Another epic ride on amazing roads for cycling, I actually forgot to top my batteries up last night and only remembered this morning! So with only 1 charger I managed to get one of the batteries up to 92% before it was time to depart, the other had 85% so I was confident it would be enough for a 70 miler or a bit more! The wind was from the ENE and around 15-20mph so it was my chance to take the epic A70 from Lanark to Muirkirk and it didn't disappoint!
I started off with the amazing local descent at Gartness where I hit 44.5mph and that put me right in the mood for the day ahead! The main road was a little busy at Newhouse so I turned on to the back road to Cleland and rejoined the main road at Bogside where it was much quieter and headed down into Newmains, I decided to stick to the main road all the way down to Lanark!
Thankfully the town was pretty quiet and the recent roadworks were gone, I arrived at Lanark Loch where I stopped for a snack and some photos!
I then enjoyed the descent down to Hyndford Bridge and joined the awesome A70, it starts with a big climb but the wind was right at my back! I used the cycle path to climb the hill, its only a short one but it got me away from the trucks...
A closer view of the Hyndford Bridge!
After the climb the road rises and falls and twists and turns all the way to Rigside, its such an epic road to cycle and luckily I didn't see any more trucks for a quite a while!
At Rigside there's an awesome twisty descent down into Uddington and the road is in perfect condition so that was a real blast! Then its another climb up towards Douglas where I passed the 3 lochs which are mainly hidden by the trees!
I arrived in Douglas and after passing through the village there are more epic roads to enjoy!
I passed through the village of Glespin and soon the road runs alongside Glenbuck Loch!
It was just amazing with that wind at my back for almost 20 miles, when I reached Muirkirk it was time to turn north for Strathaven! The difference in temperature was instantly noticeable as I turned into the wind! I stopped for my lunch at Muirkirk and my first battery was now down to 24% so I switched to my second battery at 41 miles! The road from Muirkirk to Strathaven is another cracker, it starts with a big climb and a lovely descent and yet another climb and then its mostly downhill all the way to Strathaven!
My favourite part is when the road passes Glengavel Reservoir, its turn after turn and just so much fun! I used to ride it regularly on my motorbike and it was just incredible at speed!
There is another climb at the end of the road just before Strathaven, this is near the top of the climb looking back down at the bridge I crossed over!
At Strathaven I had covered 54 miles and I was feeling pretty strong, my battery was doing well also so I continued north towards Hamilton! I passed a side road where there was a road closed on left sign which was the road I was on and there were no signs about the closure all the way from Strathaven...
Just after passing through Limekilnburn I saw the road closure sign which said local access only, I then remembered it was also closed last year (they were building new houses) and the diversion took me down into the centre of Hamilton!
I remembered there were lots of big descents though and I was in 2 minds about chancing the closure as it would be a risk which might end with a big climb back up again if I couldn't get through, so I took the diversion and it was an absolute blast except for a moron that almost had a head on collision with a car coming the other way!
I heard him coming and saw the car approaching from the oppois te direction and couldn't believe he decided to pass me and caused the other car to brake heavily to miss him...what an absolute idiot!
Anyway just after this I had all the big descents to enjoy and boy did I enjoy them, it was sheer bliss and there wasn't much traffic at this point! I soon arrived in the town centre though and it was a whole different story here, I had no choice but to continue through the town centre but I soon joined the quieter road through Ferniegair which then joins the Clyde Valley road and it was mostly downhill and so much fun! There was a build up of traffic behind me though so I pulled in and let them all by and had a little break and a snack as I would soon be climbing Horsley Brae at Garrion Bridge at the western end of the Clyde Valley!
I started the climb with 71 miles now covered and my battery had 55% remaining, by the time I reached the top of the climb it was down to 39% as I had to use level 3 assist on the steeper parts! I passed through Overtown and decided to head for Newmains and take the back roads home! I knew I was going to be climbing a lot again and thought I might have to switch back to my first battery which had 24% left! At Newmains I headed NE for Bonkle where I then tackled the big climb up to Hareshaw, by the time I reached the top of the climb I had 25% left so I was confident my first battery would last until I got home! I enjoyed the descent down into Chapelhall but that was the last descent and the last couple of miles were all uphill, I headed up the final climb to home with 18% remaining so I pretty much judged it to perfection!
What a day that was, just incredible and I got home with a clean bike again which was a real bonus as I was expecting some rain! I did get a little rain now and then but not even enough to wet the roads so it was definitely my lucky day, the rest of the week is looking pretty woeful though so I'm glad I got a big ride in today!
