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

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8 days, 1560km, one Christmas.

8 days, 1560km, one Christmas.

December 25, 2011

Cycle Trips, General

The first big news for day eight is – I made it! I am home in Schwobfeld in one piece and arrived just in time…

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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

Impressions from scouting new routes around Alyth

Impressions from scouting new routes around Alyth this weekend to create a continuous network of gravel routes from the small Perthshire town all the way into the Cairngorms National Park. Almost enough to fill another book - with loads of potential to expand this further. Having Ember now serving the A93 makes it much easier to explore this part of Perthshire without a car, but there’s still room for improvement. This was also a perfect opportunity to redefine the Cateran Dirt Dash route for the event in the end of May. With so much good routes to choose from I like to alternate the route each year, so each event explores a different corner of the Cateran Ecomuseum.I’ll share more soon - but this weekend was another proof why this is one of my favourite parts of 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

What a weekend! Scouting routes for the Cateran Di

What a weekend! Scouting routes for the Cateran Dirt Dash on 23/24 May & a new network of gravel routes starting from Alyth - so you can stay at Forillon & bring your bike or hire one from Alyth Cyclery. It’s such a fab place to bike! #gravel #scotland #adventure

Good ideas multiply 👍 A few pics from the Dawn Pa

Good ideas multiply 👍A few pics from the Dawn Patrol rides in Düsseldorf, Edinburgh & Oslo — (very) early starts, good chats, and lots of amazing humanoids on bikes. All of this was feeding into my new book - which is pretty much done now. Pretty cool seeing it come together.

What a great way to start the Sunday at @cyclingwo

What a great way to start the Sunday at @cyclingworldeurope - the Dawn Patrol delivered an amazing dawn & sunrise. Great chats, and we found coffee & baked goodies at the finish. It was great to bring the concept from @oslodawnpatrol & @edinburghdawnpatrol to this great cycling show - I look forward to be back in 2027. Thanks to everyone who joined this morning!

Come on a guided trip with me & @mrmarkbeaumont on

Come on a guided trip with me & @mrmarkbeaumont on the Mjolkevegen - one of my favourite gravel routes in the world. You can explore Oslo on the first day, and then ride five days in stunning scenery. 6 - 13 Sep - all details are on gravelnorway.com Come & join us! #gravel #norway

🚴‍♂️ 8 days. 15 riders. Epic Norwegian gravel. Joi

🚴‍♂️ 8 days. 15 riders. Epic Norwegian gravel.Join @MarkBeaumont, @JotunheimenTravel & me on the Mjølkevegen 🏔✨📅 6–13 Sept – spots are limited. Link to book in bio or jotunheimentravel.com And to give you a flavour, I just released a new film about the route on my YT channel.#GravelCycling #Norway #AdventureCycling #Mjølkevegen

I look forward to visit @cyclingworldeurope on the

I look forward to visit @cyclingworldeurope on the weekend - a good opportunity to share the @edinburghdawnpatrol & @oslodawnpatrol idea with more people. Join us on Sun 22/3 at 5.40am to welcome the say by bike. Meet outside the @zipperhotel - bring your bike, friends & a smile. Route on Komoot - 31.9km - pace depends on the group - and let’s find some coffee jointly afterwards.And I’ll be on stage at the blogger lounge on Sunday at 12.45 to talk more about human power // communitiessee ya & spread the wordand thanks to @toutterrain for providing me with a bike

Sooooooo looking forward to see the first proof fo

Sooooooo looking forward to see the first proof for Gravel Rides Edinburgh, Fife & The Lothians. The book is already listed & pre-sales will open next week. Three books in a year was a push, but I can’t wait to share this one with you. Official launch date is the 21 May. All pics are taken from the gravel routes in Fife in the book, 2 easy, 2 straightforward & 2 advanced. To shorten the wait, you can watch my latest film ‘Roughstuffing in Fife’ now on YT. #Gravel #Fife #LoveFife

🚵 Dirt Dash Season is GO! The countdown is on for

🚵 Dirt Dash Season is GO!The countdown is on for another epic season with @dirtdash_cc 🙌It all kicks off with the Cateran Dirt Dash in Alyth — expect big views, proper gravel, and that unbeatable Dirt Dash atmosphere.Then we roll into summer at the Yorkshire Coast Dirt Dash in June 🌊And we wrap things up in style at the Dunoon Dirt Dash in September 🍂Three stunning locations. Three unforgettable adventures.Who’s in? 👊Link to join in the bio

Some frames from the new🎬 project I have been work

Some frames from the new🎬 project I have been working on with @welcometofife - Roughstuffing in Fife will premiere on Monday at 7pm on my YT channel - taking you on a 243km ride very close to my home. I can spot the big antenna on the other side of the Forth almost every day when I commute to my co-working place. The route is the bonus route in my next book Gravel Rides Edinburgh, Fife & The Lothians - more about this soon!

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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

Check out more at dirtdash.cc/cateran

The Cateran Dirt Dash 🚴‍♂️ #gravel #bikepacking #event

check out dirtdash.cc/cateran for more or send me a message

Scouting routes for this year’s Cateran Dirt Dash on 23/24 May - nae bad or? #gravel

Curious? Find out more at gravelnorway.com or send me an email - markus {at) dirtdash.cc

Let us introduce the Mjolkevegen #Gravel Collective - come & ride with Mark Beaument & me in #Norway

Check out www.gravelnorway.com for more

Interested in a guided ride with me - check this out 🇳🇴 #gravel

Cyclingworld Europe X Dawn Patrol

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