Last weekend was the Merse and Moors 300km audax. This is a tough early season longer audax with about 4200m of climbing.
Unlike last time, I had the company of a good group most of the way through the route, with 3 others of this parish plus a newbie at this distance (who seemed much better prepared).
The weather was "interesting" during the day, with a pleasant if cold start. Ice creams headaches developed in the frost hollows on the way into Innerleithen. Clouding over after passing Denholm and the climb to Carter Bar with weak flurries of snow/hail. A chilly tea at the top of Carter Bar and then a tailwind assisted high speed romp to Otterburn, where we failed to get into a cafe crammed full of pensioners. So onto the classic cyclist cafe at Elsdon.
Then the feared Winter's Gibbet climb, which seemed relatively okay given the other climbs down plus a tailwind. From then along ultra straight roads in the moors gradually descending through picturesque Northumberland villages (cf Cotswolds) and then turning into the devil of a headwind over some lumps into Alnwick for another cafe stop. From there the normally pleasant riding in the lowlands was a testing grind into the wind. As we neared Scotland again, clouds got bigger and taunted us with brief bursts. The temperature started to drop. By Duns the wind had dropped completely but it was getting very chilly. However the wee break to get a till receipt somehow helped to get the legs working a little better and the ride through the Lammermuirs was pleasant in the moonlight. That is until the Hungry Snout, quickly followed by the grind up Redstone Rigg.
On the way up the Rigg we became aware of ice and snow. So we took the safety first approach descending by walking the first bit. Once ice free we swooped through Gifford back to Musselburgh. I was so cold at the end I couldn't stop shivering despite a radiator, soup and pie.
This was a hard one but the route was great and it should set us up for the rest of the season. Thanks to Cyclops for organsing!
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