Scotland : The Highlands Bealach Beag Sportive

[Herbie]

I've entered the forthcoming Bealach Beag. Are there any of my fellow Cycle Chatters doing it? I've never met a real Cycle Chatter before....I'm staying in Sheildaig for two nights...anyone up for a beer or two...Champions League is on that night...good night for pub football watching.

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

Think i will be doing the Bealach Mor but not the Beag. Both do the big climb though. It was recently included in a book (i forget the name) about Europe's greatest climbs. It was one of the writers favourite climbs. I've yet to do it but look forward to it this year.

Best of luck. Report back afterward if you will..........

 

[Herbie]

Think i will be doing the Bealach Mor but not the Beag. Both do the big climb though. It was recently included in a book (i forget the name) about Europe's greatest climbs. It was one of the writers favourite climbs. I've yet to do it but look forward to it this year.

Best of luck. Report back afterward if you will..........

I will if i'm spared ha ha

 

[Sixpackorkeg]

Think i will be doing the Bealach Mor but not the Beag. Both do the big climb though. It was recently included in a book (i forget the name) about Europe's greatest climbs. It was one of the writers favourite climbs. I've yet to do it but look forward to it this year.

Best of luck. Report back afterward if you will..........

Bitch of a hill....just wears your legs out steadily. The long ramp just before the switchbacks is the toughest part. If you do the Mor, then don't think it's over once you've crossed the pass, the coast ride for the following 20 or 30 is another kind of hell altogether.
I'm full of good news and will see you there in September (I'll be the one at the back)

 

[avsd]

Enjoy

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

Bitch of a hill....just wears your legs out steadily. The long ramp just before the switchbacks is the toughest part. If you do the Mor, then don't think it's over once you've crossed the pass, the coast ride for the following 20 or 30 is another kind of hell altogether.
I'm full of good news and will see you there in September (I'll be the one at the back)

I'll probably put in a half decent time out of pure stubbornness but there will be teeth marks all over my bars!!!

 

[arranandy]

Its a long tough climb. The views are meant to be pretty good although the day I did it a few years back it was zero visibility and a constant drizzle. Then there was the fekkin headwind down the other side. Good day out though

 

[Nebulous]

I did the Mor two years ago. The hill was grim. I've a bit of unfinished business with it and will be back, though not sure whether it will be this year. Weather is key to anything in that part of the world. A clubmate claims he once came round the corner below the hairpin bends to see a pile of bikes lying in the road. A gust of wind had blown several people over at the same time. I had some rain but not too much in the way of wind.

 

[Sixpackorkeg]

I did a first ride up there some time in 2009 and it was so windynwenhad to shelter in the culverts. My mate was standing telling me how he'd been blown off and got blown over while telling me (while standing!!)

 

[Noodley]

I rode the Bealach the first 2 years it was run when it was just one event - the first year was a lovely day and the views were spectacular, the 2nd time was thick fog and you could not see the other side of the road! I loved riding it first time, but the 2nd time was just a bit dull tbh. But that is maybe just me, I like "new" challenges and it just didnae hold up 2nd time around. Or maybe my "priorities" changed between 1st and 2nd time...

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

I rode the Bealach the first 2 years it was run when it was just one event - the first year was a lovely day and the views were spectacular, the 2nd time was thick fog and you could not see the other side of the road! I loved riding it first time, but the 2nd time was just a bit dull tbh. But that is maybe just me, I like "new" challenges and it just didnae hold up 2nd time around. Or maybe my "priorities" changed between 1st and 2nd time...

Amazing how a ride can change with a bit of sunshine!! Us Scots can go from complete miserable b*stards to charitable go givers as soon as a cloud moves and the yellow thing beats through.

 

[Strathlubnaig]

Amazing how a ride can change with a bit of sunshine!! Us Scots can go from complete miserable b*stards to charitable go givers as soon as a cloud moves and the yellow thing beats through.

Yellow thing ?? Please expand.

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

Yellow thing ?? Please expand.

Rumour has it that it will make an appearance from this afternoon all the way through to Thursday! It's being billed as a "mini heatwave". I prefer to think of it as "the Scottish summer".

 

[Noodley]

Amazing how a ride can change with a bit of sunshine!! Us Scots can go from complete miserable b*stards to charitable go givers as soon as a cloud moves and the yellow thing beats through.

The sun didnae really play any part in my changing mood - I have ridden many events in worse weather which have been very enjoyable.

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

The sun didnae really play any part in my changing mood - I have ridden many events in worse weather which have been very enjoyable.

I find that i am just gutting it out when the weather is typically Scottish. A bit of sunshine goes a long way with me. In fact many a rest day has been scuppered when the sun decided to shine and i could not resist her warm yellow charm.