Galloway Gallop

I took part in the most scenic sportive I have ever entered on Sunday. The Galloway Gallop Adventure Cross. It was 67 miles of cross country (fire road, singletrack, tarmac) for mountain bike or for Cyclocross bikes through the Galloway hills, Glen Trool, Loch Trool, Dee and Clatteringshaws. I chose the hard mans option obviously and did the long route on my Cube X-Race cross bike.
For the end of September the weather was as perfect as you could ask for. Bright sunshine, not too warm, no wind and no rain.
Only thing (nearly) spoiling the day was a ripped tyre and two punctures as a result, but luckily they happened within yards of a steward who helped me shape up a "get to the finish" repair.
Riding time just over 5hrs 15 mins for one of the most scenic challenges I have ever done.
Now for the cross racing season to begin.......

Number 4

So I have purchased bike number 4. I wasn't intending having a winter bike but saw this Giant Defy in my size second hand in Walkers Cycling for £100. The frame and carbon fork were worth it alone. I raked around the garage for pedals, saddle etc to keep costs down, used workable parts still on the bike and with a few refurbs (wheels) and part purchases I now have a acracking winter bike.
Shimano Sora Triple with Mavic wheels (One Kysrium Elite, 1 Aksium) and some elbow grease to make it shine!

2 Weeks, 3 Sportives, Much Rain

My summer holidays finished with 3 sportives in 3 succesive Sundays over 2 weeks. The first was the tour of the shire starting in Crossford and heading down to the Lead Hills. I was meant to do the longer route but got cycling with a good group doing the medium and just stayed with them. The road was diabolical as was the wind and rain and by the end the so called medium route was only 15km shorter than the long one.

The next week I blagged a free entry into the Obree Sportive which coincidentally was on roads that surround where I live. It was the hardest sportive I have ever done. Firstly, because Ayrshire is lumpy and any 80 mile ride in it is hard and the organisers had chosen every lump they could find and added them together. Secondly because the wind and rain were horrendous. They were so bad that my Garmin packed in and had to be replaced.

The last of the 3 was the Tour of the Borders which I had experienced in the worst rain ever last year. I did this with my mate Tony and the weather held off for some dry(ish) roads and only light winds. Any sportive with macaroni pies at food stops and closed roads is good and this was the best fun of the 3.