2026 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos

[DaveMatthews]

With two days of rest after the riding in Italy, I decided to go long today. Temps were 86 degrees F, the wind started from the SSW at 10-20 and then switched to NNW at 10-20 with the garbage smoke crap. I figured I'd try and beat most of it, and did. 86 miles, 5:16 moving time, 2680 feet. I had reduced the Eco setting to 90W max. I rode a lot of analog with the tailwind out, and Eco for the rest. I used my range extender as well. I ended up with 10% battery left. This means if I am going to get to Provincetown and back, I'll have to be more judicious with battery management than today.

Sheep Pond looked absolutely gorgeous, with no signs of smoke.

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My first stop was Wellfleet Harbor for lunch at Mac's Seafood on the Pier. It's a takeout joint right on the harbor. No worries about the bike. The navigation bouys are needed because of the thousands of oyster farm cages that are submerged there.

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I was torn between a rare seared tuna wrap or a sea scallop burrito. Both fish are local and super fresh. I chose the scallop burrito because I have never had one.

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After leaving Wellfleet harbor, my destination was the Truro Highlands lighthouse. I planned a route that kept me off of Route 6 as much as possible. However, the Garmin does not know about construction and detours.

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I rode down there anyway, since sometimes there is a way around it, but the bridge was fenced off, so I had to turn around. Riding the hardpack gravel was a piece of cake. I ended up doing 5 miles each way on Route 6 in a 4-6 foot sharrowed shoulder. Vehicles came in groups of 3-5 so it wasn't hard to know when they were coming.

My destination and turnaround point, the Truro Highlands lighthouse.

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This marker shows the original location of the lighthouse. It was moved back around 500 feet in 1996.

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Access to the top of the dunes, and the beach below, has been closed off for "safety". It has been open in the past. I think one of the reasons that it's closed is that it is too close to this FAA beacon, marking the end of land as airplanes above fly out over the Atlantic.

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I stated feeling janky at the the 60 mile mark. It's a long ride for me, and the air quality started to deteriorate. I'm sure that it was mostly me. The return detour offered a treat, a beach that I've never been to.

This next shot is for you, @RabH . A wonderful trip through an estuary on the way to the beach.

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The beach is called Corn Hill Beach, named after the same section of Truro. The Cape is fairly narrow here, so this is on the Cape Cod Bay side. It was quite busy even that late in the afternoon.

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I could not resist stopping to take a picture of Seymour Pond in Brewster on the way back. So serene and empty at dinnertime. The smoke has invaded the skyline.

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I was pretty wiped when I got back to my truck, but a warm outdoor shower, some beef ramen, and a cold DIPA fixed that right quick.

Beauty ride!
Love me some scallops, how was yours?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Poles love English signage From this morning ride. I started at 5:52 am Juliett time (Yes there is "Laundromat" in smaller type on the Speed Queen sign).

We also love -mats of any kind This one is refrigerated and sells eggs (10 eggs for US$4). Next to it is a DHL parcel locker (they copied it from InPost). Not far away you can find a Strawberr-o-mat, I swear! (The photo from yesterday's evening).

 

[Chargeride]

Nice vibe there, its always odd reading Truro, it was the big city to me growing up in Cornwall and is nothing like the area over there.

 

[stompandgo]

Beauty ride!
Love me some scallops, how was yours?

Delicious.

 

[JGcycle]

A few pics from this morning's 24km ride:

 

[Chazmo]

A few pics from this morning's 24km ride:

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Lovely as always, JG. I guess you’re not in the path of the wildfire haze. It’s been pretty icky around here in central MA.

 

[JGcycle]

Lovely as always, JG. I guess you’re not in the path of the wildfire haze. It’s been pretty icky around here in central MA.

We've had a slight smell of smoke occasionally, but no haze so far.

 

[dodgeman]

I rode 12 miles today for an errand. It could have waited but it seemed like a good reason for a bike ride. There is smoke here in western Illinois but it’s pretty minor. My sister in law and here husband have a small vacation home in Canada west of Thunder Bay. They had to evacuate but when they went to leave couldn’t because of fires closing the road out. They made it out the next day. They are back home now and who knows when they can go back or if their place will still be there.

 

[RabH]

After a rubbish June I'm making up for lost time in July with 490 miles from 5 rides already, an average of 98 miles! My June total was 482 miles so I have already surpassed that with 2 weeks remaining in July! A 6am start today with light winds from the ENE so I decided to head SW for Ayrshire while it was cool, with the temp set to rise to 24C (75F) later I would have a cool breeze on the way back! It worked to perfection and what a fantastic day it was!

I made my way down to Garrion Bridge in the Clyde Valley and then headed south towards Lesmahagow, enjoying the excellent cycle path that runs for over 4 miles!

Then it was SW towards Douglas, on the way I grabbed this photo of Douglas Water!

This road out of Douglas is just superb!

Then this amazing road into Glespin!

From Glespin I was heading west towards Muirkirk, stopping for photos on the way!

Glenbuck Loch!

It was a bit hazy today so not the best for photography but I did my best to capture as many nice ones as possible! The road to Muirkirk is just sublime, mostly smooth tarmac like this!

From Muirkirk I continued west towards Sorn and then north for Galston, the road to Galston is very undulating and so much fun to ride!

I was really looking forward to this road at Sornhill!

After this its another big descent down into Galston, then it was time for many big climbs as I turned north towards the tiny village of Moscow and Waterside! After passing through Waterside I stopped for a couple of photos of this stunning farmhouse!

Then the climbing continued!

At the end of the road I joined the cycle path that runs alongside the old A77, this used to be the main road from Glasgow to Ayrshire until they built the M77 motorway! Then it was time for another big climb over the Eaglesham Moors, one of the best roads in the country!

The start of the climb!

Near the top looking back down!

The climbing continues!

Then came the descent down into Eaglesham, passing the Dunwam Dam on the way down!

These guys had a tough climb ahead of them!

The descent through Eaglesham was just superb but it was spoiled by roadworks part way down, I normally take the road to East Kilbride here but while I was stopped at the roadworks I spotted a signpost for Strathaven and decided to do some exploring!

What a road I found, it was full of ups and downs and twists and turns and very narrow in places! I made a wrong turn more than once...

Then came this part, beautiful smooth tarmac!

It was 10 miles of awesome roads before I joined the main road into Strathaven, 3 miles of busy traffic before I joined the awesome road to Kirkmuirhill which is 7 miles of cracking roads with some rough parts but nothing terrible! I then took the back road to Auchenheath, a cracking big descent followed by a big climb and then the amazing descent down into the Clyde Valley!

The road joins the valley road at Crossford where it was time for the biggest climb of the day out of the valley up to Carluke!

The River Clyde from the bridge at Crossford!

Part way up the climb I took my final photo looking down into the Clyde Valley!

From Carluke I took the back road to Law Village with 100 miles appearing as I passed Carluke Golf Club , another cracking road that ends with a huge climb of course... I then took the back road to Allanton and it was my usual back roads to home with lots of big climbs all the way! It really was such a great ride and I think I picked the perfect route for the conditions and despite the hot conditions I managed to keep myself relatively cool!

@stompandgo That looked like an awesome trip, you sure had to endure much warmer conditions than me!

 

[Chargeride]

Im route creating the boondocks out of Scotland at the moment, its just an incredible place.

20 miler on Isle of Rum

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Im route creating the boondocks out of Scotland at the moment, its just an incredible place.

20 miler on Isle of Rum

Certainly it is beautiful! I could already visit the Irish Tory Island (Toraigh) and will continue exploring this kind of Atlantic islands. I always regret I cannot have a bike/e-bike on such a trip! I'm sure you used a ferry for transport to Small Isles?

 

[BlackHand]

Speaking of ferries, I had a meeting in our downtown after work and decided to hop down to Sunset Ave as it was a beautiful evening and I had nothing else on my plate.

Still about an hour and a half before sunset, the light was already golden. The M/V Puyallup is loading up here.

This is the M/V Spokane on its way into the ferry terminal about 25 minutes later. The 2 ferries cross out in the middle of the channel so there is a ferry leaving from each end of the route every 40 minutes.

Still about 30 minutes before sunset, the Spokane is just about done loading.

Right after this photo, my wife texted to remind me I had 25 minutes to pick up a prescription before the pharmacy closed. Good thing I have an ebike!

 

[Chargeride]

Certainly it is beautiful! I could already visit the Irish Tory Island (Toraigh) and will continue exploring this kind of Atlantic islands. I always regret I cannot have a bike/e-bike on such a trip! I'm sure you used a ferry for transport to Small Isles?

Yes 5 quid from the mainland

 

[Chargeride]

Woohoo, its going to rain today!!!

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Speaking of ferries, I had a meeting in our downtown after work and decided to hop down to Sunset Ave as it was a beautiful evening and I had nothing else on my plate.

Still about an hour and a half before sunset, the light was already golden. The M/V Puyallup is loading up here.
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This is the M/V Spokane on its way into the ferry terminal about 25 minutes later. The 2 ferries cross out in the middle of the channel so there is a ferry leaving from each end of the route every 40 minutes.
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Still about 30 minutes before sunset, the Spokane is just about done loading.
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Right after this photo, my wife texted to remind me I had 25 minutes to pick up a prescription before the pharmacy closed. Good thing I have an ebike!

Gorgeous! I've been known to stay out longer than I should just so I can declare an emergency and dash all the way home at high adrenaline level and high rider and motor power all at once. Whee doggies!