Where did you ride, run or play OUTSIDE today?
Share your 2024 stories, photos and accomplishments in the great outdoors. 
Prior thread:
1 Like
I went Round the Forth today and it was out with the old and in with the new before I even started as I needed a new tube!
I took the coastal route to Kincardine (where I was warned of ice; I doubt there was any, it was +3.6deg C, but I decided to make it a recovery ride after that. I crossed over the Clackmannanshire Bridge into the Falkirk council area. I was going to take the track through it but it was right grotty so I went back on to the main road. I stopped in at the Kelpies for a pic and possibly a cafe stop. There was no chance of the latter, the cafe was rammed and I didn’t fancy leaving the bike locked up with a ZipLock whilst I queued. After that I went back on the main road however, when I got passed Grangemouth (now an Ineos plant) I cut up to county lanes through to Linlithgow and from there I took the B9080 through Kingscavil, Threemiletown, Winchburgh to Kirkliston where I turned north to South Queensferry and the Forth Road Bridge. It was totally rammed with folk out for their New Years Day walk so it was literally walking pace 
Once I got through the crowds it was up through Inverkeithing and into Dunfermline by the back road.
4 Likes
Well, this is a two-for-one post, but it’s my last ride of 2023 and my first ride of 2024.
I (relatively) recently found a trail on Strava near my in-laws. We visited over Christmas for a few days and I was finally able to ride there! I was quite surprised; I just really didn’t expect anything like that to be there! I hope to get back out there and make the full loop.
My friend and I went out for our (mostly) annual New Year’s Day No Matter What ride. We were good friends in junior high, high school, and college, and we were roommates our Freshman year. We’ve ridden together and lifted weights together a fair amount over the years. He still lifts weight a lot, mainly in his garage and late at night. I lift weights a little, mainly in my garage and early in the morning. He’s not interested enough in biking to put much money or time into it, but he does enjoy it and is always pretty decent. We both have growing families and very full-time jobs now. We text a decent amount and cross paths in real life every once in a while. BUT we always try to make this ride happen, and I love it! He’s not necessarily in biking shape, and his bikes always need some TLC (I try to help him when I can), but we cruise around and have a fun time!
6 Likes
Well that was a bit driech. The rain was off and on for the first 45miles but not heavy or long. For the last 25miles it just got heavier and heavier. The Garmin screen decided to rotate to a near useless screen and refused to swipe back such was the saturation.
I went out again along the West Fife coast (Through Cairneyhill, Low Valleyfield, Toryburn and Culross to Kincardine), before cutting in land a bit to Clackmannan, Alloa, Tullibody, Stirling and Bridge of Allan and the rural area behind it. I was going to explore more but annoyingly I p’tured there and thought I wouldn’t have time to, that resulted in me having to dash through the M9/A9 roundabout. I came back through Bridge of Allan and circled the Wallace Monument and came back along the Hillfoots (through Menstrie, Alva, Tillicoultry and Dollar). Somewhere around there the heavens opened. I then cut down to Crook of Devon and Cleish. Where I briefly thought about going over it but decided instead to go round by Kelty, Cowdenbeath and Crossgates back to Dunfermline.
5 Likes
Did you schedule a visit with the mobile DXA scanner? Or just spotted it on the ride?
1 Like
Sorry, I should’ve given more context. I just spotted it through some trees parked at a house during the ride. Maybe it’s a common thing, but it caught me off guard a bit.
2 Likes
I’ve never seen one!
1 Like
First gravel bike ride of the year. I took tracks out of town to Blairhall where I cut down to Preston Island
( Preston Island | Canmore ) and then along the coastal path to Culross. Bizarrely the gps route I was following updated, the timer progressed, the distance progressed but the garmin never laid down a track. The straight line in my route map was more like this:
From Culross I headed along the coastal path to Kincardine then into Tulliallan and the Devilla Forest. I think I could have bypassed the Police College barriers and no entry signs but I wasn’t sure so I followed the public path to the Tulliallan Golf Course which actually led be back in the end through the Police College grounds and there was plenty of signs about keeping you dog on a leash (public access). After exploring the forest I came back along the West Fife cycleway to town.
Preston Island
Devilla
The clouds finally rose on the return and it was blue skies but I forgot to take more pics.
9 Likes
Today’s ride was the evidence that yesterdays clouds burnt off letting the temperatures plummet for today’s club run. The garmin recorded -4deg C (likely wind chill).
Given the temperature the club run kept to main roads and entered the cafe on roads to the west
The Ochil’s were looking rather splendid at the cafe stop.
After the cafe stop the lowest temp I saw was -1.6deg c but I was glad a group of us decided to up the pace and climbing going up to Yetts of Muckhart over the Knockhill main road.
5 Likes
We got a big snowfall last night, so went for a ride on the roads, as the trails were unridable. 3.5hrs at 8mph!
9 Likes
6 Likes
First ride outside in 2024. The weather has been extremely cold here in the nordic countries: the temperatures have dropped to -30 degrees C in many areas and even here in the south it has been around -20 C.
Today it was just -5 C and the roads were in perfect condition.
9 Likes
On the last leg of my commute the Ultegra ratchet decided to seize and I was stuck in the smallest gear (biggest cog). My Saturday ride at this time of year is on that bike. Rather than sorting it though I decided that prepping my good bike would be faster (it probably wasn’t but I wanted to ride it). I took out the new carbon rim braked wheels and put aluminium wheels in. That necessitated, transferring the cassette, swapping the brake blocks, and filling up the sealant. It wasn’t really a workout but I enjoyed having power outside again (I’ve not had it since October). Although I haven’t indulged the stats junkie yet as swapped that lever out on the commuter, and changed the rear brake pads whilst I was at it.
It was supposed to grey over but it didn’t 
One of my mates:
3 Likes
I waited for it to warm up a bit and headed out on the gravel bike and ended up at the Grounds Cafe in Fineshade.
4 Likes
Looks like a nice day to get out there. A little warmer?
1 Like
For a few days at least its a bit warmer. Now I’m back down south the temperature has not been below -2deg C (and last night it never got below +2deg C) and today’s sunshine felt warm, it was 8deg C when I got back. Felt like the beginning of Spring and the plants/insects/animals probably thought that.
Its supposed to be -4deg over night on Monday though 
2 Likes
First fat bike ride. It’s slow and exhausting lol.
I’m hoping the groomed trails will be faster.
It was around 34F at the bottom of the ride so it started pretty slushy. 10 minutes in and I was finally hitting “solid” stuff.
6 Likes
Nice! I want to be mtbing in the desert!
1 Like