the other side

Never one to miss a chance to explore a new route, the recent visit of the Tour of Britain provided the final push to try a wee run out from Moffat. It is a typical borders market town just down the road from the legendary Abington.

Leaving Moffat on the A708 humming a rather obvious musical refrain of Cousteau last good day of the year the road rolls and trundles as it ascends gradually past Grey Mare's Tail waterfall and offers some respite to Cappercleuch.

The sun managed to break through with it brought some heat and worries of being overdressed. This is Scotland however and these fanciful ideas were soon forgotten as normal weather service was resumed. There is a right turn onto an unmarked single track road just before Cappercleuch signposted for Tweedsmuir and this is was taken on stage one of this year’s Tour of Britain. The road ascends to Megget Hill and reservoir and is at it's steepest in the first kilometre or so though the headwind was making for laboured progress through a green and brown Autumnal landscape.

 

bleak, bleak in a very Scottish way

A brief respite to admire the view of Talla and make a mental note to do this route in reverse before a damp descent and a run along the shore to Tweedsmuir.

The turn at Tweedsmuir rejoins the main roads in the shape of the A701 and turn into the teeth of a severe south westerly. Progress was agonisingly slow towards the Devil's Beef Tub but it did offer the chance to look out for and spare bidons that had been discarded by those pro riders. After some time it was possible to be convinced that the modern pro tour survives on Irn Bru, coffee from styrofoam cups and cheap lager but finally efforts were rewarded in the shape of not one but two water bottles. The Devil's Beef Tub marks the beginning of the descent and return into Moffat on what proved to be a tough ride that would be testing even without the wind for company on two of the three sides. The roads never really rise dramatically but are rarely flat either. They all run below 300m yet roll and wriggle and rise with a gradual persistence that adds spice to some fine borders scenery.

                                                                                              71km 810m ascent

It's only September and I'm thinking about Christmas

The recent visit to Ronde resulted in a couple of purchases. I'm a sucker for a nice print; the love of ink, big machines, oily rags, tradition, craft and the patience of saint all go into that 2D piece of joy. Well, it's not strictly 2D. Prints have a surface formed by the process and quite a few printers really take this to the limit. I have a book lurking at home which is history of the Roman typeface. The embossed pages of hand printed characters are not only a visual feast, but the tactile quality results in sensory bliss. An invite from vitsoe recently landed on my desk. In true vitsoe understated fashion, their logo is embossed on the top right hand corner. It just cries out for your thumb to be rubbed against it, lovely. Dynamoworks in Edinburgh do a fine range of bike related prints. I couldn't decide what print to buy, my wife was giving me the look (not that one) to get my arse in gear and make a decision. The result, a postcard....it will do for the time being.

Talking of print, Edwin works for the same employer as me and we both have access to some pretty nice kit. He tends to print things in ink, I tend to print things in ABS. Your time is no doubt precious, but you really should have a look at his work.

The other goodie in the bag brought back childhood memories of being dragged round antique and charity shops in France. I've loved those little cycling figures for years. The weird thing is, that until now, I can't ever recall buying one. I was probably saving my money for a real bike. Capturing a dynamic activity in three dimensions is a tough call. Fair enough, these figures don't have the accuracy and beauty of a finely crafted piece of jewellery or sculpture, but they do poses a quality that is full of emotion and that is a very tough call. The manufacturing process obviously lends it's own quality, and the rustic nature has been left intact. Tool wear has a say in the final aesthetic through the decision of not removing the 'flash'. In my opinion, this adds to the honesty of the objet d'art.

The number of companies that have produced these figurines over the years is vast. A great source of tracking them down is tour-de-france-miniature.com

The real Papa de le peleton is the Roger Foundry. I won't fill the blog with their history as it is worth pointing the cursor to the link and having a read.

The plastic variety don't do it for me, Christmas crackers come to mind. Now, if a Christmas cracker had one of these beauties in it I would be a happy boy.

Rouler mag even paid homage to the models, the cover of issue 11, (now sold out) was a photo from Janol Apin  'les petits velos' series. His site is worth a look, even if only for the humour of the over the bars spill and the 'being in the right place at the right time' message captured in these inanimate objects.

The cycliste purchased from Ronde may end up losing his white jersey and returning to team duties. The four time winner of the Paris-Roubaix being the inspiration. Time to look out the red and blue humbrols...

Stay upright

Strictly bicycles

The tail end of a Hurricane is causing havoc here in the UK, even the Tour of Britain stage from Kendal to Blackpool was cancelled yesterday. One little slimmer of joy was finding out that the Manx-missle was (and possibly still is) a competitive ballroom dancer. Mark Cavendish visited the world famous ballroom in the past to compete and returned yesterday to meet fans. The Saturday night BBC hit Strictly Come Dancing may beckon, and in true Brucey fashion 'Mark, you're my favourite'.


The cyclists and teams response to the cancelled Tour of Britain stage was a sensible one and they even had the decency to enjoy a Ronde round Kendal and meet the fans.


Thankfully the weather didn't deterrent the fans and the crowds lining the streets demonstrated the popularity that cycling is enjoying in the UK. Cycling is a visual treat and I'm sure that we have all been stopped in our tracks by a bike, rider, peleton at some point. If you where in New York recently you may have heard of the unfortunate young cyclist that was arrested for distracting motorists, her skirt was too short. Well folks, you shouldn't have been looking. New York and Glasgow have some similarities, cafe/deli culture being one. A cyclesguff favourite is Where the monkey sleeps on West Regent St.


http://www.monkeysleeps.com/


Lunch time is a mix of creatives, suits, taxi drivers and bike couriers. Add music blaring in the background, a sandwich that will keep you going until midnight and all is well. The couriers have had to deal with some awful weather. We may moan, but at least we don't have to ride our bikes to earn our keep. The pros do, but as seen yesterday, the organisers call the shots when the conditions are grim to point of putting riders at risk.


The monkey's railings are always a source of interest. The bike below stopped me in my tracks and I even forgot about the rain as the love for the bike became very obvious. 

The New York courier scene may have the history and greater following, but if any bikes can match this, please send a pic and it will be posted, darling.

zero bhp

The simple things in life are those to cherish and one has to be cracking descent. A descent can be even sweeter if the events prior to the gravity frolics result in you feeling that a 'gentle' tuck and coast is deserved. 


So far, gravity has played a part in cyclesguff. No, it's not the case that we are all showing our age, just look back to the guffbike post. Recent travels, family events and actually going out and riding bikes has resulted in guffbike being neglected. It will roll soon, I promise......Going back even further, there was a post about the 'comic' and scaging the mags. An opportunity arose yesterday to indulge in a spot of free reading. The love of two wheels doesn't start and stop with bikes, it also includes motorbikes. The motorbike in the garage is one very long restoration/cafe racer project. The reason I've not bought a runner, is purely and simply down to the fact that it would enjoy far more attention and freedom on the road. My plan was to use this time to build the bike that has always been in my mind.


Bike magazine is a good read and usually has an article or two that catches the attention, ZERO BHP is a perfect example. The stats: Location. Alpe D'Huez. Weapons of choice. Yamaha R1 Uberbike v 7.5k carbon road bike. The R1 was ridden by a pretty handy circuit racer, the road bike was guided down le Alpe by a former motocross - mtb and road champion. So he knew a thing or two about handling a bike. I'm not going to tell you the outcome, let's just say that it will make you smile.

If you are on the hunt for more crankshafts v cranks have a look at this.


www.bikeradar.com/news/article/video-gee-atherton-vs-motorbike-at-fort-william-28596/


The bike article brought back a memory of a very early date. The poor girl didn't know what to say when I turned up at her house on a tandem with a picnic. The solo 5 mile ride to her house was interesting to say the least and I discovered just how quick a tandem can drop altitude. Towards the end of the date we where full of life and pedalling back to her house. I knew a cracking descent was ahead, the road looked clear and we went for it! The Volvo estate that appeared have way down was the red rag. The driver's face was a picture when he looked to his right and saw to young pups smiling as they flew by. He was eating a choclate bar (don't know what type!!) and missed his mouth completely when he went to take a bite. We laughed so much that a speed wobble started. The girl in question is now my wife. 

Stay upright

a bit of exotica

In keeping with the recent international posts on cyclesguff it seems only fitting to add a ride that takes us off our beaten track. Ridden on a cyclesguff summer excursion, the Tatzelwurm is a mountain south of Rosenheim in Germany. Starting in the village of Neubeuern the road flows easily with the river until Branenberg where it begins to rise. Initially gentle through a toll gate the road soon ramps up in sections reaching 20%. The most intense section precedes a single lane tunnel with traffic lights so if you are lucky (or maybe not) you get straight through on the green.

The gradient eases a bit after the tunnel meandering through mountain pastures to Tatzelwurm. It is worth the extra effort to take the turn beyond onto the D307 to the Sudelfeld (1097m). The gradient rises again through some switch-backs on broad well kept roads. It is a popular route with motorcyclists too, who are to be seen bent low into the wide expansive curves.

The climb remains at a steady gradient winding as the meters are claimed. There is one shortish section of descent before the road rises again and wiggels to the summit and a chance for photos. 

here be big worms?

The Tatzelwurm is a mythical monster (claw worm) said to be a combination of cat and snake with only two legs at the front. There were none to be seen on this outing but the views back down the valley were reward for the effort on a hot sunny day. The descent was interrupted for a fine coffee in Tatzelwurm itself. Cyclesguff German is not at expert level so coffee and water it had to be before a speedy slink back to Neubeuern for a round trip of 50km and 700m ascent. 

recovery drink

hand tinted hills

There are some routes that draw you back again and again. So it is with the loop that goes  round from Abington to Sanquhar, Mennock and back.

This circuit is a bit of a cyclesguff favourite and although relatively short offers varied and challenging terrain. We set off yesterday from Abington over the M74 and first left off the B7078 where the road rolls over to Crawfordjohn. Keeping to the conventional circuit we wasted no time at the turn toward Sanquhar and speeding down the valley made a good warm up for the return that is, inevitably, uphill. The Mennock Pass climb to Wanlockhead is much loved. Good enough to attract the attentions of the Tour of Britain, Drumlanrig Challenge and Simon Warren in his book ‘100 Greatest Cycling Climbs’. It divides into three sections. The first up to the cattle grid from Mennock rolls and bumps on what is not the best surface then beyond the grid settles to a 2-3% gradient that lulls you into a false sense of security. That’s what we would have been reminding ourselves were it not for purplest of distractions as the heather in full scented bloom made a heady assault on our senses.

insert Scottish themed song of your choice

At the third section beyond the small stone bridge normal service was resumed and the road ramps requiring engagement of bottom gear and dancing. Not Andy Stewart kind of dancing though, come to think of it, maybe just fading echoes of fiddles and reels as the purple heathers gave way to greens and browns. 
It is in Wanlockhead that the previously mentioned organisations and writers miss a wee something, for beyond a heavily secured gate lies the delight of Lowther Hill.

that's mare than wan lock!

Green Lowther                                               Lowther Hill*
The Radar Ride finished here* but is sadly no more

The route, dissected by the Southern Upland Way, offers a further 270m of climbing in 5km. With the addition of the best part of 10km and 300m climbing through the Mennock Pass it makes for a bit of a test. The road is private and in great condition though the sheep have deposited a few obstacles just to keep you on your toes. In the interests of completeness and a few more metres climbing we added the trundle over to Green Lowther.  The top affords great views over the south of Scotland and beyond to the Lake District and the pleasure of the Southern Uplands as they roll north and west. There was ample opportunity to appreciate the altitude from well above what is Scotland’s highest village. Perhaps too much, since we were treated to intimate views of a gathering storm heading directly for us. Our escape wasn’t quite quick enough and so engulfed in freezing rain and hail all the way to the bottom we then scrambled over the last hill out of Wanlockhead. With no time to appreciate the smooth new surface we splashed sprayed and slithered through Leadhills in blind hope that the water on the road wasn’t hiding anything sinister below.

Stiff with cold, soaking but puncturless, the direct route back to Abington was the choice to bring an eventful day to a close and find a much needed bowl of soup. 
                                                                                 Total 69km 1020m climb.

California dreaming

Those of us who ride in Scotland do not always have it easy. Yes, there is the wonderful scenery, but even in summer every excursion comes with a degree of anxiety. This usually begins a few days before the ride, checking websites for the long term weather forecast. Then on the morning of the ride, looking out of the window to try and judge the appropriate clothing. Can I get away without taking a rain jacket? (What does 30% chance of rain even mean?) Should I go in shorts or 3/4? Do I need an undershirt? Long sleeves? And then, even wrapped up against the elements, it often helps to dab some sunscreen on to any exposed spots, just in case the weather changes... This summer, however, cycles guff was lucky enough to escape to California, and better yet to take a bike, and so to test the California riding experience.


Riding in California is an uncomplicated affair, involving little more than shorts and a shirt, some sunscreen, a bottle of water and heading out of the door. I was also lucky enough to be spending most of my time in north Oakland where there were a number of testing rides in the Berkeley-Oakland hills within easy reach. My favourite short ride was a trip up Tunnel Road to Grizzly Peak summit - a climb of nearly 2,000 feet in nine miles, which on a clear days offers spectacular views over the bay to San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge, before a rapid descent back down into Oakland.

The initial part of the ride goes through residential areas, and a stiff and hot climb beside the freeway before getting to the bottom of Tunnel Road. From there the road begins a steady climb at three or four percent, picking its way along the edge of a steep hillside, through a series of hairpin bends. After a couple of miles you get shaken out of this easy pace, as gradient begins to ramp up a little, though the reward is seeing the cars get ever smaller as you look down on the freeway from above. Following the road up it continues to get steeper, finally levelling out as you approach the junction with Grizzly Peak Road. Fortunately for me (being very fair skinned) a eucalyptus grove offers a bit of shade here - and I was also lucky enough to see both deer and wild turkeys here at quiet times of the day. A left turn at the top, and there is a fast undulating stretch of about a mile along the summit, before starting the final climb up to Grizzly Peak.

This goes up through the woods, and there can be a bit of traffic, but the reward comes at the top where there are (literally) breathtaking views over the Bay (though the fog had already come in on the day this photo was taken).

The roads are (mainly) in good condition and well used by cyclists - I rarely made the climb without meeting several others - as the route could also be the starting point for longer rides into the redwood forests or towards Mount Diablo. Motorists were generally courteous, giving plenty of space, though the roads are considerably wider than in Scotland. All in all some great riding, even if I might miss having nothing else to worry about...