Ken Laidlaw Sportive 21st august 2011

[magnatom]

That would be brilliant. I assume there might be a bike shop represented at the start? I'll PM my mobile. :-)

 

[Waspie]

Hope everyone enjoyed themselves. Thought it was another great event, 3rd year on the trot for me. How hard was the climb out of Langholm and the last wee bit over the moor after Bonchester Bridge?!

 

[magnatom]

Just back home.

Yes Waspie that climb was a killer. Loads of climbing already in the legs and the mother of all head winds! My legs were pretty.spent by that point.

However, I had a great day, and special thanks should go to primalgeek for supplying the shoes. I bought the cleats, although I only got them 15 mins before grand depart!

I'll write more tomorrow evening, and when I get a chance I'll post some video.

My time? My rolling time was 6 hours 45 mins. I'm very happy with that given the terrain, the wind, cleats not quite set right and 3 cogs on the cassette that would slip when putting any force on the pedals!!

 

[HLaB]

That was close!
Glad you got on though its probably the best organised event I've done, I look forward to the video :-)

 

[primalgeek]

I did it... I did it... I did it....:-)

First 100miler complete!

The hills and the head wind were a killer as I was out on my own for most of the ride.

Manged to get round in 7:37 moving time... But I'm just happy to have my first ton in the bag. You should have seen my face when the garmin rolled over the 100 mile mark :-)

 

[Waspie]

Only noticed your shoe problem after I made my last post. That's a cracking time with someone elses shoes. We can't have been far apart on the road, my rolling time was 6.33. I felt not too bad in general until just before the first big climb after the 2nd feedstation when my energy just seemed to fade, was a bit of a struggle until the descent back to the start when I seemed to get a 2nd wind and hammered the last few miles.

Think this might be my favourite event, the route is challenging with lovely scenery and hardly a car in sight.

 

[Waspie]

Congrats Primalgeek. That's a beast of a route for your first century.

Turned into a bit of a solo effort for me as well after the 1st feed station, had been fighting the wind for so long I couldn't really hang on to any groups that eventually came belting past.

 

[magnatom]

Well done indeed Primalgeek!!

My first 100 was the Trossach Ton. A much more sedate affair! I'll have to get you shoes back to you. Apart from cleats set up issues, they were surprisingly comfy.

I fell in and out of groups. There were a lot of fast groups around that I just couldn't hang on to.

 

[primalgeek]

Congrats Primalgeek. That's a beast of a route for your first century.

I thought I might as well do my first century in style

.

I wasn't interested in the time at all, more just a get me round the course event for me. Now I've done that, I'm hoping my times will start to creep up over subsequent ton rides (although I'm never going to be what might be described as a fast cyclist). The next will be the P4S 100 miler.

I don't think the freebie bidon with the route profile printed on it will ever leave my bike... it's going to be my badge of honour

Well done indeed Primalgeek!!

My first 100 was the Trossach Ton. A much more sedate affair! I'll have to get you shoes back to you. Apart from cleats set up issues, they were surprisingly comfy.

I fell in and out of groups. There were a lot of fast groups around that I just couldn't hang on to.

Consider yourself the keeper of the official CC Ecosse spare spd cycling shoes. Beware you may be called upon at any time to make a mad dash to the start line of an event to help a shoeless cyclist

 

[sayek1]

I had to pull out a couple of weeks ago which was a shame, but IMO this event and the Selkirk Cycleops Sportive are two of the best events north of the border - superb area for cycling with empty roads and fantastic scenery.

Sorry i missed it, but hopefully next year. Sounds like another great event. Well done for doing your first ton - I know the feeling of satisfaction from doing the same last year. I reckon the Ken Laidlaw is one of the hardest of the 7 or 8 I've now done so great effort for doing this first - the rest will now be a walk in the park.......!!!!!!

 

[JimtheScot]

Well that’s me done my 3rd 100 miler of the year and what I though would have been the easiest out of the three became the hardest. 3 miles into the event, I was taking extra care due to the 500 other bikes on the road, when a guy in his 60’s decided to look at the lovely view, he looked one way and his bike went the other, into the verge, his front wheel instantly stopped, he went over the handle bars, his back wheel lifted and his frame spun right, I tried to swerve but it caught me. Brought me down onto the tarmac hard, cut and banged my elbow and hip, his frame then wrapped round my leg and when I tried to sit up nearly broke it and screamed like a girl (sorry girls). Two guys had to help me out of his frame. The guys told me to wait at the side of the road as they had called Mountain Rescue! yes that’s who was looking after us. The old codger then cycled of without an apology. 45 mins later I had the gravel picked out of my cuts and patched up and cursing my luck. Was thinking of calling it quits but had gone to a lot of hassle and petrol to get there, so kept going. I was now last and all other cyclists were long gone. The rest of the run was awesome quiet smooth roads, you have no idea the lack of cars on these quiet borders roads, it’s brilliant. I saw signs for the Tour of Britain being put up, they must be using some of or most of the same run and I can see why. Also saw the Bhudist temple, with the big Bhuda statue with a rattle snake wrapped round him. I managed to complete the 105 miles, broken, cut and bruised, 7.51 (rolling time) hours later.

 

[primalgeek]

Well that’s me done my 3rd 100 miler of the year and what I though would have been the easiest out of the three became the hardest. 3 miles into the event, I was taking extra care due to the 500 other bikes on the road, when a guy in his 60’s decided to look at the lovely view, he looked one way and his bike went the other, into the verge, his front wheel instantly stopped, he went over the handle bars, his back wheel lifted and his frame spun right, I tried to swerve but it caught me. Brought me down onto the tarmac hard, cut and banged my elbow and hip, his frame then wrapped round my leg and when I tried to sit up nearly broke it and screamed like a girl (sorry girls). Two guys had to help me out of his frame. The guys told me to wait at the side of the road as they had called Mountain Rescue! yes that’s who was looking after us. The old codger then cycled of without an apology. 45 mins later I had the gravel picked out of my cuts and patched up and cursing my luck. Was thinking of calling it quits but had gone to a lot of hassle and petrol to get there, so kept going. I was now last and all other cyclists were long gone. The rest of the run was awesome quiet smooth roads, you have no idea the lack of cars on these quiet borders roads, it’s brilliant. I saw signs for the Tour of Britain being put up, they must be using some of or most of the same run and I can see why. Also saw the Bhudist temple, with the big Bhuda statue with a rattle snake wrapped round him. I managed to complete the 105 miles, broken, cut and bruised, 7.51 (rolling time) hours later.

Really bad luck on the crash Jim, but it makes it more impressive that you managed to complete the ride

. What other 100 milers have you done this year that this one was going to be your easiest (seriously impressed by this being what should have been your easiest)?

The wife and kids think I'm mad doing a 105 mile cycle where Mountain Rescue have been ask to provide support.... I've also had to re-assess what a hard hill is!

It was an awesome day of cycling with few cars, lovely smooth roads, good food stops and great scenery.

P.S. I've noticed some piccies going up here .

 

[Waspie]

Well that’s me done my 3rd 100 miler of the year and what I though would have been the easiest out of the three became the hardest. 3 miles into the event, I was taking extra care due to the 500 other bikes on the road, when a guy in his 60’s decided to look at the lovely view, he looked one way and his bike went the other, into the verge, his front wheel instantly stopped, he went over the handle bars, his back wheel lifted and his frame spun right, I tried to swerve but it caught me. Brought me down onto the tarmac hard, cut and banged my elbow and hip, his frame then wrapped round my leg and when I tried to sit up nearly broke it and screamed like a girl (sorry girls). Two guys had to help me out of his frame. The guys told me to wait at the side of the road as they had called Mountain Rescue! yes that’s who was looking after us. The old codger then cycled of without an apology. 45 mins later I had the gravel picked out of my cuts and patched up and cursing my luck. Was thinking of calling it quits but had gone to a lot of hassle and petrol to get there, so kept going. I was now last and all other cyclists were long gone. The rest of the run was awesome quiet smooth roads, you have no idea the lack of cars on these quiet borders roads, it’s brilliant. I saw signs for the Tour of Britain being put up, they must be using some of or most of the same run and I can see why. Also saw the Bhudist temple, with the big Bhuda statue with a rattle snake wrapped round him. I managed to complete the 105 miles, broken, cut and bruised, 7.51 (rolling time) hours later.

That sounds like a pretty eventful day! Well done on completing.

Times are now up

 

[JimtheScot]

Really bad luck on the crash Jim, but it makes it more impressive that you managed to complete the ride

. What other 100 milers have you done this year

P.S. I've noticed some piccies going up here .

cheers Primalgeek and well done on doing your first 100. That was good going.

This year i have done the Trossach Ton and then i did the 'Rivers Lochs and Glens 200km Audax'. I thought this would have been the easiest out of the three only because, the Trossach Ton was the first 100 miler of the year and the first is always a challange. I then did the 'Rivers Lochs and Glens 200km/125miles' in July that was a killer, nothing i have done on a big comes close to how hard that was, after doing 100 miles (which included the 'rest and be thankful' hill) you then have about 20 miles of hill after hill after hill they dont stop and they are big, till just before you complete the last 5 miles of the run. So after doing those two i thought that was good training for the 3rd and as they say 'the more you do of something the easier it gets'. I'm signed up for Pedal for Scotland, so as long as i dont crash, i think that will be the easiest out of the 4.