CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 15years old!
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http://www.aukweb.net/cal/index.htm
Well I posted my application this morning :), assuming I get a place, as an Audax "virgin" who has seldom ridden that far, what do I need to know other than the obvious*...?
(*ie arrive in plenty time, recce the route in advance, rmember to eat and drink etc)
I've done a grand total of three audaxes. I like them, from the point of view that they're more relaxed than other organised rides. But I still just like picking my own route and running to my own timescale.
First I did my road bike developed a terminal problem the night before so I quickly bought some slicks for the MTB and did it on that - just 60km I think;
Second one I foolishly didn't check out the route elevation and took the fixed on what turned out to be a 'hill audax' - 100 miles and I was knackered;
Lsat one was the Tour of East Lothian last year (which didn't go up the killer Rigg due to poor surface caused by the poor weather) and I was on the geared Kaffenback, with a pannier stuffed with food. I hadn't ridden any great distance in months, but the gears, road bike and plentiful food whenever I needed it made allllll the difference.
Good stuff :) Kaputnik I'll hopefully see you there then! My LHT frameset has still not arrived so it looks like I may be doing it on my clunky commuter, but it has plenty gears so it should be fine, I'll just have to take a camelback as the only bottle mount has the airzound in it!
Not worried about the time really as long as it's not slower than a 10mph average(!) just want to do some miles and have a bit of fun :)
Oh, and anyone know what the rule is on h**mets?
Smudge, I've no idea whether you have to wear a helmet or not. But I've got my application in for this as well. I didn't see the usual place to choose a start group time on the form.
The three I did helmets were entirely discretionary - maybe 50% on the rides wore them.
What's the route for the old town hall one? there doesn't seem to be one on the audax site.
I plan to go on this. Here is a link to the usual route (but the organisers will prob send out a route card prior to the event).
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Tour-of-East-Lothian-Audax
Not sure what the surfaces will be like coming down into Garvald after all the weather. Last time I was up there it was a bit tricky.
Anyone doing the Kinross Sportive in April?
Amir: Anyone doing the Kinross Sportive in April?
I plan to. The black route; hope that's not black as in black ice. Should be warmer by then.
Anyone doing the Kinross Sportive in April?
I'm on the waiting list but at the moment it's sold out
Anyone doing the Kinross Sportive in April?
Yes, black route. Mr Gembo is signed up for it too.
I plan to take gears, jelly babies and make myself some cyclist's flapjacks (contents to be decided).
I shall decide on apparel closer to the time after consulting a weather forecast.
kaputnik: I plan to take gears, jelly babies
I'll take those Lucozade Sport Jelly Beans if I can remember where I bought them (I finished them while pushing the bike through the snow towards Pencaitland last week).
EDIT: ...and maybe wear this which just arrived in the post. It's the kit Chechu Rubiera wore in his last professional race, the Giro de Lombardia, last year. He sent it to Nicky as thanks for looking after his website. I couldn't squeeze into it even if I wanted to.
Claire wants to do this, so I may well be there. Should we have a CCE posse? ;-)
You don't need to wear a helmet on an audax. It's just a ride on public roads after all- so long as your bike is road legal, there's no problem.
@Mollie - that's quite, quite awesome.
I've just had confirmation that my order for this (and matching winter hat) has been dispatched;
So if the weather holds I hope to be sporting these particular threads. They just happen to match me bike so I couldn't not order some :)
A posse could be a good idea. I had a great time at the Ken Laidlaw Memorial a couple of years ago just taking full advantage of the cake stops which were in village halls, riding with a guy called Mike from ERC. We went off-route and trailed in last but it was one of the most enjoyable sportives I've done. On last year's Tour of East Lothian I fell in with a group being pulled along by an ex ESCA road race champion. He was happy to do all the work but it was fairly painful. Riding in a group is pretty unpredictable.
the Tour of East Lothian last year (which didn't go up the killer Rigg due to poor surface caused by the poor weather)
Last year (2010) was the normal route up Redstone Rigg - what a beast! It was 2009 that was rerouted to avoid the poor surface. How time passes?!
Seconded on the poor surfaces down into Garvald - take it steady people. It's a great ride though - a few cyclists traditionally convene in Stagg's for post ride rehydration.
I was thinking about doing this, but I need to be in Glasgow by 7pm that evening, which may be cutting things a bit fine. I'll do some maths on that at a later date... May just do a loop out from Edinburgh without the Dunbar leg in due course anyway. Redstone Rigg from Gifford is a fun climb and a lot of the road up there was resurfaced last year IIRC.
However, that road down into Garvald is in a shocking state at the best of times (LOTS of surface grit to catch out the unwary descender) so I would advise caution on that section...
Nice jersey, K, and an impressive artefact, CM!
I expect I will be wearing ERC tops at both events unless the weather suggests otherwise (bit of a fashionista is Thor). I'll be aiming to get around the audax in about 4 hours or so.
I am on the black run for the Kinross sportive but may bump down depending on weather, fitness etc. Hopefully the weather will be good enough to test out my new bike.
kaputnik It can be a challenge to find a jersey that's cool and understated but I think you've managed it perfectly with that.
Humm, tempting, how long do they expect you to take for 106km?
"Speeds 12.5 - 30KPH" (7.7 to 18.6mph)
Given it's an audax, I take it we should build in 15 mins or so at each cafe/control stop to ensure that an appropriately civilised atmosphere is achieved?
Yeah I might do the Musselburgh audax. Anyone done it before. take it it's a pay on the day affair?
@Recombodna You have to send an application to the organiser, the link at the top of the thread should get you the appropriate details (I hope!) stuck mine in the post this morning, though having just looked up Redstone Rigg (http://www.sportivecentral.com/index.php?p=climbs&rid=50&page=8 ) I fear I may regret it! :-))
Sounds like I shall be the least stylish, worst dressed entrant plodding along at the back with the wheezy kids and the old folks lol
wow what a site.. took moment to find this
oh look at this,any one facy Schiehallion in the spring?
Ive done it in a car before and its a beautiful road.
Lol, I would point out for those of a nervous disposition that *this* is Redstone Rigg, not the cliff face shown above!
I love how that site's banner is loads of guys/gals walking in lycra... :)
The site has pictures of the Kinross Sportive route. The start and finish sections anyway. The Sportive misses out a climb described thusly:
When in Dunning...Prepare yourself - Ahead lies one of the steepest sections of Road in Scotland - Youve already climbed a bit out of the village when you see the first serious ramp ahead ~16%
I was thinking about this Audax too - and have never done one before.
I thought about the Kinross Sportive but backed out after a recce ride a few weeks back.
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