Pedal for scotland 2011

[thehairycycler]

Is anyone doing this. a buddy and myself will be doing our first ride official 51miles to break us in. Really looking forward to it, but looking for some tips about traveling there. I'm pretty disapointed that the shuttle only runs from the two cities and doesnt have stops between say falkirk cumbernauld and livingstone airdrie etc for us country folk I stay in bonnybridge so trains buses(don't even no if they allow bikes) or car is an option. ruled out the cycle there and back. any help would be great

 

[zizou]

Yeah will be doing it. Think it is a slightly different route this year finishing at Murrayfield

I guess an option would be to drive to Edinburgh in the morning and get the shuttle to Glasgow before the ride (i think a few forum users have caught this bus before so they will be able to help out with details) then drive home from the finish - or drive to Glasgow before the ride and then get the bus back at the finish.

Getting the train would be a good option providing you can get on it - does anyone know if they relax the rule about the max number of bikes allowed on for this event?

 

[thehairycycler]

I was thinking about the train and by the time it reaches falkirk would probably be full of bikes! i'm hoping that my mates GF will run is through to glasgow. train home if it finishes at murrayfield or might even cycle if were up to it and the beer monster doesn't kidnapp us.

Did you participate last year? I got told to try and set of asclose to the start time as I can to try and get a bit of a clear run

 

[zizou]

Yeah have done it a couple of times. Setting off early is a good idea particularly if you want to stop at the refreshment stops before they get really busy. However setting off later isn't too much of a problem - while there is more traffic to get by in some ways it can be a bit of a psychological boost being able to overtake so many people

 

[MacKek]

Did anyone do the longer route yesterday - the 94 mile one - and decide to give up before the end....at the 52 mile section? The reason i'm asking is that i did exactly that! I'm a radio producer on MacAulay & Co at BBC Radio Scotland and would like to do an item this Thursday on 'Knowing when to Give up' ...and not feel bad about it! So if anyone knows anyone who decided to quit because of the horrible hideous weather, could you give me a shout? It'd be much appreciated... thanks, Karen

 

[WTF]

Karen, shame you gave up at that point as it does get easier from about 60 odd miles on and the weather was better.
Maybe next year ?

 

[thehairycycler]

The challenge ride weather was pretty decent considering the forecast some light drizzle and a little windy in places I basically got blown from airdrie to linlithgow average 26mph!!!! wasn't so good from there to edinburgh was only 17.8! really enjoyed cycling through the stadium but wish I had done the sportive ride! How bad was it on that route?

 

[Kenny Gray]

Hi did the challenge ride yesterday as well in a group of 15 with the guys and girls from Glasgow Green Cycle Club who have just started up. Never done any miles like this before so was a bit apprehensive about going that far, anyway managed the ride ok us all making use of the food stops bar Kirkliston and also found it great arriving through Murryfield Stadium.
Some of the more experienced cyclists among the group had arranged to cycle back to Glasgow and i decided to give it a go and much to my surprise and with a good bit of help from the group made it back to Carluke total 87miles, this more than doubled the previous longest distance i had done. Got to say the weather on the way back was horrible but glad i stuck with it. All in all a great day. :-)

 

[HLaB]

After a month Cycling Scotland have produced a video of the event.

 

[Col5632]

I completed the ride for the third time this year, got under the 4hr mark for the 51 mile ride which i was chuffed about but was suffering from the last stop to the finish