2024 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos

[Captain Slow]

Rode to Ribfest today

No pictures of the bikes or scenery as I forgot, but some food.

One of our crew rode an ebike though!

 

[dodgeman]

My wife and I did 20 miles today. She is starting to stretch out the distant a little. Perfect weather again, three days in a row with light winds, very rare around here. A train we had to stop for.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

A train we had to stop for.
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Best locomotive livery ever!

 

[Prairie Dog]

DH Run #2 – Race of Spades

No epic views this time and a bit more of a challenge than Family Guy but nevertheless a ton o fun.

There were plenty of TTFs along this DH single but it would have been nice if there was some way to differentiate between the (no way Jose) jumps or the more manageable A-frame bridges on the approach to make the ride a bit more interesting. Naturally, once you’re committed there’s no turning back.

Elevated log bridges, skinnys and teeter totters were definitely not on the menu.

The only e-bike that tagged along for the ride.

He chose wisely as it definitely paid dividends.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

In Dún Na nGall

County Donegal, the most Irish province of Ireland, north-west, on the Atlantic. The biggest use of the Old Language (Irish Gaelic) here


Donegal Airport, Carrickfinn (CFN)


The Clady (River) near to Atlantic Ocean


Meatpie.


Errigal (An Earagail), a mountain near to Gweedore.


Directions to Wild Atlantic Way (we are on a travel along!)


Kids playing Irish Reel dance music in a pub of Bunbeg late on Monday night!

 

[dodgeman]

We spent two weeks in Ireland this last spring and really liked it. There on business Stefan?

We rode 10 miles today but I didn’t get any pictures. One from our Ireland trip.

 

[RandallS]

Condensed DH Run 1 (Family Guy)

I hit the trails yesterday with the boys on Moose Mountain just outside of Bragg Creek, AB. There was a minimal amount of climbing as we had vehicle shuttles hence most of the hard work was done for us. Nevertheless, the few ascents that remained were brutal made worse by the sweltering heat. Family Guy is a sweet mellow singletrack that winds through spruce and pine forests. No time to stop and take in the views along this fabulous trail that was bench cut by hand as there were plenty of other riders taking advantage of the optimal ground conditions. There is a mix of vegetation including lots of open meadows, where we were treated to abundant wild flowers and great views of the valley below and mountains beyond. Sublime.

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Nice!
I'd been out that way on Thursday but on a different type of E-vehicle. Golf cart at Wintergreen Golf Course, just north of Bragg on the west side of the Elbow.

Can't bike at present as waiting on warranty work from Giant - battery went stupid and won't power up the bike.
Passes all diagnostics and will both discharge and charge correctly but won't go. Giant Canada being very good about it as bike is 6 months past warranty and they're going to replace at no charge anyways.
I think Ridley's really went to bat for me in that regard with their Giant rep. Once again they've earned my repeat business.

I fellow who used to work for me wants to get me to join him at West Bragg or Moose, but I told him I would only if he was bringing his wife and 10 year old, so I could ride trails of my current capabilities. Hip is toast and collapses at times, so a bugger when riding. Couldn't possibly ride without an ebike these days and can't wait to get mine back.

 

[RabH]

A perfect day for a nice recovery ride, my 3rd ride in as many days and I can't say that very often this year! Light winds and a nice 19C temp made it a very pleasant ride indeed, I would have preferred to go out much earlier when it was cooler though but I'm not complaining! I started my ride with a 44mph descent on a local hill, my best on this one was 48mph a few years ago...might make 50 one day if I'm brave enough! After the descent I took the back roads up to Salsburgh, from a big descent to a big climb!

I then joined the main road for only a mile or so before taking the back road to Armadale, a very smooth road after some rough parts at the start!

I joined the cycle path just after this which brings you out at the far side of Armadale, the path looks good but its a bit rough to ride!

I then joined the new cycle path that runs from Armadale down into Whitburn, this one is very smooth! It runs alongside the main road and is way safer especially down the big descent where I had many idiots trying to pass me before they built the path...

I then took the new cycle path from Whitburn to Bathgate and another couple of nice paths to Dechmont, I used to use the road before they built the paths and it wasn't fun at times! I arrived at Dechmont and tackled the big climb up over Burnhouse road, just under a month ago I did this climb on my 15 year old hybrid! It was way easier this time! Part way up the climb I stopped for this photo looking west!

The next part of the climb was awaiting me!

Now at the top!

The Pentland hills in the background here and a plane was on approach to Edinburgh Airport!

Now it was time for a much needed descent!

I decided to turn off before the final descent to get some photos from a better vantage point, with Beecraigs Country Park surrounded by trees in the distance!

The Ochill Hills in the background here!

Now I had this awesome descent to enjoy, I was nudging 40mph down this one!

The road then rises up immediately up to the country park, I stopped for this photo looking back at the hill I came down before continuing up the climb!

I stopped again before the steepest part of the climb for more photos, the bridges over the Forth make a nice view from here!

Almost at the top now, with a nice view of the Ochil Hills!

The Firth of Forth from near the top of the climb!

The final part of the climb, there is a reason I didn't tackle this on my old hybrid...

After this its a short but fast descent, the road then joins the Linlithgow to Torphicen road and I was undecided about which way to go so I stopped for a snack and spotted these 2 posing for a photo!

Looking down the valley at the Grangemouth oil refinery, which is looking like it might close for good next year and is the last refinery in Scotland...sad times!

I decided to give Linlithgow a miss and headed for Torphicen, the road starts with some big climbs and ends with some amazing descents and has some nice views on the way!

I then hurtled down the descent into Torphicen which is quickly followed by another fast descent down to the road that leads to Westfield, I had to enjoy them as I knew what was coming next! I could have taken the easy option but thats not me, I was feeling strong after struggling at the start of my ride so I opted for the climbs from Westfield up over Heights and then down the descent into Blackridge! Its such a great road for a bike anyway so the climbs didn't bother me one bit!

I arrived in Blackridge with 41 miles covered and I knew I had almost 10 miles to go so it worked out perfectly for a nice 50 miler, its virtually a straight road west to home from there! So that was ride no 50 for the year and it was a very enjoyable one in excellent conditions, my mileage so far is 3840 miles so my average is just under 77 miles! It was good to get some rides close together for a change, the weather has been crazy this year so I have had many long breaks between rides!

@RandallS I hope you get your bike sorted soon, my original battery is over 6 years old and still going strong! Have they confirmed the battery is at fault?

 

[Prairie Dog]

Nice!
I'd been out that way on Thursday but on a different type of E-vehicle. Golf cart at Wintergreen Golf Course, just north of Bragg on the west side of the Elbow.

Can't bike at present as waiting on warranty work from Giant - battery went stupid and won't power up the bike.
Passes all diagnostics and will both discharge and charge correctly but won't go. Giant Canada being very good about it as bike is 6 months past warranty and they're going to replace at no charge anyways.
I think Ridley's really went to bat for me in that regard with their Giant rep. Once again they've earned my repeat business.

I fellow who used to work for me wants to get me to join him at West Bragg or Moose, but I told him I would only if he was bringing his wife and 10 year old, so I could ride trails of my current capabilities. Hip is toast and collapses at times, so a bugger when riding. Couldn't possibly ride without an ebike these days and can't wait to get mine back.

It would have been hot out on the links as well. The heat was so stifling we headed back into town after the ride for refreshments but as hard as we tried, we couldn’t find anywhere to park. Seems like everyone from Calgary had converged on the town in one fell swoop.

Bummer to hear about your ride but it sounds like you’re in good hands. My Trance experienced a similar issue and the shop ended up replacing the harness on warranty which ultimately wasn’t the fix that was needed, The culprit instead was traced to a corroded connector to the main power feed. A quick cleanup and a dab of dielectric grease was all that was required. It took a couple of days before I was able to take delivery of the bike. Here’s hoping you won’t have to wait much longer.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

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A perfect day for a nice recovery ride, my 3rd ride in as many days and I can't say that very often this year! Light winds and a nice 19C temp made it a very pleasant ride indeed, I would have preferred to go out much earlier when it was cooler though but I'm not complaining! I started my ride with a 44mph descent on a local hill, my best on this one was 48mph a few years ago...might make 50 one day if I'm brave enough! After the descent I took the back roads up to Salsburgh, from a big descent to a big climb!

I then joined the main road for only a mile or so before taking the back road to Armadale, a very smooth road after some rough parts at the start!

View attachment 179339
I joined the cycle path just after this which brings you out at the far side of Armadale, the path looks good but its a bit rough to ride!

View attachment 179340
I then joined the new cycle path that runs from Armadale down into Whitburn, this one is very smooth! It runs alongside the main road and is way safer especially down the big descent where I had many idiots trying to pass me before they built the path...

View attachment 179341
I then took the new cycle path from Whitburn to Bathgate and another couple of nice paths to Dechmont, I used to use the road before they built the paths and it wasn't fun at times! I arrived at Dechmont and tackled the big climb up over Burnhouse road, just under a month ago I did this climb on my 15 year old hybrid! It was way easier this time! Part way up the climb I stopped for this photo looking west!

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The next part of the climb was awaiting me!

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Now at the top!

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The Pentland hills in the background here and a plane was on approach to Edinburgh Airport!

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Now it was time for a much needed descent!

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I decided to turn off before the final descent to get some photos from a better vantage point, with Beecraigs Country Park surrounded by trees in the distance!

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The Ochill Hills in the background here!

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Now I had this awesome descent to enjoy, I was nudging 40mph down this one!

View attachment 179349
The road then rises up immediately up to the country park, I stopped for this photo looking back at the hill I came down before continuing up the climb!

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I stopped again before the steepest part of the climb for more photos, the bridges over the Forth make a nice view from here!

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Almost at the top now, with a nice view of the Ochil Hills!

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The Firth of Forth from near the top of the climb!

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The final part of the climb, there is a reason I didn't tackle this on my old hybrid...

View attachment 179358
After this its a short but fast descent, the road then joins the Linlithgow to Torphicen road and I was undecided about which way to go so I stopped for a snack and spotted these 2 posing for a photo!

View attachment 179359
Looking down the valley at the Grangemouth oil refinery, which is looking like it might close for good next year and is the last refinery in Scotland...sad times!

View attachment 179360
I decided to give Linlithgow a miss and headed for Torphicen, the road starts with some big climbs and ends with some amazing descents and has some nice views on the way!

View attachment 179361
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I then hurtled down the descent into Torphicen which is quickly followed by another fast descent down to the road that leads to Westfield, I had to enjoy them as I knew what was coming next! I could have taken the easy option but thats not me, I was feeling strong after struggling at the start of my ride so I opted for the climbs from Westfield up over Heights and then down the descent into Blackridge! Its such a great road for a bike anyway so the climbs didn't bother me one bit!

I arrived in Blackridge with 41 miles covered and I knew I had almost 10 miles to go so it worked out perfectly for a nice 50 miler, its virtually a straight road west to home from there! So that was ride no 50 for the year and it was a very enjoyable one in excellent conditions, my mileage so far is 3840 miles so my average is just under 77 miles! It was good to get some rides close together for a change, the weather has been crazy this year so I have had many long breaks between rides!

@RandallS I hope you get your bike sorted soon, my original battery is over 6 years old and still going strong! Have they confirmed the battery is at fault?

That Armadale-Whitburn bike path looks very enticing. I'm fortunate enough to live in a huge network of reasonably safe bike lanes, but we have very few paved bike paths like that. Some dirt bikeways here and there, but none more than 2 miles long.

Curious, how many times can you say "Firth of Forth" in rapid succession? Three max for me.

 

[RabH]

That Armadale-Whitburn bike path looks very enticing. I'm fortunate enough to live in a huge network of reasonably safe bike lanes, but we have very few paved bike paths like that. Some dirt bikeways here and there, but none more than 2 miles long.

Curious, how many times can you say "Firth of Forth" in rapid succession? Three max for me.

They really are improving our bike paths, it has taken them a long time though but its a step in the right direction for sure! Firth of Forth rolls off the Scottish tongue, I could say it many times over without hesitation!

 

[Chargeride]

In Dún Na nGall

County Donegal, the most Irish province of Ireland, north-west, on the Atlantic. The biggest use of the Old Language (Irish Gaelic) here

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Donegal Airport, Carrickfinn (CFN)

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The Clady (River) near to Atlantic Ocean

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Meatpie.

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Errigal (An Earagail), a mountain near to Gweedore.

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Directions to Wild Atlantic Way (we are on a travel along!)

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Kids playing Irish Reel dance music in a pub of Bunbeg late on Monday night!

That sign is hilarious.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

We spent two weeks in Ireland this last spring and really liked it. There on business Stefan?

Pure holiday with my gf @Brix. Donegal is unbelievably beautiful, especially during good weather we are enjoying now! We both got suntan on a single day!

That sign is hilarious.

As you might notice, it is a stylish WAW for Wild Atlantic Way

The road is a perfectly smooth asphalt, going up and down all the time, and winding. It becomes pretty narrow at times!

I perform rather well in the left-hand traffic although Brix is telling me I veer to the left too often!

We were on Toraigh or Tory Island on Tuesday. The natural beauty is outstanding there! I will post some photos later.

A teaser

 

[JGcycle]

A few pics from this morning's 26km ride:

 

[Prairie Dog]

Despite the hazy conditions due to wild fire smoke, we still managed to fit in a 42km ride this morning. Meanwhile, 400km to the north, Jasper National Park including the townsite has been placed under evacuation notice over the past 36 hrs. 25,000 residents and tourists were forced to flee from the fires which were burning only 8km east of the townsite. The air quality health index at the time had rated our region as 4 out of 10 (moderate) but we couldn’t smell any hint of smoke during the entire ride.

Crossing any highway requires the utmost vigilance particularly in less-than-ideal conditions. Better to have two pairs of eyes scanning to ensure safe access.

A light mist in the air kept us cool and occasionally turned to light rain though it was sporadic. The cooling conditions were quite pleasant in comparison to the blazing heat that we’ve had to endure over the past two weeks. More precip is expected throughout the province this week but it’s likely not going to be enough to slow the fires up north.

Heading back towards homebase, we spot a familiar flashing light in the distance on the other side of the road. Only the missus and another rider we know have the same Lezyne Smartsense lights.

At the spry age of 72, David completed his first Gran Fondo a week ago in the badlands of Drumheller, AB and so congrats were in order.

We stopped and chatted with our roadie friend for a few minutes before departing our separate ways.

 

[Chargeride]

Back in Talybont, Wales.
On the Nduro fat six.
Found the most beautiful Bridle way alongside a heavy running river.

It steeply wound its way alongside the river and several hundred feet above it, every corner was full of entire trees washed down in some past flood.
Eventually popping out at a stone arch bridge built in 1762

Such an atmospheric place, it felt like you had been transported back to the era it was built.

The bridleway continued past the trees into open moorland to a high lake , endless partially collapsed stone walls kept the unreal feeling going.

Looking back revealed a lovely panorama of the beach and the Lyn Peninsula with Abersoch and Porthmadog, the right is the Snowdonia mountains

The path is called the Taith Ardudwy Way and features a Buzzard on the sign ,I saw two them on the way up.

Im guessing this is a Victorian construction designed to look ancient, I think the rocks are there to stop people camping under it.
Edit..it seems this is a neolithic burial chamber

The bike cruised up from sea level, the 4.8 tyres devoured the very rocky path, in fact the bike easily rode up steep slippery steps
Im very impressed, only a 30% down by the time I got to the lake and I was in high the whole way.
It really is a climbing beast.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Along The Atlantic Coast To Letterkenny
Wednesday 24 July 2024

Were I to write a promotional material, I'd start with the motto: 'Ireland: The Country Where The Things Do Work'. Perfect asphalt roads, mobile payment everywhere (we used no cash so far!), very fast mobile internet, friendly and helpful people! Yes, County Donegal (West Ulster) is a montane province, and you do not drive fast there, especially if you are not a left-hand traffic person! You certainly drive carefully on narrow scenic routes. As Donegal is pretty big by European standards, I do not dare to exceed 50 mile of driving a day. (Many road cyclists can be spotted here!)

The Errigal (mountain) as seen from the north (Atlantic coast).

Dunfanaghy, a town known from its sandy beaches, sand dunes, and golf courses. Surfing is a popular pastime here, too.

Irish Full Breakfast a.k.a. Ulster Fry

Marble Hill Beach (Portnablagh). People were actually swimming there!

Breaghy Head. Sheephaven Bay. There were many sheep indeed!

A lovely pub in the village of Glen!

Beware of teetotallers!

A mural promoting a local craft brewery.

You can legally have a pint of beer and drive in Ireland. I wouldn't, so I settled on a non-alcoholic ale See @Brix

The Errigal with its summit in clouds, as seen from the south over Glen Lough (lake).

A living room of our studio apartment in Letterkenny. All conveniences available!

Five minutes of walking to a hypermarket!

Our plans for Thursday involve a boat trip on Swilly Lough (lake) to Buncrana, paying a short visit to Northern Ireland UK (Derry or Londonderry, depending if you are an Irish Republican or British Unionist), and returning to Letterkenny in Ireland.

80+ km route plan. Ireland is totally Metric except pints for beer!

The size of Co. Donegal. Our 4 bases are shown. A week is nothing to see Donegal! (I put "lotnisko" for Donegal Airport CFN. See how far it is from Donegal Town, Base 4!)

 

[Chargeride]

A place I need to visit, the western edges of Europe get very frayed and wild indeed.

Have you wotched much terrurvision?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Have you wotched much terrurvision?

I'm lucky (yet) not to be stopped by Garda, the most serious police in the world!
I'd like to see whether London/Derry is as scary as they say

 

[Chargeride]

It was crazy during the 'troubles'.

This was what a police station looked like when a modern society enters a 'civil war'.

Anyway, lets not spoil your trip .
Our friends visit a lot and cannot praise it more highly