Tour O' The Borders - 29 April

[doug67]

A belated word of praise for this new sportive master-minded by local entreprenuer and friend of the Club, John Anderson of The Bicycle Works.

In short, this was a 70 mile loop starting and finishing in Peebles.  In evidence were a sprinkling of the Bicycleworks team, Team Affluent folks and a sizeable contingent from ERC.

Mercifully, Sunday in the Borders was cold and windy but remained dry.  John had plotted a really good course on quiet roads with 7 longish climbs (Paddy Slacks, Berry Bush, Witchy Knowe, etc) most of which are the gradual, steady gradient, fun type, rather than the stupid steep, rhythm killing type (refer Hardknott Pass).  Most of them had cracking descents as well.

The event had some quality touches - the best route card I've seen, name printed on the number that went on the front of the bike, and probably the best t-shirt I've had from an event; genuinely smart.

Good event - hope it's on again next year, well done John and the Tour O' The Borders team.

[lauri]

indeed, thoroughly enjoyable event. just because of this event i persuaded my brother-in-law to start cycling (well, i had signed him up and he had to start training somehow:)) and he did manage to ride it through, swearing on climbs and enjoying descents... will definitely be back next year if it was to be repeated, i really do hope it will...

[dirtyone30]

I agree, well done John and the rest of the organisers, best bit for me was the macaroni pie Tuesday night style. Cracking! See you next year.

[Richard F]

+1 on the macaroni pies, marvellous!

Also, very slick timing, with RFID stickers on the helmet picked up by roadside transmitters.  Made the SportIdent tags used on the Fred Whitton this weekend look decidedly primitive.

Richard