This ride will go out through Govan and Paisley to join the NCN route 7 to Irvine, much of which is railway path. We will stop at Lochwinnoch for lunch at Castle Semple Country Park, or in the town. Once we arrive in Irvine we will visit the beach, before returning to Glasgow by train

38 miles, largely on paths and quieter roads, and most of the hill climbing is around Dalry. Option to return from Lochwinnoch station (20 miles).

We will meet at the SEC, just to the east of the north end of Bell’s Bridge at 10:00

For more information on GoBike rides, please see here

Seven of us set off, some weeks ago now, from the SEC and made our way north through Kelvingrove Park, North Woodside, Firhill, Possilpark, Parkhouse, skirting Milton and then Bishopbriggs to reach the Forth and Clyde canal.

A few miles along the canal towpath brought us to Kirkintilloch for a refreshment/toilet break, before we turned off the canal path towards Milton of Campsie, cycling past hordes of bluebells and wild garlic.

We continued past Lennoxtown to reach Strathblane. Then it was the major hill up to Mugdock Country Park – not many bikes there, but lots of cars in the carparks – these people don’t know what they are missing.

Lunch at the cafe was followed by a mainly downhill journey back through the park past the Mugdock Loch and then it was past the Mugdock Reservoir to Milngavie, on to the Bears Way. We cut through Bearsden and into the Glasgow University grounds before the official end of the ride with the choice of getting back into the city along the Kelvin Walkway or the busier Maryhill Road.

It’s almost time for the next GoBike ride, out to the west, next Sunday, 07 June – details to follow (or see the website)!

Then we will cycle along the path to Strathblane. We continue up to Mugdock Country Park for a lunch stop, then back into Glasgow along the Bears Way and Kelvin Walkway.

32 miles, mostly on paths and quieter roads, with a big climb up to Mugdock. Some unsealed paths within Mugdock Country Park.

We meet, as usual at 10am at the north end of Bell’s Bridge, Congress Road, Glasgow.

For more information about GoBike rides, see: https://www.gobike.org/about-us/cycle-rides

We cycled along and over the Govan Bridge, then continued west, into the wind and the hail and sleet started. Through Drumoyne and over the motorway towards Hillington – and under the motorway: decision time!
We turned around, into the snow and back towards the city. It was a joy to get into the Clyde Tunnel, where it was warm and dry.

Once north of the river again we made our way home, hoping that our next ride out, on Sunday 03 May, going north to Strathblane, will be pleasanter!

Then we will go into Erskine on the New Town’s path network, to end up at the waterfront. Next will be the Erskine Bridge, then return through Clydebank to Glasgow on the Loch Lomond path.

26 miles, a mix of paths and back streets, only a few short bits on busier roads, and little in the way of climbing. Potentially stopping in Clydebank for lunch.

Meet at 10:00 Sunday 05 April at the north end of Bell’s Bridge near the SEC.

For more information about GoBike rides see here

Just six of us set off on a rainy day – the official first day of spring, for a journey to the north -east of the city. Yet again, there was somewhere new for each of us.

We cycled into the city and up to Sighthill, before turning east to skirt Hogganfield Loch, some of our route along cycle lanes part full of mud and past flytipping sites. We skirted Lenzie and cycled through Merkland, before heading towards the Forth and Clyde Canal.

Here we met the most surprising structure on the ride:

Yes, we stopped at the south side and watched cars drive through before we ventured under the bridge, carefully keeping to the centre of the road to smile happily for this photo.

Then it was up to the canal for the ride back to Glasgow, with a lunch stop at the Stables Pub en route.
The ride officially finished at the Stockingfield Bridge over the canal, distance 23 miles with riders then making their way back home, most of us towards the city.

Here’s the route, should you wish to check it out: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/3247559?units=km

Our next ride will be on Sunday, 05 April, heading west to Erskine, see here for details

This ride will see us head northeast from Glasgow, stopping briefly in Hogganfield Park, see photo above, and then over the council boundary into North Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire.

We will use some country lanes and the Strathkelvin Railway Path, then head to Merkland Nature Reserve. After that, we will join the Forth & Clyde Canal for the return to Glasgow, with potential for a stop at The Stables.
25 miles, mostly on paths and quieter roads, but some bits on main roads here and there, and one big hill. Some unsealed paths as well.

Meet 10am at the north end of Bell’s Bridge, next to Congress Road, Glasgow.

For more information on GoBike cycle rides, see here.

Nine of us set off on Sunday 01 February, along by the Clyde and then through Newton as we started to climb – here’s the full route: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/3220777

From the high point we turned and returned to the city via Cathkin, Burnside and King’s Park – past lots and lots of pebble-dashed houses. The South City Way led us back to the Clutha crossroads (with its not-so-excellent traffic light system where the ride ended.

Of the 9 who set off 1 person left us when we moved away from the Clyde and 2 southsiders left on our return to the city centre.

March’s ride will be on Sunday 01 March, when we head out to the north-east via Hogganfield Park for a 25-miler.

We will follow the Clyde Walkway upstream to Cambuslang, then continue on NCN route 75 through to Newton.

Then we will head south to climb up and around Dechmont Hill to the south of Cambuslang, before returning to Glasgow via Cathkin and Hampden. Finishing on the South City Way back at the River Clyde.
22 miles, mostly on paths and quieter roads, with a climb up to Dechmont.

Meet 10:00 hrs at the north end of Bell’s Bridge, at the SEC

For more information see here

12 of us set off from the SEC on a very chilly but very sunny morning and circumnavigated the city centre, as shown on the Strava map above (with thanks to Carol) and the Cycle Travel Map, https://cycle.travel/map/journey/782905 provided by Andy.

The route may be found here: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/3196131?units=miles

We saw work completed, work started but not yet finished and areas where work is required. Also on our route, just before we exited Lauriston for the South City Way is now the shortest cycle route in the city, blocked off by that very same South City Way!

Thanks are due to Tim for the feature photo, taken just after we travelled along the under-threat Gordon Street contraflow lane. Tim, of course, is not in the photo, but nor is another member of the group, who left us early because of the cold.

The question of the ride was “Why are cycle lanes surfaced in so many different colour finishes? Someone must, or should know?

Next month’s ride will, no doubt, feature fewer sets of traffic lights, but a longer distance, as we head south to Dechmont Hill.