A quick reminder that this Sunday we’re heading out for the last of our scheduled winter rides – this time to New Abbey. This is a little longer than our other rides (about 25 miles in total) but a nice introduction to the delights of the countryside west of Dumfries (and an excellent cafe stop in the shape of the Abbey Cottage tearoom).

Join us for an 11 am start on the Whitesands, appropriately enough at Devorgilla Bridge.
With the winter rides ending, we’re starting to think about Spring – and the first event on our radar is Cycling UK’s community group networking day in Dalbeattie on Saturday 16th March. This will be a great opportunity for anyone who is involved in cycling in the region – or who thinks cycling might be helpful as part of what they do. It will also be a chance to hear from Scotland’s newly appointed Active Nation Commissioner, Lee Craigie. The event is free, but please do sign up if you’re planning to attend, to help with planning the catering.
As it’s on in the afternoon, and with no ride scheduled for March, we thought we might make a day of it with a ride from Dumfries that morning. It’s about 18 miles, mostly along NCN 7, and will be at our usual gentle pace, but will involve some ups and downs (the Old Military Road does tend to go up and over the hills instead of around them). For those not wishing to do the full round trip, the X500 coach takes bikes so you could ride to Castle Douglas and pick it up from there for the return leg. Details to be confirmed but we’re planning to start from the station at about 10:30 am, arriving in Dalbeattie shortly before 12:30
