Eassie Does It - 300km event Friday 10th July / Sat 11th 2020

[bairn again]

New thread to avoid polluting the "Easy 200" thread........

Hopefully appearing very soon on the calendar a new 300km starting and finishing in Stirling.

Ive just heard today that we are good to use the swanky hall at Eassie (95km & 185km) where maximum levels of tlc are planned.

Very gentle route with just one climb worthy of the name (Langside from Comrie inside the last 50km) and even that's nothing to be afraid of.  Draft route here https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31872088

It never really gets dark in Scotland in early July but daylight should appear shortly after 3am. 

Stirling has excellent rail connections (there's a direct service on the East Coast to London KX but I think its only 1 a day) or perhaps more realistically via a change in Edinburgh or Glasgow.  It has a Premier Inn & Travelodge both of which are pretty central - Stirling is officially a City but in reality is a very compact small town.   

Im using the event as something of a dry run for a possible x rated 1000km in 2022 with a Stirling start/finish.   

[Maverick]

If you need volunteers to provide the TLC at Eassie give me a shout.

[FifeingEejit]

Based on current plans I'll be in no state to ride, but can assist anywhere.

The back route into Broxden looks... interesting! Must check it out sometime.

[Revolution9]

Clashes with my family holiday unfortunately

[bairn again]

The back route into Broxden looks... interesting! Must check it out sometime.

Ive ridden past the junction on Necessity Brae a few times and it looks like its tarmac but with a gate to prevent motor traffic (and is signpost as a footpath to Broxden).  I really should have checked it before now, but if its no use the hurl down to Cherrybank and back up to Broxden is no big deal.   

[FifeingEejit]

Looks rideable on the aerial and the one GSV 360 photo taken on it.
Mapping on NLS indicates that Necessity brae used to go that way

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=15&lat=56.3859&lon=-3.4723&layers=1&right=BingHyb
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=15&lat=56.3847&lon=-3.4751&layers=11&right=BingHyb

Although then called Low Road
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=17&lat=56.3855&lon=-3.4662&layers=170&right=BingHyb

[eckagain]

Hmm. I see this entertainment goes within 100 meters of Kirrie Vélo HQ (my hoose) at about 171km, and it goes to Comrie.
Better do it then, I suppose. 

[CarlF]

The back route into Broxden looks... interesting! Must check it out sometime.

Ive ridden past the junction on Necessity Brae a few times and it looks like its tarmac but with a gate to prevent motor traffic (and is signpost as a footpath to Broxden).  I really should have checked it before now, but if its no use the hurl down to Cherrybank and back up to Broxden is no big deal.

The tarmac doesn’t go that far, after that it’s an unpaved farm track. Two wheel ruts with grass down the middle- a few rough patches but mostly perfectly rideable - on two wheels. No good on a trike. The bridge over the motorway and the path either end of it were strewn with lots and lots of broken glass last time I went there. The way out onto the access road for McDonalds had a locked gate with a narrow gap next to it; I’ve not checked out the path you show that takes you into the park and ride and through the bus interchange, but I think there might be some steps?

[FifeingEejit]

What i find interesting is you can see the lay out of the long gone farms in the aerial photos.
The track seems to be indigo in Strava's Global heat map.

[sg37409]

Will I need a gravel adventure bike for this ? 

[bairn again]

Thats it on the calendar now - http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/20-7/

just 99 places left! 

[bairn again]

Given uncertainties related to Coronavirus I've suspended entries for now and will review the situation again in a week or so. 

I will probably be forced into a "go/no go" by 31 March as the Eassie Village Hall want any deposit by then.

If a firm decision were required today, Id cancel the event and refund entry fees but will contact entrants once a final decision has been made.