EricL

good challenging route, thanks Billy, group worked well up the Khyber, Crow and along Loch Carron, up Tak and down with a few added dramatic adventures! No reverse Tak and Crow for Alan and me but respect to the hardmen who went back for more! A short coffee break in Lennoxtown gave me the chance to assess the damage, looks just likes lumps and cuts and the bike responded well on the way back. Thanks to Alan for straightening out brakes/shifters and the bunch for insisting I head for home after 'binning it'. Still got nearly 74 miles and 5400 feet on a pleasant day. 

good challenging route, thanks Billy, group worked well up the Khyber, Crow and along Loch Carron, up Tak and down with a few added dramatic adventures! No reverse Tak and Crow for Alan and me but respect to the hardmen who went back for more! A short coffee break in Lennoxtown gave me the chance to assess the damage, looks just likes lumps and cuts and the bike responded well on the way back. Thanks to Alan for straightening out brakes/shifters and the bunch for insisting I head for home after 'binning it'. Still got nearly 74 miles and 5400 feet on a pleasant day. 

good challenging route, thanks Billy, group worked well up the Khyber, Crow and along Loch Carron, up Tak and down with a few added dramatic adventures! No reverse Tak and Crow for Alan and me but respect to the hardmen who went back for more! A short coffee break in Lennoxtown gave me the chance to assess the damage, looks just likes lumps and cuts and the bike responded well on the way back. Thanks to Alan for straightening out brakes/shifters and the bunch for insisting I head for home after 'binning it'. Still got nearly 74 miles and 5400 feet on a pleasant day. 

good challenging route, thanks Billy, group worked well up the Khyber, Crow and along Loch Carron, up Tak and down with a few added dramatic adventures! No reverse Tak and Crow for Alan and me but respect to the hardmen who went back for more! A short coffee break in Lennoxtown gave me the chance to assess the damage, looks just likes lumps and cuts and the bike responded well on the way back. Thanks to Alan for straightening out brakes/shifters and the bunch for insisting I head for home after 'binning it'. Still got nearly 74 miles and 5400 feet on a pleasant day. 

Small group set of this morning over the Kyber crow and Tak , the decent down the Tak was fast and soon took a few victims Coutie clipping the Barrie's staying upright Eric hitting the barrier and coming down hard fair amount of bruising on his arm and me running out of road due to a car taking the rest of it mines was a soft verge fall, at the bottom Alan and Eric went home me Couttie Charlie Skinny Mark and Paul L went back up the Tak round the valley and a great caffe stop in fintry then back over the crow and home 100 miles 6000 feet and some sun what more could you ask for

Haven't been out since Flanders so I'll see how this goes.
Have to dust off the winter bike

Many thanks to our timekeepers tonight, not the best of conditions but it turned out good for me, woo-hoo!

Cold, bright, with a stiff Westerly tonight and 2 riders.
 
Gerard 24:35 PB paid
Richard 22:23 will transfer directly.
 
Well done to both riders, and outstanding from Gerard on a big PB. Leaving off the parachute clearly helps.....
 
£3 transferred to the club account.

Day 3 I am home with the bags, heavy rain overnight but front had mostly passed by the time the 4 intrepid riders set of for home, Graham and Paul planning complete ride home and Carol and Dave bailing out at Sanquar rail station. The wind was with them to begin with but likely to be head wind for last third or so. Gerard and Amanda and I enjoyed a more leisurely breakfast and I left them to enjoy their child free day.
 
I enjoyed myself but it was a shame about the classic Bank Holiday weather.
The hotel looked after us well and the Tour of Britain is passing its doors soon. Sam was happy to secure the cycles in the boiler house and served very hearty cooked breakfasts. The hotel is an old building with a few idiosyncrasies but not Fawlty Towers. Real Ale pub opposite for keeping Paul C happy and good fare for dinner in ours. If you know anyone considering the Southern Upland Way Sam is happy to ferry folk as well.
 
Photos to follow!

Day two of our little jaunt was always intended to be easy going, very much a rest day for the more hardcore cycle back home sorts. We left mid morning into the lifting mist along the road to Castle Douglas. It was an undulating road into a light headwind, going down past Loch Ken. Usual mix of road surfaces, often changing from that sapping rumbling stuff to short teasing bits of flawless, smooth tarmac. We nearly all arrived together at Threave for lunch, the final dash up the driveway was short surprisingly steep.
 
Warmed and partially dried out after lunch, Graham and Jane chose to return by the same route, leaving Carol, David, Paul and myself to go back via Laurieston on the opposite side of Loch Ken. With the wind on our backs and the road starting to dry out it was a well paced blast back. Despite Carol's claims of innocence the sprint for the thirty had been accepted and I went for it the only way I know how, too early and too fast. David drew level with me on the finish and produced a photo finish. A good little route in different countryside for our mini bunch.

A bit late in leaving for meeting Graham at the clubrooms so not the best start, but it was to say goodbye to my kids so quite understandable. We met up and got underway quickly as we had to meet Paul at the top of Bowfield, we actually meet him halfway down as he was getting cold waiting. Steady pace down to Lugton, Dunlop and Stewarton where we were met bit the hailstones. It did not last and we made it to Kilmaurs for our first stop while the hail came down again.
 
Refuelled and recaffeinated we pushed on into the sapping headwind towards Tarbolton and Annbank en route to Rozelle tearooms in Ayr. Thanks to precision planning from Graham and steady navigation from Paul then no sooner had we sat down Carol and David arrived to join us for lunch.
 
Afterwards our route took us down the A731, now with the wind behind us. A brief stop in Patna to say hello to Jane making her way by car and we continued at a good pace with a couple of downhill sprints until Carsphairn. There our support wagon had stopped and the most carefully laid out feed station was ready to welcome us with hot drinks cake and sunshine.
 
Thereafter we headed on for the last short section to our hotel, becoming a little bit strung out with Paul winning the sprint for the 30 into St. John's Town of Dalry. Finishing the day with drinks and dinner in first rate company our thoughts are of tomorrow and the weather forecast.

no closed roads Darryl, but most were so quiet you'd never know. Great ride by you guys yesterday.

Alarm at 5.15am, shower and off to the east at 6.00 for my first Kinross Sportive, a really popular but relatively new event, so popular in fact, you have to sit up until midnight months ago for entry to open as it is sold out in minutes!
 
Arrived at Kinross in good time to be met by deep blue skies, still icy air and snow on the tops of Lomonds of Fife and surrounding hills.  
 
Rider number admin done, wait in queue for the start and then sent off in small groups ...away you go. Riders from all over the country, clubs from Dundee, Dunfermline, Pentlands , Carse of Gowrie, Falkirk  and many more, plus one from JWCC! 
 
6 hours, 88 miles later (140k) and 2000m of climbing over  6 or 7 decent long steady climbs and fast descents, e.g. Dunning and Knockhill, the route was complete. Well marshalled with two feed stations and some of the quietest roads, in very good condition, I have seen in Scotland for cycling. Hardly a pot hole over 140k, even on the back roads!
 
Clearly the dry sunny weather helped, however today proved you don't have to travel too far for a decent day out.
 
cheers,
Eric
 
    
 

Alarm at 5.15am, shower and off to the east at 6.00 for my first Kinross Sportive, a really popular but relatively new event, so popular in fact, you have to sit up until midnight months ago for entry to open as it is sold out in minutes!
 
Arrived at Kinross in good time to be met by deep blue skies, still icy air and snow on the tops of Lomonds of Fife and surrounding hills.  
 
Rider number admin done, wait in queue for the start and then sent off in small groups ...away you go. Riders from all over the country, clubs from Dundee, Dunfermline, Pentlands , Carse of Gowrie, Falkirk  and many more, plus one from JWCC! 
 
6 hours, 88 miles later (140k) and 2000m of climbing over  6 or 7 decent long steady climbs and fast descents, e.g. Dunning and Knockhill, the route was complete. Well marshalled with two feed stations and some of the quietest roads, in very good condition, I have seen in Scotland for cycling. Hardly a pot hole over 140k, even on the back roads!
 
Clearly the dry sunny weather helped, however today proved you don't have to travel too far for a decent day out.
 
cheers,
Eric
 
    
 

Well done Eric

Sounds great Eric. Was it closed roads?

Sounds great Eric well done.

Alarm at 5.15am, shower and off to the east at 6.00 for my first Kinross Sportive, a really popular but relatively new event, so popular in fact, you have to sit up until midnight months ago for entry to open as it is sold out in minutes!
 
Arrived at Kinross in good time to be met by deep blue skies, still icy air and snow on the tops of Lomonds of Fife and surrounding hills.  
 
Rider number admin done, wait in queue for the start and then sent off in small groups ...away you go. Riders from all over the country, clubs from Dundee, Dunfermline, Pentlands , Carse of Gowrie, Falkirk  and many more, plus one from JWCC! 
 
6 hours, 88 miles later (140k) and 2000m of climbing over  6 or 7 decent long steady climbs and fast descents, e.g. Dunning and Knockhill, the route was complete. Well marshalled with two feed stations and some of the quietest roads, in very good condition, I have seen in Scotland for cycling. Hardly a pot hole over 140k, even on the back roads!
 
Clearly the dry sunny weather helped, however today proved you don't have to travel too far for a decent day out.
 
cheers,
Eric
 
    
 

Alarm at 5.15am, shower and off to the east at 6.00 for my first Kinross Sportive, a really popular but relatively new event, so popular in fact, you have to sit up until midnight months ago for entry to open as it is sold out in minutes!
 
Arrived at Kinross in good time to be met by deep blue skies, still icy air and snow on the tops of Lomonds of Fife and surrounding hills.  
 
Rider number admin done, wait in queue for the start and then sent off in small groups ...away you go. Riders from all over the country, clubs from Dundee, Dunfermline, Pentlands , Carse of Gowrie, Falkirk  and many more, plus one from JWCC! 
 
6 hours, 88 miles later (140k) and 2000m of climbing over  6 or 7 decent long steady climbs and fast descents, e.g. Dunning and Knockhill, the route was complete. Well marshalled with two feed stations and some of the quietest roads, in very good condition, I have seen in Scotland for cycling. Hardly a pot hole over 140k, even on the back roads!
 
Clearly the dry sunny weather helped, however today proved you don't have to travel too far for a decent day out.
 
cheers,
Eric
 
    
 

Alarm at 5.15am, shower and off to the east at 6.00 for my first Kinross Sportive, a really popular but relatively new event, so popular in fact, you have to sit up until midnight months ago for entry to open as it is sold out in minutes!
 
Arrived at Kinross in good time to be met by deep blue skies, still icy air and snow on the tops of Lomonds of Fife and surrounding hills.  
 
Rider number admin done, wait in queue for the start and then sent off in small groups ...away you go. Riders from all over the country, clubs from Dundee, Dunfermline, Pentlands , Carse of Gowrie, Falkirk  and many more, plus one from JWCC! 
 
6 hours, 88 miles later (140k) and 2000m of climbing over  6 or 7 decent long steady climbs and fast descents, e.g. Dunning and Knockhill, the route was complete. Well marshalled with two feed stations and some of the quietest roads, in very good condition, I have seen in Scotland for cycling. Hardly a pot hole over 140k, even on the back roads!
 
Clearly the dry sunny weather helped, however today proved you don't have to travel too far for a decent day out.
 
cheers,
Eric
 
    
 

Alarm at 5.15am, shower and off to the east at 6.00 for my first Kinross Sportive, a really popular but relatively new event, so popular in fact, you have to sit up until midnight months ago for entry to open as it is sold out in minutes!
 
Arrived at Kinross in good time to be met by deep blue skies, still icy air and snow on the tops of Lomonds of Fife and surrounding hills.  
 
Rider number admin done, wait in queue for the start and then sent off in small groups ...away you go. Riders from all over the country, clubs from Dundee, Dunfermline, Pentlands , Carse of Gowrie, Falkirk  and many more, plus one from JWCC! 
 
6 hours, 88 miles later (140k) and 2000m of climbing over  6 or 7 decent long steady climbs and fast descents, e.g. Dunning and Knockhill, the route was complete. Well marshalled with two feed stations and some of the quietest roads, in very good condition, I have seen in Scotland for cycling. Hardly a pot hole over 140k, even on the back roads!
 
Clearly the dry sunny weather helped, however today proved you don't have to travel too far for a decent day out.
 
cheers,
Eric
 
    
 

Alarm at 5.15am, shower and off to the east at 6.00 for my first Kinross Sportive, a really popular but relatively new event, so popular in fact, you have to sit up until midnight months ago for entry to open as it is sold out in minutes!
 
Arrived at Kinross in good time to be met by deep blue skies, still icy air and snow on the tops of Lomonds of Fife and surrounding hills.  
 
Rider number admin done, wait in queue for the start and then sent off in small groups ...away you go. Riders from all over the country, clubs from Dundee, Dunfermline, Pentlands , Carse of Gowrie, Falkirk  and many more, plus one from JWCC! 
 
6 hours, 88 miles later (140k) and 2000m of climbing over  6 or 7 decent long steady climbs and fast descents, e.g. Dunning and Knockhill, the route was complete. Well marshalled with two feed stations and some of the quietest roads, in very good condition, I have seen in Scotland for cycling. Hardly a pot hole over 140k, even on the back roads!
 
Clearly the dry sunny weather helped, however today proved you don't have to travel too far for a decent day out.
 
cheers,
Eric
 
    
 

Alarm at 5.15am, shower and off to the east at 6.00 for my first Kinross Sportive, a really popular but relatively new event, so popular in fact, you have to sit up until midnight months ago for entry to open as it is sold out in minutes!
 
Arrived at Kinross in good time to be met by deep blue skies, still icy air and snow on the tops of Lomonds of Fife and surrounding hills.  
 
Rider number admin done, wait in queue for the start and then sent off in small groups ...away you go. Riders from all over the country, clubs from Dundee, Dunfermline, Pentlands , Carse of Gowrie, Falkirk  and many more, plus one from JWCC! 
 
6 hours, 88 miles later (140k) and 2000m of climbing over  6 or 7 decent long steady climbs and fast descents, e.g. Dunning and Knockhill, the route was complete. Well marshalled with two feed stations and some of the quietest roads, in very good condition, I have seen in Scotland for cycling. Hardly a pot hole over 140k, even on the back roads!
 
Clearly the dry sunny weather helped, however today proved you don't have to travel too far for a decent day out.
 
cheers,
Eric
 
    
 

Alarm at 5.15am, shower and off to the east at 6.00 for my first Kinross Sportive, a really popular but relatively new event, so popular in fact, you have to sit up until midnight months ago for entry to open as it is sold out in minutes!
 
Arrived at Kinross in good time to be met by deep blue skies, still icy air and snow on the tops of Lomonds of Fife and surrounding hills.  
 
Rider number admin done, wait in queue for the start and then sent off in small groups ...away you go. Riders from all over the country, clubs from Dundee, Dunfermline, Pentlands , Carse of Gowrie, Falkirk  and many more, plus one from JWCC! 
 
6 hours, 88 miles later (140k) and 2000m of climbing over  6 or 7 decent long steady climbs and fast descents, e.g. Dunning and Knockhill, the route was complete. Well marshalled with two feed stations and some of the quietest roads, in very good condition, I have seen in Scotland for cycling. Hardly a pot hole over 140k, even on the back roads!
 
Clearly the dry sunny weather helped, however today proved you don't have to travel too far for a decent day out.
 
cheers,
Eric
 
    
 

Thanks to all who set off from the bridge this morning. We were very lucky with the weather. As David said, an epic day. 140 miles on the clock for me, and similar for Robbie and Ginty.
I have one or two more weekends before la Sufrida when I'll be able to do an all dayer. Might just do it again...