2 rides in the same week, been a while since the weather has allowed that!

My legs were still feeling Tuesdays ride but with a nice forecast and the weekend looking awful I had to get out, I decided I would do the Forth Road Bridge crossing in the clockwise direction this time! I left at 6am to avoid the morning traffic again, passing the Hillend Loch not long after 6am and it was nice see it calm in the light winds!
I then took the road to Limerigg and what a road it is, I have probably cycled it well over 1000 times but will never get bored of it!
A short time later I passed loch number 2, the Black Loch!
From here I stayed on the back roads to Shieldhill where I would enjoy the big descent down into Glen Village, 42.3mph today and as soon as I reached the bottom of the descent its a short sharp climb up into Falkirk which is quickly followed by an exhilirating descent down into the town centre! This was the main reason I left so early, the town was very quiet just after 7am and I was soon passing the Kelpies in Grangemouth!
Looking east towards Fife!
I noticed quite a few signs warning of road closures on August 6th for the UCI Cycling World Championships, when I arrived home I looked at the route which will be 271km and they will be using a lot of the roads I ride including the Campsie Hills climb over Crow Road! I hope this means they will be fixing the roads as they are pretty rough in parts and there are some very fast descents where I'm sure these guys will be well over 50mph! The route will start in Edinburgh and finish in Glasgow, I can't wait to watch it and recognise most of the roads!
I was now heading over the Kincardine Bridge heading into Fife, this is looking north at the Clackmannanshire Bridge and the Ochil Hills lit up in the morning sun!
Looking south at the Grangemouth oil refinery!
After crossing the bridge I used the cycle path past the now defunct Longannet power station and joined the road to Culross, imagine my surprise when I saw signs about the cycling championships taking place here also! I used this road back in May and there was a lot of resurfacing work going on which I'm sure is because of the cycling, the riders will love this road especially with the lovely new tarmac!
A few miles later I arrived in Torryburn which is still on the world champs route, the tide was out today!
The roads were starting to get busier as I was nearing Rosyth so I took to the cycle paths where possible, I continued through Rosyth and then into Inverkeithing which is where I would turn south to cross the Forth Road Bridge! I'm not sure if the world champs route will use this bridge or the new bridge, I have a feeling they will be using the new bridge though as the old bridge has lots of gaps which would probably destroy some of their flimsy wheels...

The new bridge is actually motorway status so cycling isn't allowed but they will be closing it to traffic of course, that will cause mayhem I'm sure for anybody wanting to travel into Fife or Edinburgh!
Just about to cross the Forth Road Bridge with the iconic rail bridge in full view!
The Queensferry Crossing which will look amazing with all the professional teams passing over it!
All 3 bridges this time!
After crossing the bridge I turned west and was soon passing through Newton and heading for Linlithgow, I normally stay on this road all the way to Linlithgow but decided to take a small back road which leads to Philpstoun and came across this lovely scene at the canal!
I arrived in Linlithgow which was busy as always through the town centre, there is a cycle path which runs alongside the main road but its pretty narrow and not in the best condition so I was glad to pass through the town and join the quiet back roads again passing through Standburn and enjoying the big descent down into Avonbridge! I had to be home by 12.30pm so time was on my side, so I took the big climb up over Heights and down into Blackridge where I normally turn right and its a straight road home but I continued straight across to Harthill and took the back roads into Shotts!
I was passing through the town and came across a young guy pulling a huge wheelie on a mountain bike with cars in front and behind him! A bit foolish but also very impressive, I was going to copy him and show off....NOT!

I then had a lovely descent down towards Allanton and was starting to feel a bit worn out, I reached the end of the road and could have turned left and picked the easier climb but me being me decided to turn right and do the big climb up past the Shotts prison! Its a beast of a climb but I had lots of battery juice left and cranked the assist up, I eventually reached the top and was totally shattered!
From here I took the easy route home and arrived at my door totally worn out but ecstatic about another great day on the bike! I can't wait to watch the pros on August 6th riding a lot of my favourite roads!
