Thursday excursions

Mike reported on the morning A team outing:

"THREEWHEELERS - Ian S, Dick and Mike

For a variety of reasons; holiday, booze cruise, golf or just plain didn't want to get out of bed, numbers were reduced to three Freewheelers for the 9am ride. After a short discussion about the route, Ian suggested we try a route that Scott Hunter had once proposed to Maryculter, we thought this might be quite a long ride but decided to give it a go.

First test was the new surface on the Tilquhillie climb, which was negotiated safely and then the drag up the Old Slug Road and on towards Durris. We continued to climb to Denside but then benefited from a long downhill to the Netherley Road, albeit into a cold headwind. After crossing the main road we went to Maryculter via the back roads, twice crossing the WPR and were impressed by the sheer size of the project.

We joined up with the Deeside way and headed towards Drum for a welcome coffee and scone, on the way though, Dick had an altercation with a barrier and ended up on the ground but he was up too quickly to get a photo. Our journey home was by the top road and was helped by the NE wind getting us back to Banchory by 1pm. It was thought that this 57.5km route was quite tough but rewarding at the same time, just as well Scott!"

The afternoon B team were larger in number but much more modest in distance travelled. Colin and I had arranged the trip and the time and, last night after golf, 2 potential A teamers - Jack and Ken P - decided they would like to join us. We also managed to get Malcolm G out for only his second ever Freewheelers ride.

Platform 22 was the coffee destination but the first move was east out along the Banchory paths and round past Drumshalloch Wood then back on to the old "ITE" road. It was a cooler than expected start, but, as forecast, the sun did come out and the temperature rose sufficiently for some to start removing layers.

Malcolm has a birthday coming up and was keen to try out some of the new cycling technology, so he swapped bikes with Jack for a while. Could be an expensive birthday present for Susan this year.

P 22 was up to its usual standard and we took the usual team photo afterwards:

l-r: Colin Kilgour, Malcolm Grigor, Ian Stewart, Ken Page & Jack Simpson

Our return route was via Home Farm. Afternoon temperatures are usually warmer than morning, but there is always the temptation of our cycle becoming a Booze Cruise. Colin, Jack and Ken resisted but Malcolm and I succumbed and headed to the Legion for a couple of pints.

Strava records a distance of 35 kms with 343 m of climbing. That was more than enough for most of the B team. The 57 kms that the A team did was something that Malcolm, Colin and I certainly wouldn't have fancied.