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.

Inchture - 04/11/12

A group of ten headed off from the Leisure Centre on a crisp cold and sunny autumn day - perfect for cycling.   We headed for Newtyle, Collace and on to Inchture.  Brian turned off at Newtyle followed by Ron & Tom at the Abernyte then Gus at Collace leaving six of us (Colin, Pam, David, Charlie, Alan & Ian) for the short climb up to the quarry and on to The Horse-Shoe Cafe on the north side of the A92, good value for bacon rolls tea etc.  With the sun shining into the cafe t was a thought to be leaving, there was a very light breeze on the route through Invergowrie and along the Dundee shore line, from there we skirted round the edge of the Ferry and through Baldovie then onwards to Carrot Hill.  After a brief respite it was home to Forfar, a 56 mile round trip at 12.3mph av.

Ian, Pam, Colin, and Charlie at the top of the Carot Climbs

Wednesday 31/10/12 - Drovers

For the first night run of the Day Light Savings Time It was a good for cycling, slightly cold but very little wind and the rain which had covered Forfar all day had stopped.  Six of us head off from the club rooms at the bottom of Lowson Avenue on the normal route to The Drovers at Memus where we met up with Ron and were later joined by Andy and although the place was mobbed we managed to squeeze into two adjoining tables.

The Drovers usually has two guest ales as well as Addlestones Cloudy Cider and Glasgow's West Brewery's German style larger, tonight it was Wild Rhino and Empire form the newly created Burnside Brewery in Laurencekirk, may be it's the sign of the times that the Metcalfe duo have a large fire protection business have ventured into ale making - this has the makings of a good summer trip for some tasting!

It was nice and warm in front of the log fire and an extra pint could have been had but we headed back out for a gentle run down the hill to Forfar, Andy went with Ron to Kirrie in penance for taking his van half way up the hill!  17 miles av 13.1 mph

AGM Run to Ardler

Ten headed from the clubhouse to The Tavern in Ardler.  We set off towards Drumgley and the Bogside Rd with a diversion via Linross before regrouping at Meigle we turned right for a short a short sprint along the A94 then left after the Mausoleum through Mains of Camno.  The Tav serves a great bowl of soup and usually has two ales on hand pump today it was Pentland IPA and Atlas Nimbus,  Kip Mary & Etta joined us for lunch.

L to R Jimmy, Charlie, Colin, Ron, Kip, Brian, Gus, Tom, David, Norman & Ian

After lunch we enjoyed the benefit of a light breeze behind us back to Forfar through the Belmont Castle estate, Kirkinch and Glamis before hitting the main A94 for the final 5 miles back into Forfar.

Wednesday Evening Run to Roundyhill

There was a good turnout for the evening run to Roundyhill on Wednesday, and we enjoyed a refreshment and some chips provided by Jim. When leaving for home two bikes had rear wheel punctures. Luckily the out-going captain had driven there on return from a few days holiday so he was able to take the bikes and the riders home.

Remember  the clocks go back on Sunday at 2am.
The AGM takes place at the Club Rooms on Sunday at 10am followed by a run to Ardler for lunch.