Show us what you did today, thread

Out and about on Sunday when Brian and I had a ride down Glen Affric. We did the loop out from Beauly down one side of the river then after some lunch and a cuppa at Cannick we headed back up the other, quiet side. Though to be fair both sides were relatively quiet but the way back before we crossed back over the river we seen 2 cars and 3 bikes over the 15 or so miles on that side.
We had nice weather and very little wind in the valley so quite nice riding. Brian was on his ever reliable Cube while I was on the Mercian.
Jamie

Untitled by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

Untitled by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

Untitled by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

Untitled by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

Untitled by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

Untitled by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr


Untitled by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
 
Popped my e-bike cherry this morning 🍒

Took one of the Big Issue bikes we have around Aberdeen down to the beach, went for a run, and rode back home.
Using the App to unlock the bike was pretty simple, and you just have to return it to one of the geofenced locations around town, there's one at the end of my street, which is handy.
Pedal assist kicks in as soon as you set off and cuts out around 15mph, so getting away from the lights was pretty swift, but above 15mph you hit a bit of a wall, the bikes weigh a ton, and it actually feels like something is trying to slow you down.
Drum brakes were ok, but needed a firm pull to get them working, but I guess they're low maintenance compared to others.

So in general I was pretty impressed with the pedal assist, it makes it easy to pootle along.

I wasn't so impressed with the cost though, 15 mins there, 17mins back, cost £7.80, that's on their PAYG tariff, or I could subscribe for £20 a month and pay a lower rate per minute.
Pretty sure a bus would be cheaper, or a car, or....

I guess there's no hassles though, no locking my own bike up at the beach, no worries, no maintenance etc.

I don't think I'll be a regular user, if it was half the price then I might be, I get that it's a charity, giving folk jobs etc, and I'm effectively donating with each hire, but still...

I don't really know who uses the bikes? Young Eco city dwellers wanting to get somewhere whilst feeling good about "making a difference"?
It's definitely not the working classes as a: it's too expensive, and b: there are no hire locations in the more deprived areas of town.

I think in future I'll just take my partners Kona Hahanna (she never rides it anyway😅), it may be pink, but it's no less embarrassing to be seen on than a step-thru bike with a basket 😂 And if it gets nicked I doubt it'll be missed 👀

🤷🏼‍♂️

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I wasn't so impressed with the cost though, 15 mins there, 17mins back, cost £7.80, that's on their PAYG tariff, or I could subscribe for £20 a month and pay a lower rate per minute.
Pretty sure a bus would be cheaper, or a car, or....

Should have pedalled harder and got it cheaper!
Looking at the prices, 60p for first minute then 20p a minute after that. Cheaper than a taxi for sure.
Interesting part is the £12 max cap per hire. Not bad for what could be a full day trundling round the sights of Aberdeen.
 
Well yesterday evening actually, went for an evening ride up the Lomonds from RSPB Vane Farm.

Where I was headed, pic taken from path around Loch Leven. Climbed to just above light coloured crags at right of centre of pic.
Had ridden up there before but had to bail out of the forest road as at 13%+ gradient it was too much for my auld legs. The path that I then rode down is actually easier going up once you get above the band of yellow gorse bushes on face of hill. Said I'd never try riding up that way again but my Specialized Levo SL ebike is a gamechanger as I was able to ride all the way up to top of forest road this time.

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Looking down on Kinnesswood and it's wee golf course. Where I live is on far side of loch, above where the big island is, beyond right hand end of Benarty. Been up on Benarty dozens of times on bike. Good blast along the top then down off back towards Ballingry.

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High point of ride, taken from same spot as Kinnesswood pic, then off down path/trail into the trees/bushes then down through them to road. Headed to Portmoak Moss at right hand centre of pic, from there back on to Loch Leven path (Heritage Trail). The fast downhill descent is well worth the climb up.

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