Howe o the Mearns - new 300km event - 12th July 2024

[John Stonebridge]

Hi there

This new event is now on the calendar.  New event, but very familiar roads. 

With a nod to the excellent Green & Yellow Fields it features a Friday late night start (2300) and a trip to the seaside and back again. 

Dunblane has a ludicrously good train service (direct from both Glasgow & Edinburgh) suitable for both start and finish and Stirling isnt too far away with its direct connections to far flung places such as London.   

There are 24 hr services at 70km and 110km then a choice of commercial controls thereafter. 

Lovely cafes in Laurencekirk & Meigle at least and lots of daylight, civil twilight is around 0345. 

Depending on entries I might book the church hall as the finish control. 

A pre event curry in Dunblane is also a possibility (another nod to the G&Y!).

Route here ->  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43366701

[aidan.f]

That looks nice, must arrange an entry.

[ravenbait]

Very tempting. Comes within 6 miles of my house. Can't believe I still haven't been into the cafe in LK.

Can't commit to anything while I have a busted knee, though.

Sam

[eckagain]

Very tempting. Comes within 6 miles of my house. Can't believe I still haven't been into the cafe in LK.

Can't commit to anything while I have a busted knee, though.

Sam

6 miles you say? Looks like it comes within 200 yards of meh hoose in Kirrie!
I can vouch for the lovely cafe at Meigle, but I didn't know that LK had a cafe these days, must go and have a recce.
Hope your busted knee heals soon.

[John Stonebridge]

Very tempting. Comes within 6 miles of my house. Can't believe I still haven't been into the cafe in LK.

Can't commit to anything while I have a busted knee, though.

Sam

I didn't know that LK had a cafe these days, must go and have a recce.

You must. 

Gannets -> https://www.gannetslaurencekirk.co.uk/

Ive stopped there a few times on my trips up to the Granite City and last year it received the highest culinary accolade possible when Mrs S pronounced it quite delicious when we took the tandem on tour and did this ride from Edzell -> https://ridewithgps.com/trips/90834803 

It'll be a breakfast stop on this event (and quick riders might have flown through before it even opens at 9am) but just a wee dander from Kirrie for your good self.   

[jimmea]

I really should enter this for the name only, but my longest ride so far this year is 60k or so  and  I don't see that improving any time soon.

[ravenbait]

Very tempting. Comes within 6 miles of my house. Can't believe I still haven't been into the cafe in LK.

Can't commit to anything while I have a busted knee, though.

Sam

6 miles you say? Looks like it comes within 200 yards of meh hoose in Kirrie!
I can vouch for the lovely cafe at Meigle, but I didn't know that LK had a cafe these days, must go and have a recce.
Hope your busted knee heals soon.

So do I. MCL tear, looks like. Even swimming is painful.

I was just on RWGPS the other day planning a wee saunter to experience the delights of the public artworks in Kirrie and Forfar using some of the same roads in this. Might see you on the road one day.

If the knee gets better soon, John, I'll be in.

Sam

[John Stonebridge]

I really should enter this for the name only, but my longest ride so far this year is 60k or so  and  I don't see that improving any time soon.

If you don't ride or enter you can be the events WCTD based Patron Saint. 

YHPM

[John Stonebridge]

Event update....

I've had a flurry of entries over the Christmas & New Year holidays, enough to justify booking the rather opulent Victoria Hall https://victoriahalldunblane.com/ directly opposite the railway station in Dunblane to use as the event finish.  I still plan an al fresco start at the railway station, suspect that India Gate at the top of Dunblane might be a good idea for a pre event feed for riders. 

Happy to look after reasonably sized luggage for anybody travelling to/from the event by train.