Allan Ainslie Memorial Tibetan Tour 125k Sunday 21st March

[bodach]

I have entered this event and have rec'd my route but no information about where the event starts or directions to the start. Anyone have any idea?

[Cyclops]

They normally start from Hawick CC's clubrooms which are here in Teviot Crescent just off the High Street down by the river.

[Rich753]

And normally a cracking day out

[innesh]

See you there, bodach 

Hawick CC events were always well run and well attended.  Now that they only do a 100k (or 125k this year) they attract a 'faster' type of rider (and me  ) so you will have plenty of riding companions to hang in with.

Me, I may be tempted to ride this on single speed - after last Sunday I could use some extra training effort.

Rich753 - will you be riding?

[Rich753]

'fraid not - found out yesterday I've got a touch of pleurisy, so breathings a bit painful  (plus I haven't got the miles in  )

Single-speed eh!  Not completely converted then?

[bodach]

  Many thanks for that all. As this is only 125k I will be making this my first ECE event if the weather looks favourable. I do like these quiet borders roads.

[innesh]

I had the daft notion in previous years to do an ECE starting from Innerleithen and going to Hawick via Gordon Arms and Tushie'.

But, I think it was shorter to take the main road and now that the route uses those same roads I would be riding the same section three times in the one day. 

Tushie' to Roberton is one of my favourite bits of road and I wouldn't want to wear it out!

[bodach]

ECE events in previous years! I have always thought you were a man before your time Innesh.

[bodach]

Due to  a bit of foolishness on Tuesday I have to pull out of the Tibetan Tour. My cracked/bruised ribs from the tumble at the Dave Harris are very painfull so I will have to be sensible (very difficult) and rest for at least this weekend.

[valkyrie]

Bodach - your ribs seemed OK when you did the Saltire last Sunday, what happened to you on Tuesday?

[bodach]

Foolishness was to try to keep up with Liz as she ran down to Linlithgow at 6am on Tuesday. The jarring brought on the relapse. The only time I had any pain on the bike was when I had to get out of the saddle on the hills. I am feeling very frustrated about this as I thought I was going a bit better this year. I will try a gentle spin on the turbo today to see what happens.

[valkyrie]

Foolishness was to try to keep up with Liz as she ran down to Linlithgow at 6am on Tuesday. The jarring brought on the relapse. The only time I had any pain on the bike was when I had to get out of the saddle on the hills. I am feeling very frustrated about this as I thought I was going a bit better this year. I will try a gentle spin on the turbo today to see what happens.

You are going better than last year - this time last year (Port Navigation) you were behind me on the climbs. This year (Saltire) you're in front.

Git.

[bodach]

Valkyrie, I enjoyed your reply but it made me laugh which hurts! I promise to stay behind you next weekend.

[Graeme Wyllie]

Due to  a bit of foolishness on Tuesday I have to pull out of the Tibetan Tour. My cracked/bruised ribs from the tumble at the Dave Harris are very painfull so I will have to be sensible (very difficult) and rest for at least this weekend.

Ah Bodach, an injury sustained not cycling - it sounds familiar.  I accepted a last minute invite to a game of a 5 a side football on Friday lunchtime which meant playing in my spd shoes [that I cycle to work in] and have managed to do some damage to most of my lower right quarter - from the gluteaus maximus (= buttock) right down to my anke.

Saturday morning was spent lurching about like quasimodo, Saturday evening spent sitting down drinking much Stella in Glasgow.  No cycling for a wee while for me either I think.  Ah well, Ive got next weekend off anyway.

   

[bodach]

Remember the maxim "if you run you get injured". And football is even worse! Sorry to hear you're crocked G. Hope you are fixed soon. If I've not sufficiently recovered I could be available to assist this weekend.

[innesh]

Well, I am blessed with good ribs, so I went to Hawick.

There was a really good turnout for this, just as Hawick CC deserve - their arrangements, catering, and route were all spot-on, as usual.    As you might expect at this distance, there was a strong smell of carbon at the start. 

I rode on single speed and it was nothing like as difficult as I might have expected, even with a Pompino made from wrought iron and shod with 32mm tyres on Sputnik rims.  I didn't build it as a climbing machine.    It was a joy to ride: sure, a lighter bike would have been faster and easier on the many hills, but salar55 was keeping us company and dragged us up the hills.  Cheers Ronnie.

The route was a perfect audax route - Hawick, Newcastleton, Langholm, Ettrick, and over Alemoor to finish.  Next to no traffic, hardly any main roads, fantastic scenery, good controls etc., etc.

I'm really glad I went.