Irn-Bru? Scottish Blethering Thread

[Brandane]

I need to do crazy things like that more often. I have been thinking about cycling to my work at the gyle but I would need to leave at 1.30am to be there for 3am.

3am starts?

 

[Edwardoka]

Maybe because @Brandane isn't cycling. Lol.

With only one exception every time I've been out recently it has started raining just moments after I leave the house - I've taken over his duties as rain doctor

Sadly, I'm no longer remotely competitive on Strava these days

If you enjoy it that's all that matters - let the racing snakes have their competitions.
Last weekend had a flyby encounter with someone who rode across the European Championships course and it's frightening how far the Strava-using pros travelled in the time it took me to get to Troon and back

 

[Edwardoka]

I need to do crazy things like that more often. I have been thinking about cycling to my work at the gyle but I would need to leave at 1.30am to be there for 3am.

Do it. Night riding is really special (if you have good enough lights). Sing loudly to yourself as you do so!

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Do it. Night riding is really special (if you have good enough lights). Sing loudly to yourself as you do so!

That's what I do when I ride home from a late shift!
Not loudly though, there are always people about in the wee hours, they might think I'm drunk cycling

 

[Brandane]

Started to rain here, you have jinxed us

But surprisingly I dodged all the showers.

Maybe my luck is a-changing .

 

[Brandane]

I've taken over his duties as rain doctor

Thanks Ed; it's about time I handed over that particular baton. You're welcome!

 

[ShooglyDougie]

Do it. Night riding is really special (if you have good enough lights). Sing loudly to yourself as you do so!

Night riding is the best, I love how quiet and calm everything is. I never sing out loud as I would scare the local wild life away, stopping to watch the bats is fantastic.

 

[bruce1530]

Well I had a good crack at it today. Currently on the train from Dumfries, having ridden there from Largs (95 miles). It was a struggle, I have to admit. And not a particularly nice route as it involved 3 sections on the very fast/busy A76; not my idea of fun! But surprisingly I dodged all the showers.

What route did you take?

I ended up (slightly unexpectedly!) on the A76 for about a mile today just south of Kilmarnock - that was far enough!

 

[Brandane]

What route did you take?

I ended up (slightly unexpectedly!) on the A76 for about a mile today just south of Kilmarnock - that was far enough!

It was a route I had pre-planned using RideWithGPS. This link should show the route, but basically I was on the A76 between Mauchline and Auchinleck, then again from south of Cumnock to New Cumnock, and east of New Cumnock to Kirkconnel. The last section was ok thanks to roadworks which meant the traffic was coming in waves as they got through the traffic lights - so I pulled into the side of the road to let them passed and then had 5 or 10 minutes with nothing behind me.

 

[bruce1530]

I see what you mean. Looks like a nice route, apart from the A76 bits!

 

[Col5632]

3am starts?

Yeah exactly, just one of the amazing parts of this job.

Do it. Night riding is really special (if you have good enough lights). Sing loudly to yourself as you do so!

I've done a bit of night riding before but never to work and not after 12 hour shifts

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Yeah exactly, just one of the amazing parts of this job.
I've done a bit of night riding before but never to work and not after 12 hour shifts

I've often ridden home in the early hours, lovely if the weather is kind, of course.

 

[Col5632]

I've often ridden home in the early hours, lovely if the weather is kind, of course.

I can't see me doing it anytime soon, don't see me sticking this job for much longer. I do like working with my team though

 

[Edwardoka]

Night riding is the best, I love how quiet and calm everything is. I never sing out loud as I would scare the local wild life away, stopping to watch the bats is fantastic.

I've often ridden home in the early hours, lovely if the weather is kind, of course.

It's weird, until I did the Carlisle to Newcastle overnight organised by @mcshroom I hated riding at night. I did it when necessary but could never enjoy it. Now it doesn't faze me at all.

The thing I miss the most about living in the Carse was being able to stop in the countryside on a clear night and look up at millions of stars. Singing Toto at the top of my voice at 3am on the back roads above the A90 was pretty good too, but doesn't have the same effect in Glasgow

Riding with a headtorch is amazing/terrifying, so many eyes watching you from shadows.
I'll never forget the time I was riding through a forest in Provence, heard frenzied rustling before a wild boar (sow?) burst forth from undergrowth and ran off with her piglets squealing behind her (it wasn't my singing that prompted them, honest). That's not the kind of experience you can get riding in the day...

 

[Col5632]

Well I'm down to just 1 bike, couldn't see me using the hybrid anytime soon so sold it.