Auld Alliance - 400km Fri 26/04/19

[bairn again]

Hi there.  In the absence of any full service events in 2019 I'm going to put on an X rated version of the Auld Alliance next year as an early PBP qualifier. 

2100 start in Edinburgh (Edit - Friday night), commercial or info controls throughout and a postal finish. 

Should be on the calendar soon.

[iroiromono]

Fantastic news. Hoping to hear / see more Edinburgh based rides next year for PBP qualification.

[Revolution9]

I've always missed this one in the past for one reason or another, so hoping to ride it this year.

Friday night starts for a 400 suit me too, as it leaves Sunday free for real life stuff.

[FifeingEejit]

That Bo'ness control is in just so we have to ride Skinfalts isn't it? 

[iroiromono]

Any logistical reason for the change in route compared to 2017? Enjoyed the early morning ride up to Inverbervie and then the ride up Glenfarg in the afternoon smelling the wild garlic.

[bairn again]

Any logistical reason for the change in route compared to 2017? Enjoyed the early morning ride up to Inverbervie and then the ride up Glenfarg in the afternoon smelling the wild garlic.

Rationale for the route change is that in 2017 there was the village hall control in Comrie.  [edit sorry it was actually St Davids there was a wedding on in Comrie and the hall was unavailable]

With a basic event in 2019 there wont be any village halls so I need to think of the first location with 24 hr faciltites.

 Hence the reroute to take riders to Broxden at just over 100km.  And with Comrie at 300km folk should be there when shops etc are open and not the middle of the night.  Ditto Dunblane. 

G

[iroiromono]

Makes sense! Thanks for explaining.

[Feanor]

The 2015 running running was x-rated too.
The route looks similar, but I've not looked in detail.
As a 400, most folks would not be looking for a sleep stop having already ridden through the night.

[jsabine]

Fairly sure that 2015 had a village hall control in Comrie - run by eck I think.

[FifeingEejit]

The 2015 running running was x-rated too.
The route looks similar, but I've not looked in detail.
As a 400, most folks would not be looking for a sleep stop having already ridden through the night.

Main difference I can see is in 2015 one leg went via forfar and returning via Kirrie; where as 2019 is going through Forfar twice and also going through Coupar Angus

Route wise it looks a cracker, I rarely stray into those parts of the country for rides; too short for a DIY 200 and too long for an evenings blast.

[Feanor]

Fairly sure that 2015 had a village hall control in Comrie - run by eck I think.

I think you are right.
And possibly some unpublished pop-up tea/coffee points courtesy of Dave Crampton.

[igauk]

Fairly sure that 2015 had a village hall control in Comrie - run by eck I think.

I think you are right.
And possibly some unpublished pop-up tea/coffee points courtesy of Dave Crampton.

Which remains one of my fondest audax moments. This ride was also the first time I was ever pleased to go to a McDonalds.

[nadir]

wouldnt mind doing this one again, enjoyed the 2015 version, if not the weather that went with it. It did stop at the village hall in Comrie, I also remember the pop up coffee points and my having spent over an hour at the McDonalds on the edge of Forfar eating multiple breakfasts and drinking enormous ammounts of coffee.

[bairn again]

Thats it on the calendar now.   2 entries received today!

No rush on this one, unlimited field and entries right up until the day before (PBP year approach)

[bairn again]

Having smashed through the 30 entries barrier I contacted all entrants (who had entered by 2359 Sat) as follows

Subject: Auld Alliance 400k - Fri/Sat 26/27 April - Rider Update 27 Jan 2019
To:

Hi there.  Just three months to go!

Ive had a flurry of entries since the turn of the year so thought it worthwhile contacting you all (a) as confirmation of entry and (b) to add a few details.

The draft route sheet is available from the AUK website : http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/19-435/

Draft gpx is available below in 2 sections split roughly 50/50

Edinburgh - Brechin : https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28630702
Brechin - Edinburgh : https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28630773

All of the above subject to confirmation / revision.  I'm planning to ride the event myself 13/14 April so final versions will be available soon after.

Start will be from Haymarket Station Edinburgh.  If you are driving to Edinburgh and want free parking Id suggest Hermiston Park & Ride. A suggested route to the start from Hermiston P&R is here ---->.  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28630773

You could freewheel down to Edinburgh Park Station (just over 2km) and stick your bike on the tram to the start (but you wont be allowed on 1630 - 1830).

I dont believe there is any free parking close to the start. 

Haymarket has many eating options for a pre event feed.

Finally, the event will finish at Monty's Bar in Morrison St 2 mins from Haymarket Station where some food will be available as part of the entry fee.  We'll have the whole upstairs area reserved for us so friends family WAGS, Entourages, Tifosi etc all welcome.  If you want to leave any small bags with me at the start I'll do my best to accommodate you (i expect a few folk who might be staying over in Edinburgh Saturday night would welcome a left luggage option).

I'll be back in touch again nearer the time but in the meantime feel free to contact me if anything isn't clear. 

Regards


Just a reminder - and folk who rode last years West Highlands 1000km event will know this....Monty's Bar has a rather splendid collection of proper beer (incl. some very nice low alcohol / alcohol free ones) and single malts.

[bairn again]

The number of entries has reached the threshold where I'm investigating a proper control in Dunblane (70km : 2348 - 0140)

http://church.stmarysdunblane.org/church-hall/

[bairn again]

The number of entries has reached the threshold where I'm investigating a proper control in Dunblane (70km : 2348 - 0140)

http://church.stmarysdunblane.org/church-hall/

Hall in Dunblane now confirmed.  Bonus is that it adds no distance, and my plan is now that a trip to Broxden Services in Perth will now be optional and the event comes in at 401 km (removing Broxden trims about 3 km off). 

gps track for the 1st half of the event duly updated.  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28630702

40 entries in. 

Planning a route check of the 1st half this coming Sunday as a DIY 200.   

[FifeingEejit]

Just spotted that the B9112 is called Necessity Brae... thankfully we're gan doon it 

[bairn again]

Just spotted that the B9112 is called Necessity Brae... thankfully we're gan doon it 

An audax rider once told me that Necessity Brae and nearby Needless Road were so named so that the coal delivery men knew where they would need both horses or not to pull the wagon.  Could be an outrageous old wives tale mind you. 

[CrazyEnglishTriathlete]

I've entered, for no other reason than Monty's bar is the finish control. 

[FifeingEejit]

Just spotted that the B9112 is called Necessity Brae... thankfully we're gan doon it 

An audax rider once told me that Necessity Brae and nearby Needless Road were so named so that the coal delivery men knew where they would need both horses or not to pull the wagon.  Could be an outrageous old wives tale mind you.

Past tense, Old?
This is Perth we're talking about...

[bairn again]

I've entered, for no other reason than Monty's bar is the finish control.

Measures will be in place to regulate the extent to which post event consumption is covered by the event. 

[CrazyEnglishTriathlete]

I shall use the early bird savings on the rail tickets already booked to ensure adequate post-ride recovery