http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Audax and Sportives 2021 en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:03:24 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=9#post-355936 Wed, 20 Oct 2021 20:48:30 +0000 panyagua 355936@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks @amir and @edinburgh87. I did the LDTT last time it was on, in 2019, and enjoyed lovely weather, although the Castle O'er road was closed that time.</p> <p>Ooh ooh Snow Roads - I have unfinished business with that! &lt;scuttles off to sign up...&gt; </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=9#post-355934 Wed, 20 Oct 2021 20:18:15 +0000 edinburgh87 355934@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Good job you didn’t catch the badger. 50/50 as to who’d come off worse! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=9#post-355929 Wed, 20 Oct 2021 19:29:21 +0000 amir 355929@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oh - one event I have signed up for next year is Snow Roads. Yes, this 300km classic through the Grampians, as seen on telly, is back! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=9#post-355928 Wed, 20 Oct 2021 19:24:51 +0000 amir 355928@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks edinburgh87 and bill. The rain did get slightly warmer through the ride.</p> <p>Bad luck panyagua - I hope you are free soon and that your taste improves. Otherwise you might be tempted to go for the Lavender cake in Etal.</p> <p>Looks like there will be a good turnout for the Long Dark Teatime, which I have also signed up for. edinburgh87 is right - this is a classic. It's not just the route, it's the time of year. The colours are usually magnificent around Castle O'er and there's a chance of a murmuration further south. One year I inadvertently chased a badger in the twilight. On a clear evening, the night sky can be awesome along the Ettrick valley. </p> <p>I have also signed up for the Tour of the Ochils on 4 December from St Andrews. Staying in Dundee as St Andrews is too expensive even then. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=9#post-355921 Wed, 20 Oct 2021 17:48:42 +0000 edinburgh87 355921@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@panyagua - sorry to hear that, hope the sense of taste returns! LDTTOTS is my personal favourite, I <em>think</em> it's the only event I've consistently entered and ridden every year I've bee audaxing. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=9#post-355916 Wed, 20 Oct 2021 16:49:02 +0000 panyagua 355916@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@edinburgh87, @amir et al: it was good to see you on Talla Ho recently. Mrs Panyagua and I were due to ride SBR last Saturday as the culmination of our week's holiday in the Borders. Sadly, positive Covid tests for both of us cut off our week away in its prime, and we have been self isolating at home ever since. (We are both double jagged, but Mrs P is a teacher so we suspect that's how it's found us.) No serious symptoms but I've lost my sense of smell/taste, which I'm hoping won't be too long-lasting.</p> <p>Having missed out on the (Type 2) joy of SBR, we've signed up for the Long Dark Teatime in the hope that we're sufficiently fit and recovered, and the weather is at least tolerable. Fingers crossed it works out, as it would be a good start to the new Audax season. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=9#post-355909 Wed, 20 Oct 2021 13:40:48 +0000 gembo 355909@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Nice one @Gresham Flyer, the cockburn hotel if you just swipe round the corner a tadge. Has what looks like a square box turret room on top of a cylindrical tower. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=8#post-355908 Wed, 20 Oct 2021 13:21:09 +0000 Gresham Flyer 355908@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sorry -just catching up with the CTC from a few days back - here's an Edinburgh winged wheel. <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/xNkHbG5QyPAWxBnK9" rel="nofollow">https://goo.gl/maps/xNkHbG5QyPAWxBnK9</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=8#post-355907 Wed, 20 Oct 2021 12:31:54 +0000 edinburgh87 355907@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>And so (almost) ends 2021 in Audax years, we'll need a new thread soon. </p> <p>I'll be sitting out Saturday's Etal for reasons external to cycling, but worth noting @bill's <strong>incredible </strong>1575k perm and @amir's SR in the CCE "hall of fame"!. Good to dip my toes into organising and to meet @frenchy, @amir, @panagyua and possibly other CCE'rs on the events and special thanks to @bill for the company on the Moscow Express and Pentland Populaire route checks.</p> <p>If anyone's looking for something to keep their festive 500 on track, remember there's the "Post-Xmas Tour of Midlothian" after Christmas. Entries will be kept open pretty much until the day before recognising people's plans are often fluid at this time. Planning for it to be a fairly relaxed 100 and depending on numbers may try and get a space reserved at Humbie Hub.</p> <p>Hopefully see some of you "in the new year" at the Long Dark Tea-Time in Nov. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=8#post-355906 Wed, 20 Oct 2021 12:06:22 +0000 bill 355906@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@amir well done on that ride! It was pretty miserable even in Edinburgh. </p> <p>I have not signed up for any more Audaxes this year (or next year for that matter) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=8#post-355834 Mon, 18 Oct 2021 18:23:06 +0000 edinburgh87 355834@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@amir - it looks a challenging one, disappointed not to have made it down this year but that’s life! Last attempt to ride it was foiled by the beast from the east. The Herriot turn would be another tempting short cut for those from our neck of the woods :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=8#post-355833 Mon, 18 Oct 2021 17:59:20 +0000 amir 355833@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I did the Scottish Borders Randonee from Selkirk on Saturday. This was a 200km along the Yarrow valley and alongside the Moffat Water to Moffat. An overly long break in Moffat then up over the Beeftubs pass to Peebles, Inners, past Piper's Grave to Heriot, down to Stow over to Lauder, then to Melrose. From Melrose past the Roman fort to Scott's View then back to Selkirk.</p> <p>It was a tester, getting all ready for the winter months. A nippy start around 3 degs and never getting much above 7 degs. The weather turned mizzly around Loch of the Lowes and didn't dry up until around Dawyck. It started again on the last leg, becoming heavy in the last few metres. </p> <p>Formwise, I was in very good shape for the first half, making good speed to Peebles, but then my legs started to say no. That seemed to be pretty common, and the drop out rate for this audax was high (not helped by the convenient short cut from Inners).</p> <p>But overall very enjoyable, but more so in retrospect!</p> <p>Next up, Etal-u-can revisted from Gala on Saturday. A trip to Berwick-Upon-Tweed and back via Etal. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=8#post-355700 Thu, 14 Oct 2021 21:49:55 +0000 crowriver 355700@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@amir, @gembo, used to be the George Hotel until recently I think? I have located a close up photo of the plaque which bears the legend 'HEADQUARTERS' above the winged wheel. So an important place for CTC Lothians DA at one time...</p> <p>EDIT: archive photo from Canmore confirms.</p> <p><img src="https://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00009158.jpg"> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=8#post-355699 Thu, 14 Oct 2021 21:20:48 +0000 Frenchy 355699@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I knew <em>exactly</em> where to look for it from "in between trying to avoid being run over." </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=8#post-355698 Thu, 14 Oct 2021 20:56:46 +0000 edinburgh87 355698@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There’s one of those hollow give way triangles in Lasswade, that the eagle eyed may spot in between trying to avoid being run over. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=8#post-355697 Thu, 14 Oct 2021 20:54:36 +0000 amir 355697@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I don't know. There are also flats, and a couple of shops, one of which is quite interesting. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=8#post-355693 Thu, 14 Oct 2021 20:02:06 +0000 gembo 355693@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@amir does the Konditeromeister own the whole building? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=8#post-355690 Thu, 14 Oct 2021 19:32:17 +0000 crowriver 355690@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I wonder if our intrepid cyclists encountered any of these in 1936?</p> <p><img src="https://www.cyclingnorthwales.co.uk/images/ctc_wingd_4.jpg"> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=8#post-355685 Thu, 14 Oct 2021 17:57:49 +0000 crowriver 355685@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@amir, that's a nice one. I had a feeling there was one in Edinburgh somewhere too, but cannot for the life of me recall where.... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=8#post-355683 Thu, 14 Oct 2021 17:47:49 +0000 amir 355683@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@crowriver <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.9553369,-2.7757553,3a,75y,45.49h,111.88t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sM2MpR6wEevI7p3Ifm5ENNw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192">Haddington</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=8#post-355680 Thu, 14 Oct 2021 17:06:27 +0000 gembo 355680@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@crowriver, good point about the midges. Where they went at that time was cycling into the epicenter of midge activity.</p> <p>A sanotorium could be something like a Sunlight Hospital and often would be for TB patients,</p> <p>The ones in Gorgie both became schools and then err McDonalds,</p> <p>Maybe could also be like a sick kids place dunno. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=8#post-355677 Thu, 14 Oct 2021 16:44:50 +0000 crowriver 355677@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@gembo, OTOH no midges to worry about this time of year.</p> <p>@bill, "What is a "C.T.C" ?"</p> <p>Once Upon A Time the Cyclists' Touring Club (now rebranded as We Are Cycling UK or some such) used to bestow their seal of approval on hostels, guesthouses and the like. Similar to the way the AA and RAC still do nowadays. I believe some establishments were even run by the CTC also? You can still see the odd CTC badge adorning the wall of a building here or there in these isles. So I can imagine the accommodation described as "a C.T.C. place" and charging 6/- for bed and breakfast was either an approved B&amp;B/hostel or run by the CTC itself.</p> <p>EDIT - here's the badge/plaque still on a wall in North Wales somewhere.</p> <p><img src="https://www.cyclingnorthwales.co.uk/images/ctc_wingd_3.jpg"></p> <p>And another in Liverpool, though it looks like this used to be a bicycle repair shop or garage rather than accommodation.</p> <p><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/CTC_plaque%2C_Berry_Street.jpg/464px-CTC_plaque%2C_Berry_Street.jpg"></p> <p>Closer to home, a nicely preserved one in Kelso. Looks more like an enamel sign than the cast badge so maybe later?</p> <p><img src="https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/76/59/5765929_ebd56388_original.jpg"> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=8#post-355675 Thu, 14 Oct 2021 16:19:49 +0000 bill 355675@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@crowrider I also enjoyed the read very much! As you said, they were doing decent distances.</p> <p>What is a "C.T.C" ?</p> <p>The old "sanatoria" they mention would they be <blockquote>an establishment for the medical treatment of people who are convalescing or have a chronic illness</blockquote><br /> or<br /> <blockquote>a room or building for sick children in a boarding school.</blockquote> ? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=8#post-355670 Thu, 14 Oct 2021 14:54:48 +0000 gembo 355670@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@crow, we’ll they ain’t gonna get sun burnt fo’ shu’ </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=8#post-355669 Thu, 14 Oct 2021 14:36:25 +0000 crowriver 355669@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The Adventure Syndicate are away on their re-enactment today. Equipped with disc braked gravel bikes by the looks of it, technical clothing, helmets, bike packing bags too. I suppose doing that ride in blustery autumnal conditions will be quite different from a sunny July Glasgow Trades stravaig right enough. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=8#post-355646 Wed, 13 Oct 2021 22:42:14 +0000 crowriver 355646@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That was a cracking read. Great stuff! Relying a fair bit on the kindness of strangers en route it seems.</p> <p>I make it 12 days that the young women were out on the road in total. They took it a little bit easier on the homeward leg from Perth, stopping overnight in Fintry and Drumchapel.</p> <p>I will be interested to see the contemporary re-imagining of this route, as I imagine some of the original roads will be horrible fast motor traffic routes now and not recommended for cycling. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=8#post-355640 Wed, 13 Oct 2021 19:51:03 +0000 crowriver 355640@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>According to the transcript of the diary, those young women were doing some fairly serious miles each day.</p> <p>---</p> <p>Approximate miles</p> <p>Glasgow - Crianlarich 59mi<br /> Crianlarich - Ballachulish 37mi<br /> Ballachulish - Mallaig 79mi<br /> Mallaig - Uig (via ferry) 62mi<br /> Uig - Sligachan (via Dunvegan) 51mi<br /> Sligachan - Invergarry 61mi<br /> Fort Augustus - Pitlochry 89mi<br /> Pitlochry - Perth 42mi<br /> Perth - Glasgow (via Drymen) 78mi</p> <p>Total route miles: 558mi</p> <p>--- </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=8#post-355632 Wed, 13 Oct 2021 16:18:22 +0000 bill 355632@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@fimm <blockquote>I think the 1930ss teenagers stuck to the roads as far as I can tell - I'm assuming that would have meant tarmac, though I don't know. </blockquote></p> <p>Yes, the roads but some roads not great:</p> <p><blockquote>On the road to Mallaig quite a good road to Glenfinnan where Prince Charles’ monument stands.<br /> At the end of Loch Eilt. Beautiful scenery here too. But the road becomes dreadful. Gosh stones, holes and no road in places. A lorry full of sand going past stopped and took all four of us, bikes &amp; all. He took us as far as he was going. A good lift of 5 miles of terrible surface.(...) A passing<br /> motorist and 3 women passengers stopped and gave us lemonade. He turned back as the road was so bad.<br /> </blockquote> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=8#post-355628 Wed, 13 Oct 2021 15:00:22 +0000 fimm 355628@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Note that the women in the 1930s took a fortnight over their trip. The Adventure Syndicate crew are taking a week for a similar distance, and, by the sounds of Lee Craigie's comments, heading off-road for some of it. I think the 1930ss teenagers stuck to the roads as far as I can tell - I'm assuming that would have meant tarmac, though I don't know. I bet they carried less stuff in the 1930s, even though what they did carry would have been heavier. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20420&page=8#post-355626 Wed, 13 Oct 2021 14:47:14 +0000 crowriver 355626@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@bill, cheers, looks like a good read. </p>