If only I could wrestle it off her!
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Audaxes + sportives 2019
(249 posts)-
Posted 4 years ago #
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Result
Posted 4 years ago # -
I've signed up for the Long Dark Teatime...
Will leave the "Train or cycle to Gala?" decision till closer to the time.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Thinking of ECE'ing this up to a 300 from Heriot via the Granites (same on the return), weather dependent, if anyone fancies it. Probably head off about 0530.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@Frenchy @edinburgh87 Wow! I think 200km is enough for me at this time of year. But you have fun!
Forecast doesn't look too bad now and quite warm.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I am feeling very jealous right now as the Achilles is not hurting so much. But I should really build up again rather than risk all on diving into a 200.
The colours will be lovely. It's a shame the route has had to be diverted away from Castle O'er (missus). That road is particularly lovely at this time of year. Still, you get to see two stone circles.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Decided on getting the train there. Since a return is only ~50p more expensive than a single, it made sense to get one even if I planned on cycling home from Gala. Undoubtedly, with a ticket already in my pocket, it will be difficult to bring myself to do anything other than get on a train home, but we'll see.
Not sure about the Langholm-Longtown stretch on the A7, but looks like there are parallel side roads if it is too grim.
Posted 4 years ago # -
The A7 isn't much fun. Narrow & fast :-(
Best avoid.Note the pavement cut through to the old road here
https://maps.app.goo.gl/4PR3z6xdxDcFqszr7 to avoid climbing on the main roadPosted 4 years ago # -
Excellent, thanks. Hadn't actually spotted that parallel road, which cuts out 12 miles of the main road but is only ~1 mile longer. Shortest detour which cuts out the A7 altogether adds ~7 miles, but that could well be worth it.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@bill - decided against the ECE, it's been a pretty busy week at work. Couple more 200s this year then up the distance in January.
Did the route-check last week too - for those of you debating the A7 - the closed section was rideable in theory but not pleasant, officially closed, and it would be irresponsible to send 70+ riders down that stretch on an "official" event. The A7 stretch is used on Alston and Back and tbh I've never found it too bad. It's over in 30-40 mins IIRC anyway.
Posted 4 years ago # -
PS @ Amir - hope you feel better soon. Are you contemplating the Braco Way 100 in Dec?
Posted 4 years ago # -
An extra 7 miles probably isn't worth it but plus 1 would be IMO. YMMV.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@edinburgh87 thanks. I'm actually thinking to attempt the shorter ride tomorrow. I can always turn back
Posted 4 years ago # -
No rain yet and nary a breathe of wind, could be a good one
Posted 4 years ago # -
Some rain in the first 20 miles, but now a beautiful day, aye.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I hope you guys had a good one. I did the shorter one (116km). The first quarter I found tough due to my weaken calf not dealing with the rolling roads that we'll. But once we hit the sustained climb, it started to click for me and I made good time to the cafe and back. I dedicate this Audax to my physio.
Colours were terrifyingly beautiful.
It was quite a luxury to have a relatively relaxed start time and finish on the light. I had a good chat with folk I know. Great day. Oh, and I bought a Rolls in the jumble sale.Posted 4 years ago # -
@amir - sounds lovely. When you say you 'bought a Rolls', was this the impulse purchase of a luxury motor or something more sensible.
Posted 4 years ago # -
edinburgh87: The A7 stretch is used on Alston and Back and tbh I've never found it too bad.
If it's the bit we did on the first part of the Borders Explorer it's certainly not great. The smoothest bit is the white painted line along the roadside.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@greenroofer something more sensible but hopefully as comfortable
Posted 4 years ago # -
Glad you had a good day amir. Similar story on the 200 but the freezing fog on in the Ettrick Valley on the leg back from Eskdalemuir in the dark caught me by surprise a wee bit. I think it was a smaller field this year too. Nice to meet Frenchy finally too!
Posted 4 years ago # -
@cyclingmollie that's the stretch. I agree ref the surface, was meaning more that the driving was largely fairly well behaved. Altho driving back from Gala myself on way home, was overtaken at 70mph (I was doing 50-60 tops in nsl) , in fog by someone with a death wish descending into Gorebridge on the A7. Unless 2019 Pug 308s have radar fitted I have no clue how he knew there was nothing coming.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Really enjoyed the ride. Amazing colours, lovely low clouds in the morning and in the evening. We even got some sunshine, so my stuff managed to dry out. Not much wind.
Counted 5 dead male pheasants and 3 female ones. One of the riders was collecting them along the way. Apparently came back with 3 in total.
Nice to meet Frenchy! and thanks for coming and asking if me is me!
Also saw a fairly romantic scene on my drive in at 6.30am by the Redford Barracks: a girl in a bit of a dress walking away from the gate. A boy with his hands on the bars on the other side of the gate.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Enjoyed that immensely, although the stretch from Langholm to Eskdalemuir was very much a slog.
Great fun once it got dark, too.
Saw a heron, a handful of buzzards and several rabbits, all alive. Also a badger, multiple pheasants, a fox and a frog which were, er, not alive. I also heard an owl at some point, and am fairly sure I saw one at another point, although it was dark and it could just as easily have been a seagull.
I took @HankChief's suggested route in both directions on the A7 stretch, although still had one of the most horrendous passes I've ever experienced whilst I was on the A7 itself. Also an oncoming DPD driver forced me into the verge in the dark near Ettrick somewhere.
Very nice to meet @bill and @edinburgh87. @bill's "relaxed" pace in the first 50km was too much for me - I slowed down whilst getting some biscuits out of my bag and there was no way I was catching up again.
Posted 4 years ago # -
"Langholm to Eskdalemuir was very much a slog."
I really like that stretch from Langholm to Eskdalemuir (and then north of Eskdalemuir). Part of it may be because I finally can catch up and leave behind my pals with whom I am not able to keep up on the flats and downhills.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Braco Way 100km out of Dunfermline tomorrow. There is a main road option and the planned route. Think I may fit studs and do the original route.
Anyone else riding? Most of you guys don't get out of bed for less than a 200?
Posted 4 years ago # -
When I tried to get a place a couple of weeks ago it was full. But I wouldn't be riding it in this weather anyway. Studs might work but my winter bike doesn't have clearance for them.
Posted 4 years ago # -
A propos of nothing, I have noticed that if one were to get off a train at Oxenholme, make one's way to the top of Great Dun Fell and then return to Edinburgh via Carlisle, Moffat, Broughton, Carnwath and Auchengray, it would be almost exactly 300km.
A return trip from Edinburgh to Green Lowther down via Carnwath and Abington and back via Moffat is almost exactly 200km.
Perhaps luckily, a ride from Oxenholme to Edinburgh incorporating both summits is not 400km.
Well there you are. Something for the 2020 thread, I think.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@paddyirish I am signed up. Not 100% sure whether I'll do it yet, but I'll be with normal tyres.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I'll be there - ECE'ing to a 200. Unsure on tyre choice. I have a choice of: normal audax bike with 25mm gatorskins or commuter bike with CX tyres (optional studded front). What's the general consensus of this house?
Posted 4 years ago # -
Will be icy.
Main road A70 was gritted today but still icy
We did route to carnwath on gatorskin 25s (or similar) slow on way out - in middle of road. Ok on way back. Two folk said we were brave, water bottles frozen outside apple pie
If you take the main road option to avoid the ice I think the mad drivers of fife might get mad.
If you take the route that avoids main road you will need grip
By about 09.45 main roads will be melting
Also is it going ahead?
Posted 4 years ago #
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