Since I recently started riding my Raleigh Winner I've been finding that the flat 20 - 40 mile circuits I usually ride on my MTB aren't challenging enough, so I went on what turned out to be a hilly 94 mile ride on Saturday.
Starting off in Glasgow, I rode up to Fenwick Moor, missing a sign where I was supposed to turn to stay on the National Cycle Route. Being vaguely familiar with the country roads in the area anyway, I followed the road signs to Kilmarnock then Prestwick, where I joined National Cycle Route 7.
I then rode south a few miles to Ayr, where I had lunch. After lunch I followed National Cycle Route 7 north to Paisley, and rode down Paisley Road West back home to Glasgow.
One thing I really liked about this ride is the 12 mile climb from Glasgow to Fenwick, which I plan on incorporating into more circuits.
Well, I can't compete with you high mileage types, as time is always short here, although I am hoping to up the miles as the evenings draw out.
Anyway, although it's pretty blustery here, the weather forecast for the rest of the week is poor, so up a couple of hills to try the legs'n'lungs.
Lots of my riding is on little back lanes, but as the M5 runs right past the town, it is a little hard to avoid.
Over the M5 and back towards W-s-M with a diversion up over Bleadon Hill (which starts more or less at sea level) and along the Roman Road. It's a nice little burner and good / bad for my climbing legs.
That's the Severn Estuary with Exmoor in the far background. Hinkley Point is on the other side of the River Exe, directly across from where the photo was taken.