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CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Events, rides etc.
Audax + sportives 2015
(298 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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Not 2015!
"
London Edinburgh London is a cycling adventure like no other. Starts 30 July 2017. See our website for more information. #LEL2017
http://londonedinburghlondon.com
"
Posted 8 years ago # -
LEL can't happen without volunteers. There are 4 Scottish controls planned in 2017 - Edinburgh, Moffat, Traquair and Eskdalemuir. It can sometimes be difficult to recruit enough volunteers, especially for the rural controls. You can commit for as little or as long as you can manage. No knowledge of Audax required!
Posted 8 years ago # -
Took part in the inaugral Tayside Iron Ride sportive yesterday organised by three childrens charities, Aberlour, CHAS and Clic Sargent. Three routes were on offer, Aluminium, Steel and Titanium (80k, 130k and 180k respectively, I did the Titanium).
Started from Errol airfield heading north as far as Kirkton of Glenisla.
I have to say this was one of the best events I've taken part in. Whilst there were a few basics for the organisers to learn, the marshaling was fantastic with someone at almost every turn making sure everyone knew where they were going (with the route splitting twice for some). The signage was also superb, plenty of information, clearly and brightly signed and warned of every possible hazard on the route. Some even advised of upcoming turns which I've never seen before.
Following my comments on Pedal for Scotland on the pfs thread and lack of marshaling/signage thereof, these guys really showed how it should be done (and bearing in mind it was the first time they've organised anything like this). Felt very safe and looked after.
The route was also superb with tough climbs, great descents and quick flats, it weaved through mostly quiet roads in remarkable condition and if it werent for a classic car rally driving the other way (who were friendly and considerate) you could have mistaken it for a closed road event.
Big well done to the Iron Ride guys, can't wait for 2016!
Posted 8 years ago # -
I'm (stupidly) going to try for a Randonnour round the year, and need a 200 this month. I'll be riding home from work Fri 25th Sept via Dunblane, Perth & Dunblane. Hope to get home round 3-4am.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@DaveC, if I managed it you should be fine......mind you I was lucky and had a mild winter. I think it did put me off audax riding for a bit, though: psychological issue maybe?
Posted 8 years ago # -
Anyone else doing the East Lothian (Poppy Scotland) Sportive this sunday?
Organised sportives etc are not usually my bag - generally because they mandate a helmet (as does this one). One of the organisers is a mate and I dont want to embarrass him so I will take an old helmet to satisfy registration 'rules' and sling it in the first bin after the startline !!
110k route, a bit bumpy in sections.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@ Crowriver. The only reason I gave in last time was a pouring rainy day, and no cycling for a month before so my hamstrings were not stretched and became painful at St Andrews. With darkness drawing in I got the train home. One big mistake was to try to do it with 2 others. The logistics of getting a weekend where we all wanted to ride was a pain and we'd end up doing it on the last weekend of the month regardless of how awful the weather! This time I'll do it on my own on a nice day (or night) if required.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@DaveC, "This time I'll do it on my own on a nice day (or night) if required."
Yeah, sounds much more practical. That's how I did it: allows for opportunistic rides when the weather conditions look promising... :-)
Posted 8 years ago # -
I am doing the Poppy Sportive (my first!) as well, but only the shorter route.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@MrSRD I hope you have a good time.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@MrSRD Enjoy!
Earlyish start tomorrow, but weather looking decent.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Good luck, nelly and MrSRD
Posted 8 years ago # -
Subject to verification:
https://www.strava.com/activities/400668262
213.7km, 11:12 hours (2 hours stops), Ate at Corrieri's (Causewayhead), Tesco (Perth and McD's in Alloa. Shame there are not more overnight coffee stops!
I don't think I'll be letting this RRTY continue beyond next summer!
Posted 8 years ago # -
Why not just go home that way every Friday?
Posted 8 years ago # -
@DaveC, "Shame there are not more overnight coffee stops!"
24 hour services in Kinross?
"I don't think I'll be letting this RRTY continue beyond next summer!
I know the feeling! :-) January and February were the toughest IIRC.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@MrSRD hope you had a good one today.
Longer run (110k which is a distance I am comfortable with) was incredibly tough, some of the hills out of Garvald to Whiteadder Reservoir and up to Redstane Rigg were killer. And to be honest it didn't improve much after the food stop at Gifford until 3 miles from finish.
Smashing event, well organised, great weather day, but the long ride is probably the hardest mile for mile I have ever done.
Special mention to Leith Cycle Co. One of our number had a sheared seat post bolt. LCC van didnt have one, but mech gave him seat post from his own bike to complete the ride. Brilliant and above and beyond call of duty.
I am currently gubbed on the sofa with a beer......
Posted 8 years ago # -
Good effort there Nelly. Anything in that area beyond Gifford is tough. Gets easier with familiarity so I'm told.
Hope MrSRD had good run today.
I thought about it but decided to do a train/bike visit to Borders instead.Posted 8 years ago # -
According to twitter, MrSRD took 3h 18. I'd forgotten about the sportive and nearly congratulated him on his marathon time! Too much talk about running....
Posted 8 years ago # -
@Nelly @LaidBack @fimm
Thanks. It was a good day out, and very well organized. I actually enjoyed the first bit out along the coast as people were riding in groups. The leg into Gifford I rode mostly alone, either over-taking or (mostly) being overtaken.
I think my resolution for the rest of the year and the beginning of the next is to work on my climbing....
Posted 8 years ago # -
Your first sportive I think, MrSRD? Always tough as some people do loads. Audaxing of course is cheaper mile for mile!
Well done though - next one will seem easier. Worth going round some of the roads round Gifford. Nice area.Posted 8 years ago # -
@MrSRD I passed you in Pencaitland, coincidentally doing almost the exact opposite of your route! Hope you enjoyed it.
http://labs.strava.com/flyby/viewer/#401411457Posted 8 years ago # -
Well done MrSRD, but take solice in the fact that tiny people who weight the same as a small child climb much better than us 'conventionally' built cyclists.
You can work on the flat speed, using our momentum, to catchup those tiny cyclists who can't keep that pace on the flat.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@LaidBack It was, indeed, my first sportive (or competitive ride for that matter). I was going to do the East Lothian audax last winter, but in the end bottled. But it wasn't unfamiliar territory as I had been out that way before with PortoVelo and to watch the Tour of Britain stage at Redstone Rig. One of the long-term benefits of these rides is that they are introductions to really nice bits of East Lothian and elsewhere.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@DaveC Thanks. Point taken about the weight and build issues -- and yeah, I was zipping along up the coast -- but I do think I can probably improve my fitness and technique.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@twq I did, thanks. But I still need to get to grips with Strava and the Garmin platform more generally.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I did the Lord of the Lochs sportive on Saturday. The scenery was suitably impressive, the roads almost always quiet and very well surfaced, and there was no shortage of friendly marshals at the feed stations proffering a vastness of carb.
It was also my first experience camping in about half a dozen years. I was a little wary of this since I'd not massively enjoyed it on the last outing, but I'd underestimated how far the equipment has progressed in the twenty years since the kit I'd been using was made. Turns out modern and decent spec gear allows a very civilised experience. Admittedly this was also the first time the gear had been driven to within six feet of the pitch in an estate car rather than humped in a rucksack, so there was little need to skimp on luxury versus weight and space.
I do confess it has unlocked (if I may borrow a term from video gaming) the notion of wild cyclecamping, which up till now I'd found romantic but shied away from on the grounds of believing all tents to be utter guff.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Are you planning on wild camping near trees...?
Posted 8 years ago #
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