What a great weekend we had in Dunoon! Dry weather and the best team spirit made for great cycling. We were 10 tandem pairs and several solo supporters. Overall distance completed was 160 miles with varying levels of ascent, between 1500 feet and 3000 each day. Friday saw us leave Glasgow along NCN 7 /75 to Houston where we picked up country lanes to Kilmacolm for lunch at Birkmyre, who are always so good to us. Then a wider loop on more country roads high above Greenock before dropping down on a fast descent to the coast for an ice cream stop at the Esplanade before heading off for the ferry. Saturday was the big day – 7 tandems completed the 3 ferries , an iconic west of Scotland ride taking in Bute and the hills between Colintraive and Dunoon. Others opted for a more leisurely tour of Bute. Not content with that, on Sunday we tackled the Ardentinny Alps with 20% gradients. Whilst some had to push for short sections, 3 pairs cycled all the way – respect! Others opted for an out and back to Ardentinny, avoiding the hilly section. Some hardy souls then had a dip in the sea at Dunoon West Bay. We returned on Monday on a lovely route on the bike path above Greenock, then quiet roads to Ingliston Country club for lunch, then returning on the bike path to Glasgow. Many thanks to Martin and Bikexplore for hours of organising, and to the Esplanade hotel in Dunoon who made us most welcome.

Swimming in the Firth of Clyde

View from the Balcony of the Esplanade Hotel, showing palm trees and the original metalwork gate, looking over the esplanade to the bay. On a clear day Arran and Bute can be seen in the distance.

Julie and Martin on their tandem at the top of the second hill. Still smiling!

Anne at Tarsan Dam, showing hills behind and signage for the Dam

Ice cream stop! The Esplanade cafe does one of the best Italian ice creams in the West of Scotland

Lovely sunshine as we prepared to leave

The five minute ferry from Rubodach on Bute to Colintraive on Cowal we had all to ourselves!

Graeme, Michael and Chris on a break after the first hill

Tandems nicely lined up on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry

We’ll be having a taster session for new pilots and stokers on Saturday 20th April at 10.30am , in Bellahouston Park. Contact Anne for more information – contact details below

We decided on an extra ride this month to give members another chance to get into training for our Dunoon weekend. A hilly route with about 2000 feet of ascent over 38 miles took us up to the windfarm for a lunch stop then back over Bonnyton Moor, to Waterfoot, Thorntonhall and Carmunnock . We did get a rather severe soaking shortly after the start, inculding hailstones, but after that the weather improved and the sun came out. You could almost think it was spring, passing the wee lambs in the fields and all the roadside daffodils.

5 tandem pairs and one solo rider made a nice compact group. It was great to see our new e- tandem , funded by Cycling UK cycleshare scheme, in use once again. We did have a couple of mechanical problems along the way and our solo rider had to retire early with a bottom bracket problem! But a great day out none the less.

The picture shows Anne, Chris and Ian and some daffodils during a brief stop in Carmunnock.

Saturday saw 8 tandems take on 2 rides. The first group of two , ably supported by Ian as solo, went out to Bridge of Weir and back , a total of 24 miles. Lucky them, managed to avoid a heavy rain shower , whilst the rest pressed on into the headwind to Kilmacolm, having decided against opting for the original planned longer route up over the hills. After a welcome coffee at Birkmyre, the return journey was along country roads as far as Quarriers Village where we picked up the bike path once again, then the westerly wind gave us a helping hand back to base. A total of 36 miles and a few short hills. The picture shows the group before setting off after the break at Birkmyre,

Our ride on 25th June was determined by rail strikes and the need to avoid a large event in the city centre, so we opted for a run to Lochwinnoch. Heading out via quiet residential streets to Paisley, we picked up the cycle path to have a traffic free run most of the way. At Howwood we split into two groups, one of which continued along the path and the other tested pilots and stokers legs uphill for a mile and a half before a lovely descent into the village for lunch at Castle Semple loch. Then a pleasant return along the path via Leverndale and Ross Hall park . Four tandem pairs and 3 solos enjoyed the sunshine. At 32 miles, this was Helen’s longest ride to date, so well done Helen and all of the pilots and stokers on what was a pretty fast paced ride.