Hello from Australia's Great Ocean Road. You really want to come for a bike ride down here


Good work getting out on the bike gents, but not good enough... Get those miles in.

I'll be back in the UK next week. How are the roads holding up to this mega winter you have been stuck in?

Glenshee road from the south is showing some damage and fresh pot-holes from frost and water. But nothing more than you'd expect from a hard winter. I'm sure it'll all be fine come the day...

Did the route over the weekend on the way to and from working at Speyside Whisky Festival and Etape Loch Ness.
Split route in two... Glad I am not doing it in one day ;-)

Tarmac is holding up well, with the notable exception of A924 & B976. The descent of B976 in particular should be taken with extreme care, particularly at the off camber right hander half way down. We will sign post and marshal it accordingly.

Only 4 weeks to go.

Excited I am.

Brilliant day, and thanks again for all your work pulling it together, Alan.

It was my first sportive, but if I ever do one again, I can't think of it being bettered. Except of course, if I'd read a FAQ for muppets to tell me that a 5kg backpack full of random I-might-need-that sort of stuff wasn't a good idea. The en-route cappuccino, bacon rolls, cakes, bananas, bananas, bananas, the amazing views and the stupidly fast downhills kept me going though.

And well done with your call to the weather gods.

Yes excellent day out on the ski roads, and great to meet several WH peeps en route & at Gorm finish.

Thanks to AlanA for making it happen, and especially for his *transport-management* skills

Bike collection in Pitlochry was seemless after the bus transfer. Fortunately it was right beside my parked car from night before... which was good because there was no way I was getting back in that saddle to ride over to the car!

PS: Ross... have you checked your avatar.??



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 19.45hrs Mon 2 Jun 14 by HTH.

A similar vote of thanks from me, that was an absolutely cracking day out. Great atmosphere, company, a very happy and chilled vibe all day. Very pleased to have been part of it and to have bumped into one or two WHers along the way. Special thanks go to Steelytail for the hamper of grub in the back seat of his car on the impromptu lift back to Pitlochry. Saved standing in the rain in the queue for the bike/bus too.
The oddest contrast of the day though has to have been from the finish at Gorm with Hilly marching down into the middle of the throng of sweaty cyclists with her skis on her backpack...

Anybody fancy a wee WH reunion ride late summer? Maybe just a short social bike ride. Perhaps do the final climb again & get a cake .... Without having to ride the whole route!

Somebody mention cake?
I'm in...

A few miles around Nethybridge area, then up the hill. Bacon Roll Stop, followed by a Cake-Stop at the Gorm, or even whizz back down to get cake?

No timing chips, other *chips* may figure in the trip.

2nd-half August seem like a good time to try it.? Legs will have recovered by then

I'd be up for that. Could combine it with a hike & ski. h11lly ?

I can carry cakes. I might also have myself a more me sized bike than my 6'6" pal's spare.

I'm game for that. Though I will embarrass myself with my caged pedals! How about Nevis to Cairn Gorm?

I'm sure I heard someone mention the Inschriach cake shop..

You must have read my mind !! Ha Ha

Oops... seem to have stumbled into the 3-Pastry-Cycle thread.

Cake based outing sounds fine to me, as long as we do actually do a little cycling (but not toooo much) to justify the cakes.

Anybody with local knowledge want to suggest a sociable bike route, which may or may not include Cairngorm.?

MoffatRoss never realised you were chino shorts and checked shirt guy. You were being discussed in hushed tones by other riders. Legend!

Glad everyone enjoyed themselves and thanks for your support.