Is it just me and DaveC (and Cyclops?) for the Port Navigation this year?
I am really looking forward to it - hopefully we'll get decent weather. I am not sure whether to take lights though - the ferries complicate matters.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Events, rides etc.
Audaxes + sportifs 2013
(669 posts)-
Posted 11 years ago #
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More Passes Than Mastermind yesterday in fantastic weather. Really nice route, and I added a lot of road I'd never ridden before to my collection.
http://app.strava.com/activities/47616612 should work?
Posted 11 years ago # -
Piffle I could have done that one (instead of spending the whole weekend trying to buy an outfit to wear to a wedding).
I'm probably going to end up doing a solo 200km as a training ride on the first Bank Holiday in May.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Port Navigation looks great but I couldn't figure a way to make the logistics work, tough extra riding without a car.
Thinking of doing the top part of Merse and Moors as preparation, something like this:
Posted 11 years ago # -
DrAfternoon, that route is marked as private.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Oops, fixed hopefully.
Posted 11 years ago # -
When I looked at the Port Navigation a few months ago I found train tickets Edin - Fort Bill for £16 each way. I have a lift now but considered riding to and from Balahulish for this.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Thank you.
This is my attempt at a 200. The advantage for me is that I've ridden all the roads before. (It couldn't be done as a DIY Audax because if I've understood the rules correctly the route has to be the shortest point between your controls, and this isn't the shortest route between the obvious control points, i.e. the towns.)
Posted 11 years ago # -
Dave:
http://app.strava.com/activities/47546535Hare and the tortise: I was faster than you, but you finished well before me. We rode together at the start chatting about recumbents. You flashed me in Biggar as I was heading for the finish !
You did more climbing than me too.
-stevePosted 11 years ago # -
Nice!
My legs were pretty tight and so I didn't hang about in Thornhill, but I kept hoping for a group to come past and one never did. Not sure why, as I'm not exactly in great shape.
Ended up riding the whole rest of the ride solo - that put a dent in the avg speed! :(
Posted 11 years ago # -
@fimm, if you wanted to do that route as a DIY audax you need to add 6km onto it minimum, Google maps walk shows it as 194km. As I understand it, the rule is that the shortest distance between controls has to be at or over the distance you're seeking recognition for (in this case 200km). The actual distance ridden or exact route chosen is immaterial as long as the controls are visited within time limits: ie. you can do longer if you want, but not shorter...
Looks a decent route anyhow. All being well I shall be riding this 200k DIY at the end of the month: http://goo.gl/maps/IjRKZ
Posted 11 years ago # -
A wonderful day out on the Port Navigation audax. The cycle path from Ballachulish to Oban looks as though it will be really good - a few bits left to complete. The scenery is fantastic.
On Mull the sun came out for us and the ride south through the mountains was supercallifrag... Possibly the best ride of my life.
I left alone from Pennyghael as I wanted to get back before the rain. Loch na Keal was beautiful - I love the cliffs overhanging the road. Saw a pair of Golden Eagles there (and some divers in the sea). There the hard slog back started. The wind had built up and conspired to be a headwind most of the way. I just made the 1540 ferry at Fishnish with 10 mins to spare - met the organisers again there. We saw a group of three cyclists arriving after we had left.
Then over through Morvern I saw a soaring White-Tailed Eagle. I also saw some of the most selfish driving there - bunches of vehicles rushing between the ferries with evil glints and no slowing for the poor cyclist to make it to the passing place.
The climbing over the pass at Glen Tarbet was excruciating - straight into the gale but I got some relief on turning up the coast towards Corran. I needed that - as I have to lift my speed to just catch the ferry.
I got back just after 11 hours from the start but 7 hrs 43 riding. I ate the wonderful spread the organisers provided, chatting to them and DaveC's mate for about an hour. I then went back to the B & B without seeing the following riders (ferry timing is crucial!) and then it started to pour!
If the audax is repeated I would very much recommend it despite the more distant start. You could always cycle ;) On the way home this morning, I am sure I saw one of the audaxers struggling up Glencoe in the pouring rain.
Posted 11 years ago # -
You were very lucky with the weather. Glad it went well. Presumably all the ferry crossings went according to plan.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I was with Alex and a.n.other arriving to just miss the ferry. I left Pennyghael late on, and reeled in the field to catch Alex and co on the coast ~5km before the Fishnish turning. As we came down the hill we saw the ferry leaving. :0(
Long queues ensued at Loch Aline but I raced up the hill (see strava below) and caught some leaders at Loch Sunart but then threw it away again while I wasted time putting on and then later on taking off waterproofs and then we stopped to help Al with a rear slow puncture. Fortunately we just made the Corran ferry as it came in so crossed with the main crowd. As darkness fell pretty darn fast the rain came on and we just hoofed it round and over the bridge in the pouring rain. I knew there was a shower in the hall at the finish so I just rode through the rain.
I took my new Dolan Dual which was nice but made the mistake of filling the carradice with lots of unneeded rubbish as well as a kilo of chocolate which I never opened.... I started to really tire at the bridge over Loch Leven and just held the wheel of a mate until the end. I really need to eat more!
It was a lovely ride though and despite the horrendous wind I love the ride and will enter again if its run. Graeme really knows how to lay on a ride and we were spoiled this weekend.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Well no such heroics for me. As the forecast is for the wind to be 10mph slower tomorrow, I'm going to try a DIY 100k from Dunblane to St Andrews tomorrow. Hopefully should be a side/tail wind most of the way...
Posted 11 years ago # -
I did the Mull it Over 2 years back - and new Mull well enough to research the ferry times from Fishnish to Lochaline and stick in with a crowd putting in a big effort round the island to catch the first ferry of the morning. We could see it crossing and managed to just make it as the ramp was coming down. It was somewhat rewarding (with just a hint of schadenfeude) to see the ramp going up as other riders came down the teasingly long road to the slipway.
It helped that we were blessed with one of the nicest days ever to be had on the west coast of Scotland.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I have to admit I never even looked at the Calmac website, nevermind the timetables...
Posted 11 years ago # -
Think I was also on that ferry kaptunik. It was like that bit in the french connection on the metro.
-stevePosted 11 years ago # -
what audax was it that went round loch leven ?
Posted 11 years ago # -
Meant to ask: any CCE'ers doing Tour de Lauder next weekend?
Posted 11 years ago # -
Simon? The Mull It Over went round Loch Leven but this time Graeme put an extension round the whole of Loch Creran rather than going over the newer bridge. This adds an extra 8km in.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Ah - thanks DaveC. In this case I have not done the Port light.
-StevePosted 11 years ago # -
Well that's Dunblane-St Andrews ticked off. Went via Crieff and Ladybank, chose scenic routes rather than hammering down A roads.
Overall a very pleasant ride, with fine if windy weather and the wind behind me most of the way. That lasted until near Ladybank, when the rain started chucking it down. I had seen it approaching from the west earlier, and managed to outrun it for a wee while anyway. Quite a few heavy downpours ensued on the way to St Andrews, but at least it was warm. Some lovely rainbows around Ceres too.
I was had a wee setback on the long and twisty descent from Findo Gask. The descent was into a fierce headwind, but still pretty fast. As a result of the wind in my ears, I did not hear my map holder fall into the road from my poorly-secured saddlebag (that'll teach me to not check the straps every time). When I got to the A9 crossroads I realised I'd lost it, and set off back up the rather steep hill to find it. As I did so, a big tanker lorry roared past on the otherwise largely deserted road. I muttered in deperation: "Please don't run over my map case!" When I found it, of course, it was in the middle of the road and my plea had gone unanswered. Maps were fine, except for a few new creases, but my pen and compass completely destroyed. Ach well, cheaper to replace than a Garmin or smartphone...
I arrived in St Andrews somewhat bedraggled in the midst of another drenching showr, and joined the long queue in the fish shop for some hot (and very tasty) food.
All in all, a good day and some routes I haven't tried before. The roads out of Dunblane are familiar from other events, and I haven't been on the Ceres route since 2010. Very different weather back then, scorching hot...
Posted 11 years ago # -
"
Sabotage hits New Forest sportive with drawing pins spread on road, signs ripped down and go-slow driving"
Posted 11 years ago # -
Anyone else on Merse and Moors tomorrow? Weather looking pretty good, southerly winds but at least that'll be favourable for the long trip home from the dark southern lands :)
My first 300km, scary stuff! Feels like a proper step beyond just a long bike ride territory.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Not me, I'm saving myself for Berwick n Beattock, Snow Roads and Deeside Lass.
Hope the wind is nill until you get to Carslile, then it blows you home quick sharp!
Posted 11 years ago # -
I'm not riding tomorrow as I rode it a fortnight ago but I'll be there to wave you all off and feed you all again on your return.
The weather's looking very good for tomorrow with the wind not expected to get up until mid-morning by when hopefully everyone should be well on their way to Elsdon where they turn and it becomes a tailwind. The run back along the A199 from Dunbar into the wind might be a bit challenging after 270km but at least it's fairly flat.
@DaveC : I'm glad you're not navigating tomorrow, we aren't going anywhere near Carlisle :P
Posted 11 years ago # -
Sorry cyclops, I can't get this 400 out of my mind. Are on on it?
Posted 11 years ago # -
I'd love to do it but no, I'm not doing it.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I forgot to enter (durrr) so doing an early 170km to moffat down the bear road (I think it's called that) and then back over via innerleithen and the granites. Hopeing to do it in sub 6 hours **hoping**
Still struggling with the night before feed - anyone any advice on what to pack my face hole with to keep me going the next morning?
Posted 11 years ago #
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