Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Kormylo!

Ben Rinnes in the sun.

New bike light. I’ll need to come up with a way of dipping the beam for road use but it’ll be grand off-road.

I should really take holidays more often! :O)

Edinburgh to Galloway turned into Edinburgh-to-nearly-Moffat-via-Peebles thanks to the A701 being closed at the Leadburn junction for resurfacing work, and the small matter of two burst pedals and not enough cable ties. The constant headwind was slowly breaking me anyway.

Still, it was a good bike ride while it lasted and I had a nice wee break in Galloway. More importantly, I tried something challenging for the first time in a wee while. I’ve missed that a bit, even wrapped up in this new parenthood gig as I am.

No fewer than four people have said to me in the month since I bought this new bike that it’s better not to clean it. The theory seems to be that it will run more smoothly without any interference.

What a load of shite!

After a muddy ride like yesterday, you really have to clean the bike up. Leave some mud on the unimportant bits if you’re daft enough to think it makes it look cooler but clean your drivetrain at least. All you need is twenty minutes, some car shampoo, hot water, a sponge, a rag and wee scrubbing brush of some sort. Lube it up again afterwards and you’re golden.

Mouseover the pics below to see the difference and decide for yourself which will last longer and run better …

So, an unexpected free Saturday afternoon is declared on Friday. What’s a man to do with himself? Take the bike out of course!

Now, I don’t think I’d really recommend starting this loop in the Pentlands at the Union Canal outside town because there’s a hill, then a hill, then a hill, then you lose a wee bit of height before a total bastard of a hill. After that there’s another hill and at that point you’ve really just arrived in the Pentlands proper above Harlaw reservoir.

You could jump onto the same loop from Flotterstone and have a much easier time of it. Saying that, you could start at the carpark at Harlaw as well. Or Bonaly. Please yourself but I live near the canal so I came up through Heriot Watt, the donkey track, Kirkgate and then straight on as if heading for Craigentarrie.

Anyway, drop down to Harlaw reservoir and take the track around the south side then cross the slipway and head along the path to the north of Threipmuir reservoir. Peel off through the woods before you hit the car park then go left along the road that takes you over the bridge and up towards Bavelaw Castle.

Go left at the top of the hill, over the gate, and through the field to the track that leads to The Howe. This track to The Howe could well be the best bit (opinions vary) so enjoy it. Then you’ve got a long easy stretch downhill past Loganlea reservoir to Glencorse reservoir.

Just after the Kirkton road-end, and just before the sharp bend in the road at Glencorse, hang a left onto the track between Bell’s Hill and Harbour Hill that leads back to Harlaw. Now your legs get a break as you head back to the canal.

It’s twenty-three-point-something miles if you start at my house. A few more days like that and I’ll maybe have the legs to put some slicks on it and try to keep up with Stef on his road bike for a couple of hours!

More photos as ever if you want to see them.