I am not a keen outdoors cyclist during Scotland’s winter. In fact, you can call me a fairweather rider, if you want. So when the first sunny-ish, warm-ish and non-windy Saturday arrived this spring I decided it was time to go out for a long bike ride. I wasn’t sure how far I would end up riding and simply set out to do a few hours and a few hills north of my Glasgow home.
The longest route that I had planned was just under 60 miles and included several hills, the Crow Road form Lennoxtown, “top of the world” above between Fintry and Arnprior, the Pipe Road between Aberfoyle and Drymen and the Queen’s View north of Milngavie.
I knew there were various points where I could cut the ride short and head back home to Bearsden, such as from Fintry, via Killearn; Arnprior back to Milngavie; and Aberfoyle minus the Pipe Road.
Yet, on the day, I found that the weather was nice enough and my brain was in the right place to complete the full circuit. It’s the furthest I have cycled since autumn 2015 and I was tired but delighted by my efforts.
If you are looking for a 55 to 60 mile ride north of Glasgow, with some fairly big hills and a total ascent of more than 4300ft, this “Ups and Downs” ride is a fantastic outing.