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Pre-order now - Gravel Rides Edinburgh, Fife & The Lothians

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West Highland Way in one day - Done it!

West Highland Way in one day – Done it!

photo: markus stitz – At the top of Devil’s Staircase Kinlochleven-bound

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The Harz Mountains - Germany’s northernmost hills,

The Harz Mountains - Germany’s northernmost hills, before the country becomes flat. We spent a weekend in Thale, an amazing base for exploring this beautiful piece of my home country. This time by foot & electric car - next time by bike!

Another first - Erfurt Dawn Patrol - and how much

Another first - Erfurt Dawn Patrol - and how much fun it was to collaborate with @erfurt.moves @greenheartgravel & @_gruebner_ for a 5.15am start with fresh pretzels from @sternenbaeck_thueringen & coffee followed by a 33km lap & more coffee. Also very nice to see that Hannes puts so much work in creating a very nice bike shop in Erfurt - hanging out there reminded me on the many times I visited great bike shops on my round the world trip.Thank you Erfurt!

Two weeks to go until the launch of Gravel Rides E

Two weeks to go until the launch of Gravel Rides Edinburgh, Fife & the Lothians at @gammatd on 20 May - with the official publication date on 21 May.Here’s a preview of one of the routes in the book: the @edinburghdawnpatrol gravel ride.Join us every Wednesday at 5.40am from Cairngorm Coffee. It’s free, social, and a brilliant way to start the day.Or ride it in your own time with the book, which includes the route, GPX file, mapping, directions, and local background on the places you pass.Tickets and book orders are linked in my bio - or head to markusstitz.com. Free delivery over £30. #gravel

The this the best time to hang out in Alyth. Beaut

The this the best time to hang out in Alyth. Beautiful colours & smells - everything comes to life. And @forillonalyth is ready for the warmer season. I cycled from Perth & back to get the house ready - and will be happy to share amazing routes if you stay in the house.The solar panels are doing an excellent job as well, harnessing the power of the sun and generating a decent amount of surplus energy. Worth checking out @cateraneco website for all cycling routes and POIs - or my Gravel Rides Cairngorms & Perthshire book. And there is still plenty of time to join us for the Cateran Dirt Dash on 23/24 May - which is on the same weekend as the Strathmore Open Studios.

More book deliveries today - enjoying the lovely c

More book deliveries today - enjoying the lovely colours outside with finding new trails around Edinburgh. Today I used Komoot for mapping my delivery loop to add more #gravel sections - and it worked brilliantly. I could rename to waypoints with delivery addresses - an excellent solution. The deliveries in Edinburgh are fun - and while I don’t want to discount my work as other retailers do, I can add value for you by delivering much faster & less intrusive - by bike. And add a personal message to each book. Enjoy the routes & the books.If you are in/around Edinburgh or Alyth - there are two talks in which I tell you more about my work - in 20 May at Gamma in Edinburgh & on 22 May with Jack Thurston (@_lostlanes ) in Alyth on the Friday before the Cateran Dirt Dash.Want your books delivered by bike or come to a talk?👉 links in bio

How did your Thursday morning start? Hopefully lik

How did your Thursday morning start? Hopefully like this. Edinburgh Dawn Patrol Tue & Thu 5.40amSt Andrew SqSimply join us!

I am about to file my next feature for @cyclingwee

I am about to file my next feature for @cyclingweeklymagazine - why getting up at 4.30am to ride a bike is a sensible idea. What an amazing morning joining the @oslodawnpatrol - fantastic morning colours on the ride to catch the train from Ås to Oslo - followed by a great ride, coffee, cinnamon bun & chat. Thanks to @hans.flensted for starting this - and Thursday it‘s time to join the @edinburghdawnpatrol again.

A weekend exploring the Dalsland gravel trail netw

A weekend exploring the Dalsland gravel trail network in Sweden.So glad Louise found this and booked us a weekend away – what a find. Loads of amazingly varied itineraries, and all we had to do was download the GPX files and roll.The most special moment, though, was meeting Erik, who started a bike shop in Bengtsfors and helped make all of this happen. He sorted a broken gear cable for us, and we had a chance to chat more about his work.This is definitely now in my top 10 gravel destinations worldwide – and once again a reminder that cycling is such a powerful way to connect with like-minded people.Erik: @grvl_erik Trails: @dalslandgravel Bike Hire & Shop : @thedalslandexperience Photos: @louisechavarie & meA special thanks for my new jersey - it’ll make in appearance in the @edinburghdawnpatrol soon.

Dalsland - first day of riding if few of the @dals

Dalsland - first day of riding if few of the @dalslandgravel trails over the weekend - 17 routes of varying lengths & difficulties - loving it. #gravel

Home trails & buddies - Edinburgh is superb for #c

Home trails & buddies - Edinburgh is superb for #cycling

New 🎬 – I loved cycling in Arkansas. Thanks to th

New 🎬 – I loved cycling in Arkansas.Thanks to the amazing people who welcomed me and contributed to my short documentary From Ozarks to Delta Blues – link in bio.I was invited to Arkansas last October for the Big Sugar gravel event and stayed on to explore the state, which became the basis for the film. Travelling there reminded me how places are often connected in unexpected ways.Johnny Cash was born in Kingsland, Arkansas, and grew up in Dyess, in the Arkansas Delta – a landscape of cotton fields, floodplains and small rural towns that shaped his early life and found its way into his music.There’s also a quieter Scottish connection: Cash’s ancestors came from Falkland in Fife, a village that features in two routes in my new book. A reminder that even places that feel far apart can be more closely linked than they first appear.#gravel #cycling #arkansas

Job done ✅ 123 orders delivered by bike in & aroun

Job done ✅ 123 orders delivered by bike in & around Edinburgh. A total of 245km cycled on my cargo bike from Friday afternoon to Sunday, which was perfect for the task.I hadn’t anticipated such a great response to the Gravel Rides Edinburgh book from my home town, with more than a third of all orders from (greater) Edinburgh. So I had to change my weekend plans to make sure the books get to you quick.Delivering books by bike in Edinburgh makes perfect sense - hardly any emissions, quicker than posting with Royal Mail, and your books arrive in good condition. And I had my fair share of exercise, and managed to speak to some of you in person.It’d be great to see more deliveries done like this in cities - for now all I can influence is my own actions - a small change to reduce congestion. Enjoy your book (s). If you’d like one - link to order is in my bio. #gravel

Book delivery ride - a special @edinburghdawnpatro

Book delivery ride - a special @edinburghdawnpatrol Gravel loop, plus deliveries & another ride with @mrmarkbeaumont today. #gravel

Well, that was quick! The new book is here - more

Well, that was quick! The new book is here - more than a month before the official publishing date. Why? To get you on your bike & ENJOY Edinburgh, Fife & the Lothians.If you’d like one, signed by me, just check out the link in the bio! And even better, you’ll go in a draw to win DexShell overshoes, they arrived today too! #gravel #scotland #edinburgh

Book number five is almost here: Gravel Rides Edin

Book number five is almost here: Gravel Rides Edinburgh, Fife & The Lothians.This is a companion to exploring Edinburgh and its surroundings, shaped by 17 years of living and riding in Scotland’s capital - just in time for spring.As with the rest of the Gravel Rides series, it’s about balance - a guide that works equally well for local riders and for visitors with just a few days to explore.Edinburgh, Fife and the Lothians are among the best-connected regions in Scotland for public transport. For the first time in the series, all routes are fully accessible without a car. The journey to the start becomes part of the experience - and the book is a small contribution towards more sustainable tourism in Scotland.Pre-orders are open now. Order direct to receive your copy before the official publication date on 21 May.Link in bio ⬆️#gravel #cycling #adventure

I photographed those images about this tine last y

I photographed those images about this tine last year in 🇳🇴 - so far the best display of Northern Lights I witnessed with my own eyes. It took patience, being in the right location and a wee bit of luck.It wasn’t peak aurora season, but I was based in the mountains south of Trondheim with little to no light pollution, guided by the excellent Norwegian weather forecast. It’s nice to experience those moments in solitude, but equally nice to share them. One of the reasons why I write guidebooks, organise the Dirt Dash events and also for the first time a longer guided ride in September in Norway.What those three have in common? The invitation to challenge yourself, while also appreciating the opportunities that the moments offer when you stop. Memories that last much longer than a Strava time.

A book 17 years in the making. Gravel Rides Edin

A book 17 years in the making. Gravel Rides Edinburgh, Fife & the Lothians is scheduled to arrive from the printer in the end of next week - a book packed with rides in & around the best city in the world 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Those 📸 are all from the 16 routes featured in the book - with the promise that you’ll enjoy them equally as visitor or local rider. Link to pre-order in my bio - all Edinburgh City deliveries are done free of charge by bike. #gravel #edinburgh #fife #eastlothian #scotland

Most of my week has been spent uploading 13 brand-

It’s been a while since I spontaneously cycled 125

It’s been a while since I spontaneously cycled 125km, mainly into a headwind. With a heavy backpack with laptop, drill, drill bits and camera gear. Why? I took the bus to Perth, cycled to my house to fix things & work from there, and cycled back. And possibly intentional, I strategically skipped the public transport options in Fife. And while not easy, it was amazing fun. Nice to re-visit some of places in the latest book (link in bio), places like the Cowdenbeath murals the bus stop in Balmerino & West Lomond, all which narrowly didn’t make the cut. The bike is an amazing tool for such spontaneous trips, it takes some courage & willpower to cycle in strong wings & occasional rain, but I loved almost every minute of it.

13 new #gravel & #MTB routes across the Cateran Ec

13 new #gravel & #MTB routes across the Cateran Ecomuseum 🚴‍♂️Funded by the SSE Drumderg Windfarm Community Fund, this 310km network is one of Scotland’s most comprehensive—fully connected and designed to explore by bike from Alyth.Perfect if you’re riding the Cateran Dirt Dash (23/24 May) or planning a longer stay. Base yourself at Forillon (Bikepacking Scotland HQ), grab a coffee at Alyth Cyclery, and explore the rich history along every route.Route 1 is live now—link in bio.Gravel, history, and great coffee 🚴‍♂️This Alyth loop packs it all in—rolling quiet roads, forest trails, and incredible heritage along the way. Highlights include the ancient Shanzie Souterrain, the impressive Barry Hill Fort, and the Pictish treasures at Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum.Refuel stops? Sorted. ☕️ Flour Coffee Shop and Ardler Tavern have you covered.A perfect mix of adventure and scenery in the heart of Perthshire.#GravelCycling #BikeScotland #Perthshire

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Join me on Tue & Thu in Edinburgh at 5.40am at St Andrew Sq to join in.

Another happy #edinburghdawnpatrol - cycle communities are special

Join me at Gamma in Edinburgh for the launch, or come on a Dawn Patrol each Wed at 5.40am. Or get the book for much more infos! Talk: https://www.entrycentral.com/gravelridesedinburgh Dawn Patrol: https://www.instagram.com/edinburghdawnpatrol/ Books: https://forms.gle/t19giDZPJowKvqKb7

2 weeks until launch - But you don't have to wait, order your copy to ride #gravel in #edinburgh

They are not races - the Dirt Dashes are 2-day bikepacking events where you can explore without being rushed.https://dirtdash.cc/

What are the Dirt Dashes? Let me explain #gravel #bikepacking

Join us for the Edinburgh Dawn Patrol

How should an early morning start? With a bike ride & coffee. We had both

Link for our guided ride https://dirtdash.cc/mjolkevegen-gravel/ #gravel #travel #norway

What gravel can you expect in Norway? Here’s my answer.

Travelling from Bentonville and Fayetteville in Northwest Arkansas to Hot Springs, Little Rock and the Arkansas Delta, the film captures the state’s striking diversity - from the rugged Ozark Mountains to Hot Springs National Park, the Ouachita National Forest and the unique landscape of Crowley's Ridge.Check out the routes on Komoot: https://www.komoot.com/collection/4170134/-arkansas-rides Read more about the Arkansas Delta on Singletrack: https://singletrackworld.com/2026/03/issue-165-dirty-blues-in-the-mississippi-delta/For more information about the state, visit https://www.arkansas.comFor more information about my work, visit https://markusstitz.com

From Ozarks to Delta Blues - Checking out the Arkansas Cycling Scene

My new book is available now here https://bikepackingscotland.com/books/

Well, the first of two publishing days. Welcome Gravel Rides Edinburgh 🎉 #gravel

studioDRIFT helps Delta communities thrive by creating outdoor recreation experiences that connect people to place and strengthen local economies. Martin is featured in my film 'From Ozarks to Delta Blues ' - A cycling journey through Arkansas.

From Ozarks to Delta Blues - Martin Smith, studioDRIFT #gravel #bikepacking

Gravel Rides Edinburgh, Fife & The Lothians - Make your adventures memorable with my new book. Order it directly from me herehttps://forms.gle/CSK7LWNwjds4U9Wr6

First books arrive on Thursday - Pre-Order yours now #gravel

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