NOT THE YETHOLM RACE

Feeling pretty cycling-fit after doing 400 miles across France with David a month ago, including two days of 85 miles and a 973 metre col I decided to go for the challenge of a 200KM Audax instead of a wee race down Van Damon's Land. Sun morning was wet and miserable and cycling for 10-11 hours in the wet did not appeal, but it was only up the road in Strathaven, so I decided to go for it. The route went clockwise down minor roads parallel to the M74 to Abington/Crawford/Elvanfoot and then plunged down the Dalveen Pass to Thornhill and Moniave where we had a great tea stop. It was back up Ayrshire then via St.John's Town of Dalry, Carsphairn, Dalmellington the open-cast mining areas of Cumnock (where the heavens opened up and a bunch of us hid from the rain in a bingo hall for half an hour!), Muirkirk and finally back down past the former Dungavel Prison down to Strathaven. It was a pretty miserable day weather-wise in places, though thankfully not windy, undulating but nothing too steep, some fantastic rural scenery, not too sore in the nether regions and all in all a very satisfying achievment. I took just over 10 hours in total, with just under 9 hours of cycling, for a total of @ 128 miles. David and Catriona did the 100KM in @6 hours. These Audax events are great low-key events that take you round some great areas of Scotland - give them a go. (www.audax.uk.net) (www.totalcycling.co.uk/audax/2002calendar.html)

Posted by John Donnelly on Sun 5 Jun 2005 | comments are closed

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