Tour Ride Scotland - 4th September 2011

[sandman77]

Has anybody on here registered for this event? It is stage 1 of the tour of britain (only for us mere mortals). 105 miles from Peebles to Dumfries.
I have signed up with a mate (gmac190 on here) and am hoping there might be a few peeps on here doing it too. The forecast is for a southerly wind so the bigger the group for the ride the better. I plan on setting off at about 8am from Peebles.

 

[HonestMan1910]

Edindave is doing the full event, Sleekitcollie and myself are doing the challenge event

 

[edindave]

Just got my number/timing chip in the post today - 129.

I'm aiming to get to Peebles around 07:30.


It would be great to get a CC Ecosse group happening if possible!

 

[gmac190]

A group ride on this sort of route is a must, I for one will be trying to muzzle in somewhere and share the load, especially if the headwind is lurking about!!

 

[sleekitcollie]

kinda wishing i'd booked the bigger ride ... then again kinda glad i didnt .. hope the weather is kind , see u all at Dumfries

 

[gmac190]

kinda wishing i'd booked the bigger ride ... then again kinda glad i didnt .. hope the weather is kind , see u all at Dumfries

you can always change your mind and join the big ride on the day!

 

[edindave]

What a great ride. Yes we had the inevitable prevailing headwind to contend with, but it was mild at worst.

The start was very chilly and damp in Peebles. My lambswool arm warmers were covered in dew before we exited The Glentress car park at the start.

The sun soon burnt the haze off and gave us glorious views along the route to Moffat. Tranquil reservoirs with a low covering of mist while the sun shines on the banking hills. You'll have to use your imagination I'm afraid - no piccies from me.

Then there was the descent of the Devil's Beeftub. 20%. I was terrified. I thought (a) I'm going to wear out my brake pads or (b) I'm going to snap a brake cable. What a wuss! I can't wait to see the Pro's tackle this section next week. (It's around mile 26 of the route - see below for a link).

Feed stations (I stopped at all but the first one) were all well stocked and manned by really friendly chatty people.

The finish. Once we got through the annoying traffic lights etc it was a great finishing welcome with lots of friendly chatty folk on the various stalls. Really tasty pasta too.

I came 127th out of 224 finishers and am well pleased with it. Official time 07:07:11; rolling time 06:43:00.
Link to my Garmin log of the route here.

Hope all that did it had as good a day as I did.

 

[aberal]

Brilliant! Well done Dave - sounds like a great ride and sounds like you did well. I'm heading down next weekend to try and get some photos of the event. I want to mill about at the start in Peebles but would really love to move on to a point somewhere get some decent shots - probably on a climb. Any suggestions. I don't expect it to be easy to drive somewhere, park up and locate myself but it might be good to get some pointers...

 

[edindave]

Brilliant! Well done Dave - sounds like a great ride and sounds like you did well. I'm heading down next weekend to try and get some photos of the event. I want to mill about at the start in Peebles but would really love to move on to a point somewhere get some decent shots - probably on a climb. Any suggestions. I don't expect it to be easy to drive somewhere, park up and locate myself but it might be good to get some pointers...

Thanks

A lot of the route is pretty drab to be honest. I'd suggest the most scenic parts are those between Peebles and Moffat, particularly around Talla Reservoir, Megget Reservoir and St Mary's Loch. Also the descent of the Beeftub, and along the roads and river just past it. Most of this section of the route is single track road with passing places, but you could find places to park along there. If I was you I'd pick a spot there and set up a base ready to capture some action. You'd have time once they pass to get to the finish.

It's not going to be easy to be at the start and then catch and overtake the peloton. I don't know if there are rolling road closures but traffic is going to build up behind them right from the off in Peebles, and it might not be easy to plot a route around them given the terrain and direction they are heading. I'd be inclined to pick a spot along the route and go there and set up camp. There won't be much action at the start anyway.

I would love to be there too next Sunday, but I'll be in Tenby hopefully getting some good shots of the Ironman Wales event

 

[sandman77]

I had a ball yesterday, it was my first century and managed it with a rolling time of 6:29 which I am over the moon with. My total time was 6:51 which placed me 92nd (I guessed I spent too much time at my one and only food/toilet stop).
Gerat day out though and looking forward to watching the pro's doing it next weekend.

 

[HonestMan1910]

Superb day out for the Challenge Ride, great route with some nice short steep climbs in the 2nd half of the route, slightly different from the pro ride, resulted in the times for myself and Sleekitcollie of time of 02:32:38 for me and 02:26:29 for Sleekitcollie and placings now 13th and 19th.

Fabulous orginisation and signage for the day was spot on, never stopped at the feed stop just outside Dalbeattie, but the food and refreshments at the end were top class.

Stewarts Garmin map is here My link

 

[Mr Celine]

Then there was the descent of the Devil's Beeftub. 20%. I was terrified. I thought (a) I'm going to wear out my brake pads or (b) I'm going to snap a brake cable. What a wuss! I can't wait to see the Pro's tackle this section next week. (It's around mile 26 of the route - see below for a link).

The Devil's Beef Tub is near Moffat and isn't steep - I think you must be thinking of Talla, which is signed as 20%, Google streetview here.

 

[edindave]

The Devil's Beef Tub is near Moffat and isn't steep - I think you must be thinking of Talla, which is signed as 20%, Google streetview here.

You're right Mr C - thanks for that link.

The right hand bend at the bottom even has the wet gravel on the centre of the road in street view. They better sweep it on Sunday morning!

 

[gmac190]

What a great ride. Yes we had the inevitable prevailing headwind to contend with, but it was mild at worst.

The start was very chilly and damp in Peebles. My lambswool arm warmers were covered in dew before we exited The Glentress car park at the start.

The sun soon burnt the haze off and gave us glorious views along the route to Moffat. Tranquil reservoirs with a low covering of mist while the sun shines on the banking hills. You'll have to use your imagination I'm afraid - no piccies from me.

Then there was the descent of the Devil's Beeftub. 20%. I was terrified. I thought (a) I'm going to wear out my brake pads or (b) I'm going to snap a brake cable. What a wuss! I can't wait to see the Pro's tackle this section next week. (It's around mile 26 of the route - see below for a link).

Feed stations (I stopped at all but the first one) were all well stocked and manned by really friendly chatty people.

The finish. Once we got through the annoying traffic lights etc it was a great finishing welcome with lots of friendly chatty folk on the various stalls. Really tasty pasta too.

I came 127th out of 224 finishers and am well pleased with it. Official time 07:07:11; rolling time 06:43:00.
Link to my Garmin log of the route here.

Hope all that did it had as good a day as I did.

I note from your profile on garmin connect that the total ascent is 5305ft. I also used a Garmin edge 705 and only got 5007ft ascent. 300 ft of a difference on a GPS system shouldn't really happen should it??

Link here

I think I've answered my own question when I looked at your profile again. Your min and max elevation are completely different. As you'll see my min elevation is -6 ft which can't be right?

 

[HLaB]

I note from your profile on garmin connect that the total ascent is 5305ft. I also used a Garmin edge 705 and only got 5007ft ascent. 300 ft of a difference on a GPS system shouldn't really happen should it??

Link here

I think I've answered my own question when I looked at your profile again. Your min and max elevation are completely different. As you'll see my min elevation is -6 ft which can't be right?

I do find the Garmins aren't great for altitude, my older 305 uses a gps estimate or something, I thought the newer ones used a more accurate baromic (or atmospheric ?) altitude meter, I guess it isnt that accurate either; perhaps you set off before it was calibrated and were going too fast for a steady reading