RabH
Well-Known Member
My lucky streak with the weather continued today, my 4th ride in 6 days and I can't say that very often! I did have to alter my ride but it didn't detract from the awesome ride I had planned and actually turned out to be one of my best rides of the year! I was going to head out to Lennoxtown and climb the Campsie Hills at Crow road but as I was on my way down to Cumbernauld the sky to the NW was looking pretty threatening so I changed plans and continued down into Kilsyth where the sky wasn't looking so dark! I decided to tackle the Tak Ma Doon road up over the Campsies, probably the most difficult climb in my near vicinity but also the most rewarding!
Its a very tough climb and starts with a leg burning 18% gradient, the reward comes at the summit at 1100ft with the awesome descent down into the Carron Valley! It was a bit of a blustery day with a SW wind around 25mph, the temp was perfect for riding at around 15C! The first part of the descent is very fast, 42.6mph was my top speed and then its on the brakes to cross the ford which wasn't too bad today, sometimes I have to stop and push the bike across if its too deep!
Then the descent continues!
At the end of the road I had 2 options, turn right and enjoy the descent down into Denny or go straight through and climb for a mile or so and enjoy a rollercoaster road down into Bannockburn! I chose the latter and it was a very wise choice, its a cyclists dream road if you like fast descents!
I have actually climbed it in the opposite direction twice this year and both times it was into a headwind, today I got to descend it with a 25mph tailwind!
Its not all descending of course as it is a proper rollercoaster with many ups and downs but the ups in this direction are way easier!This part next to Loch Coulter is a real blast and very fast!
The Ochill Hills ahead were shrouded in thick cloud!
Loch Coulter, no sign of the sun today!
I continued down towards Bannockburn, nudging 40mph on every descent and arrived at a climb so I stopped for a snack and a couple of photos!
The climb starts gradually before ramping up after this!
Then I reached the final descent down into Bannockburn!
A closer view of the Ochil Hills!
From Bannockburn I turned south for Denny and was using the main road for a good few miles, thankfully it wasn't too bad and the drivers were behaving! From Denny I continued on to Bonnybridge and crossed the canal, stopping for more snacks before tackling the big climbs that were awaiting me!
I started up the first climb and came across a big group of horse riders coming down, so I stopped to let them all pass and was just about to start climbing again when a massive tractor appeared taking up the whole road!
I lifted my bike on to the verge to let him pass, I'm sure he was happy when he saw the all the horses further ahead! I got to the top of the second climb and stopped for this photo looking back down the hill!Then it was another climb but a much easier one!
From here I could see the Campsies to the left and the Ochils to the right!
Then I reached the flat part and had the wind at my back for a few miles all the way into Falkirk! The road is pretty smooth like this almost all the way!
Another view of the Ochils, only just!
From Falkirk I had 2 choices yet again, take the direct road to Slamannan which starts with a big descent followed by a big climb or turn into the village of Lionthorn and head down to Glen Village and take on the big climb there! I chose the latter even though its a harder climb, I was feeling pretty strong today!
I then had a nice descent down into Slamannan and was going to use the back road to Longriggend but it was closed so I had no choice but to use the main road to Greengairs! Its not a very busy road though so no big deal and although I was riding directly into the 25mph headwind I had lots of tree cover to protect me!
A final couple of photos of the Campsies, the second one shows it was almost certainly raining over that way now!
I passed through Greengairs at 48 miles and turned south on to the quiet back roads to home with 5 miles or so to go, it was a big climbing day but my legs coped very well probably due to getting out regularly! What a fantastic day that was, it turned out to be an even better ride than I had planned!
My next ride is looking like Sunday when I'm hoping to cycle to the motorcyle racing at Knockhill, my first bike ride to the circuit this year if the forecast is correct! The weather previously has been truly awful so fingers crossed Sunday will be my day...
Greetings from The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Norn Iron 
