Banchory Veterans' Cycling Group: Cycling activities over the last week

Dick, Ken and Scott were the only Freewheelers around last Thursday and they did a 36 kms Platform 22 loop, which included 481 metres of climbing - glad I wasn't there! The full stats and the route map are here - https://www.strava.com/activities/304292853 - and Dick's team photo shows:

It appears that nobody was around for the usual Monday afternoon cycle, but I went in to Aberdeen yesterday (Tuesday) to drop my car off for service and then cycled to a meeting in the city and then back to Banchory - 38 kms in all (https://www.strava.com/activities/307515087). I started in Tullos, where this photo was taken:

On the way back, I bumped in to Ken P, who was heading in the opposite direction. He eventually completed a 34 kms Drum and Hirn loop - https://www.strava.com/activities/307554321

Also out on the bike yesterday was John P, who sent me the following report on his recent activities:

"Freewheeler Off On A Tangent

Just to fill a little gap in the blog. Some will know I was off to my son’s 'Stag Do' a couple of weeks ago, primarily to break my body on some of the forestry routes in Dumfries and Galloway (The Seven Stanes) bike parks. The body stood up remarkably well to the punishment on the Saturday and Sunday where we rode (basically) the Red Routes at Maibie and Dalbeattie, as per pics.. By the way, great places to cycle… Freewheelers weekend trip? What I wasn’t expecting was my son’s generosity in sharing his man-flu. Poor lad was well below par for his weekend and for the last week or so I have been trying to kick off the passed-on virus. So very limited biking…

…today I did manage a little solo jaunt to Platform 22. Had a good chat with Emma and some fine tea (a blend that she has had made called, I think, Royal Deeside). Still not 100%, so a bit embarrassed as I cycled past Scott having not ‘put the flag up for a group ride’, but I was far from sure how well the ol’ legs would perform and how far I would get. All this in aid of next week as I, Jeff and a couple of others are heading from Fort William to Inverness in a small boat care of Sail Caledonia. Back soon with the Freewheelrs I hope, the stats are on Strava but in summary:

Maibie Red: 19km, 400m, two hours

Dalbeattie Red and blue: 17km, 250m, One and half hours

Platform 22: 25km, 265m, One and half hours"

Here's the map and routes John was referring to: