I was worried about mist and fog preventing my ride to Knockhill Racing Circuit yesterday for the 50th anniversary bike festival meeting, I really didn't want to take the car! The circuit opened in 1974, I first attended in 1979 and have been every year since! Luckily it was just misty with no sign of fog and despite a chilly NE wind I elected to take the bike and wrap up well! I was so glad I made that decision, especially once I had reached the circuit after battling that chilly wind!
I made my way down to Falkirk and over the Kincardine bridge and as I was nearing Forestmill the mist cleared a bit and I got a nice view of the Ochil Hills for the first time on my ride!
At Forestmill I turned on to the quiet back road to Saline and immediately had a massive tractor in front of me taking up the whole road, thankfully the driver spotted me and pulled over enough to let me pass! I thanked him with a cheery wave and he gave me a thumbs up!
I got some respite from the wind thanks to all the trees lining this road, I then had the climb up to Saline!
I chose to to take the back road from Saline up to Knockhill and would use the main road on the way back with a nice tailwind to enjoy! The road is a bit rough at the start but as you head up the climb it gets better and better until the recently resurfaced part near the top! I could feel the wind here but the climb kept me toasty!
A short time later I arrived at the circuit and it was very busy on the way in so I was very glad I was on the bike and was able to pass all the cars and jump the queue!
Some photos from the races and track displays which had most of the champions from 1974 up to this year!
Then came the best part, they had arranged a track walk at lunchtime so I was walking round with my bike and on reaching the hairpin which is the last corner before the main straight I took this photo!
I waited for the crowds to clear and rode my bike up the main straight!
At the start/finish line!
I wanted to ask one of the officials if I could do a quick circuit of the track but they were surrounded by people so maybe next time, not in 50 years though!
After the meeting I was really looking forward to my ride home with a lovely 20mph tailwind all the way! The descent down in to Steelend and Saline was just incredible, nudging 40mph all the way down!
I then joined the back road to Forestmill again and got some nice views of the Ochils again!
I continued over the Kincardine bridge again and took the road into Carronshore this time, before heading up the big climb near Falkirk! I stopped at the canal for a snack and a break before tackling the climb and grabbed a few photos!
I then headed up the 20% climb (ridewithgps says the max was 13.6%)
At the top of the climb I normally turn left for home but I made the decision to turn right and enjoy the tailwind for a few miles more, I was greeted with this sight soon after so I was very happy with my decision to turn right!
This road is in great condition also and has some lovely big descents!
The road takes you into Allandale where I turned left for Castlecary with the wind still right at my back, its amazing how much warmer a cold wind is when its behind you!
From Castlecary I took the road to Abronhill and then the big climb up towards Slamannan!
This road is also in great condition after a resurface earlier this year, this is the flatter part before it ramps up again!
At the top of the climb I turned right for Greengairs and still had the wind at my back, from there it was a ride over the back roads to home where I arrived fresh as a daisy after enjoying that tailwind all the way from Knockhill!
After dinner I conked out though, I guess the day took a lot out of me but what a day it was!
After my last ride I only needed 16 miles to reach 5000 for the year, that was surpassed not long into my ride! Check out the climbing stats for the year, its just mindblowing!