August 2024 – Clyde Valley HOG 9894

Comrie Chapter ride out August 2024

27/08/2024

Last Sunday ( 18th August) we had a Chapter ride out to somewhere a bit different ( and soon to be no more) the Tullybannocher Cafe by Comrie, in Perthshire. As it was a Sunday and the plan was to try to evade motorways and the main A9, we started the ride from the Maccy D’s at the Showcase on the east-side of the city. The weather while forecast to be bright and sunny was a bit overcast and rain kept threatening while down on the southern ( Glasgow) end of the route but it did eventually turn out to be not a bad day.

The route took around 22 bikes up the A73 ( lots of roundabouts) and then onto Kilsyth ( even more tricky roundabouts) so many of the riders popped their proverbial cherries at second rider drop off. I think almost everyone was called upon to take care of a turn at some point. We do generally try to limit the drop off’s as much as possible but there is a trade-off to be calculated between roads with basically no turnings ( ie Motorways and trunk roads) or taking the route less travelled and more interesting roads and accepting that we might need to steer the chapter down the right path.

What time do you call this — Oh dear…was someone late…. Nicole?

As it was no one was lost, and we allowed for a wee regroup and fuel stop at Stirling just to make sure everyone was still with us and able to make it up to Comrie and back without needing to refuel.

After a 10-minute leg stretch we headed off around the Stirling Ringroad…more roundabouts, then Bridge of Allan, around the nasty A9/M9 roundabout then right through Dunblane to Kinbuck, Braco and then off through the glen to Comrie past Cultybraggan camp.

It is probably fair to say the last section of the ride out went down particularly well with the riders, being through some picturesque scenery and quiet roads. A successful day and the run back via Loch Earn and down the side of Lubnaig is never to be missed.

Comrie Chapter Ride Out — Images from the day out to Comrie on Flickr

The Dukes Pass and Loch Katrine

15/08/2024

On Saturday, the shop ride out took us up to Aberfoyle and then over the Dukes Pass on what transpired to be a pretty decent day. It had started with a few heavy showers but the ride was in dry conditions and very pleasant.

They seek him here, they seek him there… Gordon on the Stealth bomber

In all we had over 30 bikes out which is a good number. One member kept appearing and disappearing but we think Gordon was mostly there…. it has been said that he isn’t all there on ocassions 🙂

It was kept quiet.. by everyone but Gilly… shh…who said that?….but rumour has it the RC (ahem, Scott…oh that’s a bad cough I have)… might have turned into the wrong opening after crossing the Dukes Pass and heading into Katrine but none of the bikes at the back noticed as there was so many ….apparently it was used as feet up U turn practice….

Some additional images courtesy of Connor Edinborough at WCHD

Gilly never mentioned at all about the wrong turn…..

Connor at WCHD’s camera had an Invisibility penetrating lens so could see Gordon clearly

All the pics from the day are at Flickr below.

Dukes Pass and Loch Katrine 2024 — Photos at Flickr

Kirkudbright Ride out

05/08/2024

On Sunday we had another Shop ride out which was destined to head for Kirkudbright, a nice run to somewhere different led by Davie Fulton. In the event a yellow weather warning was issues for rain approaching from the south west so the decision was taken to curtail the ride and head to Girvan where there was a RNLI gala day in progress and which had been a planned stop for the riders returning back from Kirkudbright anyway.

Nicole (ready to stop some traffic and dig some roads) and Lairdy ( using Denis and his new Heritage softail as a sat nav apparently and managing to get lost later in the day) took up the crew duties.

Though the threat of a warning on weather seemed to have put off some members we nonetheless took 10 bikes down and they rode through very quiet roads in the Ayrshire countryside and reached Girvan nice and dry. (as is so often the case on days with threatened bad weather).

Photo’s from Catherine Fulton.

Kircudbright ride out — All our photos on Flickr

Cairndow Inn Ride Out

01/08/2024

On Sunday we had a shop ride out led by Road Marshal, Andy (Burnsy) Burns, supervised by Road Captain, Davie Fulton which went from WCHD up to the Cairndow Inn on the south side of Loch Fyne.

We had very good weather for the run and a turn out in excess of 30 bikes which is great.

While out we learned that Activities Officer and Road Captain, Davy Henderson had been involved in a Hit and Run incident near his home at Shotts while out on a “Birthday ride”. The people who caused the collision have yet to be traced. Any information please get in touch with the Police. Davy has found himself in Hospital with a number of painful injuries which will require surgery. His recuperation is likely to take a while and a GoFundMe has been set up by his sister to help him out financially while unable to work. Any contributions would be most welcome.

The first leg went from WCHD to Balloch where we had a stop at thew CO-OP car park and as progress was being hampered by a lot of traffic on the backroads out through the Campsies, ( in large part due to road closures on the M8 but also just general Sunday road users) we decided to cut the run a little shorter than planned and take the direct route up Loch Lomondside to Cirndow via the Rest and Be Thankful.