Robert Millar Sportive

[killiekosmos]

Apologies if this is posted elswhere.

http://www.glasgowwheelers.com/robertMillarSportive.php

I'm looking for advice on the 46 mile route.

How hilly is it? I've done the Braveheart Cycle route (Kilmarnock to Eaglesham, Neilson and back) and the total climb is similar. Is anyone able to advise if the gradients are very different? Thanks

 

[zizou]

Hadnt heard of that one before, quite interesting!

If it goes up the Tak Ma Doon road from the Kilsyth end then that is a difficult climb with alot of changes in gradient (good view at the top - you can see Glasgow and the Forth bridges on a clear day). Goes up the Crow from the north which is relatively straight forward, if you make it up the Tak you'll be alright for that even with a few more miles in the legs.

IMO it is a bit harder than the Braveheart route which is more of a mixture of undulating and long climbs / false flats whereas this route has more of its elevation concentrated in 2 big hills. On the other hand it depends what the weather was like the time you did the Braveheart route, because that route is pretty exposed to strong headwinds so can be much harder than the profile suggests!

 

[killiekosmos]

Thanks. I do the Braveheart route (or bits of it) quite often. I know what you mean about headwinds, especially out of Neilston!

 

[HLaB]

As said I think the Tak Ma Doon (Oxymoron because I've only been up) Road is harder shorter than the Crow but is steeper, more varying and more technical, there's a nice car park near the top for a breather and to intake the view. The crow road from the Fintry side is a drag but isn't that hard relatively, the first time up it into a fierce headwind I went to change up to the big (52t) chainring of the old sirrus, then realised I was already in it I certainly couldn't do that on the Tak Ma Doon. Another thing with the Tak Ma Doon after the climb just as the descent speeds up an you can see another short sharp up hill, there's a ford at the bottom stopping using the gained momentum.
I've never done the Braveheart so I don't know how they compare to that.

 

[arranandy]

I fancied doing this event but its my dad's 75th birthday that day and he wants to climb Goatfell on Arran (weather permitting). Maybe next year