Category: Run Reports & Events

I've been promising myself all year that I'd get up really early and go do a full days ride somewhere up north. Well yesterday was as close as it's got so far. Not quite the crack of dawn (7am on a Sunday still feels like the middle of the night to me) nor was it up north (I suppose Dumfries and Galloway could be if you were starting from England) or a full all dayer (back indoors to the surprise of my wife at 5.15pm. Didn't get in to trouble for being late for once). A quick stop for fuel at Muthill and was on my way to the start point 75miles away at Abington Service Station. Traffic was light being early on a Sunday morning and I could have…

As I'm lucky enough to get my biking fill on the quieter weekdays I don't tend to ride so much at the weekends. However, when Ian put his run up , I was tempted by the route, was familiar with the proposed cafe lunch stop, and - clearly he knew something we didn't when he considered the run - Saturday was the only day of the weekend that the forecast was looking good! As the weekend grew closer so did the length of attendees. Not always a good sign in my book as, with big groups of riders, things can become, let's just say, difficult to manage. However, come the day, The Crieff Visitor Centre car park / local motorcycle Mecca started to fill with many familiar and a few…

Kirkcudbright Picnic Monthly Club Run - Sunday 27 July 2025 Although it was what should be regarded as the height of summer, the day started out in a typically Scottish ‘height of summer’ way …. 13°C and raining! Nevertheless, I’d only added my name to the Club Calendar late the previous evening, so my ‘committed’ threshold had been reached. Besides, after an unusually early alarm call, my getting-ready-for-departure routine was well under way before I’d taken a look out of the window. As I’m sure most bikers would acknowledge, once you’ve got your gear on, have swung your leg over your bike and started it up, the miserable weather occupies a much smaller part of your psyche than before. I was looking forward to a ‘big miles’ day out, not…

A great run today organised by Ian McIntosh. Six of us met up at Crieff - Frank Dolan, Alan Graham, Alex Muir, Ian McIntosh, an old friend Ian Muir and myself. We headed via Lochearnhead and Crianlarich to Glencoe then the short hop over the Corran ferry. Once off the ferry we stopped for a spot of lunch at the wee lunch van, and a catch up blether. For a change we then headed up the west side of Loch Linnhe and along the south side of Loch Eil - a great, perfectly surfaced single track road. It was then along to Banavie where we turned left up the road by Neptune's Staircase locks, another great single track road that brings you out at the Commando Monument just north of…

Motorbike Run Report – Highlands, Heat & Honest Sandwiches Firstly, a huge thank you to Ian McIntosh for organising what turned out to be a glorious day out on two wheels. Perfect weather, scenic roads, and great company made this midweek ride one to remember. The Ride Begins – Crieff Visitor Centre We met up at Crieff Visitor Centre, with a strong and varied lineup of riders and machines: Ian McIntosh – our ride leader, on his Royal Enfield Shotgun Marcus Sharp – showing off his brand-new Honda CB750 Alex Muir – ready for action on his Triumph Tiger Ian Ness – rolling up with his sparkling BMW F900XR Myself – riding my trusted Triumph Custom T120 After a bit of pre-ride banter and admiration of the bikes, we headed…

A warm, pre weekend heatwave evening saw 8 hungry bikers and a pillion arrive at Lidl Whitburn for a chippy run. The usual direct route to Biggar was taken via Braehead, only to find a fellow SMC'er already in the queue for their dinner at the Townhead Fish & Chips. It was great to catch up with everyone over a bite to eat, relaying bike related holiday's was mostly on the agenda for a few. As we set off homeward, members pealed off from the main group to leave just three at the end. Attendees, Peter Johnson (run leader), John Moss (TEC), Janet Moss, Grant Powrie, David Thwaites, Dave Waddell, Alex Muir, Brian Torley, Brian's wife Jackie and Phillip Gill-Simmons. Thanks to everyone who attended, and to John for TEC…

13 bikers turned out on a sunny evening for the 23 mile Chippy run to Burntisland. We’ll go anywhere for some good Fish & Chips, even Fife! It was a little awkward parking on the exit roads from the petrol station prior to leaving but it was Duncan’s first time organising a run. Just before leaving I noticed that Steve’s front tyre looked a bit flat, we got it pumped up thanks to Peter’s portable compressor but Steve didn’t want to take any chances, so he went home and changed bike and met us at the chippy. Leaving Bowtrees went smoothly but we got a little bit spread out when we joined the M876 but the drop off system kept everyone on the right route and more or less together,…

Thank you to everyone who attended this event, it appears to have been a great success. There were various plans hatched by everyone to congregate at various points over the weekend. Some setting off on the Friday, others very early Saturday, a group run from Bowtrees picking up a few along the way, most with challenge sites in their sights. Along with John & Moira riding through the rain on Sunday to join us for dinner, that’s dedication. After a broken Saturday night’s sleep due to a fire alarm, and unpredictable weather forecast for Sunday, we again split into various group sizes and planned our days expeditions. More challenge sites were bagged by some, others enjoyed a leisurely run to Ullapool for a bite to eat for lunch. A total…

A good turn out on a cool Easter Sunday morning as 11 of us met at Kincardine Bridge Services. With myself leading the run and Mandy as TEC, we had anther dozen sporty bikers join in our group from the service station as we headed off to the Falkirk Wheel lower car park for the start of the CHAS run. This made it interesting for Mandy !! Another big gathering of hundreds of bikes made for interesting viewing and hopefully a lot of money was donated for CHAS. The police controlled the cavalcade very well with all side roads and junctions closed for us as we made our way to Kinross Services, where for the first time we were well directed to where to park. So thanks to Carron Valley…

A great turnout of 18 bikes met at Dreghorn service station on a really sunny morning, but still with a cold nip in the air that lasted at least until lunchtime. We left around 10 a.m., organised by the Johnsons; Peter (BMW R1250RT) leading and Mandy (Honda NC750X) TECing. The group included an assortment of Hondas, Yamahas and BMWs, plus a small pack of beautiful Triumph big cats (Tiger 900s). I hope I didn’t miss anyone’s bike in that summary listing? (Attendee names can be found by clicking the run in the club calendar). We headed off around the Edinburgh bypass and then through the Honest Toun of Musselburgh to pick up the coast road to North Berwick. Great views of the Firth, lots of pedal cyclists on the route…