"Bonked" for the first time in years!

[Brandane]

I blame the Tesco revolution, on-line shopping, and the motor car for the lack of corner shops in rural areas.
Today I set off from Moffat to do a 73 mile loop up to Eskdalemuir, Ettrick, Mountbenger, Talla reservoir, Tweedsmuir, and returning to Moffat on the A701. It involved a lot of climbing (4700 ft) and a brisk headwind in places. About 7 miles from the end I hit the wall, luckily the last 7 miles are all downhill.

Even at that though, I had to stop in a lay-by to scrounge water from 2 obliging car drivers. Sadly they had no chocolate (that they were willing to part with!). The point of this tale is that I will make sure I have some sustenance in my saddle pack when venturing into such rural rides. I had lunch in Eskdalemuir at about 20 miles, and filled my water bottle. That was the last place I was at where it was possible to buy food or drink. All the small rural shops have now gone. First place I went in Moffat was a Spar shop. Never has Ribena and chocolate biscuits tasted so good.

 

[johnnyb47]

Yikes, It's a horrible feeling hitting "the wall" out in the middle of nowhere. Your right about the lack of small corner shops nowadays. I tend to mainly stop off at petrol stations if I need supplies. Not ideal but needs must sometimes.

 

[Brandane]

I tend to mainly stop off at petrol stations

There wasn't even a petrol station, until Moffat. This was a REALLY rural ride!

 

[si_c]

I always carry a gel or two depending on the ride, just in case. They're not the tastiest of foodstuff so they usually come home. But better safe than sorry.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Have you recovered, eat everything in the fridge back home?
Next time don't try to emulate the racing snakes by saving weight, stuff some "just in case food" in your pannier.
You did have a pannier, yes?
Looks like a really good ride, do it again with more supplies!

 

[mcshroom]

It's a lovely area to ride. A lot of the audaxes out of Galashiels use those roads, but yes there's just about nothing open outside of the main towns, especially as you missed the cafe on St Mary's Loch (further along the more direct road to Moffat)

 

[Drago]

My last bonk was about 5 years ago. Rode out to see a mate in Newport Pagnell, 12 miles each way. On the return journey I was half way home when someone opened my hatch and removed my batteries. Could hardly walk, never mind ride.

 

[midlife]

Blimey bring back the Aztec bar which was my sort of get me home bar..... God knows what was in it lol

 

[Brandane]

[QUOTE 5362028, member: 9609"]we coulda nearly seen each other the day, we shared the same route for a mile, Tushielaw to where you turned left[/QUOTE]
Are you on Strava, and I'll check my "fly-bys"?

 

[Brandane]

You did have a pannier, yes?

Not today, I was on the new fankled carbon thing that doesn't do panniers .

 

[Brandane]

[QUOTE 5362033, member: 9609"]
then there was the Gordon Arms, but that keeps catching fire, was it intact today ?[/QUOTE]

It's still there and I didn't see any smoke. At that point in the ride though, I was ok and thought I would be fine until Moffat. Big mistake. I hadn't hit the headwinds or the climbs at Meggetts/Talla. And I had forgotten that the A701 is a gradual climb for miles from Tweedsmuir to the Devil's Beef Tub.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Not today, I was on the new fankled carbon thing that doesn't do panniers .

Ha!
Told you, emulating racers indeed.
Time to forget the fried brekkie, start carrying gels in your back pocket instead

 

[Brandane]

[QUOTE 5362028, member: 9609"]we coulda nearly seen each other the day, we shared the same route for a mile, Tushielaw to where you turned left[/QUOTE]
I reckon I was at Tushielaw about 2pm..

 

[Brandane]

Ha!
Told you, emulating racers indeed.
Time to forget the fried brekkie, start carrying gels in your back pocket instead

If I hadn't had the fried brekkie (at Moffat Weavers shop/cafe, highly recommended) I would have bonked a lot earlier .

 

[IanSmithCSE]

Good morning,

Not today, I was on the new fankled carbon thing that doesn't do panniers .

I have one of these as well and I haven't yet wanted to weigh it down with a water bottle holder!

So I kept my last

https://groceries.asda.com/product/sports-drinks/asda-sport-orange-flavour-isotonic-drink/986733

bottle, refill it and carry it in my jersey, I keep meaning to remove the label to save a bit more weight.

Having lost nearly 20lbs over the last 2 and a bit months I feel entitled to a little bit of irrational behavior.

Bye

Ian