dhd.evans1
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Monifieth, Scotland
So, after 2021's absolute shitshow i swore i'd never give the organiser another penny of mine. I decided to give my legs a run out, however, as i'd been putting the miles out.
I acquired a ticket from a local cyclist for £40, so i felt a little better about not giving them my money!
Rumour had it that 2022 and 2023 where much improved from 2021, so i was cautiously optimistic. However, my planning wasn't the best so i had a gig to play on Saturday night before i set off on Sunday morning. A tiring gig ended at 2300hrs and i was in my bed and sleeping by 0030hrs.
Only to have to wake at 0400hrs to travel to Pitlochry. So, 3.5hrs sleep wasn't ideal.
Driving up to Pitlochry was the usual drive, lots of bikes on cars on the way. Parked up in my usual super-secret parking spot and biked 5mins into the centre.
A vibrant event village and hubub in the main drag of Pitlochry was excellent. It felt like the event of old. Pens were reasonably stacked with fast riders in A, fast-ish riders in B (that was me, i thought!) and stacked back. The event recommended being in the pens 90mins before start time (absolutely sod that) and i was 30mins early but i think in future i'll arrive at 0615hrs for the 0630hrs start.
Commentator was a chap giving some cringe "Raid Shadow Legends!" type paid promotion for Wahoo (who obviously are a sponsor) for the most part, chipping in that Garmin was crap, trying to entertain the crowd. It was 70% effective in my view. Loud pumping music, a real atmosphere. Some reiterated T&Cs ("this isn't a race! You are not racing! Be safe! No headphones!") affected the flow of his patter, but heyho.
Start was uncomplicated, riders peeling off in peletons here and there.
My pre-ride setup yesterday identified a dying shifter. A replacement gear cable for the rear mech soothed it, but I was 10mins into the ride when I realised I didn't have my biggest, easiest cog. Determined to push on I just grit my teeth and tackled hills without it. The first 20 odd miles to Kinloch Rannoch felt sluggish, tired and hard. 3 and a half hours of sleep might be to blame.
Stopped at the first feed station and hung the bike up, spinning the back wheel.
It spun freewheel for half a second then ground to a halt. Oh fark. Quick look at the brake pads on the wheel and yep, sure enough, they weren't just rubbing they were stuck to the rotor. Suddenly the first 20 miles made sense. I'd been riding on hard mode. Freed them up and the mech at the feed station sorted my cable issue. Fueled and fixed the next 30 miles were a breeze! Kudos to the first feed station which had toilets, water, gels, bananas, flapjacks and a real life mechanic doing repairs!
I stopped at the pre-Schiehallion climb feed station. Normally I'd ride through. Got a bacon roll from the Scouts (£3 plus £2 donation to them) and some coffee and the climb thereafter was was a fully seated one for me and my legs felt fresh.
Fast descent down the back of Schiehallion but something just didn't feel right; gaining speed was fine but when I pulled on my back brake? Nothing.
shoot.
Stopped, adjusted, moved on.
For the rest of the ride I didn't feel confident in the bike; creaks, rattling and general malaise because it's a heavy farker meant I really throttled my effort.
At 75mi I lost the gumption to finish the course. I finished, but the fight was gone out of me.
Next year I'll either get my good bike ready, or I'll hire something. I'd definitely return for the price.
I acquired a ticket from a local cyclist for £40, so i felt a little better about not giving them my money!
Rumour had it that 2022 and 2023 where much improved from 2021, so i was cautiously optimistic. However, my planning wasn't the best so i had a gig to play on Saturday night before i set off on Sunday morning. A tiring gig ended at 2300hrs and i was in my bed and sleeping by 0030hrs.
Only to have to wake at 0400hrs to travel to Pitlochry. So, 3.5hrs sleep wasn't ideal.
Driving up to Pitlochry was the usual drive, lots of bikes on cars on the way. Parked up in my usual super-secret parking spot and biked 5mins into the centre.
A vibrant event village and hubub in the main drag of Pitlochry was excellent. It felt like the event of old. Pens were reasonably stacked with fast riders in A, fast-ish riders in B (that was me, i thought!) and stacked back. The event recommended being in the pens 90mins before start time (absolutely sod that) and i was 30mins early but i think in future i'll arrive at 0615hrs for the 0630hrs start.
Commentator was a chap giving some cringe "Raid Shadow Legends!" type paid promotion for Wahoo (who obviously are a sponsor) for the most part, chipping in that Garmin was crap, trying to entertain the crowd. It was 70% effective in my view. Loud pumping music, a real atmosphere. Some reiterated T&Cs ("this isn't a race! You are not racing! Be safe! No headphones!") affected the flow of his patter, but heyho.
Start was uncomplicated, riders peeling off in peletons here and there.
My pre-ride setup yesterday identified a dying shifter. A replacement gear cable for the rear mech soothed it, but I was 10mins into the ride when I realised I didn't have my biggest, easiest cog. Determined to push on I just grit my teeth and tackled hills without it. The first 20 odd miles to Kinloch Rannoch felt sluggish, tired and hard. 3 and a half hours of sleep might be to blame.
Stopped at the first feed station and hung the bike up, spinning the back wheel.
It spun freewheel for half a second then ground to a halt. Oh fark. Quick look at the brake pads on the wheel and yep, sure enough, they weren't just rubbing they were stuck to the rotor. Suddenly the first 20 miles made sense. I'd been riding on hard mode. Freed them up and the mech at the feed station sorted my cable issue. Fueled and fixed the next 30 miles were a breeze! Kudos to the first feed station which had toilets, water, gels, bananas, flapjacks and a real life mechanic doing repairs!
I stopped at the pre-Schiehallion climb feed station. Normally I'd ride through. Got a bacon roll from the Scouts (£3 plus £2 donation to them) and some coffee and the climb thereafter was was a fully seated one for me and my legs felt fresh.
Fast descent down the back of Schiehallion but something just didn't feel right; gaining speed was fine but when I pulled on my back brake? Nothing.
shoot.
Stopped, adjusted, moved on.
For the rest of the ride I didn't feel confident in the bike; creaks, rattling and general malaise because it's a heavy farker meant I really throttled my effort.
At 75mi I lost the gumption to finish the course. I finished, but the fight was gone out of me.
Next year I'll either get my good bike ready, or I'll hire something. I'd definitely return for the price.
