Scotland

Stories from Scotland

Read stories and get inspired! Share a cycling story and inspire others to get out and ride!

Image for story Catching the bike bug.

Catching the bike bug.

I turned 50 in December. Had a bad skiing accident in February where I was unable to do a lot of exercise. I put on a few pounds and my fitness deteriorated during recovery. Started to get stronger... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Image for story Herculean Sportive

Herculean Sportive

My favourite place to ride is the outer Hebrides and every year they hold the Herculean Sportive . This covers 100 miles and is over 5 islands accessible by causeways.. it is the most beautiful p... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Image for story #EveryDayCyclingFife

#EveryDayCyclingFife

The Everyday Cycling Fife campaign launched at Tree in the Park on Saturday, 25th May, to encourage Fifers to get out on their bikes for everyday journeys. Getting more people out of cars and onto... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

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Image for story Doing the Weekly Shop

Doing the Weekly Shop

I bought my cargo bike (actually a trike) a couple of years ago now, and use it for the weekly shop and anytyelse I need to carry something bigger around locally. We have a great shared use cycle ... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story Cycling to Donnottar: A Tale of Friendship and Discovery

Cycling to Donnottar: A Tale of Friendship and Discovery

As the morning sun rose over Aberdeen, casting a golden glow upon the city streets, I and my friend stood ready, bicycles at the ready, anticipation bubbling within us like a freshly uncorked bottl... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Image for story ooops, got a bit carried away! Pt 2

ooops, got a bit carried away! Pt 2

What a view, definitely worth a few lumps and bumps, oh and a sore bum x

Topic: Other

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Image for story Cycling in Shetland

Cycling in Shetland

I have cycled all my life and cycling in winter with the wind can be challenging here in Shetland and that's why I have an ebike. I retired nine years ago and now have time to go out for trips. I d... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story One man. One leg. Many rides to peace of mind.

One man. One leg. Many rides to peace of mind.

I will be thirteen years sober in June of this year. And for the past three years - I've acknowledged my recovery 'birthday' by setting myself a challenge on my bike. My love for road cycling be... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story 150th led ride by Rutherglen volunteer

150th led ride by Rutherglen volunteer

Congratulations to our Rutherglen-based leader Neil on his 150th guided ride. Over the past four years Neil has had 740 people come along on his rides and - according to the British Cycling wesbit... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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The New Cyclist

When an grown adult asks for your help to learn to ride, who had never tried to cycle. Doing, two feet push off After a few trial and errors, in balance, up came the feet 3 ft, 3.5 -5 ft. Then til... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Image for story Aberdeen to Pitlochry at sunset

Aberdeen to Pitlochry at sunset

Almost a year ago I cycled from Aberdeen to Pitlochry. The Deeside is a beautiful area to ride: I followed the main road until Braemar where I had some fish and chips. Then sunset came while cyclin... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Image for story The 311 km ride

The 311 km ride

I took that selfie less than a month ago at the train station in Nairn. Yes not the best picture of me. But still my favorite because I was super proud of myself. I broke my personal record and rod... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Gavlann Wheel

Gavlann Deal

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Image for story From Dundee to Aberdeen

From Dundee to Aberdeen

I went to a hen party in St Andrews and decided to cycle back. No train no car just legs!

Topic: Other

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Image for story My mini KOM

My mini KOM

My son Dom is 10 and absolutely loves cycling. He attends East Kilbride Road Club and this summer is undertaking an absolutely massive challenge. He will cycle from John O Groats to Portpatrick wi... read more

Topic: Ride with kids

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Image for story Mum gets E-Bike

Mum gets E-Bike

My 69 year old mum recently got an E-Bike and with it a new lease if life and adventure. Now a cycle into Glasgow or up the hilly routes to East Kilbride is well within her capabilities and she is ... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Lanarkshire Guided Ride - group cycling

I have always enjoyed cycling. Took myself off on adventures never far from rail stations just in case of puncture or other mechanical problems! Then a very lovely neighbour introduced me to a loca... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story Christmas Day Sunrise

Christmas Day Sunrise

Cycled up the Suie, in Aberdeenshire, to catch the sunrise on Christmas morning. (Actually caught it twice, after descending to the valley and seeing the sun crest the hills).

Topic: Other

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Image for story Cycling in the dark

Cycling in the dark

After a longer cycle than usual [up to Carmunnock etc], with both my Busch & Muller headlights ablaze, my dusk-cycle in Glasgow got interesting. Near the "Museum of Transport", I turned up the... read more

Topic: Other

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Lambing time.

I am fortunate to have a very rural route to work (for most of it anway). Narrow, single track road with passing places, trees and fields with farm animals, etc. Earlier this year as I headed along... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Image for story Respect

Respect

I have always cycled and for many years it was a hobby however one day at my parents house my father spoke of a cycle from Edinburgh to Glasgow in the rain on his dying Scott bike and it was his be... read more

Topic: Other

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Cry for help!

I cycle to work on the quietest route possible. One frosty morning I heard a feeble cry of “Help!” , coming from a garden. I stopped my bike and found a lady in her 90s and dressed in her night at... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Screaming through the tulips

Screaming through the tulips

First time on a bike in 7 years was in Amsterdam, April 2015. I can't drive so have zero clue how roads * actually * work. So to say I was flung in at the deep end was an understatement! However, I... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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Image for story Staying sane

Staying sane

Being on my bike is what keeps me sane at the best of times, so this feeling has been magnified by the circumstances we find ourselves in. My daily cycle is not just for pleasure and exercise, b... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Image for story Mountain biking with my boy ❤️

Mountain biking with my boy ❤️

After attending some intro to mountain biking skill courses during the summer holidays (provided by cycle station, darvel) my 9 year old son was keen to continue. This morning I strapped the bikes... read more

Topic: Ride with kids

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Image for story Cycling holiday with public transport

Cycling holiday with public transport

We decided to cycle The Hebridean Way this year and use public transport to get to and from the start. We had pre-booked the train from Dyce to Oban and 18 tickets to proof it (for 2 of us)! So w... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Off-Road Expedition: Discovering the Majesty of the Falls of Feugh

Off-Road Expedition: Discovering the Majesty of the Falls of Feugh

The Falls of Feugh in Banchory Aberdeenshire...... Venturing off-road to the Falls of Feugh in Banchory, Scotland, offers a thrilling journey through rugged terrain and stunning landscapes. As t... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Image for story Fife Easy E-Bikes is helping people get out on their bike

Fife Easy E-Bikes is helping people get out on their bike

A bit of a shameless work plug but a great initiative! Lang Toun Cycles, based in Kirkcaldy, Fife, has launched a new e-bike subscription service to make it easier for people in Fife to get into... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story New Cargo Bike Day

New Cargo Bike Day

Won a competition for a cargo bike - decided on the Yuba Kombi (non-electric), so far amazing bike, just waiting on the cargo carrying kit to arrive!

Topic: Other

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Image for story ooops, got a bit carried away!

ooops, got a bit carried away!

Out riding last week around the Ardnamurchan Peninsular and managed to rock out my bottom bracket, snap clean off the stem of the frame for the post, but philips screwdriver and some cable ties, th... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Cycle with the kids

Cycle with the kids

My kids (7 & 6y old) were asking nearly for a week just before bed time if they could go out for a cycle with me. So last Monday on the bank holiday I took them out and they loved it. And o... read more

Topic: Ride with kids

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Image for story South Lanarkshire College - E Cargo Trike Launch

South Lanarkshire College - E Cargo Trike Launch

Hi all, Had a great bit of craic today launching SLC's E Cargo Trike, as part of our sustainability initiative. Special thanks for South Lanarkshire Council, and Phil Jones from Recyke-a-bi... read more

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Image for story 50th Guided Ride for Burnside volunteer

50th Guided Ride for Burnside volunteer

Congratulations to British Cycling Guided RIde volunteer Graham MacCallum on reaching the landmark of his 50th Guided Ride. And although this is his 50th official Guided Ride, Graham has also arra... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story NCR 75 to Loch Lomond

NCR 75 to Loch Lomond

Having the NCR 75 on my doorstep is a real treat. Any time i fancy a light ride for an afternoon I take it slow along to bowling for a coffee; for a workout I can click up a few gears and go as fas... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Image for story The power of a human and importance of a helmet

The power of a human and importance of a helmet

At the start of Cycle September I never expected to be writing a story and even last week it wasn’t on my to-do list. I was enjoying my cycling and pedalling my way to and from work when I could. ... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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too short!

My commute is only 1.9 miles, it takes 10 minutes or 8.5 if I am running late. It is enough to lift my mood and make me happy by the time I get to work but I definitely take longer getting ready be... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Image for story Aberdeen to Inverness by night

Aberdeen to Inverness by night

A friend of mine and me, we set a challenge: to reach Inverness starting at 2pm from Aberdeen, with a rainy forecast and good chances to ride at night. Well the rain hit us just after 1 hour and co... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Image for story Turning 50 and joining my first big ride!

Turning 50 and joining my first big ride!

My much younger and fitter sister signed me up for the Loch Ness Etape at the end of last year. 'To celebrate your 50th birthday!' she said. I thought 'What the heck!' and promptly forgot about ... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Have a Great Week All

Have a Great Week All

Have a great week All during this challenge, especially with this decent spell of early Spring Weather. This was us in the Weegie Wheelers yesterday, on the Sunday Social during the Strathblane L... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Image for story Social cycling in Glasgow ...

Social cycling in Glasgow ...

I moved to Glasgow some 6 years ago and looked at options for cycling clubs and blown away at the choice. Me and a friend decided that there was no mid level choice, and we set up our own called We... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story The sun making a brief appearance

The sun making a brief appearance

Changeable weather today, but still the occasional brighter moment

Topic: Other

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Image for story Lanarkshire Guided Rides

Lanarkshire Guided Rides

I am a British cycling trained ride leader and through a website called- let’s ride.co.uk offer guided rides in Glasgow. Ride in the safety of a friendly group and enjoy a cycle from easy going to ... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Cycling is my Happy Place

Following on from my previous story, “Getting back on a bike at 58”. I’m now 60 and loving all the freedom my bike gives me. I now ride my lovely Liv Avail AR 1 (purchased just before lock down 1).... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Cycling on isle of skye

Cycling on isle of skye

Went to isle of skye for a weeks cycling holiday, stayed in a cottage in portnalong, best cycling I've done in a few months, views were brilliant, plenty off road and on road tracks to cycle on. Me... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Image for story Kingdom of Fife 100m ode to a Solstice

Kingdom of Fife 100m ode to a Solstice

Cycling 100 miles through the night was amazing but the time in the saddle is not so good, erm if you know what I mean! Hopefully, my derrière will forgive me soon! Obviously, missing all the traf... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story Cycling helps

Cycling helps

I like cycling but wanted to be more confident on roads and able to do repairs. So I joined a couple of events and have been learning to repair donated bikes for charity which are given to people t... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Key worker

As a key worker cycling is my transport as well as my sport in the last two weeks I contracted covid due to my front line work was in bed for days and unable to cycle now that I have recovered cycl... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Getting back on a bike at "58"

As part of "Team Speyside" within Moray Council I have thoroughly enjoyed the September cycling challenge. Before the challenge I was an occasional cyclist. Paul, my husband, and I bought bikes 3... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Stories from around the world

Image for story Inclusive adventures for all

Inclusive adventures for all

92 miles DONE! 🎉 What a weekend with an incredible mixed ability team! 🚴‍♀️🚴‍♂️ We cycled all the way from Barry Island to Gloucester and even managed to squeeze in an interview with Mike Griffi... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

Image for story Looking Back

Looking Back

It's a certainty that if you ride long enough, you will have a crash. I sometimes let myself entertain the idea that cars and other things, coming up from behind me, are merely random threats. ... read more

Topic: Other