Yesterday - followed the NCN73 then the NCN7 to Lochwinnoch. Stopped at the cafe - nice coffee, even nicer cake. Then onto some back roads - which were hillier than I remembered - towards Kilmacolm. Picked up the NCN75 there as far as Johnstone, where I jumped on a train home, about 55k in total.
Today it was forecast for “fine early, wet and windy later”. I left about 9 - along the coast to Largs (very flat) for 20k, making good time, then up the Brisbane Glen road. If I’d just been doing it to get a “50”, I’d have turned back half way up, at 25 - but pushed ahead.There’s a cafe up at the top, and I needed a coffee, a bite to eat, and a “comfort stop”.
It’s a bit of a slog up to the top - about 300m climb. Once over the top, it was great - the roads (single track moor road) have recently been resurfaced. Several other bikes out, no cars, and the next few minutes were coasting down to Loch Thom, up above Greenock. Dry and calm.
Stopped at the Greenock Cut/Cornalees visitor centre to use the facilities after 36k. There’s a cafe there too, but nothing special - I used it once, and wouldn’t go back. The better cafe is across the road at the trout fishery - nice coffee, bacon roll... Had a chat with the guy working there - “What time do you open?” “Usually 8 weekdays, 9 Sundays”, he says, “and we close at....whatever. Sometimes we’re open all night.” It’s the office for the trout fishery, they’ll stay open as long as there are people fishing.
Came out 20 mins later - and the weather had completely changed. The “calm drizzle” had turned into a howling gale - in my face, of course. And stinging rain.
A 15 minute climb up to the top, then the descent down to Largs. About 10 km, dropping about 300m. Normally it’s a fast descent - you barely have to pedal - but today there was a gale in my face, heavy rain, roads very wet and very muddy - so a bit slippy.
By the time I reached Largs, I had done over 50k, was soaked through, and wasn’t looking forward to the 20k home along the coast - it’s exposed all the way, and the wind directly in my face. Thought about jumping on a train. However, one had just left, the next one wasn’t for an hour. And I hadn’t lifted my wallet - just had a few coins. Did I have enough for a train ticket? Checked the cost - £4.30. Pulled the coins out my pocket - about a fiver. Then I realised that one of the “pound coins” was actually a Euro....
Biked home. It was a slow end to the trip, 72k in total.
Today it was forecast for “fine early, wet and windy later”. I left about 9 - along the coast to Largs (very flat) for 20k, making good time, then up the Brisbane Glen road. If I’d just been doing it to get a “50”, I’d have turned back half way up, at 25 - but pushed ahead.There’s a cafe up at the top, and I needed a coffee, a bite to eat, and a “comfort stop”.
It’s a bit of a slog up to the top - about 300m climb. Once over the top, it was great - the roads (single track moor road) have recently been resurfaced. Several other bikes out, no cars, and the next few minutes were coasting down to Loch Thom, up above Greenock. Dry and calm.
Stopped at the Greenock Cut/Cornalees visitor centre to use the facilities after 36k. There’s a cafe there too, but nothing special - I used it once, and wouldn’t go back. The better cafe is across the road at the trout fishery - nice coffee, bacon roll... Had a chat with the guy working there - “What time do you open?” “Usually 8 weekdays, 9 Sundays”, he says, “and we close at....whatever. Sometimes we’re open all night.” It’s the office for the trout fishery, they’ll stay open as long as there are people fishing.
Came out 20 mins later - and the weather had completely changed. The “calm drizzle” had turned into a howling gale - in my face, of course. And stinging rain.
A 15 minute climb up to the top, then the descent down to Largs. About 10 km, dropping about 300m. Normally it’s a fast descent - you barely have to pedal - but today there was a gale in my face, heavy rain, roads very wet and very muddy - so a bit slippy.
By the time I reached Largs, I had done over 50k, was soaked through, and wasn’t looking forward to the 20k home along the coast - it’s exposed all the way, and the wind directly in my face. Thought about jumping on a train. However, one had just left, the next one wasn’t for an hour. And I hadn’t lifted my wallet - just had a few coins. Did I have enough for a train ticket? Checked the cost - £4.30. Pulled the coins out my pocket - about a fiver. Then I realised that one of the “pound coins” was actually a Euro....
Biked home. It was a slow end to the trip, 72k in total.
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3 points
. Looking forward to riding with you again on the forum meet up with them Leicester louts 
