Sixteen weeks to go, book your train tix?
900 expressing interest
Queue at Moffat chippy is going to be massive
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Ride to the sun
(82 posts)-
Posted 7 years ago #
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The midges will be licking their lips
Posted 7 years ago # -
...If they have any lips
Posted 7 years ago # -
Quite nice mugs available from their crammond HQ.
And someone last year won a Shand Stooshie for entering, I take it?
Posted 7 years ago # -
I think you can only book 12 weeks in advance maximum. (Actually VT are doing tickets for £8.50 single - not bad! First Class £24 single).
Quite enjoyed it last time, could be interested in a repeat.
However it's the same day as Edinburgh - St Andrews bike ride (formerly Spokes, now LEPRA). May take No.1 son on that instead.
Defeating midges possible if you wear long sleeves and long leg coverings. Sensible really as it gets a mite chilly in the middle of the night.
Beating queue possible if you don't order chips...
Posted 7 years ago # -
@crowriver, I bet you are right. This just came from the organisers who were pointing out train tix scarce so book in advance. They said they could do nowt about trains and took a big van themselves. But they were going to speed up the chips if possible
Posted 7 years ago # -
any CCErs doing this most welcome at IainMcR's parents for tea etc... instead of the Moffat chippie. Is up a hill though.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Think our wee cinema in Balerno is putting on Bicycle Thieves maybe as part of the festival of cycling on the Friday. The previous two events have had free beer from Heverlee, though I like a nice cheap dry frascati if I watch bicycle thieves so I fear I will not be fit to ride to the sun the next
Posted 7 years ago # -
You can avoid the train by taking a gentle ride down on Saturday daytime, as @galaxy & I did last year.
Like @IainMcR I'm pondering combining it with visiting some relatives for Saturday tea. They live in County Durham though...
Anyone mad enough to join me??
Posted 7 years ago # -
Train tickets can be bought now on Virgin Trains' website, but bike reservations not available until 12 weeks in advance.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Another alternative, possibly no faster than cycling down, is to take the train to Glasgow and then the chuffer to Carlisle via Dumfries as that has 6 or 12 bike spaces per train.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Last time there were only five bikes on the train to Carlisle, however two were going down to Leeds, so three got off at Carlisle. This was an early(-ish) train, about midday, which meant kicking around in the border fort town for a loooong time. Only did the ride really because the ticket was a freebie from another CCEr: first class and bike reservation too! (Thanks again, unhurt).
I did consider doing the Glasgow-Carlisle thing, but it's a bit of a slog.
I think there are also some Scotrail services from Edinburgh to Carlisle IIRC?IDRC, it's Transpennine Express and a few VT services...I suppose if you really wanted to book your ticket this far in advance, then forget the bike reservation and take a folding bike (plus a wee bag to put it in) - just another (large) piece of luggage... That road to Gretna would be teeth rattling on 20" wheels or smaller mind you.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Nobody bats an eye at my Brompton on the Edinburgh/Carlisle service, so no need for a bag if you're taking a folder.
Posted 7 years ago # -
An idle suggestion for those contemplating this adventure (I've no current plans, having enough daft plans already - mostly riding in circles though rather linear):
How about getting a train to Newcastle-UT and cycling (even train partway) over the previous day?Posted 7 years ago # -
Hi, Fraser here...one of the organisers. Thanks for the enthusiasm and just fire away if you have any questions. Hope to see some of you on June 17th!
Posted 7 years ago # -
@Fatmax
Fraser, thanks for 'inventing' this event
Last year's RttS was by far the greatest thing I've done with or on my bike.
Difficult to describe exactly how or why, it just was. I was physically and emotionally broken on arrival at crammond, but the exhilaration and euphoria 24 hours later! And that was despite missing the sunrise by about 8 minutes!
Oh, and the mugs are barry.
Posted 7 years ago # -
I've done both RttS events and in year one rode to Carlisle during the day on Saturday.
Planning on doing the same again this year. Down via Eskdalemuir which has an ace cafe and one of the 'must do' stretches of tarmac in Scotland.
Nearer the date I'll post a departure time if anyone wants to join me. Plan is to take a leisurely 20kph approach with a decent stop in Eskdalemuir, an hour or so in Carlisle before making the return journey.
If you haven't done this ride before please give it a go.Posted 7 years ago # -
@amir, halt whistle is nice. If cycling east west likely to be against prevailing wind so as you suggest train part way e.g. To halt whistle, luncheon then pootle to Carlisle?
Posted 7 years ago # -
12 weeks to go; bike reservations now available. I was told none were available when I phoned up, but got one no problem at the desk in the station.
Posted 7 years ago # -
You can make bike reservations on the scotrail website.
Posted 7 years ago # -
So turns out the reason I was able to get one in the station but not on the phone was because I got the date wrong when I went to the station...
Sorted now.
Posted 7 years ago # -
People who have done this, or other night riding before, care to give advice on lighting?
I normally have a couple of lights on the front, and a couple on the back. One front and one back flashing. I am assuming this will be fine, but also probably going to get a light to stick on my helmet.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Don't ride in a group with flashing lights unless you want to thoroughly pee everyone else off. Also check the alignment of front and back lights.
Posted 7 years ago # -
@Frenchy. I'd say the answer to your question is 'dynamo', but that may be more than you want to spend. Whatever you choose, it's definitely worth a trial run to satisfy yourself that your setup lets you run confidently at the speeds you want to ride at.
The 20 or so miles from the top of the Devil's Beef Tub are downhill and in the dark, and it would be frustrating to have to moderate your speed because you can't see far enough ahead.
+1 for the point about your rear light. The road will be full of bikes. There will be someone behind you and they won't thank you for dazzling them with a retina-searing red light for 100 miles.
Posted 7 years ago # -
I'm riding this, from Home (Fife). I'll be riding to Berwick Upon Tweed, Kelso, Hawick and Newcastleton.
Setting off Early!
Aiming to get to Battery park around 5:30pm for 6pm.Frenchy, I have a spare Dynamo wheel and lights of you want to borrow to see just how good they are. Message me on Farcebook.
Dave C
Posted 7 years ago # -
I have a dynamo wheel on my upright bike, fully aware of the benefits, but I think adding one to the road bike will be done as part of the next (N+1)ing. Thanks though!
Sorry, wasn't thinking as I typed last night, wasn't planning on flashing lights in a group.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Last year I left Carlisle about 6pm, arrived at Crammond about 4:30 (think I missed the sunrise by about 8 minutes)
I would imagine I set off before most others, and arrived after most others.
Despite that, most of the 101 miles I was on my own. Don't think I ever rode in a group of more than 3 at any given time.
Unless you set off with and keep pace with a group, the roads might not be as 'busy' as you might imagine
Posted 7 years ago # -
@ Frenchy,
I meant for the 'Ride to the Sun' event.
Dave C
Posted 7 years ago # -
@Frenchy, you'll only need lights after about 10.30pm/11pm until about 3.30am/4am so about 5/6 hours maximum. It will be light enough to see and be seen the rest of the time (depending on weather conditions: if overcast may be darker for longer). Doable with battery lights if you carry spare power cells. I used a dynamo last time but that's because there was one fitted to the bike I used: obviously the best solution overall but for this ride not absolutely needed IMHO.
I'm not riding this year as will probably do Edinburgh-St Andrews instead with No.1 son. Maybe next year though if it's still on.
Posted 7 years ago #
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