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

[Djangodog]

They bussed riders down. Too dangerous.

I only rode it unsupported. It was more to test my fitness and increase my endurance. That was many years ago and before a life changing motorcycle accident. At this point, I am just glad to be riding at all.

 

[RabH]

I had a 5 hour weather window today and thought a ride out to the Forth Bridge fitted the bill nicely, I was right! We had a rare SE wind which wasn't really in my favour for this ride but thankfully it wasn't a howling wind for a change, only around 20-25mph! I made my way out to Slamannan via the back roads and took the back road towards Shieldhill, it was a lovely morning!

Just before Shieldhill I enjoyed the awesome descent down into Glenn Village again, 43.5mph this time and it was partially into the wind! From there I took the road through Hallglen and passed through Brightons and Maddiston before joining the awesome back road to Linlithgow which is mostly downhill and in great condition! There are some very expensive houses dotted along this road, how the other half live!

The owner was just leaving in his very expensive Range Rover when I stopped and he pulled up just along the road, I think he thought I was casing his premises... I arrived in Linlithgow and made my way through the busy town without incident and was glad to get back on the quieter road out of town, now heading towards Winchburgh! I stopped for a snack and grabbed a few photos, the Ochil Hills were looking nice in the background!

From Winchburgh I turned north towards Newton and got my first glimpse of the bridges over the River Forth!

Rosyth Dockyard which is situated on the Fife side of the Forth to the north!

The bridges were getting closer!

It was my lucky day as the cruise ship Aurora was berthed close to the rail bridge!

I then crossed the bridge into Fife, stopping for more photos!

I had a closer view of the cruise ship from here, this one was launched in 2000 and it looked to be in very good condition! Its much nicer than these modern ones that are the size of a tower block...

After crossing the bridge I was heading for Rosyth and stopped for a couple of photos of the new bridge!

After passing through the town I had to use the main road for a couple of miles before turning off at Limekilns, where I stopped for more photos!

Once again the tide was out, I sometimes wonder if it ever comes in here and if these yachts ever get to sail...

I then headed up the cobbled climb into Charlestown, a real bone shaker but its only a short one thankfully! From there I was heading back towards the main road but used the cycle path towards Crombie, its a very fast road so the path is a real godsend! Sadly it doesn't last long before you have to rejoin the road for a quarter of a mile or so before the path continues! I then turned on to the coast road towards Torryburn, a fun road which is mostly quiet on a weekday! I passed through Newmills, Low Vallefield and Culross before joining the cycle path to Kincardine Bridge!

I crossed over the bridge and made my to Carronshore and into Falkirk where the climbing was about to begin, I took the road to Slamannan and got my first rain shower but it wasn't even enough to wet the roads! I stopped at Lionthorn for a snack before the next big climb and took this photo, the clouds looked a bit threatening!

I continued up the climb with some light rain coming down, due to the wind being in my face it was soaking my glasses but thankfully it didn't last long! Another photo near the top looking north towards the Ochils!

One final photo just before arriving in Slamannan, its such a great road but more fun in the other direction as its all downhill...

From Slamannan I headed SW towards Greengairs where I turned south over the back roads to home, arriving just after midday and totally dry thankfully! The clouds were looking very threatening and I could feel rain in the air, I got the bike indoors and within 10 minutes the heavens opened! I couldn't have timed it better and what a great ride it was, I also passed 41000 miles today! 41027 to be exact and I'm only 26 miles short of 5000 for the year now!

 

[JGcycle]

A few pics from this morning's 20km ride:

 

[Chargeride]

View attachment 198693

I had a 5 hour weather window today and thought a ride out to the Forth Bridge fitted the bill nicely, I was right! We had a rare SE wind which wasn't really in my favour for this ride but thankfully it wasn't a howling wind for a change, only around 20-25mph! I made my way out to Slamannan via the back roads and took the back road towards Shieldhill, it was a lovely morning!

View attachment 198694
View attachment 198695
Just before Shieldhill I enjoyed the awesome descent down into Glenn Village again, 43.5mph this time and it was partially into the wind! From there I took the road through Hallglen and passed through Brightons and Maddiston before joining the awesome back road to Linlithgow which is mostly downhill and in great condition! There are some very expensive houses dotted along this road, how the other half live!

View attachment 198696
The owner was just leaving in his very expensive Range Rover when I stopped and he pulled up just along the road, I think he thought I was casing his premises... I arrived in Linlithgow and made my way through the busy town without incident and was glad to get back on the quieter road out of town, now heading towards Winchburgh! I stopped for a snack and grabbed a few photos, the Ochil Hills were looking nice in the background!

View attachment 198698
View attachment 198699
View attachment 198700
From Winchburgh I turned north towards Newton and got my first glimpse of the bridges over the River Forth!

View attachment 198702
View attachment 198703
Rosyth Dockyard which is situated on the Fife side of the Forth to the north!

View attachment 198704
The bridges were getting closer!

View attachment 198705
View attachment 198706
It was my lucky day as the cruise ship Aurora was berthed close to the rail bridge!

View attachment 198707
View attachment 198708
I then crossed the bridge into Fife, stopping for more photos!

View attachment 198709
View attachment 198710
I had a closer view of the cruise ship from here, this one was launched in 2000 and it looked to be in very good condition! Its much nicer than these modern ones that are the size of a tower block...

View attachment 198711
After crossing the bridge I was heading for Rosyth and stopped for a couple of photos of the new bridge!

View attachment 198712
View attachment 198713
After passing through the town I had to use the main road for a couple of miles before turning off at Limekilns, where I stopped for more photos!

View attachment 198714
View attachment 198715
Once again the tide was out, I sometimes wonder if it ever comes in here and if these yachts ever get to sail...

View attachment 198716
I then headed up the cobbled climb into Charlestown, a real bone shaker but its only a short one thankfully! From there I was heading back towards the main road but used the cycle path towards Crombie, its a very fast road so the path is a real godsend! Sadly it doesn't last long before you have to rejoin the road for a quarter of a mile or so before the path continues! I then turned on to the coast road towards Torryburn, a fun road which is mostly quiet on a weekday! I passed through Newmills, Low Vallefield and Culross before joining the cycle path to Kincardine Bridge!

I crossed over the bridge and made my to Carronshore and into Falkirk where the climbing was about to begin, I took the road to Slamannan and got my first rain shower but it wasn't even enough to wet the roads! I stopped at Lionthorn for a snack before the next big climb and took this photo, the clouds looked a bit threatening!

View attachment 198717
I continued up the climb with some light rain coming down, due to the wind being in my face it was soaking my glasses but thankfully it didn't last long! Another photo near the top looking north towards the Ochils!

View attachment 198718
One final photo just before arriving in Slamannan, its such a great road but more fun in the other direction as its all downhill...

View attachment 198719
From Slamannan I headed SW towards Greengairs where I turned south over the back roads to home, arriving just after midday and totally dry thankfully! The clouds were looking very threatening and I could feel rain in the air, I got the bike indoors and within 10 minutes the heavens opened! I couldn't have timed it better and what a great ride it was, I also passed 41000 miles today! 41027 to be exact and I'm only 26 miles short of 5000 for the year now!

Have they finished painting that bridge yet?

 

[JGcycle]

Nice ride, JG.

What the heck is that last picture of? Looks like it’s sticking out on the trail and ready to clothesline you!

I'm not sure what kind of critter it is supposed to be, but fortunately it's not hanging out over the trail nearly as much as it appears.

 

[RabH]

Have they finished painting that bridge yet?

Yes, years ago now! They used long lasting paint after repainting it over and over for decades...

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Something for Chargeride

On Tuesday, we took a speed train back to London. I rented a Lime + Uber e-bike to get there:

This place has been there since 1974, no changes whatsoever! A Jewish bakery in Brick Lane.

Then, I walked a little and rented another e-bike to get there

Obviously, I could not ride afterwards, hence my total riding net time was less than 10 minutes

I'm writing it from home already.

 

[Chargeride]

Pretty Vacant, you cant imagine the horror brought upon the UK by the Pistols, people really thought the youth had turned to Satan, it looks hilariously benign now as we sent our 'best' to take them on intellectually, quickly realising we had no power here.
This clip says everything about then and now, they are about as rebellious as some posh kids smoking in the park

Eating Gherkins in front of the Gherkin eh

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Pretty Vacant, you cant imagine the horror brought upon the UK by the Pistols, people really thought the youth had turned to Satan, it looks hilariously benign now as we sent our 'best' to take them on intellectually, quickly realising we had no power here.
This clip says everything about then and now, they are about as rebellious as some posh kids smoking in the park

I laughed when I found Grundy's Hill in Ramsgate

Eating Gherkins in front of the Gherkin eh

Haha! Well, as you know gherkin is eaten in Shoreditch while the Gherkin is in the very centre of the City
There are two competing beigel shops side by side: Beigel Bake and Beigel Shop. They say you only enter Beigel Shop by mistake

 

[Base]

Had backtoback meetings at the home office, so ran a late lunch ride to get some dinner.

Good 30 km in full sunny weather, it was supposed to be an overcast rainy day. Great weather for a big d-tour to the supermarket.

 

[Nvreloader]

Base,
Can you explain what all the tree stumps/rock and the wall writing on the underpass wall mean???

 

[Base]

The three stumps are there to create a wildlife corridor, this helps for the small animals to find their way.

The wall paintings are telling a story of the Liberation of the surroundings of Bergen op Zoom, the fights around here have been massive. It took some real effort to take control again.

 

[Nvreloader]

Base,
Thank you, quite interesting...

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Two years of every week cycling, winter or summer, healthy or ill, home or abroad

 

[Base]

This a monument a few km further into the direction of Woensdrecht where in the last days before the Liberation a bunch of the underground resistance where executed (near the Air Base)

 

[JGcycle]

A few pics from the turn around point of today's 20km ride: