Quick evening ride once the kids were in bed, lights not needed. Loved it, trails running well after a bit of rain. Nice sunset too. 
Last night’s commute home turned into a bit of a mission. I decided to skip the normal 16km gravel section and take the rainforest singletrack instead for a bit more skill refinement. I figured it would probably be dry enough. As I got close however the AXS started to play up a bit. Battery low? Ah well, it’ll be fine. I hit the wetter than expected mud tracks right on twilight. The tracks were freshly churned by some arse on a moto and with tyres too hard and not enough grip for the slippery roots and gears failing I plugged through anyway getting smashed by all manner of sticks, dropping the chain twice.
Hard to see in this photo but I’m blocked by a palm tree on the floor, a vine at waist height and a fallen tree at head height. Not ideal.
Made it back to the road in total darkness and proceeded to faff around trying to get into a half decent gear. Eventually got things going again and managed 11th gear all the way home. But with a lot of chain skipping bullshit. Somewhat annoyed I put the bike in the stand to discover the b-gap had completely changed and there was horrific slack!
Out for 80 minutes at lunchtime today. A mate has decided it's KOM season so has been going out over the past couple of weeks nabbing a bunch of (mostly obscure) local segments.
I mostly can't be arsed with this malarkey, and besides, being 58, my sprinting legs are well past their best (and they were never very good!). But, I had a couple of brisk-ish efforts and came away with a 2nd place and 3 other top 5/10's. Also, just enjoyed messing about in the sunny woods, did a few small jumps etc as well.
After waiting to see Bluebird run on Coniston, I got out on the bike over Walna Scar, never saw anyone. Bonus of staying dry despite the incoming weather.
Not quite 'midweek' but a cracking pedal out for the club gravel night on Monday. Dry, sunny but bloody cold.
An enjoyable ride yesterday on a blustery and showery day. Did a loop from Hamsterley main car park down Adder Wood to Bedburn Beck:
Then back into the forest, down Dangerous Descent and out onto the moor (Pawlaw Pike and Elephant Trees in the distance):
A quick stop at Elephant Trees:
And finally back to the main car park via Doctor's Gate and the Reds/Blacks to The Grove.
After a wee shot of the revised Tarland trails at Drummy Wood we stopped at unnamed lochan north of Aboyne near Coull House.
I left the house in sunshine and within about a mile I was caught in a thunderstorm. Pissing down but the sky looked brighter where I was heading and I was already soaked so persevered. Glad I did as once the other side of the storm it was lovely. Despite the rain the trails in the woods were still dusty too. I got home just in time too as the heavens opened again.
I had hoped to ride my fatbike all along the beaches of the Uists this year but circumstances and injuries meant all I managed was a wee spin on Huisinis beach on Harris
A quick spin on the exercise bike on my lunch break.
I'm quite sad that I've had to go back to work.
Misty cliff tops today.
Some failed green laning on my local red route.
I had a physio appointment yesterday afternoon to address an ongoing rotator cuff injury from Oct 2024. Afterwards, it seemed rude not to pop into the Red Hoose for a couple of drinks to ease the pain. By the time I got home the wind had dropped, the skies had cleared and it had turned into a beautiful evening, so it seemed rude not to head out for a quick ride fuelled by a wee bit of electricity and a lot of Dutch courage. 
I bought a ~2018 Giant Revolt from FB early this year as a replacement commuter bike.
As the wind was up and riding back along the seafront is a real chore into a westerly I thought I’d take it back the way I ride when I ride my mtb in.
Was alright tbf.
As I’m going to do some work this afternoon, my ride this morning is classed as a weekday one. The rhododendrons are in flower. They look pretty but they’re horrible things really.
Later on I tried to ride up a section of trail that I have only ever ridden down before. It’s tight, twisty and rooty in places but I have wondered if it would go as a climb. I cleaned it so felt a bit pleased with myself. In fact I had got most of the way up before I realised I wasn’t in the lowest gear. Maybe it was better to muscle up it rather than spin the lowest gear all the way but I shall have to return to find out.
Out the door 07:00 to beat the heat. That's me for the day! Nobody about - apart from, bizarrely, a squirrel sitting on top of this standing stone at 440m in wide open moorland. It went sprinting off through the heather as I arrived....
Second attempt. Forum Hamster clearly overheating.
Took the "Beige Adventurer" out for a lap of the local woods after being stuck in a meeting room in Brum all day. Off for a weeks riding hols on Saturday so strictly XC but still good fun and cool under the trees. Took the long way home to stay on the shady paths and tracks. Still only 20km and a few hundred metres of climbing but glad I made the effort.
Also nice to ride that bridge in the dry, it's had me off a couple of times in the winter!
Group ride last night - Colsnaur Hill in the Ochils. Riding bikes, talking shit, whisky and a ridiculous amount of fun 😎
I rolled out the ebike and sneaked in a solo 418m Dumyat up/down and a few other trails beforehand. Perfect amount of tailwind on the descent:
Colsnaur summit looking west towards the distant Ben Lomond and the Trossachs:
There's worse places for someone to slash a tyre sidewall - StirlingCrispin capturing the moment for posterity (after supplying them with a tyre boot):
Starting the final bit of the descent into Menstrie:
Finished up just before needing lights, covering 36km and 1200m+ elevation with 19% battery left. Do bike rides get any better?
The Lakes never disappoints 😁
I picked the right week to take off work, great Purbeck loop yesterday, Chapmans Pool, St Aldhaen to Winspit, back up and then down to Dancing Ledge for a swim, back up the the Square and Compass for beer, up to Swyre Head, down and back up the other side to the Grange arch, then a secret DH track before back to the car.
1st day of a mini tour with my son. Ferry to Bute, cycle north then over to Colintraive on another ferry. Glendaruel and now camping on the banks of Loch Fyne.
Delightful weather at the local this aft.
Gravelling eastwards today for a taily home. Absolutely fantastic day and loving this bike
An evening at Friston. Probably my favourite ride this year, glad we took the lights with us!
I had earmarked today for a long ride but it will be too hot this afternoon, so I just did a couple of hours in the morning on local trails.
Day 2 after midge infested campsite. Rode to Strachur, Glen Branter and the west side of Loch Eck. A quick stop at the Botanic Gardens, then Dunoon and a ferry back to Gourock.
No prizes for guessing where I was this morning on a quick pre-work ride. The blue sky and sunshine might throw folk off though...
Forgive me, but I'm gonna say it: some of the trails at Aberfoyle were actually too dry last night. The last section of Rodeo is now basically a rut filled with marbles and talcum powder.
Rain from tomorrow and yes, it's now my fault.
Great loop across the Bannau last night
Ashover local spin from yesterday.
Absolutely roasting again today but couldn't resist a quick Woburn ride after work. First time riding in ages and it shows, I was super slow and clumsy. Also rode past the bike park on my way back and it's looking absolutely awesome, can't wait for it to reopen.
Big loop yesterday taking in some of my favourite bits of trail in the lower parts of Wensleydale. Started to the sound of thunder in West Burton and headed across to Woodhall, with views up Wensleydale towards Wether Fell:
Then over to the top of Woodhall Greets, with views across to Pen Hill, where I was heading next, under a tempestuous sky:
The clouds lifted by the time I reached the memorial:
Finally went across to Coverdale and back to West Burton via the bridleway between Harland Hill and Height of Hazely:
Last nights local forest loop.
