2025 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos

[Jeremy McCreary]

Eventually the inevitable happened, pulled both his pants and boxer shorts to his knees,

I get it. From what you've told us about Brian, and what we know about you, not surprised that he finally gave in to the temptation to moon you. But maybe he should've waited till he was stopped.
;^}

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

View attachment 198117

My luck ran out last Thursday when I got properly soaked on a 50 mile ride, it was another very windy day surprisingly... Fast forward to today and the weather was so much nicer, still windy of course but not the crazy winds we have been getting! I started on the main roads because it was a Sunday but that backfired very quickly with so many trucks around so I took to the back roads after 7 miles and passed through Allanton and Carluke before heading for Yieldshields and amazing roads like this!

View attachment 198120
The main herd of Alpacas were too far away for a photo but I caught these 4 lounging around and totally ignoring me! I then enjoyed the quiet back roads out to Kaimend, grabbing a couple of photos on the way!

View attachment 198121
View attachment 198122
From Kaimend I hurtled down the descent into Newbigging before turning east towards Dunsyre where I had some stunning views of the Pentland Hills, I couldn't stop taking photos...

View attachment 198124
View attachment 198125
View attachment 198126
I used the narrow back road to Walston which I enjoyed recently in the other direction, its just amazing!

View attachment 198127
It dissects the hills and has a huge descent at one end and a huge climb at the other!

View attachment 198128
View attachment 198129
View attachment 198130
View attachment 198131
View attachment 198132
View attachment 198133
View attachment 198134
After passing through Walston I had a stunning descent followed by a big climb and the stunning views just continued!

View attachment 198135
View attachment 198136
View attachment 198137At the end of the road I joined the main A702 which heads south into Biggar but I spotted a sign saying there was a vintage rally in Biggar and to expect delays so I turned off the A702 and joined the A721 to Elsrickle, it starts with this long gradual climb!

View attachment 198138
This was near the top looking back down, shame I wasn't going down it today as it would have been wind assisted! At the top I was greeted by this lovely scene!

View attachment 198139
View attachment 198140
View attachment 198141
View attachment 198142
I was sure glad I chose to head for Elsrickle! I then took the back road towards Biggar but stayed well away from the town, I had a nice view of the Coulter Hills here!

View attachment 198143
I then turned NW towards Carnwath and up the back road to Braehead, a big climb up through the village!

View attachment 198144
Then its a cracking descent down the other side on the back road to Forth, as soon as I arrived in Forth I took the back road up the big climb to Climpy! Then it was the big descent down into the valley and on to Shotts!

View attachment 198145
At Shotts I had 10 miles to go and enjoyed the lovely new tarmac on the road from Harthill to Salsburgh, it was closed for a month but it was well worth the wait! A big climb followed by a big descent but it was directly into the strong breeze! At Salsburgh I took my usual back roads to home and arrived just before dinner time and feeling pretty tired but totally elated after a truly amazing day on the bike! It really was a fantastic ride and I'm still buzzing many hours later!

A lot more brown than I'm used to seeing in your normally lush green photos. Has the rain cut back to 6 days a week?

 

[Chargeride]

The missus did an extended version of the Traws Eyre with MTB Wales, I couldnt make it and there was only one space left anyway.

140 miles across the Welsh mountains over four nights, the only woman among a bunch of mid life crisis 60 yr olds .

She came back on cloud 9, 21,000ft of climbing, only slightly rained one day, actually got a dropper post fitted after their advice and is now lecturing me on how to use one
They only day 12 people on the trail and two bikers, it goes through some seriously remote parts.
Might do it myself, just need to book with a crew of midlife crisis supermodels.

 

[Chazmo]

Wow, that’s spectacular, Charge! Were there ebikes in this gang? Those puddles in the picture look a little problematical. Maybe not; hard to see the depth.

 

[Chargeride]

One guy, but he had a false leg ,and the organisers wife, she took all the pictures and had to be ahead to get many of the shots.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

The missus did an extended version of the Traws Eyre with MTB Wales, I couldnt make it and there was only one space left anyway.

140 miles across the Welsh mountains over four nights, the only woman among a bunch of mid life crisis 60 yr olds .
View attachment 198182

View attachment 198183

View attachment 198184

View attachment 198185

View attachment 198186

She came back on cloud 9, 21,000ft of climbing, only slightly rained one day, actually got a dropper post fitted after their advice and is now lecturing me on how to use one
They only day 12 people on the trail and two bikers, it goes through some seriously remote parts.
Might do it myself, just need to book with a crew of midlife crisis supermodels.

Absolutely stunning photos! And hats off to your wife — over 4,000 ft/day without assist! After living with you, I'm sure she knew how to handle those guys. Please post the dates of the supermodel trip.

What's the name of that first mountain? Looks geologically interesting.

 

[DaveMatthews]

I get it. From what you've told us about Brian, and what we know about you, not surprised that he finally gave into the temptation to moon you. But maybe he should've waited till he was stopped.
;^}

And this my friends is why I prefer to ride at the front of the pack...

 

[Chargeride]

Absolutely stunning photos! And hats off to your wife — over 4,000 ft/day without assist! After living with you, I'm sure she knew how to handle those guys. Please post the dates of the supermodel trip.

What's the name of that first mountain? Looks geologically interesting.

She cant remember where it was, I'll work on it

 

[Twin Valley]

When your grandson discovers your bike has an electric motor good bye Levo ... grandpa: I have a rule for myself no going out of 1st eco assist for first 45 minutes of riding ... Grandson: I have a rule too, always stay in top turbo assist and around and around the farm it goes

 

[Chargeride]

Kids got his priorities spot on.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

When your grandson discovers your bike has an electric motor good bye Levo ... grandpa: I have a rule for myself no going out of 1st eco assist for first 45 minutes of riding ... Grandson: I have a rule too, always stay in top turbo assist and around and around the farm it goes
View attachment 198195

Buy him a helmet, Bill

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The missus did an extended version of the Traws Eyre with MTB Wales, I couldnt make it and there was only one space left anyway.

140 miles across the Welsh mountains over four nights, the only woman among a bunch of mid life crisis 60 yr olds .

Chris:

• North Wales is gorgeous
• Your wife is beautiful
• The photos are exquisite!