September week 3

Three group rides so far this week. The normal Monday group completed a southern loop of 32 kms and 278 m of climbing, with coffee etc at Milton:

Iain Wright, John Larkin, Chris Low, Ken Page, Les Gray, Mike Reilly, Ian Sharp, John Meaden & Jack Simpson

A few of us who couldn't manage on Monday went out on Tuesday morning - and what a glorious trip it was - just a short one via Myrebird and Drumshalloch, with a first ever stop at the Cowshed, where we sat out on their new patio:

John McWhinnie, Dave Williamson, Drew Leslie & Ian Stewart

The Thursday morning ride brought the biggest crowd since February. Twelve of us showed up on a greyish morning, after overnight rain. We cycled out the Deeside Way to the Blacksmith's just short of Drumoak and then went up the hill there and back round towards the recording studio and through the farm roads - almost the same ride as Tuesday, with a bit of an additional loop. For all bar Drew and myself, it was the first time for coffee etc at the Cowshed. It wasn't quite warm enough this time to sit outside, but the new conservatory worked a treat. Here's the team photo, minus Drew Leslie, who'd had to rush back home as he had visitors:

Ian Stewart, John Larkin, Iain Wright, Scott Hunter, Les Gray, Hugh Riches, Ian Sharp, Ken Page (half hidden), Jack Simpson, Justin Greenwood (half hidden) & Robin Brodie

Unlike Tuesday, the ride didn't stop here - we added an extra loop round Brathens and Home Farm, so the total trip was 37 kms with 250 m of climbing.

Elsewhere, there's been the usual raft of solo rides recorded on Strava - special mention must go to both Mike Reilly and John Meaden, who travelled west last weekend for the Etape Royale. Mike (and Carol) did 116 kms with an amazing 1,519 m of climbing on the course last Saturday. That was superceded by John on Sunday when he did 163 kms - a Freewheelers record distance - with an astonishing 2,384 m of climbing - that's like two Ben Nevises! - not quite a climbing record - that still belongs to Malcolm Lodge's 2,452 m in Cape Town back in March.