Tour of East Lothian

[Feanor]

ToEL 2020 edition.
"The annual re-enactment of Napoleon's retreat from Moscow".

http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/20-58/

I've just signed up.
Any other takers?

[sg37409]

Always tempted but I dont seem to have entered this one this millenia !

[FifeingEejit]

Aye, looking forward to my Annual walk up the Rig.

[Revolution9]

I've entered, but I think i'm now double booked

[bairn again]

Hmm, Ive not ridden this for a few years as it tends to clash with the North West passage 200km.

Having checked in fact my last appearance was in 2010.   

just entered!  the Rigg will do me good.   

Will be riding over to the start and back from the finish from EH12 so happy to meet en route (Roseburn Path / Haymarket / Waverley etc)

   

[megajoulesexpenditure]

Each year battling back into the wind along the coast road to the finish I've said never again but once again I've managed to press 'Enter' so will 'look forward' once again at least to seeing everyone

[bairn again]

I see that Dougie has sensibly decided to cancel this Sundays event, I just got an email.

"Dear rider

I have decided to cancel the Tour of East Lothian Audax on Sunday 16th February.

We have a yellow weather warning for strong winds from Storm Dennis on Sunday with 25-30 mean wind speeds and gusts to around 50 mph, at the moment.  I don't see this improving.

This is at low level and at up to 450m it will be much stronger and from the south west which would be a sidewind for the most exposed part of the route and in my view too dangerous to ride safely.

On Monday I was unable to drive up the section from Gifford to Garvald on the B6355 due to snow and learned that today the road was still closed with 1m drifts in some places and cars needing dug out.  I have therefore been unable to check this part of the route.

Please spread the word as you see fit.

Thank you again for supporting the Audax and I will explore the possibility of running a 'weather delayed event' and let you know if this would be possible.

Regards"

[Feanor]

Yes I saw that.

I'm in two minds about that.
The ToEL has a fearsome reputation for blizzards and headwinds.
Those who enter presumably know what it is they are entering.

My personal inclination would be to let riders make their own choice.

Perhaps the event has expanded beyond riders who have the experience to sensibly make that choice, and the org has to take that into account.

[Pingu]

The 2009 edition took a lower level route due to snow on the Rigg: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/2587751

Not my decision, though 

[Revolution9]

My personal inclination would be to let riders make their own choice.

As long as that choice doesn't make unnecessary demands on our already streached emegrency services.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-51447226

Definately the right decision by MRCC.  Organisers still have a duty of care, and if the route can't be checked beacuse of snow drifts and buried cars, they they have no other option than to cancel,