Cycle Blog Broughty Ferry to Sidlaws

 

Hi 

My name is Ged (Jed) and this is my cycling and walking blog stories, I am 58 yrs old and have been cycling for a while now I started when my wife Helen cancer returned which I will not say to much about but cycling keeps me close to home is the way I looked on it and keeps me fit as well. You see I’m a lover of Scotland and it mountains and have been a climber/walker for years now but recently I stopped mountains as it took me away from home mmm to understand when I go to the mountains I like to camp or stay in a pod get up early climb a mountain then have beer 😄 to me it is part of the day, but one day I hope to return and maybe have a bike with me as well.

So wee report for Saturday 27/02/2021 and route today will take me from my house in the ferry to the Sidlaw hills then back to my house, I like this run as it involves bit of climbing and few good down hills as well, I use strava and I also have a Garming edge that fits easily onto my bike 👍. I usually try to start early hoping roads will be quiet but the first part I’m on roads with lots of traffic so I pay bit more attention and get through this bit as quickly as possible I can’t tell you how good it is when you get on back road and there is not much traffic about sometimes even having the road to yourself . I ride and am a member of  Dundee thistle cycling club although I have not been out with group since this COVID 19 I work for nhs so I try to be extra careful but hoping soon to get out again as although I will never be fast it definitely has improved my cycling and it is a great club to be part of. I also ride with a group called the pedalling pensioners which is great as well. 

Anyway yesterday saw me head out around 10-45 the whole run was 31.44 miles and took me 2hrs 24min I do tend to stop and take photos and sometimes a coffee and cake if you want to know of any good cafeterias ask a cyclist as its a big part of the day 🥮 coffee and sweet cake braw, but obviously not at the moment. I head towards sidlaws along Emmock road heading towards the pink cottages ( which is white now) stopping on the way for first photograph of the day.

Great views from here looking into Dundee and the ferry seeing the rigs in the Tay quite impressive and of course better if it is sunny which it was but still bit on the cold side. After turning at the pink cottage it is bit of climb past Balkello woods down to Auchterhouse junction this is good bit where you can pick up a bit of speed but just watch the roads as after recent weather there are a lot of big pot holes which if you hit well lets put it this way it is going to hurt and damage the bike as well, from here it is into Birkhill and then left turn to Templeton rd which has another great down hill bit where you get your head down and just go like poop of a hot shovel 😃😂 . As you get to the bottom and right turn there is a power station there where I like to stop and have a wee break and bite to eat mmm a banana and some peanuts no the most exciting but does the job, and some more photos.

I have 4 bikes and the choice today was Ribble Sportive great bike and it rolls really well. So after a wee stop its back on bike and run home past Fallows Burn climb up hideaway hill then back to pink cottage and along part of the same route then head for Tealing then along by the Murroes passing the primary school nice wee run all the way Kellas rd junction and from here straight down to sainsbury and along balgillo rd and home. All in all a good run plenty of climbs and as I have said earlier plenty off opportunities to get your head down and your butt up and hit the high gears.

Cheers

Ged