Winter Rides

What better way to enjoy the countryside whatever the season than by bike?

No need to put your bike away just because summer has gone. Although we don’t run them as frequently as our summer rides, we have a monthly programme of accessible sociable rides throughout winter exploring the quiet roads and cycle routes around Dumfries. They’re longer than our summer ones – about 20-25 miles – and a wee bit hillier, but they’ll always be taken at an easy pace, and on quiet roads, with an emphasis on taking time to discover some hidden delights of the area rather than just putting in the miles.

We’re still finalising our full ride programme but here are the dates and rides we have planned so far:

• Sun 25th October, 11am – To Ae and back – booking  and details.
• Sun 29th November, 11am – Beeswing – booking and details.
• Fri 1st January, 11am – our New Year’s Resolution Ride will be the Speddoch loop – booking and details.
• Sun 31st January, 11am – To be announced.
• Sun 28th February, 11am – To be announced.

Note that from November, our rides will start by the rowing club at Nith Avenue – see map – to avoid having to deal with the Dock Park crossing. There’s a car park there if you need it, and plenty of space to spread out safely while we assemble.

Because of COVID, our rides have changed a little. In order to manage numbers safely and keep within Scottish Government guidelines, we will go out in small groups and participants must book in advance (the rides are still free though). We will no longer have a cafe stop mid ride, so we suggest people bring something to sustain them and we’ll take a break somewhere suitable for people to refuel. This will be outdoors – so dress not just for the cycling but also make sure you will be warm enough when we stop, or perhaps bring a couple of warmer layers to put on.

If you  have any questions about these rides or don’t know if they will be for you, feel free to email cyclingdumfries@gmail.com for more information.

Rides will continue regardless of the weather unless in the opinion of the ride leader it would be dangerous (or no fun), so bring a waterproof and whatever you need to stay warm on (and off) the bike. All of the routes will keep to quiet rural roads, residential streets and cycle paths wherever possible and the pace will be ‘at the speed of chat’.