to be a really rough path but since they updated the railway line a while back it received some much needed new tarmac!

After a mile or so I did come across some parts that hadn't been resurfaced and there was some deepish puddles but it was short lived and I was getting good shelter from the wind! I will probably stick to the road next time... From Blackridge I decided to head north again and headed up the big climb over Heights, it was wind assisted so an easy choice for me!

Its a great road and the weather was still looking good to the north and still not a drop of rain after 55 miles!

The view at the top of the climb!

Then it was a cracking descent before another big climb and then came this descent, I was gutted to meet a car part way down!

Then its another big climb followed by yet another big descent, on that one I met a truck... It was carrying horses so it was going very slowly...

Speaking of horses, I stopped for some photos at the end of the road!

Then it was time to turn SW for home, directly into the wind and it was looking pretty ominous out my way!

It was nice at the Black Loch though!

Amazingly I made it home bone dry, what a bonus! There were dark clouds all around my home town but not a single drop of rain, I guess I was due a break after Sundays drenching...what a fantastic day on the bike!

 

[Chargeride]

Im going to john O grots on the 19th, could you arrange for no cars Rab?

 

[Chargeride]

What a crazy day, went to Southport to check on the Open preperations, then all the way to Liverpool on the train.

I rode the entire city, every single possible road, every crowded street, every dodgy backroad.
I filmed the entirity of humanity, punk revival, gay bars, shopping centres, beggars, street entertainers, homeless, oddballs
every pub, club, race, style, gender, tourist, commuter, immigrant,drunk,disabled scooter and dodgy drug dealer.

What a freakin crazy city, old chinese guys singing Beatles songs in chinglish, delivery riders crashing into me by falling asleep.

Its not even finished yet

 

[DaveMatthews]

View attachment 210966

After many days of abysmal weather I spotted an opportunity to get out today, I was almost certainly going to get wet but I decided to chance it! I couldn't get any wetter than last Sunday so why not just go for it? I headed down my usual amazing back roads to Yieldshields and took the back road up to Braehead! During my downtime I purchased a full new set of much needed brake rotors and pads and treated the bike to some new brakes, what a difference I must say!

View attachment 210967
I was looking forward to the awesome descent from Braehead to Carnwath and it didn't disappoint! I stopped for some photos looking SE before flying down the big hill at high speed, to the south there were big squalls of rain so I wasn't going any further south today! It looked like the Pentland hills were just missing it, I would be heading for said hills soon so I was sure hoping so....

View attachment 210968
View attachment 210969
View attachment 210970
I just love this descent!

View attachment 210971
The final descent into Carnwath is pretty special also, amazingly Tinto Hill looked clear today!

View attachment 210972
SE was still looking grim...

View attachment 210974
I arrived in Carnwath where it was time to head north to avoid the rain, thankfully the awesome A70 was open again, the sky was looking better over Carnwath!

View attachment 210975
Time for the A70!

View attachment 210976
View attachment 210977
Still looking nasty to the south!

View attachment 210978
The start of the Pentlands!

View attachment 210979
Looking much better to the north!

View attachment 210980
Then I discovered why the A70 had been closed for a while, they had been laying the awful surface dressing for a few miles...its basically loose gravel! Back in my motorcycling days it was so dangerous and I truly detested it! Thank you for ruining a perfect road, West Lothian Council...

View attachment 210981
Still dry over the Pentlands!

View attachment 210982
It was time to leave the A70 and turn NW towards Harburn and West Calder, another really nice rollercoaster road and thankfully no surface dressing! Its quite a climb to Harburn and then a really fun descent into West Calder! I continued NW to Blackburn where I turned west for Whitburn and joined the cycle path up to Armadale! The wind was from the SW and around 20-25mph, it was great when I was on the A70 but now I was battling the headwind! From Armadale I took the back road to Blackridge, but decided to take the cycle path to the village this time and I reckon it has been a good 20 years since I used this path!

The road is a cracker so it wasn't an easy decision to leave it....

View attachment 210985
The cycle path starts at the railway bridge at the bottom of the hill! It used to be a really rough path but since they updated the railway line a while back it received some much needed new tarmac!

View attachment 210986
After a mile or so I did come across some parts that hadn't been resurfaced and there was some deepish puddles but it was short lived and I was getting good shelter from the wind! I will probably stick to the road next time... From Blackridge I decided to head north again and headed up the big climb over Heights, it was wind assisted so an easy choice for me!

Its a great road and the weather was still looking good to the north and still not a drop of rain after 55 miles!

View attachment 210989
The view at the top of the climb!

View attachment 210990
View attachment 210991
Then it was a cracking descent before another big climb and then came this descent, I was gutted to meet a car part way down!

View attachment 210993
Then its another big climb followed by yet another big descent, on that one I met a truck... It was carrying horses so it was going very slowly...

Speaking of horses, I stopped for some photos at the end of the road!

View attachment 210994
View attachment 210995
View attachment 210996
View attachment 210997
Then it was time to turn SW for home, directly into the wind and it was looking pretty ominous out my way!

It was nice at the Black Loch though!

View attachment 210998
Amazingly I made it home bone dry, what a bonus! There were dark clouds all around my home town but not a single drop of rain, I guess I was due a break after Sundays drenching...what a fantastic day on the bike!

View attachment 210999
View attachment 211000

Car?
Car?!!???
I didn't see no steenkin' car mate... nah...