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As at the last two events – Saturday was all about riding on skinny tires. More than 200 road enthusiasts turned up to enjoy the fantastic roads around the greater Selkirk area. The route took the riders through the Tweed, Yarrow and Ettrick valleys starting with a long yet gentle climb following the Tweed River upstream.
But it wasn’t all easy going. Our course designer Pete Laing had some ‘proper’ climbs up his sleeve to turn what appeared to be a gentle stroll into a real challenge. He sent the riders up the 25% gradient slope of Fanna Hill to the Megget Stone which more than likely is the steepest road in the south of Scotland followed by the 2nd big climb of the day ‘the Berrybush’. After that it was back to the event village at the Selkirk Rugby club for hot coffee, tea and cake as well as the long awaited hot shower.
Unfortunately the weather stayed rather mixed all day and none of the riders could really escape one of the many showers that hit the Scottish Borders.
The next and last 2008 round of the Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive series is going to be in Penrith taking the series for the first time into England. Our man on the ground, Chris Ford from CycleActive has put his vast knowledge of the area into the course and will show the riders what road riding in the Lakes is all about. We will have a detailed course breakdown in one of our next newsletters.
