"Although there aren’t too many hills, navigation through
Glasgow requires attention & it is one of the longest days in terms of
mileage which makes this a long & tiring day."
As I am writing this at around 21:30 the last stragglers from our team are just arriving in Balloch (on the shores of Loch Lomond) they have spent over 12 hours riding a "route of differences"
The morning in Moffat dawned clear and cold with windscreens covered in mist, Autumn seemed to be close. The first 3 miles or so was a long climb up through the glorious hills to the West of Moffat before a descent into the valley to climb to Beattock Summit. The descent in the shade of the hills was very cold.
Having crossed the M74 the route along the B7076 was a tooth filling loosening, bone shaking torture. It seems that the Scots authorities may have bought a job lot of very rough Tarmac, with chippings of about 2/3 cm diameter. We shook rattled and cursed along this through high moorland for about 25 miles before a descent into Glasgow.
Initially the route through Glasgow was on roads, not busy and with generally well behaved and considerate drivers. Then it took the NCN75 and the NCN7. The former ducked and dived through the city and along the Clyde, parts of which have been redeveloped with some grand modern buildings. NCN 7 would initially follow canals and then the River Leven all the way to Balloch, which was reached in wonderful evening sunshine
Overall it was an enjoyable but tough day, not helped by hail and high winds at times, a route of many contrasts that revealed how different Scotland can be from; grand hills, to bleak moor, industrial squallor, and finally tranquil beauty
78.35 miles 3560 feet of climb 11.6 mph average max 26.2 mph
As I am writing this at around 21:30 the last stragglers from our team are just arriving in Balloch (on the shores of Loch Lomond) they have spent over 12 hours riding a "route of differences"
The morning in Moffat dawned clear and cold with windscreens covered in mist, Autumn seemed to be close. The first 3 miles or so was a long climb up through the glorious hills to the West of Moffat before a descent into the valley to climb to Beattock Summit. The descent in the shade of the hills was very cold.
Having crossed the M74 the route along the B7076 was a tooth filling loosening, bone shaking torture. It seems that the Scots authorities may have bought a job lot of very rough Tarmac, with chippings of about 2/3 cm diameter. We shook rattled and cursed along this through high moorland for about 25 miles before a descent into Glasgow.
Initially the route through Glasgow was on roads, not busy and with generally well behaved and considerate drivers. Then it took the NCN75 and the NCN7. The former ducked and dived through the city and along the Clyde, parts of which have been redeveloped with some grand modern buildings. NCN 7 would initially follow canals and then the River Leven all the way to Balloch, which was reached in wonderful evening sunshine
Overall it was an enjoyable but tough day, not helped by hail and high winds at times, a route of many contrasts that revealed how different Scotland can be from; grand hills, to bleak moor, industrial squallor, and finally tranquil beauty
78.35 miles 3560 feet of climb 11.6 mph average max 26.2 mph
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