Week 7 reports

The spring-like weather has made it a busy week on the bikes. There were a few who couldn't make the Thursday morning ride but still wanted to take advantage of the mild weather. Iain Wright was first to promote a Wednesday afternoon ride and Jack was quick to take him up on it. The two of them completed the Garroll climb - 25 kms and 241 m. As they returned to Banchory, they bumped in to a group of 5 Freewheelers just heading out. Unlike Iain's well-publicised ride, this was an unannounced gentle ride, organised by Ken P, which was intended to entice back on to the saddle a few who hadn't been around for a while - notably Archie and Dan, with Keith also making a relatively rare appearance.

I joined this latter group with the express intention of making sure it turned in to a booze cruise, so there were 5 of us in all, taking in a simple Myrebird - Drumshalloch route, and ending up at the Legion - a modest total of 24 kms and 147 m at a very gentle pace.

As far as stats go, Jack and Iain's ride passes the test as a FW group ride - well publicised, open to all and not a solo ride. The lack of a proper scone stop was their only blemish - that and the lack of a photograph. On the other hand, the 5 booze cruisers don't get any credits on the FW group database as their ride was not made public.

The more traditional Thursday morning ride, which, of course, features on the database as FW ride number 21 this year, was reported on - and photographed by - John Meaden:

"On Thursday morning 8 of us gathered on what turned out to be a mild ,almost spring like day - talk was of shorts on Monday in a possible 16 degrees . Rufus , Les , Drew , Scott , Iain S , Bob , Ken P and myself were present .

With a time constraint on Rufus and myself Ian devised an interesting route to Potarch - Home Farm , down to the river , past the large house which is still being renovated after flood damage last year . 

There is a Private sign just before the house - the builders had a good look at us but were friendly enough - the track is very close to the house . Then it was up to the main road , across and up to near the Sluie mast . Another Sluie encounter this time one of the farmers told some of the guys that we should not be there and the track does not go anywhere - but it does . Over coffee Bob talked about another letter to the council .

We carried on up the short very steep and muddy section then downhill for about 1 k bearing left then crossing 50m or so to the parallel track from Craiglash which goes downhill to the main road at Potarch .

Good service , fine coffee and scones at Potarch then home . The main group planned to climb up to Shooting Greens then follow the main Deeside Way track to Scolty car park .

Rufus and I went via Craiglash to get back quicker - 45 minutes at a moderate pace for  future reference .

We were 30k and 324m - the others would be a bit further  with more vertical .

Overall a varied and interesting ride ."

Bob has, indeed, since followed up with an Access clarification to Aberdeenshire Council Access Officer about Easter Sluie issue. Bob also supplied the route map:

(Bob hasn't gone metric yet)

On a beautiful Friday afternoon there was yet another unannounced cycle - Colin Kilgour (remember him?) came out of hibernation and invited Dave Williamson and I to join him for a ride. We headed up through Crathes, out past Hirn and down Couper's Road, stopping for some excellent cherry scones at Milton. 28 kms and 123 m - but no entry on the database of course.