You sure do make up for it when you do get out though.
Yes I do, any opportunity for a big ride is taken with gusto and today was the case in point!
I noticed I hadn't ridden out to the beautiful Trossachs since June so with a decent forecast today I put that right! The wind was from the NE and around 20mph which is unusual for around here and it didn't really help me until late in my ride and I sure needed it! I set off just before 7am in a northerly direction down the back roads towards Cumbernauld, it was a little chilly but just nice for riding the hills!
Early morning view of the Campsie Hills, I was just skirting round them today until late in my ride!
From Cumbernauld I took the back road through Twechar and on through Kirkintilloch where I truned north for Lennoxtown and had another view of the Campsies down this awesome descent!
I stopped at the Whitefield Pond in Lennoxtown for a snack and a photo!
From there I was heading west towards Strathblane and heard a truck approaching and I knew I had a climb coming just round the bend, I spotted a tiny road off to the left and decided to pull in to let the truck pass and I got a little beep of his horn to say thanks! I noticed there was a line of cars behind the truck, I was holding him up and he was holding them up!
While I was waiting for them to pass I noticed a little bridge just around 100 yards up the tiny road and walked up to investigate and came across this lovely view!
A little later I reached Strathblane where I turned north on to the main A81 which runs all the way to Aberfoyle, thankfully the road wasn't busy so I got lucky! I was nearing the village of Dumgoyne and stopped for this photo of the A81 at the Glengoyne Distillery! I didn't stop for any samples as I hate whisky...I guess I'm not a true Scot!
I continued along the A81 and reached this long straight with a nice descent and a very nice view of the mountains surrounding the Trossachs National Park!
I stopped again at the bottom of the descent for these photos!
Most of the A81 is in very good condition, I just love riding this road!
I reached the turnoff for Aberfoyle but decided to give it a miss this time and turn east towards Thornhill instead, the reward for going this way is the stunning Lake of Menteith!
One of the reasons I chose this route was the road from Thornhill to Callander which starts with a huge climb and culminates in a truly awesome descent! This is the first climb and it just keeps going up for almost 3 miles!
The descent makes the climb worth the effort and the stunning views just keep coming!
I arrived in Callander and stopped on the bridge in the centre of town for some photos, what a beautiful day it was!
Callander was my turning point so it was time to turn SE on the main A84, a very busy road at times but I timed it nicely today and really enjoyed riding it for many miles which are mostly downhill until I reached Doune! At Doune I decided to take the road to Bridge of Allan which starts with some big climbs and is followed by some brilliant descents!
The scenery isn't too shabby either!
The road is in great condition for the most part!
I passed through a busy Bridge of Allan and turned south for Stirling, the only city I choose to ride my bike through! I know it well and can avoid the congested parts! Now came the huge 4 mile climb from Stirling up over the Campsies, only this time the wind was in my favour and it made the climb so much easier than it usually is!
It really ramps up just after this part!
Then comes the steepest part up past Loch Coulter!
At the top I had an amazing view of the Ochils!
Loch Coulter!
Now I had some big descents to look forward to, at first the road rises and falls like a rollercoaster in parts before arriving in the Carron Valley where I turned east towards Denny and had a 4 mile descent to bask in! That sure was fun despite the 20mph headwind, it didn't slow me down much!
From Denny I took the road to Bonnybridge with the intention of taking the back roads up to Falkirk, only to be stifled by a road closure! I thought about chancing it but came up with a nice alternative instead, taking the road to Abronhill where I made a wrong turn which turned out to be a blessing as I enjoyed a very narrow back road with no traffic anywhere!
The road eventually brought me out on the road I was intending to take, I really wasn't sure where it would go...
I then tackled the climb up through Upperton to Longriggend, at the top of the climb I had ascended for just over 14 miles and was feeling it! I enjoyed the descent down Telegraph road into Caldercruix where the 100 miles appeared on my gps, then it was a straight road home and as I arrived in my home town I thought I would head out to the big fast descent at Gartness as the wind was in my favour today! 45.3mph down the booze brae as its known, Inverhouse whisky distillery is close by hence the name!
I arrived home knackered but absolutely buzzing after a brilliant day on the bike!
That was imperial century #17 for the year, 3 more than I did in my best year in 2012 way before my e bike days!