Ken Laidlaw Sportive 21st august 2011

[Waspie]

Primalgeek, I would say go for it.

If you're cycling 30 miles most days that's a pretty good start, commute speed sounds fine to me, I would say that though, it's a very similar average to my 20 odd mile commute.
You've got almost 3 months to prepare and if you slowly up your mileage you should ok. You'll need to hit the hills though! Not many flat roads in that part of the world.

If it's the red route that you would be entering and things weren't going well you could bail out by following the blue route back to Hawick. By the time you got to the blue route turn off you would have already done 4 of the climbs from the red route by my reckoning, including the toughest imo - The Swire (Kirkhope to Yarrow on the map). The blue route is a great cycle in it's own right but I'm sure with a bit of hill practise you'll manage the red. Not saying it won't hurt though

 

[Telemark]

You'll sleepwalk (not cycle ) the yellow route before breakfast, you'd be able to ride the blue route tomorrow ... so if you can do a few long rides over the next few months, the red route might be a distinct possibility ...

You should be able to calculate average speeds from previous results (including feeding stops ), to get an idea whether you'd make it round before the cut off time ...
I think you can down-grade to the blue route if you don't manage to get in enough training before the day (not sure if it is possible to upgrade to the red route?)

Just come along to the next few CC Ecosse rides, the old hands at audax/sportives will keep you straight

Now go and get your name down for it before it fills up ...

T

 

[primalgeek]

Sorry folks I'd have replied to your posts of encouragement earlier, but I was too busy signing up for the red route

Primalgeek, I would say go for it.

If you're cycling 30 miles most days that's a pretty good start, commute speed sounds fine to me, I would say that though, it's a very similar average to my 20 odd mile commute.
You've got almost 3 months to prepare and if you slowly up your mileage you should ok. You'll need to hit the hills though! Not many flat roads in that part of the world.

If it's the red route that you would be entering and things weren't going well you could bail out by following the blue route back to Hawick. By the time you got to the blue route turn off you would have already done 4 of the climbs from the red route by my reckoning, including the toughest imo - The Swire (Kirkhope to Yarrow on the map). The blue route is a great cycle in it's own right but I'm sure with a bit of hill practise you'll manage the red. Not saying it won't hurt though

I've found West Lothian Clarion's map of the Bathgate Hills, so I'll be seeking out all their 'points of interest'

You'll sleepwalk (not cycle ) the yellow route before breakfast, you'd be able to ride the blue route tomorrow ... so if you can do a few long rides over the next few months, the red route might be a distinct possibility ...

You should be able to calculate average speeds from previous results (including feeding stops ), to get an idea whether you'd make it round before the cut off time ...
I think you can down-grade to the blue route if you don't manage to get in enough training before the day (not sure if it is possible to upgrade to the red route?)

Just come along to the next few CC Ecosse rides, the old hands at audax/sportives will keep you straight

Now go and get your name down for it before it fills up ...

T

eek! There is a cut-off?
I'll be out on Sunday with CC Ecosse, so you can prepare them for me for my barrage of sportive questions

 

[aberal]

Well, that's me signed up for the red route. Even now, finding the prospect quite daunting.

 

[HLaB]

Good Luck aberal, its a harder event but it is probably one of the best organised ones :-)

 

[magnatom]

Good man! For anyone going I'll be staying in Hawick the night before, so if you want to meet up for a beer soft drink then PM me.

 

[magnatom]

So entries are closed for this event and it's not long now until the day itself!

So who else is taking part? I'll be heading up the day before and staying in Hawick if anyone wants to meet up the night before.

I'm looking forward to it, but I'm not sure my fitness is up to scratch. I've had 3 weeks off the bike over the summer and I've only managed one training run (the rest have been commutes). Oh well!

 

[aberal]

I signed up for the 100 miles, but with work and the endless rain I've probably only managed to do around 1/3 of the training I would have wanted. So am going to do the 50 mile route instead.

 

[primalgeek]

Signed up for the 100 miler and preparation has not gone well at all! My last big ride was the LEPRA Edin --> St Andrew ride in mid June (80 miles including cycling to the start).

Since then work commitments have really seen my mileage slump including commuting.

I gave up smoking last week and since then I feel terrible. Overnight I've become an insomniac, really tight / sore chest and every time I breathe it feels as if I'm coughing my lungs up. Whilst I've always been terrible on hills, this is just making things a whole lot worse. I thought stopping smoking was supposed to make you feel better?

However I'm determined to do the 100 miler (my first) and to make sure I do I'm raising funds for the Stroke Association (my mum suffered a major stroke a while ago, hence the charity). I've never raised money during a cycling event before, but I really really need the extra incentive as all my willpower is going on stopping smoking.

So if you pass a rather weary looking guy on a black genesis equilibrium who looks about to surrender, please offer some words of encouragement to get me round the course

... MTFU would be encouragement enough

 

[JimtheScot]

anyone looking for a lift. I'm gonna drive down and would be happy to car share with someone willing to help with directions and split the petrol. My mobile is 07768504745. Cheers

 

[magnatom]

aberal,

That's a shame. Are you sure you aren't willing to give the full thing a go?

primalgeek,

I think you know what I am going to say..........MTFU!

JimtheScot,

I'd be wary of putting your mobile number up on a public forum. You never know who might call!

However, I'll echo the sentiment. I'm heading up on the Saturday. If anyone needs a lift from the Glasgow area give me a shout. I have space for another bike (possibly two).

 

[primalgeek]

aberal,

That's a shame. Are you sure you aren't willing to give the full thing a go?

primalgeek,

I think you know what I am going to say..........MTFU!

Thanks magnatom

I managed to get out on a 72 mile ride with a few hills on Saturday so feeling a wee bit more positive about this sportive. I found it fairly windy and every ascent feelt like it was accompanied with a head wind. Route I took is here http://connect.garmi...ivity/106173339. I only stopped twice, once to watch my son play football (after 5 miles so it doesn't count

) and once to buy a mars bar and more water from a garage.

What is generally more accurate the raw elevation data from the garmin (3898ft of climbing) or with elevation corrections (5078ft of climbing)?

 

[magnatom]

I'll be heading down to Hawick after lunch. Looking forward to tomorrow. Whilst the weather looks like it won't be perfect, it doesn't look too bad.

Primalgeek, you sounds like you are much more prepared than I am.

Look out for the guy with a camera on his helmet.

 

[magnatom]

I've left my cycling shoes at home!!

I'm in Hawick and my shoes are about 100 miles away. No chance of getting them for tomorrow. So if anyone reads this and is coming to the sportive, and has size 9 or 9.5 shoes with SPD cleats, can you bring them for me. Long shot I know Otherwise there is no way I can do 105 miles. :-(

 

[primalgeek]

I've left my cycling shoes at home!!

I'm in Hawick and my shoes are about 100 miles away. No chance of getting them for tomorrow. So if anyone reads this and is coming to the sportive, and has size 9 or 9.5 shoes with SPD cleats, can you bring them for me. Long shot I know Otherwise there is no way I can do 105 miles. :-(

I've got an old pair of spd shoes in size 44 (I'm a size 9 and they fit me fine) which I'll bring down... Problem is I don't have the cleats for them! anyone got cleats for magnatom?