If you're doing RttS today and pass someone going very slowly on a Decathlon bike, yellow h*lm*t and company jersey (it was free, and isn't too bad) with a big black rack pack, it's me. Do say hello.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Ride to the sun
(78 posts)-
Posted 6 years ago #
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Hope weather good.
Midges were bad last night.
Enjoy
Posted 6 years ago # -
Good luck everyone - I think it will be a good one...
My ride to Ride to the Sun is sunny :-)
Currently 2nd breakfasting in Langholm.
Look out for an orange bike with lots of bags crawling home tonight...
Posted 6 years ago # -
Hot out there, be careful and drink lots of fluids and slap on factor 50 and don't talk to any strange men.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Glorious sun in Carlisle. Didn't think to bring suncream, so hiding in pub across from the station, taking in plenty of fluids ;)
Posted 6 years ago # -
Enjoy all!
Posted 6 years ago # -
Well done Frenchy on his first RttS & Greenroofer on his down & back.
Anyone else I missed?
My RttS was an unusual one. Due to enjoying hospitality in Weardale and a cracking descent of Hartside in the sunshine, I didn't make it to Carlisle until 9 45pm and was confronted with tumbleweed.
So I got my head down and took the direct route in the hope of finding some company. Just outside Gretna I saw someone doing a fair pace in front. It took me several miles to latch on.
We then proceeded to do a 2up TT all the way home arriving at Cramond at 3.30am. It took until Broughton for there to be any real collections of other riders to overtake
Posted 6 years ago # -
Well that was a grand day out. Bit of a headwind on the way down, but because it was warm and dry it didn't feel quite as bad as it might have.
Conditions on the way back were perfect. Warm, but not hot. Calm. Clear. Dry. My only regret is that I left Carlisle too early, so missed out on the two classic RttS experiences: the ascent of the Devil's Beef Tub in the dark with the line of blinking lights ahead and seeing the sun rise at Cramond. I did the Beef Tub in the gloaming, and there were just a few lights ahead, and it was nowhere near dawn when I arrived in Cramond.
I spent most of the time between Carlisle and Moffat riding behind two men accompanying a lad of about 10, who was fairly motoring along.
@gembo was right about the midges. I had repellent on, but when I stopped to answer a call of nature at the top of the Beef Tub, they descended on me in clouds.
Posted 6 years ago # -
It was still light in Balerno near midnight, our friends had a fire going to keep dem midges away and I drank a little too much red wine for the col de Climpy this morning but not totally dropped except on the Cimpy climb and then at the end on the Whang.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Great ride. Roads were lovely and quiet, and the drivers who were on them gave everyone so much space.
Descent from top of Devil's Beef Tub was incredible fun. I tagged along with some folk from Dunfermline CC - one of whom was really pushing it on the descent, trying to keep up with him in the dark was probably not my best idea, but really was fun.
A puncture just before Penicuik gave a well-needed rest.
Cycling through Edinburgh after 100 miles in the saddle really brought home how atrocious some of the road surfaces are (Home St, in particular).
Finished the day on 195km, had planned on doing a bit more to make it 200, but when I got to the top of Gilmerton hill I realised any direction I went would mean having to climb the hill again, and that just wasn't happening.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@Greenroofer - the wee lad was indeed fair motoring on. Think it was his dad I heard saying they were going to camp for a few hours then cycle the 30+ miles home. Good effort.
Posted 6 years ago # -
The 2018 report from Fraser and Gary is out. They reckon 1000+ participating. Attracting riders from Luxemburg and Germany. Quite a few have done it all four times. Same format again next year. Would be good if another stop at Romano bridge could be done but probably too noisy. The staff at laurel Bank tea room broughton aware of the event but not willing to accept there is a rave at Tweedsmuir.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Who's doing RttS this year? Any advice on clothing choices? Will be taking a slow pace with a mixed group all doing their first 100 miles so heading off late afternoon to ensure we can take a few break. Weather in Moffat seems to vary from 3C to 20C at this time of year which may need a bigger saddle bag for extra clothes!
Posted 10 months ago # -
Arm warmers for midges, rain cape coming down beeftub?
Posted 10 months ago # -
Not doing it this year, which makes it the first one I've missed. Fitness took a hit after a bout of covid, so it's not on the agenda :-(
My advices would be:
# Midge repellent applied to exposed flesh for the Beeftub climb: a mixed group on the climb will be slower than midges there, and will be eaten alive. The rest of the time you'll be quicker than midges (until you stop...).
# Extra clothes to put on at the top of the Beeftub. If there's a chance it will be a cold night, then take Lots of extra clothes: the temperature up there can be close to freezing (even in June), and there's a dozen miles of downhill where you'll get really cold if not properly dressed.
# Others who've ridden that road more recently than me (i.e. in the past year!) can say whether it's still as rough as it used to be. I know the Broughton bit has been improved, but the approach was Beattock pretty awful last year too. If it's not been improved, then gloves with gel padding and/or double-wrapped bars make things more bearable.So basically same advice as @gembo, but more words.
If you've not done it before, it's a blast.
Posted 10 months ago # -
@greenroofer I think the beeftub descent remains bobbly. I did it last summer on the way back from Eskdalemuir when a 200 will @bill turned into a 250 for me. We then stopped at a secret location for tea and cake, though Wee Crook now serving same purpose without secrecy. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It was then dark in Penicuick at 9pm so not Solstice time but later. Others may have traversed said Road more recently but think @sheeptoucher may have mentioned if any improved surface has occurred.
Gloves yes indeed. I think I used padded but thin long fingered gloves for midge protection. They are only really bad in Moffat. Or if no wind en route.
Posted 10 months ago # -
Sounds like the midge headnet is going in my jersey and I'm going for longer socks than usual to cover up with leg warmers then! Already got a wallet sized smidge spray as I tend to get eaten alive!
Tempted to stick a bikepacking saddle bag on and throw in a small packable down jacket for any stops or if it gets really cold. Weather looks like a mild breeze from the SW so mainly behing us which is good but might be a bit drizzly.
Drove up the roads a couple of months ago from some work in Carlisle and followed the route. Generally looking pretty good and having a 29mm tubeless tyre should certainly help
Posted 10 months ago # -
Cycled up from Moffat a few weeks back. The road is still far from smooth in many places. I think there is a stretch south of Broughton that has had some re-surfacing.
That said, and maybe this is a reflection on the general state of the roads at the moment, the state of the raod was nothing out of the ordinary.I had forgotten about RttS - I have always wanted to have a go, but things get in the way. As it happens I am free next weekend... now I just have to work out how to get to Carlisle with my bike.
Posted 10 months ago # -
On the subject of getting to Carlisle with my bike. Anyone got experience of getting a bike on a train from Newcastle to Carlisle? Thinking I could get a train Edinburgh -> Newcastle -> Carlisle. But you can't book a bike on the Northern Trains service to Carlisle.
Posted 10 months ago # -
For future reference the easiest way to the start is to book a space on the scout transport service between Cramond and Carlise. Alternatively you can take your bike on the train which requires early booking or travelling on less convenient trains. I don't have any experience of this other than the year I got lucky and bought a pair of tickets from someone who could no longer make the ride.
The simplest way to the start is to ride there, although this isn't for everyone it does remove all need for planning or relying on making connection.
I rode the Beeftub as far as the turn to Peebles last month. The descent is pretty acceptable surface wise certainly nothing out of the ordinary but the section from the Cyclorave northwards is hard work. It's not badly degraded rather than being potholed. It has fairly large aggregate and not much filler on the surface so is very rough and saps quite a bit of speed as soon as you stop pedalling. I personally find it much tougher than riding up the Beeftub which is long but not particularly steep.
Looking at the forecast I think it's going to be warmer than usual heading north from Moffat. However as others have said the descent from the top of the climb can be cold and you wont be generating your own heat at this point so make sure you have enough layers and probably some long finger gloves.
Posted 10 months ago # -
@Greenroofer, The RttS facebook team posted about 2 people who had done every ride shortly before last years ride. As far as I'm aware they both did it last year so you'll be leaving a very select group if you don't make it this year.
It's a very impressive achievement to have made it this far without missing any.
Posted 10 months ago # -
Northern Trains says:
On the train
We would like to welcome you and your bicycle to our services. You can take your bicycle free of charge on all of our services, but space is limited. Most trains have enough room to provide two dedicated bicycle spaces on board. Bicycle spaces cannot be reserved on current services and space is allocated on a first come, first served basis.
The current fleet is changing, but detail of the train types and location of wheelchair, cycle and spaces for larger luggage will be provided on our website as these details become available.
Real Time Trains says for example for Newcastle on Saturday that the train arriving at Platform 7 is the 17.23 service to Carlisle, calling at Metrocentre, Blaydon, etc. etc., and, Carlisle. Gets in at 19.01. Other trains are available.
RTT says they're all pathed as Class 150/153/155/156 DMU so bike spaces are not plentiful.
[I always rather liked Nawthen Trains' on-train announcements, reminding me to "take all my belong-gings" with me. Sent up rather well by gdiddlydog, too.]
Posted 10 months ago # -
@acsimpson +1 for your description of the road surface. It's very draggy and rough, without being potholed. It just gets kind of wearing as the hours drag on.
Didn't realise I was leaving such a select bunch. Should qualify that by saying that last year I didn't have time to do the whole thing, so I left home after tea and rode down to nearly Moffat to meet the ride coming the other way. This meant I was on the Beeftub when there was that mega thunderstorm, and I did the distance, but I suppose shouldn't claim that I did all of RttS that year.
Posted 10 months ago # -
Thanks AC for my half of the tix I may not have gone if it weren’t for you.
Posted 10 months ago # -
Re midge net:
I found it's quite hard to see through it while cycling. For cycling I highly recommend clear glasses and a buff over the nose to stop lots of those sunset flies and midges. Midge net for the stops.Posted 10 months ago # -
I'm Bananavaning again tomorrow night.
Usual rules apply - say hi to the person in a midge net at Crook Inn.
And if you are really stuck with getting your bike down give me a shout.
Northbound lifts are considerably more expensive though :)
Posted 10 months ago # -
I'd hoped to be doing RttS but alas yet another crash has me off the bike for at least the next few weeks.
Apparently bombing down Arthurs Seat after a few beers is not a good idea.
If you see anyone in the MRCC blue and gold give them a wave.Posted 10 months ago # -
I wasn't going to do it this year but the weather looks ideal. Tempted.... (dunno how I'd get down there tho')
Posted 10 months ago # -
@stiltskin - I can definitely get your bike down and maybe you too - not sure whonelse will be in the Bananavan.
So if you don't mind leaving your pride & joy with a random off the Internet you can train it down and meet us in Bitts Park.
Posted 10 months ago # -
Alternatively if double centuries are your thing then ride down and back. Hankchief's bananas taste all the better for having the extra 100 miles in your legs.
Posted 10 months ago #
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