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The first round of the Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive Series took place in Llanwrtyd Wells 4 July and saw lots of riders enjoy a challenging day in the hills surrounding the smallest town in Britain. The Devils Staircase and the climb over the Eppynt Military Range were just a couple of the challenges their riders had to tackle.
After Wales the series new heads north to Selkirk in the Scottish Borders. Last years Gore Bike Wear Sportive followed an 80 mile loop that followed quiet roads in the Tweed, Yarrow and Ettrick Valleys; a fairly easy route that featured only two proper climbs. Feedback after the 2008 event showed that most sportive riders are after something a little tougher, so, for the Selkirk round of the 2009 series, there have been some BIG changes – the Selkirk series has now three courses to choose from.
Each route makes the most of the network of narrow hill roads linking the river valleys that the Scottish Borders is so famous for. The climb tot-up for each distance is;
47 mile: 4 climbs, 95 mile: 8 climbs, 120 mile: 10 climbs. None of the climbs are Alpine in scale but only one is less than 100m vertical and if you check the course profiles, there isn’t a flat road in between, so the ascent total soon builds up. The 120 mile route especially is a bit of a beast with 3600m of ascent. Note: Climb highpoints are shown in square brackets.
Course description
Everyone will head out of Selkirk [120metres] along the picturesque Ettrick Valley, with 2 miles of easy spinning before hitting a singletrack road that snakes its way up onto the Woll Rig [334m]. After a fast descent to the village of Ashkirk, you start a lovely undulating moorland road that takes in Blawearie, Alemoor Reservoir and The Rankle Burn before reaching the first feed stop at Tushie Law in Ettrick Valley. Here the 45’s turn east and take on two of the best climbs in the Borders, The Berry Bush [380m] and Witchie Knowe [362m] before an easy run back to Selkirk along the valley floor. Everyone else turns left and makes for the wilds of Eskdalemuir.
Given a calm day, it’s a big-ring churn up to the source of the Tima Water near the glamorously named Foulbog [334m] and on past Samie Ling Tibetan Monastery. Stop for tea and contemplation if you want but you may be persuaded to stay (in silence) for 3 years, 3 days, 3hours, 3mins ….you get the drift. At Eskdalemuir village (two houses and a tree) it’s a right turn and a tough peck over to Boreland through he endless Spruce plantations of Castle O’er Forest. Look for a well-stocked feed table at the village.
After more sticky roads, a near miss with Moffat and a marvellous 10 mile climb alongside Moffat Water (blink the sweat from your eyes long enough glance at the areas’ highest waterfall, the Gray Mares Tail if you can.) the Dumfries/Selkirkshire border marks another high point [338], the return to civilisation and the start of a 45 minute rolling descent past the Borders’ best known beauty spot, St Mary’s Loch. Feed stop #3 soon comes into view at The Gordon Arms Hotel.
Next up is The Witchie Knowe [362], 167 vertical metres of hell for tired legs and the last climb of the day for the 95 milers who turn left on reaching the Ettrick Valley road and follow the same return route as the 47’s. Psychological trauma sets in for the full distance boys and girls because at this junction they have to go in the opposite direction and tackle another 30 miles and two fair sized climbs before reaching home base. Climb #9 is The Berry Bush over the Gordon Arms again and climb #10 The Paddy Slacks [360m] starts straight away and takes any gibbering wrecks still left in the event over to the Tweed Valley and a lumpy run back to Selkirk by a leafy back road along the south bank of the river.
The clockwise direction of each route means that the outward leg will be into the prevailing wind and unlike last year, there are no busy main roads included; in fact on some sections you’ll be lucky to see a car. The new courses are going to be a challenge for most but choose a distance that suits your current level of fitness, get some miles in well before the big day and the reward will be some of the best sportive riding to be experienced anywhere in Britain.
Course details
Statistics – short course (standard sportive)
Length: approx: 47 mile
Climbing: approx. 1,600 meters
Statistics – long course (classic sportive)
Length: approx: 95 mile
Climbing: approx. 2,700 meters
Statistics – extra long course (‘extreme’ sportive)
Length: approx: 120 mile
Climbing: approx. 3,600 meters
