Friday, January 22, 2016

Our first Tandem Sportive

Oh dear, this was written and not posted quite a while ago. I'm way behind in my stories of my cycling. So, in an effort to catch up here's the first of a quick few (hopefully) discussing last years efforts.

It's funny how things come about. We did a cafe ride not so long ago and after that I ended up trying to persuade our friend Carole to do a longer sportive. Realising that it is sometimes difficult to tackle challenges on your own I suggested to the Stoker that we could do one with her. "No problem" was the reply.
Now, the sportive I was suggesting was the excellent No Fuss Lord of the Loch's event. Last year I did the Elite course over 112 miles and had enjoyed the day (mostly). This year they had decided to put on a third course; an out and back route which promised to be pretty flat for its 100 km. The only issue for The Stoker, as a sportive virgin, was the distance from home. So, before we committed it was suggested that we might try one closer to home. And, so we ended up doing MAF's Perthshire 50 mile challenge as a try out.

Perthshire 50 Mile Challenge


Starting and finishing from Perth Airfield near Scone this event was much closer to home. Not even an hour by car as it turned out. The day was well organised and when we arrived we were instructed where to park and then where to assemble for registration and the off. The event was timed using chips on our helmets so we both had one. This was to prove interesting later.
Once we were ready we got in a group ready to go. I put us at the back so our start, which is always slightly more interesting that a single bike, wouldn't cause anyone else any issues. Unfortunately this meant we were slow off the blocks thanks to the chap who couldn't get his cleat in. I felt for him, as we waited. We shimmied through the airfield roads to the exit and the main road. Thankfully it was clear and we all got out ok. Our fellow starters eased away from us as the road went gently uphill, then we caught a few on the downhill that followed and passed a couple more on the next up and that was it; we were on our own.
It is slightly surreal riding in an event and not really cycling with anyone. My friend Andy had also entered but was slightly late arriving. He had said he would catch us up but I knew it wouldn't be anytime soon. So there we were, like it was any other ride, just pedalling along on our own. We soon left one main road, traversed some smaller roads and then popped out on the main Perth to Blairgowrie road not far from the bridge over the River Isla and some traffic lights. Over that and turn left to start heading towards Dunkeld.
Another bridge, this time over the Tay, and back onto quiet roads slightly damp from the rain the previous day and overnight. Singles and pairs overtook us, often with a wee look of surprise and a little comment about the tandem. No insinuation that the one at the back wasn't pedalling thankfully. It's a joke that gets a little stale. Through Murthly (check out the garage for future visits), over the Tay again and onto Caputh where we would meet the main Dunkeld to Coupar Angus road.
Before we met the road though we were overtaken by the COG Velo boys complete with my pals Jimmy and Nico. They were fast. "Clear" was the call to us at the junction. Only just in my opinion. I think they forgot that we were doing about 10mph and they were doing considerably more. All safe though and we headed towards Dunkeld.
Only the 50 mile route went through Dunkeld with its tourist buses, cars and pedestrians; the 100 mile route goes west here. Lucky them. Roads that narrow weren't really made for the current transport idols. Especially so if there is a tandem trying to make its way through too. We emerged unscathed at the other end and drew some admiring glances and comments from a group of girls who looked like they were off for a serious bit of hiking.
And then the only slightly worrying part of the day from a performance point of view; the climb out of Dunkeld on the road to Blairgowrie. It's not that steep but it's steep enough. So granny gear selected and spin, spin, spin. About a third of the way up our efforts were interrupted by Andy who had finally caught us up. He was riding with some others so I told him to carry on and we would see him later. We did, back at the finishing line! The top came soon enough, although it did go on a bit which was a bit of a shame and then it was time to enjoy some "whee". The descent was bendy but no to bad and we made a good fist of carrying some speed down on to the flatter section that followed.
We rolled along, up and down until we came to the feed stop, some 5 miles short of Blairgowrie. We were both welcome of the break. I don't supposed I needed a cheese roll but it was lovely. We did need to refill one of our bottles and this was done with the water provided. It's this aspect that makes sportives so appealing. You know (with some certainty) that you're not going to have to go hunting for water, extra food etc. And that does make a difference to the overall time and reduces the chance of falling out of the rhythm of riding.
At least it should. Starting off was a little tricky, just because of the position of the feed stop. It was on a shallow bend and we couldn't quite see in both directions. Because of our relatively slow starts it's nice to know all is clear. The marshals helped us out and we went to start off. Except we didn't and I only saved us from a nasty fall by putting a hand on one of the marshal's car's bonnet. We got it right second time around and off we went. Embarrassed? No, no not at all.
Arriving in Blairgowrie with the ignominy still in my mind I made the decision that we would walk across the big T-junction. Especially as we hadn't come to a good stop and The Stoker's feet had both come out of their pedals. My fault, all my fault. The main road we were about to turn right into was busy and, with the incongruous start at the feed stop we decided that discretion was the better part of valour here, so we got off and pushed the bike across the junction.
Setting off this time of course was much easier and we headed down the main road from Blaigowrie to Perth. This was a part of the route I wasn't really looking forward to; it was bound to be busy and, in the past, I've found drivers on this wide carriageway to be impatient and not good at giving space. In this direction though we did have the advantage of it being mostly downhill and we made good time back to the bridge over the River Isla. And we had done it without much incident either. Not all the traffic was good but the majority were ok and I was glad not to have a Stoker worried for their continued existence.
We did have some fun crossing the bridge, however. The road is single track and light controlled. Unfortunately we had arrived just as the lights went red, which meant we were at the head of the queue. And the driver behind us wasn't for waiting, not even for the ambulance that arrived as the lights were changing. We waited and then felt it was our turn once it had a passed us. Apparently not, especially as the lights were turning again and the car barged by. Cue annoyed pilot and Stoker. Still, we were across, and shortly after the route turned off the main road and headed towards Woodside!
Not our usual Woodside but the one in Angus. This whole section, through Woodside, Campmuir, Saucher and Kinrossie can best be described as gently uphill. Which meant that for us on the tandem it dragged, no matter how scenic it was. Especially so, since after Campmuir, we were back into the breeze. It was around here (around the 40 mile mark) that I felt the Stoker beginning to tire. I didn't blame them, especially not on this section. It was hard work. I'd come prepared though and started compensate a little. I can't do this forever but as I knew the end was pretty much in sight I had no qualms. Tandem riding is a team effort after all.
One last push saw us into Kinrossie and then the backroad to Balbeggie where we had some fun getting the bike up to speed. We even did a little coasting. Sadly the main road back from Balbeggie to the airfield was a little more lumpy than I would have liked but the end came more quickly than I realised it would with the Garmin only giving us 49 miles. We were robbed! The one great consolation to it all was that we beat the rain in. We had seen the big grey clouds massing to the west all the way back from Blairgowrie and I was glad we didn't have that to contend with too.
Just after we had come over the finish line my phone alerted saying it had two texts and once we had come to a stop I checked them out. It was our times for the event. Both had come to my phone as I had entered us both and just used my contact details. Technology is an amazing thing. The funny part was that the Stoker's time was 8 seconds longer than mine. That's some length of tandem! I don't know how it happened. I'm assuming that their chip got tagged at the start before mine did.
Our friend Andy had waited for us to arrive back (terribly nice of him) so we stood in the field and had a cup of something warm along with a very nice roll. The event was superbly managed and we loved taking part. There was no way we were not going to go to the Lord of the Lochs Sportive now!

The Ride