We need a rubbish animal of the day thread. Tufty didn't have a lasting legacy
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Sport
Audax + sportives 2016
(174 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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Trout beck better but the time I did it that way I was nearly taken out by a sheep that ran right in front of me
The sheep can be a natural hazard. The dry stone walls are usually pretty good at containing them, but they're wily characters and the grass on the verge always does look greener...
Posted 8 years ago # -
I had already fallen off of my own accord on a corner I took too fast near the other trout beck further north, causing me to somersault through a bush and my bike to sommersault down the road. Luckily the bush sort of Broke my fall and the bike was fine so I got back on and went forward to the kirkstone pass. The sheep very close miss was therefore adding insult to injury.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Didn't quite manage the Fred route, we redesigned it at short notice and glad we did.
In the end we went over Honister, Newlands and Whinlatter before turning round and heading back to Keswick for beer and burgers. We had intended to go over the back of Whinlatter then back over Honister the other way but we decided we were too knackered. It wasn't the distance or the volume of climbing but the gradient I stopped a few times to get my breath back on Honister and over Newlands I was basically stopped moving forward one crank revolution at a time.
Sunday we done both sides of Whinlatter, the "other" side from Keswick is a great decent.
I'm still sore and tired!
Posted 8 years ago # -
Panyagua, cyclingmollie and I took advantage of the stable weather to do the penultimate part of our super randonneur attempts. We were approximately following the Kingdom Come route. Thanks to Panyagua's generosity in providing accommodation , we started from Dalgety Bay at a little after 5 am. The weather was disappointingly wet as we made our way to Perth via Dollar and Gleneagles, but it dried up after a hearty breakfast and socks purchase in Morrisons.
We then took a lovely route through Forfar to Montrose, albeit against a headwind. We didn't stop long in Montrose due a music festival in town, which complicated navigation and produced challenging inverse frogger conditions with hundreds of pedestrians randomly crossing the road.
The road to Stonehaven is a beaut. Although it's an A road, the traffic wasn't bad and the sea views are great.
Stonehaven seems a lovely place, one of many that I've been inspired to return to under less arduous circumstances. We dropped down into the harbour town and found a wonderful cafe. The young staff there were quite enthused by our madness.
From Stonehaven we had a fantastic ride into the heart of the Cairngorms, following the south side of the Dee. Around Braemar and up Glen Shee was utterly stunning in the evening light and we saw quite a lot of deer along with wild campers. A quick stop at the top to ease the pain in our contact points and then we managed to swing down the steepest part of the descent in good light, arriving in Blairgowrie before Tesco closed. The staff were kind enough to allow us to warm up the foyer (very cold outside) but not kind enough to wheel us around the store in a cart. Outside the late night revellers seemed more impressed than anything ( a different experience than travelling though eg Tranent at a similar time).
From there it was a matter of holding in for the untraumatic return.
Great route - thanks panyagua for organising us. Thanks to both for help and patience with my minor technical gremlins. Well done to cyclingmollie on his first 400. For me it was my first experience of riding right through without a kip. This actually seem to make recovery easier as we got a good night's sleep when we got back sometime after 3 am
These ride really teach you a lot about yourself.
In terms of future rides I have learnt that more savoury food in the first half of the ride really helps me reduce tummy problems.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Great write-up @amir - it was an epic day out and very enjoyable (on the whole!) especially looking back once fully rested. Thanks again to you and cyclingmollie for coming along - I couldn't have done it on my own.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Photos of slack-jawed Audaxers huddled in forecourts and foyers cannot convey the joy of finding a warm supermarket at midnight after 350km of riding. The highlight for me was from Braemar (Co-op, toilets), over the Cairnwell (deer, mountains) to Blairgowrie (almost 50km downhill). Thanks again to Amir for the lift, Panyagua for the route planning, leading and overnight accommodation and both for waiting for me at the top of every hill.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@ a, p, C
Have you Audaxed for ever, or did CCE incite you?
Posted 8 years ago # -
I did my first, the Tour of East Lothian in 2006 with ERC. I first met experienced Audaxers like Cyclops and MercuryKev on the 200km Erit Lass in 2011. Threads on CCE tied them to other events and I took it, rather slowly I admit, from there. First 300km in 2014. First 400km this year.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@chdot
I was originally incited by local Dalgety Bay friends including DaveC of this parish (who, in turn, I met by chance through a mutual friend). So not directly CCE - but definitely influenced by CCEers. But the fact I ended up riding with amir and cyclingmollie can definitely be laid at the door of CCE, since DaveC introduced me to them having met through CCE, I think. I'm sure a or c will correct me if I'm wrong....Posted 8 years ago # -
Yes, Panyagua, I met Amir, you, DaveC and many others after previous encounters on CCE. Amir I first met on the Berry Bush climb on the Bethany Edinburgh Sportive in 2011. He recognised my bike from a CCE thread and shouted out. Panyagua, I met you, I think, through Dave C with whom you were riding on the Merse and Moors Audax. If I remember correctly I joined you both near Lindean without asking and you put up with me for another 250km. Dave C I first met on a ride organised on CCE by Kaputnik.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I joined CCE after doing my first Audax (Crystal Run 2014) I wanted to thank the organiser (Cyclops?) and Google pointed me to here...
I haven't done another Audax since (not because I didn't enjoy it, quite the contrary) but young family means if I want to do a long ride, it is much more efficient to go-self guided out of the front door to minimise time away from home.
Through here and mutual friends have met the DB audaxers e.g. panyagua, DaveC
Posted 8 years ago # -
I have done the routes amir talks about but never altoghether. Respect.
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It is Bethany Sportive again this weekend. Alas I am doing a 100 mile homer around Dumfries and Galloway with the bike shop in Castle Douglas converting to a cafe for us and doing a very reasonabkly prioced luncheon.But my commuting buddy Tom is doing the Bethany and keen for folk to participate. Hope it is not too late to enter etc
Posted 8 years ago # -
@cyclingmollie
Yes, that Merse and Moors two years ago was a formative experience and it was great to have you join our small peloton. I'd never ridden that kind of distance before and didn't really expect to again, if I'm honest - but then 'randonnesia' set in, and the temptation to attempt a Super Randonneur series the following year became too much to resist.
Posted 8 years ago # -
My first Audax was a 100 km from Forfar. I'm not sure whether I was on CCE then. But my first 200 km was roe Moffat Toffee. I did that with Kaputnik due to the CCE link and also saw Dave for the first time on his recumbent
Posted 8 years ago # -
"randonnesia" I'm stealing that!
Posted 8 years ago # -
@cm that's fine - I stole it from someone on Audax UK!
Posted 8 years ago # -
Amir is probably too exhausted to say that he finished the 600km Borderlands Roc Trevezal yesterday and completed his Super Randonnuer series. I don't know many details but the riders faced torrential rain and strong headwinds on the first day. I was a DNS due to a chest infection. Panyagua was also a DNS due to family circumstances. Dave C was using the ride as prep for a 1,200km Audax later in the year and stopped after >420km having slept rough I believe for two nights.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@cyclingmollie - sorry to hear you weren't able to start, but well done to @amir. It must have been challenging in the cool, blustery, showery conditions - hardly July weather.
I'm hoping to enter the late season 600 on 10th September, which I suspect might have a few additional entrants as a result of DNS/DNFs. Anyone else?
Posted 8 years ago # -
Yes, the Borderlands Late Season Explorer is still an option. Or ECE the Nae Bother To Us 400km with a ride to the start and a ride home after the finish using the route of the Erit Lass (I see my fingers typing this and can't actually believe I'm thinking of something so ridiculous).
Posted 8 years ago # -
Thanks cyclingmollie and panyagua. Everything hurts.
There's also the Border Raid from Ponteland.
Posted 8 years ago # -
As above, this weekend I took part in my first 600km audax and fortunately survived. It was the hardest ride I've ever done and that wasn't just down to the distance as the weather provided a challenge as well.
The route however was lovely. With a Galashiels start, we eased our way down to Longtown via Eskdalemuir and the delightful Castle O'er. From there, a oh-too-short flat bit before Brampton and onto Alston. Over the most horrendous cobbles and up over the Yad Moss pass with increasingly strong wind and heavy showers. Then a nice descent past High Force and onto Barnard Castle. Barnard Castle seems really pretty and interesting so may return. But we only had time for chips and tea before the return the same way to Longtown - this time much harder with tired legs and more headwind. From Longtown it was a long drag in the failing light to Johnstonebridge services and a welcome if brief kip.
The next morning the weather was stiller for the ride to Moffat and over the pass at Grey Mares Tail but then the wind came on (mostly tail). My pace had declined after the fforts of the first day but fewer showers and more sun was forecast. An extremely welcome second breakfast at Gala then a bumpy ride between the Tweed and Teviot valleys over to Morebattle and round to Wooler to join the walkers and bikers for more food. Then over some more hill to Berwick and return to Wooler all the way back to Gala against that wind. This time we stopped at the Temple Inn in Morebattle - always a friendly place to stop. And the gnome garden at Town Yetholm.
This ride was grueling - I wanted to give up in Longtown x 2 times, Gala, Berwick etc. But I didn't (perhaps showing my stupidity). And I was quite emotional on the way into the final control (MacDonalds in Gala - yes, I know the glamour) but then had to quickly wipe my eyes because it's bad enough going into a MacDonalds with lycra on nevermind with tears.
As always these long distance rides remind you of the value of stopping and eating. This time I actually managed to maintain my weight! One thing I must consider for the next time is to have some bigger cogs at the back - hills which are easy when you're fresh become near to impossible after 500km.
Posted 8 years ago # -
600km & you had to have a kip? Tsk.
Well done anyway! ;-)Posted 8 years ago # -
Thanks. DrAfternoon did it properly, bivvying in the sticks
Posted 8 years ago # -
I Did Not Finish (DNF) and cut the ride short back at Gala. It took us a long time to get round - 25 hours for the 420km to Gala. With no sleep, I was tired and not looking forward to another 200 especially as I had a drive home afterwards. I had a busy day at work on Monday and the prospect of a kip in the car and a night drive back home, was cause enough for me to bail.
Still, I'm now trimming down my kit for the 1200 ride and going to go with a bivi instead of sharing a tent with a friend.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I did at least move the stick, in order to make it slightly more comfortable :)
Massive well done to amir. I did my first 600 two years ago now, and it really was very emotional when you know you're going to make it. Done a few now, but finishing a 600 is never a given. Bad luck DaveC.
It was a much tougher ride than the climbing numbers suggest. A lot of punishing headwind and a couple of long 90km stages made it hard going. I was pretty miserable on the horrid B7076 north from Gretna to Johnsonbridge, even ended up being ill there after trying to get some food down. Involuntarily cleansed body helped though and managed up past Moffat for a sleep stop, my first go with bivvy bag as practise for the West Highlands 1200 later this month where there won't be much choice. Worked pretty well, three hours sleep for a three and a half hour stop. A few midges in the morning (but nothing like the West Highlands). My bag has a net which will hopefully make that bearable.
Second day was hard work, and lot of small steep climbs, but much more enjoyable in the better weather. The out and back route is quite mentally tough though.
Had a vague plan of one more 600 before the 1200 but I suspect that might deplete enthusiasm. It's going to be all down to the weather now. Hopelessly spoiled by the blazing sunshine on the Highlands 1300 two years ago.
I've heard of quite a few folk attempting it this year, likely enthused by the BBC version of events, that don't quite seem to know what they're in for. There will be a few tales of woe.
Posted 8 years ago # -
A week until I set off on the Highlands 1200 audax. My bags are nearly packed, just a few small additions, the bike is prepped and ready and I just need to loose about a stone and a half and get a lot fitter.
Monday start for me, and biviing with midge net!
Posted 8 years ago # -
Me too. Bags not remotely packed, but most of my gear is assembled, to be carried in half Audax/half bike packing type ensemble of Carradice Barley, Ortleib bar bag, Alpkit Stem Cell and small Alpkit frame bag.
Mostly the same as two years ago with the addtion of sleep kit, including bivvi bag with midge net, silk liner and Alpkit Numo inflatable mat. May take a compact down jacket depending on how temperatures are looking.
Swithering between lighter new shoes and my tried and tested (but no longer remotely waterproof) winter boots.
One of the big challenges is going be food. Long stretches in the far north without much to be had, especially after hours when there will still be a lot riding to do. DaveC's Helmsdale/Brora diversion from the inland route might be a good idea.
Going to have a Spot tracker hopefully. Will post a link.
Posted 8 years ago # -
The best of luck you two. Despite seeing the BBC show and thinking it was a fantastic event, it is one for someone else to do and I'll cheer you on from my keyboard, while sipping some produce from along your route...
Posted 8 years ago # -
Good luck! I hope you have a fun (if mad) adventure
Posted 8 years ago #
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