Drovers 5/12/12

The coldest night of this winter so far, frost on the road but thankfully no wind saw us head up to the Drovers for the regulation 2 pints.

Eight cyclists met up to tonight and the ales on tap were the EB Clockwork  from St Andrews and Ossian from Inveralmond in Perth.  It must have been cold as we were the only people there for the majority of the night, two others arrived and left in the time we were there.

It was a fair bit colder on the return with parts of the roads quite white but we made good time just under 15 miles 12.9mph av

Strathmore RFC - Film Night - 28/11/12

A change of venue as we were being treated to two films by Alan Ferrier  who directed Any Given Sunday - The story of Audax in the UK including footage of the Deeside Loop.

Five of us headed out from the Club Rooms towards the golfcourse and up via Auchterforfar and up the brae to Kingsmuir, we headed out towards Craichie, turning back into towards Ladenford, Lochlands and down to the club where we had 3 films to watch for the evening.

Clatterin Brig - 25/11/12

Our luck had to run out sometime and today was the day!  The weather was much better than forecast though and we left in light rain but much milder than in previous weeks.  We headed out of Forfar via Suttieside and the Bensel and off to Brechin.  

Ron turned off over Finavon Hill, probably heading for beer in the bothy, we then had a brief stop at Aberlemno to regroup as the warm weather had people stop to change jeackets etc.  Keith didn't fancy the long climb up Melgund Hill and took us down the low road which comes out at Netherton, home to the father of the founder of the Harley Davidson motor bike company. 

Keith turned off in Brechin with talk of decorating to be done, leaving six of us Charlie, Gus, Norman, Ian, Colin and David to head for for the North Water Bridge.  We went via Luthermuir and found The Scots Corner (a pub nobody new about - definitely a summer visit on the card to try it out) and followed the minor roads past Thornton Castle the Kincardine Castle and onto the Banchory Road  for  the last mile and a half to our destination the Clatterin Brig where we stopped for lunch an good run of 30 miles!  

The rain was off completely when we headed for home and the wind was behind us, Charlie shot off at the front and pushed on through Fettercairn and on to Edzell where we regrouped.

We then headed towards Memus, Charlie turned of at Fern and by the time we arrived at the Drovers the sun was out but a wee bit cold to sit outside.  

We raised a glass to celebrate the birth of Donalds baby born 18.10 hrs 22/11

By the time we left it was dark and the wind had dropped slightly but the pace was brisk, fueled by a couple of pints we arrived back in Forfar a shade under 59.7 miles 11.8 mph moving average.

Wednesday Evening run to RoundyHill 21/11/2012

Five of us Charlie, Gus, Keith, Norman, and Dave left from Forfar taking the usual route out by Heatherstacks and Balinshoe. Tom and Ron were already at Roundyhill when we got there. Jim sporting a movember moustache provided us with chips to go with our refreshments.
Later on there was a guest appearance from Mr Godfrey who'd found a spare evening from his farming duties and decided to join us.

St. Andrews - 18-11/12

Were on a roll - third sunny Sunday in a row - but frosty!

Seven headed up the Dundee Rd heading for the Tay Bridge via Carrot Hill where we briefly paused to regroup and enjoy the view.

The cafe at the south end of the bridge does great black pudding rolls and is a popular re fueling point for cyclists.  After rolls and tea etc Charlie, Ron, Norman & Gus, the latter mentioning The Tav in Ardler, headed for home leaving Colin Ian and David to head for St Andrews.

We stopped in the sunshine at Strathkinnes for a bite to eat before continuing on the Dairsie, where we got caught on the edge of a heavy rain shower, Balmullo, Wormit and back to the bridge for a brief pause, c of n etc, to discuss the route home.

We decided to avoid Carrot Hill and took the option of the steep climb up Albert Street then onto Pitkerro Road, Longhaugh Rd and out into the country side heading for Burnside of Duntrune.  From there we headed to The Old Forfar Rd where we crossed the dual carriage way and took the road to Glamis and then home.  

A good day out, 72 miles 12.1 mph av

Montrose - 11/11/12

It's a bit late but summer has arrived - with two sunny Sundays in a row! A goods sized group of nine headed off for a run to Montrose.  We set off over Dunichen Hill before heading to Letham then through Leysmill where Norman turned off, then to onward to Inverkeilor where we regrouped.  

We joined the national cycle rout and headed for Ferryden where Keith turned for home, then into Montrose.  The stop was Duncs house where we enjoyed some tea and sausage rolls and were met by George and Rod who had made their own way from Forfar.  

From Duncs the group split up, Brian had a dodgy back wheel so took the direct route home escorted by Ron & Tom. Charlie Headed for Brechin and Jimmy turned up towards Hillside.  

Colin, Ian and David briefly entered Kincardinshire and up the hill to the Stone of Morphie and Marykirk, it was Colins birthday so we headed to Stracathro then Little Brechin and onto the Drovers for a celebratory pint.  Today they had Eden Brewery - Clock Brew, a very rich beer from St. Andrews which went down very well.

It was dark and lights were required by the time Forfar was reached but 63 miles had been covered at an average pace of 12.6mph.

Finavon - 7/11/12

Seven headed from the clubrooms with the wind behind us we headed up and over Finavon hill ready for the steep and windy descent, it was pretty greasy but we all made it down where we met up with Tom + Ron who had left early and were enjoying the warmth and hospitality.  The Finavon Hotel has Thrappeldouser from the Inveralmond Brewery and well kept it is as well.  After the regulation ammount of beer was consumed we headed back out into the cold and home to Forfar via Oathlaw, Colin went back up and over the hill but reported that the hill was to greasy with the back wheel was spinning.