Westie on Wheels

“Running was my first love and it will be my last” but………..cycling has been a blast this year. I loved the huge range of events and whole joyous atmosphere of the UCI World Cycling Championships in August. On the days of the road races, Glasgow was a carnival of bikes. Just for a moment Montrose Street became home for the Mont Ventoux “marathon.” BMX turned Glasgow Green into endless acrobatic scenes. I needed to check myself when Belgian Europop started to appear on my playlist and I started chanting “van der Poel” in my sleep.

In April Loch Ness Etape was both a pilgrimage and a parade. I loved the empty roads. The “mountain climb” from Fort Augustus to Whitebridge remined me of my hill roots. I discovered that long cycles are not blighted with the cramps that accompany me on long races and mock cream donuts taste wonderful after 66 miles in the rain.  In September, I completed the Applecross duathlon on a better, indeed fantastic sunshiny day. The fast trail run over moor and lochan, was followed by a stunning coastal ride looking over Raasay and the mountains of Skye. I am still processing the memory of the sun setting over the Cuillins while I relaxed outside the Applecross Inn.

In October after the Manor Water Race (yes, I did do some running this year), I headed over to Glentress and had a shot at the MTB trails. This was after the inspiration of watching the UCI MTB marathons in the summer. Though I was only on the nursery trails it was, to use the cliché, an adrenalin rush.

I attended the Glasgow Critical Mass Cycle in November. While the group was not awfully diverse, the sounds blasted from the speaker in the bike trailer were. The Friday night revellers were all “Super styling” to the Groove Armada. It was great to see Govanhill’s Shgufta Anwar and Women on Wheels win Cycling Scotland Visionary Champion of the Year.

Thinking ahead, I want to carry on the whole bike / studs thing. I am commuting by bike more. Cycling from Lanark to Tinto, made me think I really should use the bike to get to other races in future; more Earth Points to be had. I am signed up for the Cyclist v Harriers Race next week. And my decision? To run of course. Once a harrier……..