Cycling tour: Dreghorn, Turdoff/Clubbiedeans reservoirs, Swanston [Edinburgh]

This is one of the best route that I have went on and also one that I have pushed myself out of my comfort zone.

At one point, I literally stopped and said "wow" at a view that really caught my breathe. It was after climbing for 340m (part walked it because the path was too technical for my gravel bike) and then I was overlooking the view of the moor and reservoir at the bottom of a (very technical) decline.

It was also a bizarre journey. Along the way while I was resting at the bottom of that decline, one cyclist stopped beside me and we ended up having a chat about the route, comparing our bikes (he was on a Giant mountain bike) and discussed the next part. He offered to lead the way but taking me to an alternative route which he suggested taking as it's safer because I won't have to go on a busy carriageway where cars are going around 60mph.

At first, I wasn't sure but then I thought this will be a good experience to learn about cycling with another person, learn their techniques and perhaps challenge me along the way.

He was clearly more experienced than me. As I didn't have the right bike components like grippy flat pedals and wearing basic trainers, I struggled to keep up with him. But that pushed me. He also forewarned any hazards on the road as we cycle at a speed.

But the bizarre was that when we reached my destination, he was actually at a fair distance away from me. I was thinking "weird that he hasn't stopped for me" so I started to cycle again and to try to catch up with him.

But I ended up losing track of him and eventually lost him, like an ship disappearing over the horizon.

I'm not sure whether he was expecting me to catch up with him or he wanted to lose me.

A weird ending to a nonetheless brilliant route.