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

[Chargeride]

Got out today cold but sunny, this is the mural by Ringo Stars childhood home

Does the affect the house price I wonder

Very poor terrace turned rather upmarket these days

Sefton Park

The Watering Can cafe, super chic and just around the corner from a well known lane.

I ended up in sync with the magic bus

Controversial for a while, they had to put a cover over the other one as people started spraying it when a possible connection with a Slave trader called James Penny.
Its been denied...but I'm not so sure.

Disappointingly there arent any 60s go go dancers or winding roads

I'm sure the memroy or even knowledge is fading with the youth.

Allright Johnny

Calderstones Park, holy over the top

Yup, the originals were stolen in front of everyone, then found in a local scrap dealer, they are brought out for special occasions.

John Lennons childhood home, bit posh actually for the these parts

McCartneys, there were three migrants in security jackets guarding the place, I asked them jokingly if there were expecting a kick off, they just stared blankly.
Thats how bad my jokes are.

The most incredible houses everywhere in various states of repair, the Beatles were surrounded by such tired decadence in their youth.

It must have shaped a part of their collective attitudes to life.

Nearby Lark Lane, super trendy South Liverpool, a really good buzz , especially at night.

Its right in the middle of millionaires tired mansions and everyone descends on it all week.

Weve decided to get the train down when the weather warms up and have a pub crawl on the bikes.

There are hundreds of streets packed with these giant house, some immaculate, some near derelict, practically none are owned by a single family.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Controversial for a while, they had to put a cover over the other one as people started spraying it when a possible connection with a Slave trader called James Penny.
Its been denied...but I'm not so sure.

With my wife Anna a.k.a. Sheila Sheen, 9th of April 2005. The day of wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles I swear that's the truth!

No smartphones yet

We were on a guided tour with a bus on that day. The guide was critical about the royal wedding I also bought a newspaper to learn more (and to check for the last name of the Royal Prince as I was not quite aware he was a Windsor)

 

[RabH]

I was just about to set off when the postie arrived with my NHS letter containing my bowel screening results, my first thought was its colonoscopy time again! Imagine my delight when I was given the all clear for the first time in 6 years! That set the mood for an awesome bike ride in beautiful sunny weather, it was very cold though! It was a day to avoid the back roads so I came up with the safest ride on main roads I could think of, I headed south for Lanark and stopped for a few photos of the Clyde Valley on the way down!

I wasn't going near this hill today...

I arrived in Lanark and as always the town was busy, this is when you are glad you are on a bike and able to pass a big line of cars with ease! At the far side of town I caught a glimpse of a snowy Tinto Hill!

I then stopped at Lanark Loch for a couple of photos!

I left the loch and made my way down to Hyndford Bridge where I turned south on the awesome A70 towards Rigside!

The road was white due to the salt, I was pleasantly surprised to find the cycle path clear of ice thanks to the sun!

I soon had a view of Tinto Hill again as I continued along the A70!

Another couple of miles of awesome riding and I had an even better view, I think the cows were expecting some food!

The stunning views just kept coming!

I just love this descent, I had a tailwind but it was only 15mph today which made a nice change!

A short while later a gritter lorry passed, I saw many on my ride today!

I arrived in Rigside and had a cracking descent down to Uddington coming shortly, it was just superb on the twisty and dry road! After passing through the village it was time to turn north and this was when I really felt the chill, the wind was from the NE! Up until this point I had my gloves on the lowest setting, I cranked the heat up to level 2 and all was good in the world again! The road north used to be the old A74 which was the main road between Scotland and England, they changed it from a dual to single carraigeway when they opened the new M74 motorway and installed a really nice wide cycle path!

The first mile or so was uphill and I was forced to use the road due to ice on the path, the sun had made the path usable further up but there was still some patchy ice around! I stayed on the path though as it was much safer and going uphill meant my speed was low anyway! Eventually the path starts going downhill but thankfully it was clear!

The path comes to an end sadly at the junction for Brocketsbrae so it was time to rejoin the main road at Lesmahagow, this part is a fast dual carriageway but the traffic was light! After a mile or so I was back on the path which leads to Kirkmuirhill, more patchy ice but it was safe! I arrived in the village and stopped for a snack and a short break and a couple of photos!

I was now heading for the Clyde Valley at Garrion Bridge, a cracking long descent through Swinhill and Shawsburn! My intention was to head for Garrion Bridge and tackle the big climb up the Horsley Brae into Overtown, unfortunately there were roadworks at Garrion Bridge with a huge line of cars and trucks! So I decided to make my way along the valley to Crossford and take on the big climb up to Carluke, I stopped on the bridge at Crossford for a couple of photos of the very fast flowing River Clyde before tackling the climb!

I had lots of juice left in my second battery so I cranked the assist up to level 3 on the climb, that sure made it much easier than it normally is! My legs were still feeling yesterdays ride... From Carluke I continued north to Newmains where I turned west towards Cambusnethan and then north towards Cleland with just 5 miles to go, I just used the main road all the way home to be safe! I really enjoyed my ride today depsite the cold and icy patches, the highlight was the awesome A70 which never disappoints!

 

[DaveMatthews]

View attachment 206090

I was just about to set off when the postie arrived with my NHS letter containing my bowel screening results, my first thought was its colonoscopy time again! Imagine my delight when I was given the all clear for the first time in 6 years! That set the mood for an awesome bike ride in beautiful sunny weather, it was very cold though! It was a day to avoid the back roads so I came up with the safest ride on main roads I could think of, I headed south for Lanark and stopped for a few photos of the Clyde Valley on the way down!

View attachment 206091
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I wasn't going near this hill today...

View attachment 206094
I arrived in Lanark and as always the town was busy, this is when you are glad you are on a bike and able to pass a big line of cars with ease! At the far side of town I caught a glimpse of a snowy Tinto Hill!

View attachment 206096
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I then stopped at Lanark Loch for a couple of photos!

View attachment 206100
View attachment 206101
I left the loch and made my way down to Hyndford Bridge where I turned south on the awesome A70 towards Rigside!

The road was white due to the salt, I was pleasantly surprised to find the cycle path clear of ice thanks to the sun!

View attachment 206102
I soon had a view of Tinto Hill again as I continued along the A70!

View attachment 206103
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Another couple of miles of awesome riding and I had an even better view, I think the cows were expecting some food!

View attachment 206105
View attachment 206106
The stunning views just kept coming!

View attachment 206107
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I just love this descent, I had a tailwind but it was only 15mph today which made a nice change!

View attachment 206110
A short while later a gritter lorry passed, I saw many on my ride today!

View attachment 206111
I arrived in Rigside and had a cracking descent down to Uddington coming shortly, it was just superb on the twisty and dry road! After passing through the village it was time to turn north and this was when I really felt the chill, the wind was from the NE! Up until this point I had my gloves on the lowest setting, I cranked the heat up to level 2 and all was good in the world again! The road north used to be the old A74 which was the main road between Scotland and England, they changed it from a dual to single carraigeway when they opened the new M74 motorway and installed a really nice wide cycle path!

The first mile or so was uphill and I was forced to use the road due to ice on the path, the sun had made the path usable further up but there was still some patchy ice around! I stayed on the path though as it was much safer and going uphill meant my speed was low anyway! Eventually the path starts going downhill but thankfully it was clear!

View attachment 206112
The path comes to an end sadly at the junction for Brocketsbrae so it was time to rejoin the main road at Lesmahagow, this part is a fast dual carriageway but the traffic was light! After a mile or so I was back on the path which leads to Kirkmuirhill, more patchy ice but it was safe! I arrived in the village and stopped for a snack and a short break and a couple of photos!

View attachment 206114
View attachment 206115
I was now heading for the Clyde Valley at Garrion Bridge, a cracking long descent through Swinhill and Shawsburn! My intention was to head for Garrion Bridge and tackle the big climb up the Horsley Brae into Overtown, unfortunately there were roadworks at Garrion Bridge with a huge line of cars and trucks! So I decided to make my way along the valley to Crossford and take on the big climb up to Carluke, I stopped on the bridge at Crossford for a couple of photos of the very fast flowing River Clyde before tackling the climb!

View attachment 206116
View attachment 206117
I had lots of juice left in my second battery so I cranked the assist up to level 3 on the climb, that sure made it much easier than it normally is! My legs were still feeling yesterdays ride... From Carluke I continued north to Newmains where I turned west towards Cambusnethan and then north towards Cleland with just 5 miles to go, I just used the main road all the way home to be safe! I really enjoyed my ride today depsite the cold and icy patches, the highlight was the awesome A70 which never disappoints!

View attachment 206118
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Congrats on skipping another colonoscopy, I just had one a week ago and they're a bummer!

Shut up Dave...

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I was just about to set off when the postie arrived with my NHS letter containing my bowel screening results, my first thought was its colonoscopy time again! Imagine my delight when I was given the all clear for the first time in 6 years!

One of the few advantages to getting old: After last year's screening colonoscopy came back negative, my GI doc said, "Congratulations, you're now too old for any more!"

Imagine my disappointment.

 

[DaveMatthews]

One of the few advantages to getting old: After last year's screening colonoscopy came back negative, my GI doc said, "Congratulations, you're now too old for any more!"

Imagine my disappointment.

And another advantage to getting old is... um... er...

DAMMIT!!!

 

[Chargeride]

One of the few advantages to getting old: After last year's screening colonoscopy came back negative, my GI doc said, "Congratulations, you're now too old for any more!"

Imagine my disappointment.

Youre next appointment is past your expiry date

 

[RabH]

One of the few advantages to getting old: After last year's screening colonoscopy came back negative, my GI doc said, "Congratulations, you're now too old for any more!"

Imagine my disappointment.

They stop screening here when you are 74, I have 6 years more to suffer... 3 more screenings as its every 2 years!

 

[Chargeride]

Screen every two years, die of ankle cancer.

 

[Chargeride]

That friends just sent me this, my old Escort Turbo.
1987 200bhp, full cage, seam welded.
It was the beast, long before the official product.
So basically that was my first Turbo and now Ive got a Turbo push bike.
Am I going backwards or forwards?