Fighter pilot and poet John Gillespie Magee famously described how he “slipped the surly bonds of earth” every time he flew his plane.
Many cyclists experience a similar feeling as they ride their bikes out of the town or city they live in, wondering if they’ll ever “slip the surly bonds” of busy roads, aggressive drivers, gaping potholes and endless traffic lights.
Reader Dan Grime and fellow members of VC Glasgow South faced this dilemma when they planned this ride as part of the CW5000 challenge. For a change of scenery and to increase their mileage, they decided to head east instead of south from their regular meeting place in the car park of Toryglen Asda near Hampden Park football stadium. They set out towards North Lanarkshire and West Lothian.
Obstacles and architecture
“The first segment of the ride through Rutherglen, Coatbridge and Airdrie is definitely not that scenic,” says Grime, “though once out in the countryside it improves dramatically.” If you were a fan of urban architecture, modernist high-rises or contemporary roadside sculptures – or simply had a penchant for iron girder railway bridges, of which there is no shortage in the centre of Coatbridge – you might actually enjoy this part of the ride, though you’d have to keep your wits about you at a succession of busy junctions, roundabouts and filter lanes.
But this route really starts becoming interesting as the road rises out of Airdrie onto a plateau dotted with lochs, forests and farmland.
This story is from the November 19, 2020 edition of CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 19, 2020 edition of CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
JACOB TIPPER Adventures in Rio
Last week, I was at the Para-cycling Track World champs in Rio, working with a stalwart of the para-cycling scene and former minister of sport for Romania, Eduárd Novak. His first cycling Paralympics was Athens.
Paris Galibier
Eccentric but iconic English bike that’s still in production today
REDEFINING EASY
It’s well known that easy riding is the bedrock of endurance, but what exactly do we mean by ‘easy’? Charlie Allenby seeks clarification
Are all road bikes all-road bikes?
Is the bike industry trying to sell you the same bike twice?
KEEPING IT TEIDE
High altitudes, year-round sunshine – and intense demand from pro teams.
10 YEARS OF THE TRANS CONTINENTAL
The brainchild of British rider Mike Hall, the Transcontinental Race has become a must-do event for ultra-distance aficionados the world over. James Shrubsall charts its unconventional and epic rise to prominence
GB track team in form ahead of Paris 2024
Para-squad picks up record 32 medals at Rio Track Worlds, reports Tom Davidson
Pogačar: "I'm in the best shape ever"
Slovenian flexes his climbing legs in Catalunya, reports Chris Marshall-Bell in Barcelona
SD Worx-Protime take winning form to Flanders
Will strength in depth deliver the team to their third successive Ronde van Vlaanderen?
Can anyone stop WVA and MVDP at Flanders?
Cycling’s longstanding rivals will battle once again on Sunday. Can they be beaten?