17 of us on the bun run today, wet since it was raining a bit but not too cold so it was ok weather wise. 2 groups set out, given the numbers, and I was back on the winter bike given we are now into Autumn. Given the weather I wasn’t going to do any extra today so it was a straight shot to the cafe stop and then back home again going via Dalgety bay to get my 50 miles mark, so 50 miles clocked up at an avg speed of just under 16 mph.
There were 9 of us on the bun run today and it was a cold start again only this time made worse by the head wind that we would have for the first half of the ride. After yesterdays ride I stayed at the back all the way to the cafe stop where I had my usual coffee and cake. I would be doing another 65 miles today so I parted ways with the group once we hit Kincardine bridge on our way back home. Thankfully from this point I would have a head wind to take me home. I was going to go round to Falkirk, through the Kelpies and along to Linlithgow. I would than take the southern road through Winchburgh and Kirkliston before heading due North and crossing the Forth river over the Forth road bridge. I was then a straight shot up the hill to Crossgates and home, thus covering 65 miles at an avg speed of 16 mph which after yesterday avg speed was fine with me, I wasn’t looking to go fast today
Another cold start to this morning, “Winter is coming!” 20 of us turned up today so we split into 2 groups and headed for our usual cafe stop. I was looking to do some extra mileage today, 65 miles was my target, so after the cafe stop I departed from the group and went my own way. I was going to take a route that I haven’t done since I moved out of my flat in Falkirk, it used to be my route back to the flat coming back from a ride that took me via Stirling. So I headed for Stirling then veered South towards Bannockburn, this route would take me further South from the river route that I would normally take going back to Kincardine. I headed for Carronshore but rather than keep going into Falkirk I headed North East back to Kincardine Bridge and my usual route back home via Dalgety Bay. I managed to keep up a good pace so in the end I did 66 miles at an avg speed of just over 18 mph, happy with that.
Ride 18/09/2022 100 mile Randonee
So today was the clubs 100 mile Randonee organised by me in stead of Lynsey’s absence (he would normally do these but he was on holiday). I picked the Loch Earn route as it’s been 3 years since I’ve done it, and the last time I did it I got dropped from the group, so this time I was going to complete the ride with the group today. It’s no especially hilly, most of the hills are at the start, with a flat middle section and the hill climb back up to home. There were 7 of use today, it’s a slightly better weather day, still a bit chilly, but warmer than yesterday. Out first stop would be just past Comrie in Tullybannocher Cafe, a bikers stop (motor) and we were lucky, we got in the cafe just before a 100 bikers turned up to get fed It was the usual coffee and cake at this stop and then we carried on towards Loch earn. Once past the Loch we headed for Callander were we had a quick pit stop for some water and then carried on. Out next official stop would be just past Doune in Blair Drummond Smiddy farm shop, where this time I had a roll and egg with cake and coffee, can’t get by without those sugars We were then on the road back home through Stirling, Airth, over Kincardine bridge and the usual route home via Dalgety Bay. I did a little extra just to make it up to 120 miles but that was enough for me for one day. So 120 miles at an avg speed of over 17 mph, can’t complain about that it was quite a fast ride for the distance, but I suppose it’s a fairly flat route but still still managed to climb over 4300 feet so all in all a good days ride.
Well the cold weather has hit us now, I was wrapped up today given it was on 6 degrees out there today, it was still bright, but just cold. I thought I would be out on my own today as I stood at the meeting point on my own until the last 5 mins when 12 other people turned up Anyway given that I’m going the 100 miles Club Randonee tomorrow I decided to not do any extra today. So we split into 2 groups and set off at a brisk pace. I was leading the first group so I was going at my pace which goes to explain why todays ride was one of the fastest but given that when we got to the cafe stop we were joined by one of the fastest guys in the club things really heated up after the cafe stop. John (the fast guy) lead the group back home at a faster pace than I was going in the beginning so by the time I got back home today the avg speed was above 17 mph Anyway given I wasn’t doing any extra today the 45 miles clocked up at that pace was fine with me, roll on tomorrow.
6 of us on the bun run today with the weather similar to yesterday but slightly warmer. After yesterday trek I was happy to just do the normal bun run today, so it was to the cafe stop for the usual coffee and cake. After the cafe stop we headed home going via Dalgety Bay to get the 50 miles I was after for today. So 55 miles clocked up today at an avg speed of 16 mph.
It’s a decent day today, low wind with some sunshine and still warm, which was probably why there was 20 of us today. We split into 2 groups and headed for the cafe stop. I was going to do some extra mileage today so once I had my scrambled egg roll and orange juice I parted ways from the group and headed for Stirling. The plan today was to head for Sheriffmuir, which I hadn’t been up in several years now, and then along to Braco. I would swing towards Gleneagles and head through Glendevon, going back over the Ochils and head towards Knockhill and the usual route back home. This would give me about an extra 25 miles and some extra elevation. Given the extra distance an height I managed to do to it in a decent time, so 75 miles clocked up over 4100 feet of climbing at an avg speed of 17 mph, can’t argue with that
It’s a very wet day today with moderate wind but warm, even with full wet gear on today I was soaked through in the space of an hour. I decided I would do extra today but do it in the beginning so I started my ride at 08:30 this morning rather than the usual 10:00 meet up with the club. I basically did a loop around Kelty, Oakley and back to Dunfermline for the meet up with the club ride, I managed to get 21 miles done which was fine with me. Given the weather conditions I wasn’t expecting many people out today and in the end it turned out to be 3 of us this morning. We the usual bun run, still in the rain, but thankfully by the time we got to the cafe stop it was starting to ease off. After the usual coffee and cake we carried on and thankfully the rain had stopped at this point. It was a head wind all the way home but by the time I was about 15 miles from home we started to get a little sunshine thrown in. So by the time I got home I had managed to clock up 67 miles at an avg speed of 16 mph.
Bit of a wet and windy day today but still quite warm all the same. There were around 22 of us today so we split into 2 groups. We had a tail wind all the way to the cafe stop but of course this meant that we would have a head wind all the way home again. After the cafe stop it started to rain a bit, nothing too heavy but I was glad I had my wet gear all the same. Given the weather conditions today I decide to not do any extra and just head straight home, so only 45 miles clocked up today at a slower pace of close to 16 mph, things aren’t looking any better tomorrow
Another nice day to be riding, little wind, warm and sunny. There were 11 of us on the bun run today and again I would be doing some extra once we had stopped at the cafe stop. So I followed the group to the cafe stop and after coffee and cake I headed out on my own again. This time I was only looking for about 65 miles which would be enough to reach my goal for the month. I decide I would return back to Dunfermline via the road through Fallin and Airth, rather than going through Fishcross and Clackmannan, this would give the extra 15 or so miles I was after. Once back in Kincardine it was back on the normal bun run route via Rosyth and up to home. So I clocked up 64 miles at an avg speed of 18 mph which is a decent speed for me
It’s a good weather day, with little wind around and some sunshine, not too hot, there were 22 of us today split over 2 groups. I joined the club up until the cafe stop but I was looking to do some extra miles today, so once I had my roll and fresh orange juice I split from the group to go my own way. I had a route in mind but it’s one that although I ridden bits of it before there was some new roads that I had not ridden down before so I was looking forward to some new roads. I rode to Bannockburn on familiar road but once here I detoured to the new road that I’ve never been down before which would take me to Carron Valley Reservoir. IT’s quite a lumpy road but through some stunning scenery but the road itself was in bad shape so I couldn’t go too fast in fear of a puncture or worse. It would be a great gravel bike road which would take the punishment better but I don’t want to ruin my new bike Once I hit the Reservoir I was back on familiar road and headed for Crow road and down to Lennoxtown. It was a straight shot home from here with a slight detour to my Uncles to top up on water, as I hadn’t measured the distance I was cycling I was running out of water. I wasn’t planning to ride a 100 miles today, I though the route would be about 80 miles, but I got that wrong Anyhow once refueled I rode back home via the usual roads going through Dunfermline rather than via Rosyth. I was going at a fast pace and was getting very tired by the time I hit 90 miles so I went home via the shortest route to save my crumbling legs. So 100 miles clocked up at an avg speed of 17 mph, which makes it one of the fastest 100 miles (successfully) completed to date, by about 2 mins
10 of us on the bun run today, a little less wind and a little bit more sun as compared to yesterday but a good day to get some miles under my belt. I followed the group up until the cafe stop where I had the usual coffee and cake and after we left the cafe stop and once we hit the Kincardine bridge I went on my own to do some extra millage today. I wanted to ride to Bathgate as it’s been some time since I’ve ridden that way. It’s not a particular hilly route but does require a little bit of climbing, but once your at Bathgate it’s flat all the way to Uphall but once past here it’s a steady downhill gradient for a few miles until you hit Newbridge. After that it’s pretty much up hill back over the river and along to Dalgety Bay and home. Although it was a headwind all the way to the cafe stop this did mean I had some crosswinds to Bathgate but a great tailwind all the way to Kirkliston, I was going pretty fast for that section :-D. So overall I clocked up 78 miles at an avg speed of 17 mph.