CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 15years old!
Well done to ALL posters
It soon became useful and entertaining. There are regular posters, people who add useful info occasionally and plenty more who drop by to watch. That's fine. If you want to add news/comments it's easy to register and become a member.
RULES No personal insults. No swearing.
Folks,
If we are to make a credible 'pack of runts' who will stick together through thick and thin; then we need to register online asap!
I've done mine...
http://www.action.org.uk/xborder
Personally I just want to enjoy the day and have fun, so there is no pressure to beat the clock or be a lycra clad sweatbox!
Recommended pre-event viewing for this is 'Mongrels' on BBC3 or BBC iPlayer.
LaidBack: please note u are welfare and en route support!
Please pass on to other mad people!
LaidBack: please note u are welfare and en route support!
I better bring an 8 freight then.. or could tow a trailer if you like;-)
The hills out of Gifford are well worth the effort. Does look like a superb route.
Remember the ride overlaps with one starting from England and going north - so is quite inventive.
Someone needs to do it on one of those conference bikes! 8 sets of legs should get you up the hills :)
I best get registering if I want to do this - I'll need to see a gradient profile before I make my mind up about what bike to take - the tourer is a lot heavier than what I'm used to but offers much friendlier gear ratios than the Trek
Please register and show them how many freaky bikes, recs, trikes, Bevos, Raptos, Rans, 8Freights can do a 100miler and have a laugh too! Tis a goodly route thro' stunning countryside!
I'm afraid none of my bikes are in the "freaky" class. I could wear my tweed plus-twos perhaps?
Going to need a poster to attract the masses!
That's me signed up. Only 15 squid as my reward for doing the Ton.
I refuse to join or support which requires anyone to wear a silly plastic jeujeu hat. I hope the science they are raising money is done be people who understand the principals of scientific evidence, better than those who make the rules, or we will back to blood letting as a medical treatment.
Jings!
As a real answer I am unfortunately doing this : http://www.scotlandcoasttocoast.com/challenger.html
That weekend. Looks like it'll be alot of fun though chaps. Have a good time.
Oh I am doing that too.
@ARobComp ever heard of the term GIGO? Have read any of the original papers??
@Kim I didnt have time to do a proper search earlier and I didn't have my science direct password with me.
Just been doing a bit of a cruise through the various meta analysis out there - this one by the cochrane institute. I am happy with the robustness of the paper and the level of investigation. The papers they look at are all well sourced and kept within set out parameters.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/o/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD001855/frame.html
I dont give a crap either way if people wear helmets - it up to them - but I like science. This is a good study. The feedback section makes for some good and interesting back and forth between some of the experts/commenters.
back on topic. I used my (English) bank holiday to do a pre-ride of the "hilly bit" of the route. All I can say to the climb from Snawdown going up to Redstone Rig is "bloody hell!".
I swear that 17% gradient sign was an underestimate.
There's also a couple of shorter lung-and-leg bursters between Longformacus and Ellenford.
The road was in the process of being resurfaced from the fork at the summit at Redstone in the direction of Longformacus. The workies let me walk round the otherwise closed section, meaning I got the next 10-odd miles of beautifully surfaced road all to myself.
All I can say to the climb from Snawdown going up to Redstone Rig is "bloody hell!".
The organisers 'selling point' is about suffering (!)
If the can get poor weather then I think we're in for a treat!
I actually think cycling should be about having fun ...
Redstone Rigg's hard the first time you do it, second time it seems to become a lot easier (I think this is the usual psychological thing where you've done it once so you know your legs and lungs can manage it; plus you know the lie of the land, so once you're over the 17% ramp you know you can hang on while the gradient falls).
Do that a couple of times and you'll be up the Wall of Talla next...
Delighted to hear that the road's being resurfaced. Those climbs and descents on the Longformarcus road are magnificent. I'll have to make a point of doing that ride again in September. Last time I was out that way (sometime in the spring) the crappest form road maintenance had been carried out on the road from Whiteadder up to Redstone Rigg - the "spread some tar and drop some gravel on top" method. I was picking tar-covered stones off my tyres and down tube for the next 10 miles. Them I found tar-covered stones stuck to my socks and my jersey - those stains ain't coming out any time soon.
Hear that the Papal Visit has been shifted to 19th as well and will take in Redstone Rig? (Since chdot knocked me off my pedestal, I hauf to gan soomewhere!?).
back on topic... LaidBack sold it to me as an enjoyable day out then went on a recce himself and said it was a beast of a climb! If you look at the profile, yes tis short and sharp so soon after Haddie Toun, but the descent towards Englandshire is luveli then an amusing 2nd half of pretty steady ascenting to return via majestic Borders countryside - better than the 'whippet and pigeon' country of the PfS 100 mile detour. I suggest a major review of your rear cassette and stabilizers to overcome the Wall of Lammermoor! Hasta la vista, baby! ps Salvatore says he would rather burn at the stake than be in Edwin's Burg Nor Loch on 16 Sept 2010 AD (Year of our Lord)...
A little bit of drizzle I can deal with. Thankfully it looks like that wind will have calmed down by Sunday. Fingers crossed it stays this way.
kaputnik A little bit of drizzle I can deal with.
So... how did your ride go?
We* just made the cut off at 8.30 registration then went out into a veritable drizzle-fest.
Apart from that everything went to plan and we got back last improving on our Trossachs Ton placing when we inadvertently came sixth last.
The 'scran' was good and we hung about till after 2. No doubt the pro elite were past Duns by then although there was a rumour that some got lost.
Around 70 riders turned out to enjoy the topograhic treat that is the Lammermuirs. 70 Riders from Alnwick shared the lunch stop and some of the route.
* Rabid H, and A Nother not on this forum I think - two trikes and a recumbent bike.
So... how did your ride go?
1 - "light drizzle", my ars*!
2 - "waterproof gloves", my ars*!
Woken up about 5AM by the rain outside so decided to improvise some waterproof hotpants by sawing off my old waterproof commuting shorts that I never liked. Very glad I did, functioned well and don't know why I never thought of that before.
Unlike Trossachs Ton where I started last I headed off about 730 this time only to be felled at the first wee hill out of Haddington where you have to cross the single track bridge when my chain fell off. That happened another 3 times before I got sick of it and sorted out the derailleur limit screws.
Approached the first 10 miles to Redstone Rigg at absolute minimum speed and found the ascent a lot easier than the last time round, even if it truly began pouring just at the bottom of the final push.
Long and lonely cruise to Longformacus in the mist and rain was actually quite enjoyable once I got spinning. Passed quite a few people on the way but riders were pretty thinly spread.
Wrung out the "waterproof" gloves at first feed stop and discarded them for fingerless which were much better. Enjoyable ride all the way to the feed stop, there were a couple of people I pulled level with who seemed game for a chat for 5 or 10 minutes. Passed one chap at the side of the rode who answered my enquiries with "f*cking rear derailleur's f*cked", a grin and waved me on.
Compliments to the lunch stop, feed was excellent. Would have settled for just strong cups of tea with lots of sugar but the rest was a pleasant bonus. didn't hang around as I was getting cold however. Also discovered at this point that I had been riding (for I don't know how long) with the front brake binding. Presume one of the cattle grids had knocked it a bit. So got that sorted out and hit the road again.
Cleared up after lunch and clouds began to break, waterproofs were gradually removed and settled into a happy cruise. Somepoint between then and Duns the signs ran out. I was one of the "pro elite" that went the wrong way, but I fell in with a pair from Berwick Wheelers who knew the patch as it was on their TT route and we eventually picked up the signs again. Thoroughly expected them to drop me on their fancy steeds, but the opposite happened and I set about eating up the miles on my own again. My detour added an extra 2 miles on to the ride so nothing serious, but meant that some people who I had overhauled (including the wooden bike / tartan Rapha lycra man and someone in EBC colours) appeared rather guttingly ahead of me at the final feed stop.
By this point the water on the road had cleaned my chain to a shiny, oil-free state and the last 20 miles were completed in squealing protestation. I managed to claw back all my earlier passes except Mr EBC, who I only caught right on the finish line. It was a mighty fine sight when I came over the last hill on the moors and looked down to see Berwick Law, Traprain Law and the Fife and Lothian coasts ahead of me and freewheeled up to 40mph for the decent into Garvald.
Have to say the red temporary traffic lights 50m from the finish line made a complete anti climax!
Total time was 6h 34m. I was aiming for sub 6h30m, so with the unitentional extra 2 miles I think I'm allowed to say I was on target. Saw on bikeradar someone reporting a 5h40m - I presume it was the 2 who bolted past me heading into Longformacus when I slowed to check on someone mending punctures.
We were parked next to one of the recumb-a-trikes in the morning and the gent asked us to watch his bike when he went in to register. He looked like he had been there a while so I take it he was awaiting yourself, Mr Laidback?
From the sounds of it ARobComp and Min have had knee troubles recently so I'm in good company. Well done for completing it in what was pretty awful weather kaputnik. I had my name down for this and had to pull out because of a knee injury. I started training back in January doing turbo sessions but a chest infection in April meant I missed the Bethany Edinburgh Sportive which was my favourite event last year. I enjoyed the Trossachs Ton and did the Radar Ride a few weeks later. That was really cold, wet and windy and I didn't have any leg-warmers with me. With racing gearing (Bicycleworks tried to fit a compact last year but my drive-side crank is seized) on those hills in those temperatures I wrecked my knee. From then on I've pretty much lost my fitness because I've had to do light riding to let my knee recover. I know what is needed to fix it because I had this problem five years ago. So I've been a DNS for the Ken Laidlaw, the Tour of Tweeddale and now the Cross Border too. I have had worse years but they involved hospitals so I shouldn't complain.
Interesting feedback from Kaputnik! We also had one wee route-finding issue. The 'chase' car told us to go this way as his written route description said 'turn right'. I think it should have been the 2nd right turn after Norham Bridge. It added 3.5km onto our day! Maybe the signage was OK regardless!
We had to then check nav for the 'chase' car and show them the right way to go! On outgoing route strangely saw some several others near Duns going in reverse direction to us (the tar road bit with grass growing out of the middle!), but not part of the 'South' route? I think mibbe a few people got 'lost' briefly in various places!
400m+ of ascent in the first 17km makes for a very steep hill! and we soon discovered that many of the downhills didn't allow momentum to run up the other side as someone had craftily added a tight bend, some pots and a grid on the low points. Lovely scream down from Redstone Rig to Longformacus generally though! Good views of Cheviot with cloud clearing of it after the rain passed on. We had stopped between Longformacus and 1st feed stop for a girl who had pushed her rear mech into the spokes and then got flung off, but she had support coming. It happened to her again near Wedderburn and the 'chase car' picked her up and brought her in; she was a bit p!88ed off with herself I think. Saw another 'muggle' with a puncture at 1st feed stop who Ramjam tried to advise him on how to put on a patch properly and he didn't have a pump; whereas we had full recovery gear, tubes, tools and tents on board! The 'muggle's' sidewall eventually burst due to brake block rubbing! and the Repair Man sold him a tube and a tyre as a result at Crookham.
We had a 'special comfort stop' near Fogo on way down as Ramjam had had a beast of a curry the night before...!
Good views of Cheviot with cloud clearing off it after the rain passed on. Lots of big puddles to avoid all day.
We got a pinhole puncture at Wedderburn West gate on the way back as well! No other mechanical probs all day from all 3 well-honed LB supplied machines.
Descent in half-dark and persisting rain to Garvald was spooky and scary, with lashings of water on the goggles; bit like flying the old Tiger Moth into a monsoon!
Much better condition roads than Trossachs Ton, less potholes but the cattle grids in the rain are little devils! You can drift sideways a lot on these! On the trikes you can also closely examine intimate details of roadkills as you passed them (I never knew you could stretch a rabbit's neck that far!).
Our actual stats were:
GPS switched on at 0823hrs
I think we actually departed at 0855hrs? (Didn't record this! but we knew we were leaving late as everyone else had gone!)
Lunch was at approx 1330hrs at Crookham (in England!)
Finish time: 1955hrs
Max elev: 438m
Distance 166km
Total ascent: 2027m (bloody felt like it too!)
Final high point: 1906hrs at 349m
Moving time: 9hrs 52mins
Stopped time: 1hr 40mins
Moving Av: 16.8kph (we had luggage, 2 Meerkats and 8 wheels between 3 people!)
Overall Av: 14.4kph (includes car park time at start)
Max speed 68.5kph (on wet roads is not bad at all!)
I suggest this actually tougher than the Trossachs Ton due to some of the momentum busting ascents and steep gradients (TT is only about 1600m of ascent).
0830hrs is probably on the margin for a departure time for 'recreational cyclists' at this time of year for this route (we weren't bothered as we are always self sufficient, 'cos we are complete twats!).
Lights and pump are a must just in case!
Again a lot of the 'serious riders' probably skipped food stations and seemed to be on drugs like ZipVit! I think you'll struggle to get many 'recreational riders' attracted to these mileages. My body is a temple! not a stock car!
Not a bad effort we think, as none of us got to bed before midnight the night before due to various committments, Ramjam had Delhi-Belly, LaidBack had too much nervous energy, I had WD40 knees, and we were carrying luggage including a 4 man shelter due to crap forecast!
Got seriously wet at start, and we never quite dried out till well after lunch, then got soaked again on big finishing descent in half dark on lights, which we could have done a little faster if we could see the road, pots and gravel patches!
I had quite a few 'interesting' tail skids through the day on some of the tight corners; LaidBack had one spectacular front wheel skid out but corrected it before catastrophe hit!
An idea would be to set up an event round a selection of the best Edinburgh cycle tracks/routes in a circular fashion for families and 'general cyclists'; raise money enjoy a mixed day out and learn about the city cycle routes.
All in all, a Grand Day Out, Grommet!
bit like flying the old Tiger Moth into a monsoon
Brilliant analogy. I popped into Knox Academy to avail myself of the facilities / get my goody back (identical to the TTon one, down to the marmite Paddington!) and hardly recognised myself in the mirror. Looked like I'd been shovelling coal on The Flying Scotsman, with 2 white circles around the eyes where the glasses had been.
Total ascent: 2027m (bloody felt like it too!)
For some reason I thought it was 2027feet when I filled in the entry form...
Agree I think this is harder than the TTon - or at least requires a bit more strategy. With large and steep climbs in the first 15 miles and about 80 - 95 miles. I deliberately kept reigning myself in on the long flat section after Duns to save myself for the end. The ups and downs on the moor when you take a right for Garvald really sap what remains of the strength in your legs. But once you get over the last hill, you know you have made it and nothing's going to stop you (apart from that sneaky wee climb out of Garvald itself). Apart from the Crow Road section (which was a simple put it in bottom gear and keep going at a constant pace effort) and the Duke's pass, I found the TTon relatively flat, and you could set off at a good pace to make it to Aberfoyle quickly and with little difficulty.
If there were 140 riders then must have been a few no shows, as the final pre-ride email mentioned "over 200". Or perhaps they werejust being optimistic...
rider numbers wise - if it was anything like the C2C this weekend where they were expecting 650 starters I think there were only around 600 and of those another 150 dropped out.
Reasons could include : Ill, injury, damage to kit, better offer, a friend pulling out?
A fair few people I spoke to had had people pull out as they just panicked last minute and decided they couldnt do the distance
The pictures are up. Here's the wonderful wooden bike;
I'll let any interested parties work out which one is me by themselves :) (clue - Raleigh Banana jumper and a pair of shorts sticking out me back pocket...)
It seems that the 3-wheelers managed to cunningly avoid the photographer.
Kaputnik "so I take it he was awaiting yourself, Mr Laidback?"
Yes.. a bit embarrassing... my private hire car didn't turn up.
The real story... as the chap you saw was younger and fitter we thought we'd weaken him by making him stand about in the cold and wet...
He did feel unwell for a lot of the ride but gallantly put it down to 'a curry he had eaten'. We may invite him 'cycle a tricycle' on a future event.
Kaputnik (my) total time was 6h 34m.
That's a competitive time... we were happy to get back the same day.
Exploding Rear mechs... You have to remember that on a route like this not everyone wants their bike fixed...!
Hamster on his wheels somewhere on route south of Tweed.
Well done everyone though sorry your knee prevented your ride CM. Glad other people were suffering in the rain too. ;-)
Although it looks pretty nice in the photos. I doubt any of the C2C photos will look like that!
look at that sky! lovely!
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