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I was looking forward to cycling to Knockhill Racing Circuit tomorrow for the motorcycle racing but on checking the latest forecast on Friday night it wasn't looking as promising as it was previously, it was showing a gusty 30mph easterly wind with a 30% chance of rain in the afternoon so I thought it would be a day for the car this time! I then had a lightbulb moment as I noticed Saturday was looking really good but I very rarely get a Saturday ride due to family commitments! Some family bribery then ensued and I secured Saturday and was extremely delighted with myself, only then I noticed that the racing doesn't start until 1pm on a Saturday whereas Sunday is a 10am start!
Then I had another lightbulb moment, why not do the scenic route and make it another 100 miler so that's what I did and what a decision it was!
I set off at 7.40am with early morning mist around and a light easterly wind which was rather chilly at around 7C! The afternoon temp was expected to be around 17C which is just perfect for watching the racing and cycling, the wind was expected to increase in strength in the afternoon but for once that would be in my favour as I would have it at my back almost all the way home!
5 days ago I crossed the Forth bridges and that was going to be my plan again today but after crossing the Forth I would be continuing east to Burntisland and not turning for home! A few miles after departing I passed the Black Loch at Limerigg and stopped for these photos!
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Strangely the mist wasn't hanging around the loch!
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After 18 miles I arrrived in Linlithgow, the mist was hanging around the Ochil Hills and it was rather hazy!
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I was now nearing the bridges and stopped for this photo!
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For once the path was open at both sides of the bridge so I chose the western side to get some photos of the Queensferry Crossing from the Forth Road Bridge! The mist had now lifted thankfully!
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After crossing the Forth I continued east towards Burntisland, soon I had the 16% climb to take on at Aberdour where I stopped for a snack and a short break and some photos of course!
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I reached Burntisland where it was time to head up the big climb towards Mossmorran wind farm and I had the wind at my back for the first time, at the top of the climb I stopped for this photo looking back down the hill! Next time I'm going down it...
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I was loving the breeze at my back as I reached Crossgates where it was time to turn north towards Kelty, more big climbs ensued until the big descent down into Cantsdam near Kelty where I managed 43.2mph! If only it was an easterly descent, I would probably have hit 60mph if that was the case!
@Chargeride I'm surprised you didn't know cyclists can't be charged with speeding, that has been the case for a very long time! There is a crazy law called furious cycling which we can be hit with instead, looking at your videos you better be careful...
I arrived in Kelty where it was time for yet another big climb but at least the wind was at my back and I managed up the difficult climb in eco mode! It was now due east to the Knockhill turnoff, after cresting the climb I was flying along with the strengthening beeze at my back! Well I thought I was until I spotted a peleton of around 15 riders waiting to join the road, a short time later they passed me as if I was going backwards!
I reached the turnoff for the track but I had only covered 53 miles which would have been 55 miles when I arrived at the track! As I was still early I decided to continue east towards Saline and enjoy that tailwind, its such a great road to ride especially with the wind pushing you on!
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I then enjoyed the fast descent into Steelend and decided to stop for a snack before taking on the big climb up to Knockhill! This is looking back up the hill, you can imagine how much fun it was hurtling down it with a tailwind!
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The road then leads into Saline which is another big descent, sadly there were roadworks with traffic signals on the descent so it wasn't as much fun as usual! At the bottom of the descent I turned on to the narrow back road that takes you back up to the track and its quite a climb, at this point my first battery had dropped to 22% at the 58 mile mark and I had climbed 4000ft so I switched to battery 2 to continue up the climb! I grabbed a few photos on the way up!
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As you can see the weather was glorious and it remained that way right through the day, most unlike Scotland!
I sure wasn't complaining and enjoyed a few hours of excellent racing, some photos from the track!
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It was then time to depart and I decided to turn south and enjoy the descent down into Saline again, it starts with a climb from the circuit and then its mostly downhill for a good 18 miles and I had a tailwind to enoy! This is at the top of the climb looking back down at the entrance to the track!
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I was flying along and hardly used any battery power for many miles (I still had 40% left when I got home), I passed through Forestmill and was heading to Kincardine and finally got a decent view of the Ochill Hills which were hidden in mist and haze for most of the day!
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From here I used the same roads as most of my rides from the east and I reached Longriggend and headed down the Telegraph Road and grabbed my final photos before turning for home! The first one is looking south which was the direction I was heading and the second looking north! As a Dire Straits fan I always think of them when I take this awesome road!
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I don't think I could have asked for a better day, a truly awesome ride and a great day of racing!
I am just about to to hit the sack and I won't have any problem falling asleep!
Just before I go, I passed the 34000 mile mark on my amazing bike today!