Post 217 - A brilliant week

It is said that a picture paints a thousand words. So not much text here. Just photos. A great week, cycling every day for 7 days straight, in some of the best cycling terrain anywhere in the world, blessed with great weather, wearing shorts every day, feeling great, getting stronger and stronger as the week progressed. As good as it gets. 1035km total, 10,092m climbed. 

Day 1 - "Ayrshire Alps"

80.5 miles, 5837ft, 149/195W
Rural roads, some spectacular climbs, some scary cows and bulls blocking a summit...

Ailsa Craig - a Dalriadan landmark

The Stinchar valley

David Bell memorial - pioneering local cyclist

Day 2: Binevenagh and surrounds

72.1 miles, 4465 feet, 163/215W

Blitzing steep gradients early doors, statue viewing, flat coastal finish

20-25% gradient beyond this sign...

Manannan Mac Lir

Day 3 - Over the Orra, down the glens, and along the infamous Torr road
101.7 miles, 6358ft, 178/204W
The Orra was misty and remote, the Torr road is something else

The Mull of Kintyre in the distance, a mere 11-mile swim away...

Much clearer on a clear day (obviously)

Fuschias (and blackberries) out in force

Islay in the distance, again much clearer on a clear day

Day 4 - Route of the Giro
73.2 miles, 3228ft, 146/171W
An easier day on the route of the Giro d'Italia with a great cafe stop

Day 5 - Flat and fast inland and coastal miles
81.4 miles, 2917ft, 207/215W
Battering out the miles, cafe stop with 20 to go, final 20 miles powered by goujons and chips, high-powered, are chips the secret?!

Not as many photos from this day as I had to get 

the miles in quickly. The Giro didn't have it as good. Nor

did they have chips...!

The whole day was fast, but the final 20 miles, 

after being fuelled by this, were incredible - super-fast, 

high-powered, and exhilarating. More chips please!

Day 6 - "Bathgate Alps" and Stirling
102.1 miles, 3900ft, 180/198W
Korean memorial, Bathgate hills, up to Stirling and back. Expected to be tired on this ride, but felt good, turned it into a ton, knowing that tomorrow would also be a ton. Back to back tons would be a first...

Day 7 - Crawfordjohn, Sanquhar, Wanlockhead (highest village in Scotland)
132.0 miles, 6407ft, 193/211W
Have long wanted to do this route and it didn't disappoint. Felt so strong. Would love to ride a Grand Tour route. 2 more weeks of the same and more!

Faded willow herb

I reckon I put 1000 miles in on Michelin latex tubes. They never missed a beat.

They are lighter, more supple and faster than conventional butyl tubes.

OK, you have to pump them up more often, and you have to take care when installing them, 

but I'm a fan. They seem to be a bit more comfortable and give a bit more of a smoother ride, 

and when you are freewheeling at speed, you seem to decelerate less rapidly. They are also a 

bit more expensive than conventional tubes. All good until I hit a pothole (a while after my 

1000km week), blew out both tubes and wrecked both tyres. A £100 pothole.

Could have been worse...

Below are some more scenic summer cycling/swimming photos (not much running was done this summer, my foot hasn't been right for a long time...)

Ominous road name... Take me down...

Blue-green algae

The Crow Road

On this particular ride, the forecast was good. And it rained. 

Cue the pound-shop ponchos...

Gladhouse

Loch Lubnaig

Loch Venachar

I bought a thermal undergarment and a thermal swim suit for under the wetsuit,

what a difference it made - I could actually cope!

Very windy and rough at Gladhouse, on a par with Ironman Wales 2013