Ken Laidlaw Scottish Borders Sportif - Aug 23

[Seamab]

Now that the pain of the radar ride has subsided i'm musing about doing this one.

It's 160K with over 3000m of climbing and a beginners route of 60K with much less climbing. It starts/ends in Hawick and is a reasonable £25 entry with the promise of food at the end. 17m of the route will be part of stage 3 of this years Tour of Britain stage 3.

Anyone else interested?

 

[Philip Whiteman]

Yes it looks interesting. Some fantastic countryside and the visit to the Buddhist Temple is worth a visit initself. 3000m of ascent is clearly quite a lot but I would love to more on the nature of these ascents. Are the far between with huge steep gradients or a series of long drags?

 

[Seamab]

Philip

I don't have any local knowledge on the climbs but it seems "The Swire" has featured in Cycling Weekly's "Killer Climbs" in May 2008, so no doubt that ones a toughie!

Ken Laidlaw was a local Hawick lad who competed in the TdF in 1961 and won the "most aggressive rider of the day" award on one stage.

I had a look on the map and don't see any chevrons but there are quite a few climbs listed: Bonchester Hill; The Note o the Gate; Holm Hill; Eskdalemuir; The Berry Bush; The Swire; Woll Rig and The Leap Linns. So no doubt it will be a challenge...

 

[Scoosh]

Now why did you have to go and flag up this one ?

You've got me interested .

If you go to the link page, then click on the Profiles tab at the top, it shows, for the Long route:
Distance: 164km
Major climbs: Note o the gate, Holm Hill, Swire, Woll Rigg
Feed Stops: 2 (at 46km and 100km)
Altitude climbed: 3050m
Max Gradient: 15%

Seems manageable when put like that, doesn't it ???

 

[HLaB]

Now why did you have to go and flag up this one ?

You've got me interested .

If you go to the link page, then click on the Profiles tab at the top, it shows, for the Long route:
Distance: 164km
Major climbs: Note o the gate, Holm Hill, Swire, Woll Rigg
Feed Stops: 2 (at 46km and 100km)
Altitude climbed: 3050m
Max Gradient: 15%

Seems manageable when put like that, doesn't it ???

You've done Dunning to Path of Condie and went over the Lammermuirs with HJ on your old pug it'd be perfectly manageable for you.

 

[Seamab]

Seems manageable when put like that, doesn't it ???

Of course it is - especially if you've got the CC lead out train in front

Now who can we get to do that job?

 

[Scoosh]

Hmmmm ....

I suspect there is a big difference between a "CC lead out train" ... and someone prepared to hang back and un-wheeze me up some of those inclines . 15% is quite a lot - I know, I've done 14%, which seemed bad enough

Still, there is a month to train ....


... and we're heading down to N Yorkshire for a week's hols on Saturday ....

... and there be hills and dales down there .....​

.... and HLaB knows about this thread too ....​

Hmmmm again

 

[HJ]

Hmmmm ....

I suspect there is a big difference between a "CC lead out train" ... and someone prepared to hang back and un-wheeze me up some of those inclines . 15% is quite a lot - I know, I've done 14%, which seemed bad enough

Still, there is a month to train ....


... and we're heading down to N Yorkshire for a week's hols on Saturday ....

... and there be hills and dales down there .....​

.... and HLaB knows about this thread too ....​

Hmmmm again

The Hungry Snout is 17%, is there something you weren't telling us...

 

[Scoosh]

The Hungry Snout is 17%, is there something you weren't telling us...

Was it ??? Great

15% - Nae Bother

The climb of 14% to which I was referring was on the Cairn o' Mount, from Banchory to Fettercairn, part of the 160km Audax I did back in what seems like the dark ages ... but was actually the end of May

 

[Seamab]

Scoosh wrote:

I suspect there is a big difference between a "CC lead out train" ... and someone prepared to hang back and un-wheeze me up some of those inclines . 15% is quite a lot - I know, I've done 14%, which seemed bad enough

Still, there is a month to train ....

I'm happy to stay back and help on the hills in return for some assistance going down I'm not bothered about time on this one - just looking to enjoy the day and the scenery. Might even be time for a bit of meditation at the monastery on Eskdalemuir.

 

[Scoosh]

Scoosh wrote:
I'm happy to stay back and help on the hills in return for some assistance going down I'm not bothered about time on this one - just looking to enjoy the day and the scenery. Might even be time for a bit of meditation at the monastery on Eskdalemuir.

I feel the strain of an arm being gently twisted

I'm away for a week in N Yorks, so will have time to mull this over (= persuade Mrs Scoosh I can do it !), maybe even get some hills done, then I'll probably enter on my return.

You have been warned

 

[Scoosh]

As preparation, I have entered the Selkirk Gore Bike Wear Sportive (just the 100 mile loop ) this coming Saturday, which should give me a good indication of my fitness level for considering the Ken Laidlaw.

Anyone else entered ?

 

[HLaB]

Nice One Scoosh. Now my calf is healing up I thinking of doing another Sportive either the Edinburgh Bethany Sportive or the Borders one or both!

 

[Waspie]

Nice One Scoosh. Now my calf is healing up I thinking of doing another Sportive either the Edinburgh Bethany Sportive or the Borders one or both!

Last call for entries for the Edinburgh Sportive apparently.

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12635883

I've entered the 95 mile Selkirk Sportive as well. Might go daft and enter the Edinburgh and Ken Laidlaw one as well.

 

[HLaB]

Last call for entries for the Edinburgh Sportive apparently.

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12635883

I've entered the 95 mile Selkirk Sportive as well. Might go daft and enter the Edinburgh and Ken Laidlaw one as well.

Cheers, I've signed up for thr Edinburgh one !