Author Topic: The New Border Raid 600 (Read 8955 times)

Pingu · « **Reply #25 on:** 17 July, 2018, 12:04:51 am »

Raided the border again this weekend. Thanks to aidan.f, Lynn and helpers for putting on a great event

The isotonics at the arrivée were much appreciated

It was mostly a Billy No Mates ride for me, but I kept getting passed by the same groups of people on the two days - Team Rapha; Ben & Lee; Halifax Man; George fae Fife and his friend (Cat?); and DaveC and Graeme otp. DaveC and I joined up for the last leg from Alnwick which helped me a lot.

Lots of new roads for me, the section along Hadrian's Wall was nice. The roads of Ayrshire haven't improved much since I was last there.

Weather: warm and bastardy headwind on Saturday, very hot on Sunday after Melrose.

Spotted: loads of dead badgers, a dead fox, a dead mole and also some live stuff: a red kite near New Galloway, some buzzards, a kestrel, hare, deer, whitearses.

There was also the added bonus of a meteor over New Cumnock

Just one more ride to do...

IMG_1288_01 by The Pingus, on Flickr

IMG_1290_01 by The Pingus, on Flickr

drgannet · « **Reply #26 on:** 17 July, 2018, 08:19:45 am »

Quote from: Deano on 16 July, 2018, 09:04:39 pm

Hurrah, someone found it! I was sure it was in my back pocket when I left my little nap spot before Kelso - I'd suspected it had dropped out of my pocket on one of the bouncy descents in the Cheviots. I had enough receipts anyway.

Yes, on the long one before Kirk Newton.

Dave_C · « **Reply #27 on:** 17 July, 2018, 01:15:39 pm »

Deano, did you loose your elecy ciggie refill bottle. I recall seeing one on the approach to Grey Mares Tail or somewhere near that, in a layby and wondering what it was. Then latrer thinking I'd seen it at the accommodation on the grass?

mr ben · « **Reply #28 on:** 17 July, 2018, 04:59:43 pm »

Quote from: Deano on 16 July, 2018, 06:25:22 pm

Got home by half three!

Wot.

Graeme · « **Reply #29 on:** 17 July, 2018, 08:35:08 pm »

Quote from: mr ben on 17 July, 2018, 04:59:43 pm

Quote from: Deano on 16 July, 2018, 06:25:22 pm
Got home by half three!

Wot.

And that was home as in Darlo, not the arrivee. I finished around 6:30pm... Deano was finished 7 or 8 hours before me. :-O

Graeme · « **Reply #30 on:** 17 July, 2018, 08:37:24 pm »

Really nice to meet you Pingu.
That cafe in Melrose... that put customer service in the way of actual customer service.. pah. But your eggs and chorizo looked delicious.

Pingu · « **Reply #31 on:** 17 July, 2018, 08:48:39 pm »

You too Graeme

Feanor · « **Reply #32 on:** 18 July, 2018, 06:37:38 pm »

Quote from: Pingu on 17 July, 2018, 12:04:51 am

Just one more ride to do...

As I've already mentioned (on an aborted 600, IIRC ), you're Quite Wrong about that

Anyways, well done on the Border Raid.

Pingu · « **Reply #33 on:** 18 July, 2018, 07:11:00 pm »

Quote from: Feanor on 18 July, 2018, 06:37:38 pm

Quote from: Pingu on 17 July, 2018, 12:04:51 am
Just one more ride to do...

As I've already mentioned (on an aborted 600, IIRC ), you're Quite Wrong about that

Anyways, well done on the Border Raid.

You remember my eloquent reply

Deano · « **Reply #34 on:** 18 July, 2018, 10:15:19 pm »

Quote from: Dave_C on 17 July, 2018, 01:15:39 pm

Deano, did you loose your elecy ciggie refill bottle. I recall seeing one on the approach to Grey Mares Tail or somewhere near that, in a layby and wondering what it was. Then latrer thinking I'd seen it at the accommodation on the grass?

No - you were probably hallucinating, Dave. Again.

aidan.f · « **Reply #35 on:** 18 July, 2018, 10:26:33 pm »

Already thinking about next year, same time, same place. Will be a good pre-PBP shake-down. Or simply a nice 600.

The Peacocks, the Bl***dy Peacocks though....

Dave_C · « **Reply #36 on:** 19 July, 2018, 04:55:08 pm »

Quote from: aidan.f on 18 July, 2018, 10:26:33 pm

Already thinking about next year, same time, same place. Will be a good pre-PBP shake-down. Or simply a nice 600.

The Peacocks, the Bl***dy Peacocks though....

Is there a date cut off for Pre PBP qualifiers? I seem to think of early to mid June for this? I'm sure you'll know.

halhorner · « **Reply #37 on:** 09 July, 2019, 09:04:59 pm »

Very much looking forward to this next weekend. Will be my second attempt at a 600 (having DNFed on The Buzzard last summer). As I'll be nearer the 40hr mark if I do get round this time Lockerbie might be a bit far for a sleep stop, so was thinking of taking a bivvy bag an grabbing a few hours by the side of the road at around 350km. Looking at the map that stretch of road along the river Nith once you leave the A76 looks like it should have some suitably secluded spots... any local knowledge/tips? Cheers

CrazyEnglishTriathlete · « **Reply #38 on:** 10 July, 2019, 10:43:59 pm »

Looking forward to this. Not my normal stomping ground, but as my boys had major exams in May and June I wasn't doing long rides then, so this is the only calendar 600 I can fit this year. The big plus is lots of new roads and hopefully great views.

With the change in arrangements, does anyone know if there will still be an option to drop a bag at the start to pick up at the finish?

aidan.f · « **Reply #39 on:** 11 July, 2019, 11:09:52 pm »

Yes, we have a hall at the finish from 14:00 until 22:00 hrs. If you are finishing earlier then other arrangements can be made.

aidan.f · « **Reply #40 on:** 12 July, 2019, 07:36:10 am »

Quote

As I'll be nearer the 40hr mark if I do get round this time Lockerbie might be a bit far for a sleep stop, so was thinking of taking a bivvy bag an grabbing a few hours by the side of the road at around 350km. Looking at the map that stretch of road along the river Nith once you leave the A76 looks like it should have some suitably secluded spots... any local knowledge/tips? Cheers

The park round Sanquair curling pond looks good
https://goo.gl/maps/aV26N15SCUFD2fiMA
Just remember - this is a cold place - we have had 2 degrees overnight at this time of year..

CrazyEnglishTriathlete · « **Reply #41 on:** 19 July, 2019, 09:57:50 am »

All packed up and ready to go. Weather forecast has light headwinds all Saturday and varying guesses as to the amount of precipitation, so have assumed I will get (a) wet and (b) tired.

Looking forward to it.

halhorner · « **Reply #42 on:** 19 July, 2019, 09:13:29 pm »

Quote from: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 19 July, 2019, 09:57:50 am

Looking forward to it.

Same here, though must confess to some pre ride butterflies!

madcow · « **Reply #43 on:** 19 July, 2019, 10:15:32 pm »

You'll be fine. Don't faff and keep moving. Night time temperature not dropping into single figures so shouldn't be bad overnight. If forecast is right then Sunday is looking like a reasonable day. Lockerbie truckstop and an assortment of convenience stores await your presence and there's some great scenery.
See you tomorrow.

CrazyEnglishTriathlete · « **Reply #44 on:** 21 July, 2019, 08:02:03 pm »

Well that was very pretty. Beautiful route. Should have known that the headwind, a lot stronger than forecast, would fade away in the evening to leave a calm night and then turn into a sneaky Southerly from Wooler back. However I did enjoy the GPS Easter Egg with its 1km @14% and off road section. Thanks to Aidan and Lynn for making my rare foray to the borders so worthwhile.

Zed43 · « **Reply #45 on:** 22 July, 2019, 01:18:48 pm »

Thank you Aidan, Lynn and Keith, it was a lovely ride and I'm glad I came over to participate.

A long stretch of the A76 was closed off for traffic (bicycles got waved through no problem), which made a quiet place for a bivvy at about 350km into the ride; I got a bit over three hours of sleep before continuing for a proper brekkie at the Lockerbie truckstop.

Must admit the easter egg at Wooler got me cursing softly (although I usually enjoy this sort of thing). The off road single track was followed by the worst of pavement, so many patches and pot holes it was impossible to find a line to avoid them all (ok, I could have slown down, but I just hate braking when going downhill). I'm now very confident my bike will pass the PBP technical "bump" test

As for the head winds, not too bad; I'm used to worse

Besides, that's what the aero bars are for!

madcow · « **Reply #46 on:** 23 July, 2019, 12:47:03 am »

I, too was apprehensive about this ride , probably because it was new(ish) territory and it included the most climbing of any 600 km event that I have ever done.
In the end it was the headwind from hell that set most people back on schedules- 300 km all the way to Newton Stewart .
Beyond Newton Stewart, the headwind was supplemented by the road surfaces from hell. After a wet start though, it was at least dry and reasonably warm throughout.
I arrived at Dalrymple just 3 minutes before the Co-op was due to close but the kind ladies waited for me to purchase some food and drink ,then escorted me out.
I made an unusual number of navigation errors that lead to me adding a few kms. here and there but the scenery top class.
A road sign indicated 30 miles to Selkirk-no problem with a tailwind and glorious views .

Thanks to Aidan, Lynn and keith for the extra service at the truckstop and the finish.

A few pictures from along the route-https://flic.kr/s/aHsmFnZuk6

Pingu · « **Reply #47 on:** 25 July, 2019, 02:35:15 pm »

Quote from: Zed43 on 22 July, 2019, 01:18:48 pm

...Must admit the easter egg at Wooler got me cursing softly (although I usually enjoy this sort of thing). The off road single track...

There wasn't anything like that last year!