Looking forward to the reports from this weekend. Who is doing either of the Selkirk audaxes next weekend?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Events, rides etc.
Audax and Sportives 2021
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Posted 2 years ago #
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I’m booked on the SBR next weekend yep. Moulin Muirs report: a really well thought out route, flatish along the N Fife coast to Bridge of Earn and then inland to Auchterarder. Quite a few short sharp climbs to reach the Sma Glen then on to Aberfeldy then Pitlochry. Big climb up Moulin Muir over into Angus and some welcome descent eventually into Dundee via Alyth chippy. Was handy having the org’a gpx file as I’d not cycled through Dundee before. There was a fairground in full swing on the waterfront which added a bit atmosphere and illumination. Found it fairly tough at points but probably due to having been out of the swing of things a bit this year. Definitely one to do again, despite the fairly early start to get to Newport.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Route did look good
You circled us at the Comrie Croft, but left a good wide berth
Posted 2 years ago # -
Not Audax but definitely imbued with the same spirit, and a rare example of an EEN article worth reading:
Posted 2 years ago # -
@edinburgh87 such a great find!
“Ella skidded on some loose gravel and was quite annoyed because her dignity was hurt although there were only sheep to see her.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Wonderful reading that.
Is it just me, or is the planned recreation of the journey a bit off? I know road conditions, fitness levels, social expectations, etc. have changed a lot over the past century. But it does seem a bit sad that a journey carried out by a group of teenage girls will be re-enacted by "endurance cyclists", presumably on light road bikes or similar. Don't get me wrong, it's nice that they're doing it, promoting youth hostels along the way, that's all good. Just the contrast shows how the way we think about cycling has changed.
Posted 2 years ago # -
The Hostelling Scotland handbook with the diary can be found here:
https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/90th-anniversary-handbook-2021/
Posted 2 years ago # -
@bill, cheers, looks like a good read.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Note that the women in the 1930s took a fortnight over their trip. The Adventure Syndicate crew are taking a week for a similar distance, and, by the sounds of Lee Craigie's comments, heading off-road for some of it. I think the 1930ss teenagers stuck to the roads as far as I can tell - I'm assuming that would have meant tarmac, though I don't know. I bet they carried less stuff in the 1930s, even though what they did carry would have been heavier.
Posted 2 years ago # -
@fimm
I think the 1930ss teenagers stuck to the roads as far as I can tell - I'm assuming that would have meant tarmac, though I don't know.
Yes, the roads but some roads not great:
On the road to Mallaig quite a good road to Glenfinnan where Prince Charles’ monument stands.
At the end of Loch Eilt. Beautiful scenery here too. But the road becomes dreadful. Gosh stones, holes and no road in places. A lorry full of sand going past stopped and took all four of us, bikes & all. He took us as far as he was going. A good lift of 5 miles of terrible surface.(...) A passing
motorist and 3 women passengers stopped and gave us lemonade. He turned back as the road was so bad.
Posted 2 years ago # -
According to the transcript of the diary, those young women were doing some fairly serious miles each day.
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Approximate miles
Glasgow - Crianlarich 59mi
Crianlarich - Ballachulish 37mi
Ballachulish - Mallaig 79mi
Mallaig - Uig (via ferry) 62mi
Uig - Sligachan (via Dunvegan) 51mi
Sligachan - Invergarry 61mi
Fort Augustus - Pitlochry 89mi
Pitlochry - Perth 42mi
Perth - Glasgow (via Drymen) 78miTotal route miles: 558mi
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Posted 2 years ago # -
That was a cracking read. Great stuff! Relying a fair bit on the kindness of strangers en route it seems.
I make it 12 days that the young women were out on the road in total. They took it a little bit easier on the homeward leg from Perth, stopping overnight in Fintry and Drumchapel.
I will be interested to see the contemporary re-imagining of this route, as I imagine some of the original roads will be horrible fast motor traffic routes now and not recommended for cycling.
Posted 2 years ago # -
The Adventure Syndicate are away on their re-enactment today. Equipped with disc braked gravel bikes by the looks of it, technical clothing, helmets, bike packing bags too. I suppose doing that ride in blustery autumnal conditions will be quite different from a sunny July Glasgow Trades stravaig right enough.
Posted 2 years ago # -
@crow, we’ll they ain’t gonna get sun burnt fo’ shu’
Posted 2 years ago # -
@crowrider I also enjoyed the read very much! As you said, they were doing decent distances.
What is a "C.T.C" ?
The old "sanatoria" they mention would they be
an establishment for the medical treatment of people who are convalescing or have a chronic illness
or
a room or building for sick children in a boarding school.
?Posted 2 years ago # -
@gembo, OTOH no midges to worry about this time of year.
@bill, "What is a "C.T.C" ?"
Once Upon A Time the Cyclists' Touring Club (now rebranded as We Are Cycling UK or some such) used to bestow their seal of approval on hostels, guesthouses and the like. Similar to the way the AA and RAC still do nowadays. I believe some establishments were even run by the CTC also? You can still see the odd CTC badge adorning the wall of a building here or there in these isles. So I can imagine the accommodation described as "a C.T.C. place" and charging 6/- for bed and breakfast was either an approved B&B/hostel or run by the CTC itself.
EDIT - here's the badge/plaque still on a wall in North Wales somewhere.
And another in Liverpool, though it looks like this used to be a bicycle repair shop or garage rather than accommodation.
Closer to home, a nicely preserved one in Kelso. Looks more like an enamel sign than the cast badge so maybe later?
Posted 2 years ago # -
@crowriver, good point about the midges. Where they went at that time was cycling into the epicenter of midge activity.
A sanotorium could be something like a Sunlight Hospital and often would be for TB patients,
The ones in Gorgie both became schools and then err McDonalds,
Maybe could also be like a sick kids place dunno.
Posted 2 years ago # -
@crowriver Haddington
Posted 2 years ago # -
@amir, that's a nice one. I had a feeling there was one in Edinburgh somewhere too, but cannot for the life of me recall where....
Posted 2 years ago # -
I wonder if our intrepid cyclists encountered any of these in 1936?
Posted 2 years ago # -
@amir does the Konditeromeister own the whole building?
Posted 2 years ago # -
I don't know. There are also flats, and a couple of shops, one of which is quite interesting.
Posted 2 years ago # -
There’s one of those hollow give way triangles in Lasswade, that the eagle eyed may spot in between trying to avoid being run over.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I knew exactly where to look for it from "in between trying to avoid being run over."
Posted 2 years ago # -
@amir, @gembo, used to be the George Hotel until recently I think? I have located a close up photo of the plaque which bears the legend 'HEADQUARTERS' above the winged wheel. So an important place for CTC Lothians DA at one time...
EDIT: archive photo from Canmore confirms.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I did the Scottish Borders Randonee from Selkirk on Saturday. This was a 200km along the Yarrow valley and alongside the Moffat Water to Moffat. An overly long break in Moffat then up over the Beeftubs pass to Peebles, Inners, past Piper's Grave to Heriot, down to Stow over to Lauder, then to Melrose. From Melrose past the Roman fort to Scott's View then back to Selkirk.
It was a tester, getting all ready for the winter months. A nippy start around 3 degs and never getting much above 7 degs. The weather turned mizzly around Loch of the Lowes and didn't dry up until around Dawyck. It started again on the last leg, becoming heavy in the last few metres.
Formwise, I was in very good shape for the first half, making good speed to Peebles, but then my legs started to say no. That seemed to be pretty common, and the drop out rate for this audax was high (not helped by the convenient short cut from Inners).
But overall very enjoyable, but more so in retrospect!
Next up, Etal-u-can revisted from Gala on Saturday. A trip to Berwick-Upon-Tweed and back via Etal.
Posted 2 years ago # -
@amir - it looks a challenging one, disappointed not to have made it down this year but that’s life! Last attempt to ride it was foiled by the beast from the east. The Herriot turn would be another tempting short cut for those from our neck of the woods :)
Posted 2 years ago # -
@amir well done on that ride! It was pretty miserable even in Edinburgh.
I have not signed up for any more Audaxes this year (or next year for that matter)
Posted 2 years ago # -
And so (almost) ends 2021 in Audax years, we'll need a new thread soon.
I'll be sitting out Saturday's Etal for reasons external to cycling, but worth noting @bill's incredible 1575k perm and @amir's SR in the CCE "hall of fame"!. Good to dip my toes into organising and to meet @frenchy, @amir, @panagyua and possibly other CCE'rs on the events and special thanks to @bill for the company on the Moscow Express and Pentland Populaire route checks.
If anyone's looking for something to keep their festive 500 on track, remember there's the "Post-Xmas Tour of Midlothian" after Christmas. Entries will be kept open pretty much until the day before recognising people's plans are often fluid at this time. Planning for it to be a fairly relaxed 100 and depending on numbers may try and get a space reserved at Humbie Hub.
Hopefully see some of you "in the new year" at the Long Dark Tea-Time in Nov.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Sorry -just catching up with the CTC from a few days back - here's an Edinburgh winged wheel. https://goo.gl/maps/xNkHbG5QyPAWxBnK9
Posted 2 years ago #
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