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

[RabH]

It was a nice day yesterday but I was still feeling the effects of Thursdays big ride so I decided to wait another day, it was a great decision thankfully! Today was also nice but pretty chilly for May with a 20mph NE wind blowing, when the sun was out it felt warmish but when it wasn't it was bitterly cold! A big climbing day was ideal to keep me warm though and with stunning views of the hills for most of the ride I was really enjoying my ride! I headed down the back roads to Allanton and turned east on the A71, then up the big climb to Climpy which warmed me up nicely before hurtling down the big descent into Forth at almost 45mph!

Then I turned north for Wilsontown where I took the awesome back road south to Braehead, lots of big twisty descents on this fantastic road before the climb up to Braehead!

I had this view of the Pentland Hills at the top of the climb!

Then came this very fast descent down to Carnwath!

From there I headed east to Newbigging, another awesome descent with some stunning views!

From there I turned NE towards Dunsyre, stopping for many photos of the beautiful scenery on the way!

I enjoyed another cracking descent from Dunsyre down to the awesome A72 road to Biggar, where I had many stunning views of the Coulter Hills to the south!

The A702 is in great condition all the way to Biggar, it was busy at times but the drivers were on their best behaviour! Yes no cars or trucks in this photo @DaveMatthews

From Biggar I joined the A72 and A73 towards Thankerton, where I passed over the River Clyde! You can see the signs of our recent dry spell...

I had another nice view of the Pentlands near Thankerton!

I was now heading north towards Carstairs and I was glad the sun was with me most of the way as I was now battling that chilly NE wind! The good views were still coming!

I also had this stunning view of Tinto Hill where you can clearly see the path from the base to the summit at 2336ft!

It was a busy day for the farmers!

That was my final photo as I got my head down and battled the wind to get home in time for dinner! From Carstairs I took my usual back roads all the way home so I won't bore you all with the details... That really was such a great ride and I now only need 61 miles to reach 3000 for the year!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Monday

The Chinese from Wheeltop -- instead of just replacing my broken electronic derailleur -- sent me an instruction video (all in Chinese). They suggested removing the "irremovable" battery, taking photos of the contacts, assembling the thing again, connecting to a charging cable, and attempting to pair the derailleur with the smartphone again. Of course I was missing a tool: a 1.5 mm hex key...

So I made a 25 km round trip to Leroy Merlin (lerwa muh-luhn), a French technical gigamarket to buy not a single tool but a toolbox instead... It at least had both 1.5 mm and 2 mm bits necessary for removing the battery.

As I expected, removing then reconnecting the battery didn't help at all. The device was as dead as it was before.

I sent the Chinese the requested pictures and asked them if they could understand the concept of the warranty replacement. Obviously, I didn't use such a complicated Western sentence but demanded the warranty replacement in the most simple English (the Chinese can't understand the subtleties of English!)

To console myself, I installed a 32T chainring on my Vado SL.

Now I can pedal at a constant cadence in gears 8 through 12!

 

[stompandgo]

Your chain length looks perfect for a 10-51 cassette.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Your chain length looks perfect for a 10-51 cassette.

That's because of your earlier help. Thank you!

 

[Chazmo]

I haven’t been riding much, busy with other stuff, cutting, splitting and stacking firewood, work around the house, going on vacation etc. We did rent e bikes on Marathon Key and rode the old 8 mile bridge to Pigeon Island. It was a little scary, the wife and I ride a lot but my sister in law and her husband not so much. I had 911 dialed on my phone and my finger on send but never needed it. After a few minutes they looked better. I’m the big guy on the left.



View attachment 209809

Just curious, but what was scary about it? I’ve never been to the Keys…

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I've watched the latest video from @Chargeride:

He transported his bike with the most modern train! (The one that has a powered ramp at the door to close the gap).

The Mazovian Railways line R1 (that I use the most) also has modern trains. A good capacity for transporting bikes, of course the powered ramp. The "Flirt" (Fast Light Innovative Regional Trains) are made in Poland but are of a Swiss design. I guess drinking in public is allowed on Swiss trains so the designer provided the "partying compartment" (the top photo). So, passengers could stand around the bar table and enjoy the ride under influence Not practicable in Poland (or even on German railways), so the compartment can fit up to 3 big bikes instead

 

[stompandgo]

Yesterday, I went on my first group ride since moving to Cape Cod. It was the regular Tuesday evening ride at the shop. I went with the third group, seven riders, led by my boss. I had no desire to mix it up with a bunch of people that I did not know. 28 miles through back roads and neighborhoods, some of which I have driven on, others I has never seen. One of those neighborhoods was the Kennedy compound in Hyannisport. They have private security, so you cannot drive through it, or even ride a bike through it. However, they know about us and this ride so they leave us alone as long as we stay on the public streets. At the end of the compound is the Hyannisport Club. It faces the ocean with a spectacular view.

 

[JGcycle]

A few pics from today's 23km ride:

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Pancras, Servatius, Boniface and Cold Sophia, brr!

There is a weather phenomenon known in Poland as Cold Gardeners. 12th through 14th of May are the name days of three saints followed by a female saint Sophia (15th). These four days are always cold with freezing nights. It is not different this year; as one of my cycling friends mentioned: 'This May is all Cold Gardeners!' I wonder if it would rain on Saturday 16th as my plan is to redo the River Sona, properly this time!

The organiser of Sudovia Gravel 2025 had forgotten of the phenomenon. It was a wall of rain all the time, 3 C and strong wind. As my only competitor in eRide format lost her way, I took the podium This year, the organiser shifted the event by one week with a hope for good weather. I would ride against two groups of two brothers, and possibly a fifth competitor riding a Fazua TREK e-bike (he always wins when present!)

 

[RabH]

I started my day needing 61 miles to reach 3000 for the year so far but with the weather not looking great for the next few days, I decided to go for a long one! I was hoping to cycle to Knockhill Racing Circuit on Sunday but its showing rain most of the day so all the more reason to get a big ride done today! We had a rare NW wind which was a very cold one and around 20mph, when I set off at 7am it was only 3C so it was a day for 4 layers and thick gloves! I made my down to Falkirk, flying down the big descent into Glen Village at almost 42mph with this stunning view of the Ochil Hills!

I then made my way to Kincardine Bridge where I stopped for this photo of the Clackmannanshire Bridge and the Ochils!

After crossing the bridge I used the cycle path to the coast road at Culross, I stayed on the coast road as much as I could and passed through Rosyth and continued on to Aberdour where I battled up the 16% climb! At the top of the climb I stopped for a couple of photos looking over the Firth of Forth!

I then enjoyed an awesome descent down into Burntisland and continued along the coast to Pettycur Bay where I stopped for a couple of photos of the beautiful beach! It was time to turn north into the wind, I was glad I had some big climbs to keep me warm!

I was now heading for my destination of Kirkcaldy where I stopped for lunch on the Esplanade and took a few photos! I changed to my second battery here at 50.5 miles before tackling the big climb out of Kirkcaldy!

The last time I used this road I made a stupid mistake and ended up on the very fast A92 dual carriageway and was very relieved to get back off it at the first exit, amazingly there are no signs preventing cyclists from using it! Anyway I didn't repeat my mistake and I saw a signpost for Kinglassie and knew if I could find my way there I would get back on familiar roads, it turned out to be a real rollercoaster road and just as I thought it took me on to the road that leads to Loch Leven at Auchmuirbridge!

The River Leven and the hills to the north!

I now had this big climb directly into a 20mph headwind!

Near the top looking back down!

The view to the north!

After the climb I had a cracking descent and joined the road to Loch Leven, where I stopped for some photos!

I was now heading for the village of Cleish, this is the road into the village with a sea of rapeseed!

I just love this road, 4 miles of ups and downs and I only saw 1 car all the way!

You also get stunning views of the Ochils to the north!

Love this descent, its steeper than it looks!

At the end of the road I joined the road from Powmill to Knockhill and part way up I took the back road down into Saline, its pretty much downhill all the way for just over 2 miles and so much fun!

From Saline I took the back road to Forestmill and turned south before the village, on the awesome little rollercoaster back road! At the end of the road I joined the A907 and headed west and then south to Kincardine, another really fun road which is mostly downhill! I switched to my third battery here at 84 miles, only 34 miles from my second battery due the headwind and climbs!

One last view of the Ochils!

From Kincardine it was my usual roads to home so no need to bore you all with the details! What a brilliant day of cycling, I'm now on 3053 miles with well over 6 months to go and well on track to make it past 50000 miles on my amazing bike! Currently on 46352! I will sleep well tonight, that was a tough but amazing ride!

 

[Rás Cnoic]

View attachment 210057

I started my day needing 61 miles to reach 3000 for the year so far but with the weather not looking great for the next few days, I decided to go for a long one! I was hoping to cycle to Knockhill Racing Circuit on Sunday but its showing rain most of the day so all the more reason to get a big ride done today! We had a rare NW wind which was a very cold one and around 20mph, when I set off at 7am it was only 3C so it was a day for 4 layers and thick gloves! I made my down to Falkirk, flying down the big descent into Glen Village at almost 42mph with this stunning view of the Ochil Hills!

View attachment 210058
I then made my way to Kincardine Bridge where I stopped for this photo of the Clackmannanshire Bridge and the Ochils!

View attachment 210059
After crossing the bridge I used the cycle path to the coast road at Culross, I stayed on the coast road as much as I could and passed through Rosyth and continued on to Aberdour where I battled up the 16% climb! At the top of the climb I stopped for a couple of photos looking over the Firth of Forth!

View attachment 210060
View attachment 210061
I then enjoyed an awesome descent down into Burntisland and continued along the coast to Pettycur Bay where I stopped for a couple of photos of the beautiful beach! It was time to turn north into the wind, I was glad I had some big climbs to keep me warm!

View attachment 210062
View attachment 210063
I was now heading for my destination of Kirkcaldy where I stopped for lunch on the Esplanade and took a few photos! I changed to my second battery here at 50.5 miles before tackling the big climb out of Kirkcaldy!

View attachment 210064
View attachment 210065
View attachment 210066
The last time I used this road I made a stupid mistake and ended up on the very fast A92 dual carriageway and was very relieved to get back off it at the first exit, amazingly there are no signs preventing cyclists from using it! Anyway I didn't repeat my mistake and I saw a signpost for Kinglassie and knew if I could find my way there I would get back on familiar roads, it turned out to be a real rollercoaster road and just as I thought it took me on to the road that leads to Loch Leven at Auchmuirbridge!

The River Leven and the hills to the north!

View attachment 210068
View attachment 210067
I now had this big climb directly into a 20mph headwind!

View attachment 210069
Near the top looking back down!

View attachment 210070
The view to the north!

View attachment 210071
After the climb I had a cracking descent and joined the road to Loch Leven, where I stopped for some photos!

View attachment 210072
View attachment 210073
View attachment 210074
I was now heading for the village of Cleish, this is the road into the village with a sea of rapeseed!

View attachment 210076
I just love this road, 4 miles of ups and downs and I only saw 1 car all the way!

View attachment 210078
You also get stunning views of the Ochils to the north!

View attachment 210079
View attachment 210080
View attachment 210081
Love this descent, its steeper than it looks!

View attachment 210082
At the end of the road I joined the road from Powmill to Knockhill and part way up I took the back road down into Saline, its pretty much downhill all the way for just over 2 miles and so much fun!

View attachment 210083
View attachment 210084
From Saline I took the back road to Forestmill and turned south before the village, on the awesome little rollercoaster back road! At the end of the road I joined the A907 and headed west and then south to Kincardine, another really fun road which is mostly downhill! I switched to my third battery here at 84 miles, only 34 miles from my second battery due the headwind and climbs!

View attachment 210086
One last view of the Ochils!

View attachment 210087
From Kincardine it was my usual roads to home so no need to bore you all with the details! What a brilliant day of cycling, I'm now on 3053 miles with well over 6 months to go and well on track to make it past 50000 miles on my amazing bike! Currently on 46352! I will sleep well tonight, that was a tough but amazing ride!

View attachment 210088
View attachment 210089

I think there has been some kind of zombie apocalypse in Scotland and the BBC are keeping it all hushed up. Hence the lack of cars...

or people....

...and nobody told Rab.

 

[edobici_forza]

I think there has been some kind of zombie apocalypse in Scotland and the BBC are keeping it all hushed up. Hence the lack of cars...

or people....

...and nobody told Rab.

...Rás, Funny that you write that, because, even before reading your comment, I actually saw vehicles in a few of the photos in this set. AND... there is a person too ..."Where's Waldo/Where's Wally?" FWIW, I am on a 27" computer monitor.

 

[edobici_forza]

Goatscaping and Multi-million Dollar Landscape view of the Bay

Goats clearing fields at Woodside Priory School, in Portola Valley.
Earlier, I checked out a potential new climbing workout loop route, in a quiet fancy neighborhood, but the RWGPS maps is incorrect, it shows a road which dead ends. This is where I took the Bay landscape photo. I passed other huge $15-20M estates in that area, the house in the photo is very modest, in comparison to the neighboring estates. But has this amazing view

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Goatscaping and Multi-million Dollar Landscape view of the Bay

Goats clearing fields at Woodside Priory School, in Portola Valley.
Earlier, I checked out a potential new climbing workout loop route, in a quiet fancy neighborhood, but the RWGPS maps is incorrect, it shows a road which dead ends. This is where I took the Bay landscape photo. I passed other huge $15-20M estates in that area, the house in the photo is very modest, in comparison to the neighboring estates. But has this amazing view
View attachment 210100View attachment 210102View attachment 210103View attachment 210104

Ah, memories! When we lived in Orinda, the goats would come every year in huge numbers to clear brush (aka fuel) from the many open spaces. Had several interesting conversations with the herders. Their way of life couldn't have been farther from mine, but they loved what they do.

Often encountered the goats on walks with our two 60 lb dogs. For reasons known only to them, they studiously ignored each other.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I think there has been some kind of zombie apocalypse in Scotland and the BBC are keeping it all hushed up. Hence the lack of cars...

or people....

...and nobody told Rab.

 

[Chargeride]

Obviously nsfw

 

[JGcycle]

A few pics from this morning's 23km ride:

 

[Chazmo]

A few pics from this morning's 23km ride:

View attachment 210111View attachment 210112View attachment 210113View attachment 210114

Great pix, JG!

 

[Chargeride]

1/2 cider, took the pic sideways somehow, so stretched it out to freak you.

Entrance finally finished, lets av a gander

All blocked off,so did a cheeky.

Theyve blocked it with trees, thought I could ride over, but a branch in every spoke

This is where the car park was.

Tried riding out, but super soft and Ive got the tyres pumped rightup.

Hung a left, they look like the sand bars you get under water

This used to be full of the remains of an army base, I guess the wind will cover it all up.

Hard going even on the fattie

Rode over the walkway, so engrossed didnt notice the train security watching me.
They gave me a 'really' look.
How this country is changing, used to be a single guy in an old fashioned outfit with cap, now theres three of them dressed like a commandos with stab jackets,
cameras surrounded by 'you are being filmed' badges and constant suspicious packages announcements

There was the cutest fatkid trainspotter with the picture of a mersey train on his tshirt and constantly talking to other enthusiasts, they alerted him a cancelled train would
be coming through full speed, he excitedly shared this with us all.
It did run through full tilt, nearly blew me wig off.

 

[JGcycle]

Great pix, JG!

I love it when there are dramatic clouds and moody lighting.