Six hard days for the Selkirk 100Km - Road Trip July 2005
The forecast was shit so a late plan change to get out on a day I was going to just travel on.
Stopped of in Poley bridge, camped up and started off up to the Cockpit! to join Highstreet. After damn near 10 miles of steady climbing with stunning views the Summit at just shy of 800 metres is reached, about 2 leisurely hours worth for fresh legged me.
It's then fun all the way down Troutbeck. I then nipped back onto the main road at Limefitt park and started the dull road climb back up to Kirkstone pass, where the pub tempts you in before a fun road hairpin descent.
Onto the Boredale Hause and dropping onto the Ullswater lakeside track that is oh so good.
Its getting late as I'd been out 5 hrs now, the tracks clear of walkers and its full on fun before finishing with a back lane drag back to camp and a much needed shakedown. Poley bridge for carbo loading on Snecklifter ..well earned.
Nod was camped up on Mungrisdale doing the family holiday thing when I rescued him. Low Mill farm campsite is as basic (and cheap at NY 36732 - 32485) as it gets if you fancy some nice isolated outdoors.
One benefit of this location was it was less than a mile from Mosedale on one of our intended routes - the back of Skidaw. Shame the weather wasn't playing ball though, it was chucking it down all day.
We went for it anyway, a nice climb up the Calbeck Fells to warm up before the fun descent to the road at Fellside, seeing through the spray was tough though.
The climb up the back of Skiddaw was hard, a head wind meant a lot of concentration but I managed to win the no dabs contest as Ian got almost blown off at one point. He then got the last laugh as the trail goes a short drop before Skiddaw house. I found a perfect wheel sized hole crossing the River Caldew, and took a sweet dive.
As I stood there totally soaked , it didn't mater though I could not get any wetter. Hands were turning blue though as the wind whipped up even more so we baled out at the old Hostel and dropped back down the Cumbria Way for our return to base.
I had to laugh watching the pair of us trying to get zips open with suffering hands at the end though, why is the Lakes always like this for me....and it's only 500 metres high, what's Scotland going to be like.
News of a hurricane in Birmingham and a months rain in a day in Yorkshire did not surprise us, but the West coast looks OK so its a no brainer - Kiroughtree here we come.
Although it looks only a stones throw from Keswick over the Solway Firth to the area we want, it's a near 3 Hr drive to get there. Slightly delayed after the extra hassle of some emergency pedals are purchased, it better be worth it.
As I type this I'm smiling, if you like narrow fast and flowing singletrack Kiroughtree is heaven. Totally dry for us and tons of fun. The designer of this could have taken the trails straight out of my "what i want from a ride" thoughts, its straight into the TOP 3 best rides for me.
Do every inch of both the routes marked here for max fun, and spend some time playing on McMoab which is well worth the name..superb.
Food available at the cafe afterwards too.
So good we never stopped for Photo's once and this is a new
So it's off to Selkirk, and almost as much fun was the drive across Dumfries and Galloway on the A712 and A702, singletrack for cars and Nod got introduced to the flying, sliding Transit, what a day. Tonights camp was the Selkirk Rugby Club for the event.
Yep more rain but at this place who cares, your only a loop away from great cake and hot food.
At last I get to do the black route in one go with a great rider. No disrespect to others who have done this trip but going for it in one hit (well with a buttie stop) was so cool, and essential to keep us warm. Nod started to flag till we met rider prey then soon bucked up.
Refueled and a bit dryer we had to keep playing despite what was to come tomorrow, the Red was polished off and boy is that new descent from the top fun, Indian you have got to get yourself back up here.
End of the day and a few corners to go disaster, JP hits the rock and its severe skin loss to the knee with a palm sized hunk ripped off, oh shit.
Time for a few beers to aid our sleep and weary muscles tonight, the on site Rugby club bar and showers are superb and next after heaps of Pasta and a chat with old friends.
Thanks to BikeMagic for the photos
Hooray the suns shining and my Knee is only mildly throbbing if a bit leaky. Nod decides 50Km is enough today for him, and I'm hoping I've got 100 left in my legs, which unfortunately I have to cover to hold my bandage on. The mass start is a bit cramped but goes Ok. A fairly long road spin sorts out the crowd and it thins out, unfortunately for me I'm going backwards.
The price is some queuing to go down after the first climb to the 3 Brethren monument, this is really alien to me and a definite reason to stay fit and maybe do this event at the start of a road trip and not the end. After about 2 hrs though, with the help of the great food stops its better going and then the Innerleithan trails get the blood flowing and I even start overtaking people......that is untill a pinch puncture DOH.
Local to us Junior Josh Ibbett gets the honour of being first home in 2h52 while Nod is 2nd youngster in 3h30 despite waiting for slow old me at the start and diving head first into some shrubbery meaning a long search for a lost speedo (it still is) well dne lads. Fellow flatlander Russell Miller did 3h52 for the 50 while Nick Craig beat him home doig the full monty, shishh.
I managed 5h30 and stuck at the full event, considering the 30 miles the day before I was well chuffed with that. Welland Valleys Lise Budd had 7hr15 of fun out there. Full Results are on the Marathon site
BikeMagic took some pictures of us all out there, Jack looking ferked at only 20km and with only 5km to go in the cruel Bog descent.
Overall a fantastic event, some great trails and a great location. Selkirk is a short walk away for loads of food after the event, the bar opened again on Saturday night and camping over to chill out is a great way to round of a cool days riding.
I'll be back for 2006, and I'm going to hit the 4hrs no problem, see you there.
Nod was gutted that doing the 50 Km missed out the Calder bank descent at Inners so next day what the hell, we went and did it on our way home. Amazingly even though the climb was steady we were still up for it, and even did the top section twice from the MinchMoor summit.
The technical rock sections are my favourite though, where I pinch flatted yesterday, and the Intense bossed them big style for this ride.
Not so on the big drops of the bank though, aaaaarhhh, tiredness and downright being a twat led to one monster off for me, guess stripey suntan and funny shaped ribs can be cool.
The drive back down took in a cool Loch side cafe on the way to Moffat with yet more Transit surfing to keep us amused. Ian still had a week to play in the lakes, but rounding the trip off pre a 4 hr drive home for me was a nice BBQ scoff and the view of Skiddaw I've yet to see on a bike.
I'll be back. (and yes I'm a crap rider who just can't stop falling off this year)
Highstreet
Kiroughtree - most of it
Selkirk 85 Merida - an Idea of where it goes. The highpoint is the summit of the Traquair trail at Innerleithan
Innerleiten Trail
| Helpfull Scottish borers Info: | |
| The Anchor Hotel in Kipford is handy
for Kiroughtree or Stay at Challoch Farm. £25 B&B. Eat at the Galloway Arms in Newton Stewart . Or camp or get a wigwam here barnsoulfarm The Criffel Inn, New Abbey, 01387 850244/850305 is quite central for all the Dumfries and Galloway Stanes and popular for bikers. Near to Dalbeattie, short ride to Mabie and 1/2hr to Ae. Kiroughtree is 1hr west and Glentress is 1.5hr east. By all accounts think before you book into the big campsite at Peebles for the Glentress area, and don't even think of turning up there after 8pm any time........only what we heard! |
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| The HUB in the Forest | The 7Stanes project |