Exploring further afield

Since the Sportive it's been a hectic time. Work's been busy, I've been trying to get a little golf in, I had a long weekend on Skye (and one day's fantastic scrambling on the Cuillin) and, of course, there's been some cycling thrown in.
Along with the normal 20-mile routes early in the morning I've done a few longer ones as well. Including two memorable ones I'd like to share. These two routes form a large part of my 200 mile challenge and were a good excuse to explore some new roads. And it's this new roads exploration that keeps me interested. New roads, new challenges, new scenery etc are all good.

Blairgowrie Loop

This ride was done on a lovely Thursday afternoon. Not too hot, not too cold. Perfect. All apart from one thing. The wind direction. More on that later. Apologies for the lack of photos from this ride. There are two reasons for this. The first is simple; I didn't really see anything I wanted to photograph and the light was very flat. The 2nd reason is more difficult. I'd like my blog to be bright and vibrant with lovely photos but that all gets in the way of actually riding. Tricky!
Back to the ride. The wind propelled my through Fife and towards Bridge of Earn. These roads I have travelled before so it wasn't until I started to cycle up the road toward Perth that I struck new tarmac. The road from Bridge of Earn to Perth becomes dual carriageway for a time and I found the adjacent cycle path a safer option here. As soon as the road went back to two-way I was back on the road and soon in Perth.
Perth has it's own difficulties to navigate, bridges, cycle lanes and required changes of lane. But with quiet traffic and an assertive attitude I was clear of the town quickly enough.
I was riding on the main road from Perth to Blairgowrie at the point but turned off to try a quieter road which would also save me some climbing. It was great although I did have some interesting sounds as larger stones from the road surface hit my frame. Luckily none hit me! Quiet roads also tend to provide good places for "comfort" breaks and this was no exception.
I rejoined the main road later and then had to deal with more traffic. One memorable incident was being overtaken on a dead straight road with two vehicles coming in the opposite direction. They had to slow and take avoiding action. I shrugged and waved my apologies and was pleased to get similar (and friendly) responses back from the drivers.
Blairgowrie came and went without incident and I climbed north east on a back road towards Alyth. Once again I was avoiding the traffic and taking the opportunity for a new climb. The breeze that occasionally nagged at me on this section was a sign of things to come. The views south across the valley were superb and well worth the extra effort.
I got to Alyth (a lovely run down the hill brought me in) and stopped at the local shop to refill my water bottles. I also took the opportunity to eat one of the sandwiches I had brought. A saddle bag is a wonderful thing for that.
I set off again. And then the trouble started. That nagging breeze was now in my face and I knew deep down that I had around 35 miles to ride before I saw home. All pretty much in the same direction. Not a pleasant thought. Meigle brought traffic road works. And then the road started to climb as it approached Newtyle. And it kept rising. With the wind in my face! This was the low point of the ride. And when I turned off once again to find a quieter road my legs started to complain too. This back road was a mistake as it added extra climbing and extra twisty riding to the route. Not a good idea, and I way well use the main road on my 200 mile road. Again, the views made up for and I arrived in Birkhill.
From here the road into Dundee was delightfully downhill. And then I managed to find my way through the Technology Park and onto the cycle path beside Riverside in Dundee. The most fun of this part of the ride has to be taking the lift onto the Tay Bridge. Going south on the bridge is uphill which was slow.
So were the roads through Tayport, Leuchars and Guardbridge. And then one final challenge, to climb the hill up to Strathkinness. I really do hate the cycle path that much. The hill was a challenge with a good amount of my granny gear. Then at least the road went downhill and took me, albeit slowly, home.
I was pleased with the time taken to do the route (including the stops) and pleased that I survived the long miles into the wind. But it was a wake up call. As the next ride would be!

Ride

Deeside

10 days later I was off exploring again. I had ridden in between but just on well known local roads, racking up the miles for Strava's May Massive challenge. As I did this I became more convinced that I should go and have a look at the northern loop of my proposed 200 mile ride. I'm a lucky cyclist in that I have great support from my Significant Other and they were quite prepared, insistent even, that they would provide car support for such a venture.
And that's how I ended up riding out of Blairgowrie on a Sunday morning. I'd tooled up outside a small convenience store in the back streets which I have no doubt provided the few locals up early enough a sight for sore eyes. Again I knew this ride was going to be tough but there was no way I was prepared for how tough.
The planned route was from Blairgowrie, through Glenshee (over a high pass) to Braemar, through Deeside to Aboyne and then south to Edzell over another big hill called Cairn o'Mount. 90 miles with the option of another 30 to Alyth to scout out the whole northern loop. Having two big hills in the route can fool a rider into thinking that the route will consist of the following sections flat, up, down, flat, up, down. I'm not that stupid and I had actually looked at the profile in more detail.
Sadly this meant I knew about the steep climb I reached almost immediately after leaving Blaigowrie. And the one out of Bridge of Cally. Knowing about them doesn't make them easier. What I had missed was just how steep some of the little ramps through Glenshee are. I suppose I should have worked it out as I knew I would climb a fair way to get to the bottom of the morning's main objective. The climb up to the ski centre from the floor of Glenshee.
It really starts at the Spittal of Glenshee where the hills start to crowd the road but it's gentle enough here. It rolls its way to below the pass. I always climbed more than I lost but there's a certain resentment when you climb 30 feet and then lose 15. And I could see the headwall, and the road, getting ever closer without the large gain in height I would have liked. The steep bit also started ok. Put the bike in a sensible gear and don't worry about the speed. I reckon I was about a third of the way up it when I ran out of gears. Don't worry I thought just slow the cadence down and which yourself up. Then the heart rate started to rise a little alarmingly. I'm always worried when it gets above 170 and more so if I can't see the top of the rise. I kept going. The road gets steeper, I got slower and my heart rate got higher. I had to remove my steamed-up glasses so that I could see. And then finally, to my shame, I had to stop. I walked the final 0.2 of a mile and just before the top I swung my leg over again and got cycling again. My heart rate had settled nicely on the walk. A sign of some fitness I guess.
I waved to the SO parked in the car park about 1/4 of a mile further on and indicated I was ok and they could meet me in Braemar. The descent was fantastic. A main road gave me all the reward I felt I was due but it was tinged with some regret that I'd had to get off. I also started to worry about the second big climb of the day. Still, I had about 45 miles to go before I needed to worry about that. There's a lovely back road into Braemar on the other side of the river from the main road and, although it's a little rougher and it goes through a golf course, it's well worth taking. I met up with the supply wagon, refuelled and was on my way.
I've holidayed in Deeside before but never ridden the roads so it was great. And the riding continued to be easy. Again the a good look at the profile indicates why. From Braemar to Aboyne is 28 miles and drops 749 feet. So it is more down than up. And despite there being a few ramps on the quiet south Deeside road it was an absolute delight to ride. This smaller road is reached by taking the turn for Balmoral and then keeping on going. Best, in my opinion.

South Deeside road

A planned meet-up in Aboyne was very welcome as was some more substantial food. The SO had scouted the town for me and informed me I was ok for provisions when it comes to the 200 miles. At this point I was beginning to have my doubts about that challenge but that's what these exploration days are all about. I set off again.
The road to the bottom of Cairn o'Mount is not exactly flat and I began to suffer on the steeper sections again. I began to rail against any downhill sections of which there were still quiet a few. And I knew that on the route I had picked there was still one pretty steep section to be negotiated before the main event. I got up this small steep section and it was there that I had an epiphany. I was too hot. A comfort stop at the top of the climb gave me the chance to remove the gilet. I stuffed it in the saddlebag. Handy things saddlebags, but heavy. And heavy doesn't help on the climbs.
Of course, what goes up must come down and the penalty for the climb I'd just done was a drop to the road junction for Cairn o'Mount. I really did dislike that. 8 miles said the sign post. 8 miles and an elevation difference of around 1150 feet. Sadly with the up and down this changes to 1500 feet of climbing. Not a pretty statistic for me.
What can I say? I rode most of it. It's not that horrendous I'm sure but it has some very steep bits in it and towards the top there's not much relief. There are ramps of 12 and 14% and longer bits of 5-10%. All very nasty indeed. Of the 8 miles I reckon I walked about 1/2 a mile. I also stopped a lot near the top. The wind was in my face, the bike was heavy, I was heavy. I can't say I enjoyed it much. Despite the scenery being very nice indeed. I was being given a lesson in over-reaching myself.

Looking at what I'd struggled up on Cairn o'Mount

Near the top I could make out two passes and, delighted that I was nearly as high as both of them, I felt I had it in the bag. Except the road doesn't take either of the passes, it goes over the the "mount" between them. The clue is in the name.

One of the fake passes

I arrived at the Cairn. I stopped beside my car and straddled the bike too tired to get off. A few comforting words from my SO but I was pretty much beyond comforting at this point. A shame for them, because I don't expect I was much fun. Not at this high point anyway.
I had still earned my descent though and I loved the high speed, no pedalling action for the 2 miles it takes to drop 1000 feet. I don't get how anyone could cycle up that way, but they do. And for fun! I did stop at the slightly lower car par and take a couple of photos. What a view.

Just below the summit of Cairn o'Mount - looking south

Then it was back to proper cycling. Again it was still mostly downhill but it was into the breeze which had stiffened during the day and was now properly annoying me. I arrived in Edzell a bit battered and tired. There was no way I was adding on the optional 30 miles to Alyth. That would just have been a pedal stroke too far.

Which way to Alyth? No chance....

The bike went on the top of the car and I grumped about the fact that I wouldn't even be attempting my long ride and we set off home.

Ride

Aftermath

A wee while has gone by now since I did the rides. I've had time to reflect. I also had time to see my personal trainer. He pointed out that it was still a pretty good effort and that I probably have all the miles in the legs that I need but I need some more high intensity hill climbing to fall back on. So I'm on a diet of hill repeats now. Energy sapping, leg churning, heart exploding hill repeats. Lovely. But if it makes the 200 possible I'll do it. I've also had a lot of encouragement from friends who are mostly of the opinion that if I walk 3/4 of a mile in 200 so be it. I'm still propelling the bike. I'm not sure I agree with that but we'll see.
On reflection I also think I overheated on the Glenshee climb and, as much as I would like to say I recovered from that over the next 40-odd miles, I don't think I ever really got back my composure after that. Lesson learnt. Strip down before the climb.
You've probably gathered this already but, yes, I will at least be attempting the 200 this year. Life is about challenges and if you fail trying then at least you've tried. Hmm, try getting your inner chimp to be happy with that.

Thanks for reading this long, long post. It's done now....