RabH
Well-Known Member
Epic Ride To Peebles By Bike Only (in the rain)
I have been to Peebles twice this year but on both occasions I transported my bike in the car, I put that right today by cycling all the way from home! The forecast was showing light rain from around 8am, I set off at first light at 7.35am and didn't like the look of the sky! The downside of leaving at this time was the morning rush hour but I made use of the cycle paths and had a good laugh at all the cars stuck in long queues!
5 miles in and the rain started and it certainly wasn't light! It poured down all the way to Newbigging at 30 miles, the next village was Elsrickle and I was glad the rain had gone as the roads here are just awesome!
The road leading to Elsrickle, its quite a climb here and some lovely hairpins to enjoy!
After the climb, I just love this road!
I had to change my first battery at 36 miles just past Elsrickle, the 25mph wind sure depleted it quickly! I took all 3 batteries today as I knew it would be a day for all 3 with the strong southerly breeze, after the battery change I had a break from the wind as I was heading north east for around 10 miles to Leadburn!
Some nice views on this road!
Then it was time to turn south for Peebles so I was heading into the strong breeze again, thankfully its mostly downhill to Peebles from here! I arrived in Peebles and the rain had returned but this time it was only spitting!
It was looking rather murky, the River Tweed was fast flowing today after all the recent rain!
I stopped for lunch here and by the time I was finished the rain had stopped and it was looking a little brighter, just outside Peebles I spotted this little road which leads to an old castle! I didn't go down the road to have a look at the castle, another day maybe!
Some blue sky starting to appear here, honest!
Just along the road the sun actually broke through and the temp changed almost immediately, not that it was cold but with the sun it felt more like a Spring day!
I was really enjoying the ride now with the wind now at my side and with lots of tree cover it wasn't an issue, I was actually on the main road out of Peebles but it wasn't that busy which was a bonus! I had to stop to grab a photo of this beautiful home with stunning grounds! The sun was drying the roads up very quickly!
Looking back towards Peebles!
I was now heading for Biggar where I would turn north and finally have the strong breeze at my back after 75 miles, the views were still very easy on the eye!
A nice downhill to enjoy here, despite the wet roads!
Nearing Biggar I spotted a sign warning of flooding, how bad was it going to be? I opted to pass on the right but in hindsight maybe I should have tried the left as I ended up with soaking wet feet as the water was still around a foot deep at the edge....
After passing the flood the roads were dry once again and I had the strong breeze at my back, I was on a climb but it didn't feel like it with that wind pushing me on!
This tree has seen better days, I wouldn't have parked the bike there if the wind was coming in that direction!The bike looks fairly clean here but it was actually filthy...
As I reached Biggar the weather was starting to look rather nasty again with very dark clouds appearing, thankfully my luck was in and I had a nice 25 mile ride north with the breeze behind me and no rain to spoil the fun! I changed my second battery at 82 miles so I had an almost full battery with around 30 miles to go so it was time to turn the assist up and enjoy all the big climbs back home! Despite the soaking at the start I had such a brilliant day on the bike, I was pretty tired when I got home but very contended with my ride! I only have 20 miles to go to reach 5000 miles for the year, hopefully I will get out again before the end of the month but the weather isn't looking promising....
I have been to Peebles twice this year but on both occasions I transported my bike in the car, I put that right today by cycling all the way from home! The forecast was showing light rain from around 8am, I set off at first light at 7.35am and didn't like the look of the sky! The downside of leaving at this time was the morning rush hour but I made use of the cycle paths and had a good laugh at all the cars stuck in long queues!
5 miles in and the rain started and it certainly wasn't light! It poured down all the way to Newbigging at 30 miles, the next village was Elsrickle and I was glad the rain had gone as the roads here are just awesome!The road leading to Elsrickle, its quite a climb here and some lovely hairpins to enjoy!
After the climb, I just love this road!
I had to change my first battery at 36 miles just past Elsrickle, the 25mph wind sure depleted it quickly! I took all 3 batteries today as I knew it would be a day for all 3 with the strong southerly breeze, after the battery change I had a break from the wind as I was heading north east for around 10 miles to Leadburn!
Some nice views on this road!
Then it was time to turn south for Peebles so I was heading into the strong breeze again, thankfully its mostly downhill to Peebles from here! I arrived in Peebles and the rain had returned but this time it was only spitting!
It was looking rather murky, the River Tweed was fast flowing today after all the recent rain!
I stopped for lunch here and by the time I was finished the rain had stopped and it was looking a little brighter, just outside Peebles I spotted this little road which leads to an old castle! I didn't go down the road to have a look at the castle, another day maybe!
Some blue sky starting to appear here, honest!
Just along the road the sun actually broke through and the temp changed almost immediately, not that it was cold but with the sun it felt more like a Spring day!
I was really enjoying the ride now with the wind now at my side and with lots of tree cover it wasn't an issue, I was actually on the main road out of Peebles but it wasn't that busy which was a bonus! I had to stop to grab a photo of this beautiful home with stunning grounds! The sun was drying the roads up very quickly!
Looking back towards Peebles!
I was now heading for Biggar where I would turn north and finally have the strong breeze at my back after 75 miles, the views were still very easy on the eye!
A nice downhill to enjoy here, despite the wet roads!
Nearing Biggar I spotted a sign warning of flooding, how bad was it going to be? I opted to pass on the right but in hindsight maybe I should have tried the left as I ended up with soaking wet feet as the water was still around a foot deep at the edge....
After passing the flood the roads were dry once again and I had the strong breeze at my back, I was on a climb but it didn't feel like it with that wind pushing me on!
This tree has seen better days, I wouldn't have parked the bike there if the wind was coming in that direction!
The bike looks fairly clean here but it was actually filthy...As I reached Biggar the weather was starting to look rather nasty again with very dark clouds appearing, thankfully my luck was in and I had a nice 25 mile ride north with the breeze behind me and no rain to spoil the fun! I changed my second battery at 82 miles so I had an almost full battery with around 30 miles to go so it was time to turn the assist up and enjoy all the big climbs back home! Despite the soaking at the start I had such a brilliant day on the bike, I was pretty tired when I got home but very contended with my ride! I only have 20 miles to go to reach 5000 miles for the year, hopefully I will get out again before the end of the month but the weather isn't looking promising....
I can take snow and cold but when it comes to riding in the wet, I'm the ultimate wimp.
If it had been cold I would have bailed for sure but it was very mild for the end of October! Wimp and riding in snow don't go in the same sentence!
