The team arrive back in Glasgow.
We nailed it! 16 hours and 40 minutes after leaving Glen Brittle the Polaroid Eyewear Cycle Team arrived in Glasgow. With 12 hours and 10 minutes actual cycling time, we covered the 187 miles at an average speed of 15.5 mph, including the 9700 feet of hill climbs along the way.
Glen Brittle - a brutal climb!
Here’s how the day went. We started at our planned 0445 time, leaving the stunning Glen Brittle with the sun rising over the Cuillin Mountains.
Glen Brittle is a bit of a brutal climb – the steepest gradient of the day and a shock to the system after porridge, bananas and four hours sleep (at best – many thanks to the Italian visitors sharing the youth hostel). We cruised across Skye with our cycling sunglasses and the roads to ourselves, with the dawn chorus as a soundtrack, arriving at the ferry almost one and a half hours to spare.
The sun rising over the Cuillin Mountains.
The support team of Pete and Jan, Barbara and Evelyn kicked in straight away. While Pete, Jan and Barbara prepared and served breakfast, Team physio Evelyn started what would be a day long task to work on Eric’s dodgy knees.
Then leaving Mallaig disaster struck. My (six week old!) chain snapped tearing my rear gear off and buckling my rear wheel. Pete and Jan supplied me with the spare bike and then raced ahead to Oban to see if a cycle shop could repair it in time. With almost half an hour lost in changeover we set off on the Mallaig to Fort William Road.
By the time we got to Fort William the bike was fixed and after another fuel break we headed down Loch Linnhe towards Ballachullish, for the first time facing a head wind as the westerly wind blew hard in the face coming off the sea loch. To counter the wind and now heavier traffic we cycled two pelotons – Crawford, Bennie and Eric at the front and Dave and myself as pair following a distance behind. But, as we were all day, this was just the blessing in disguise, for as we turned to face the more than 10 mile climb of Glencoe, we had the wind in the back just when we needed it most. Glencoe was stunning, and very tough, a hill that just keeps going. And when you reach the summit on Rannoch moor it drops you back down half way only to have to climb it all again.
Eric and Paul grind out the Glencoe climb
We arrived at stop number 3, Tyndrum, ahead of schedule and truthfully tired after the longest and toughest leg. The magic powers of one leg to go, rice pudding and jam for tea and a surprise visit at the stop by Geert Gritter and his family put us back on the bikes with renewed push.
In fact so much push that as we careered out of Crianlarich in a 5 man Peloton at around 20+ mph, someone (they know who they are) forgot that cycling is a non contact sport. Number 3 clipped number 2’s wheel and went down. Number 4 (me) hit the brakes too hard went over the handlebars into the mess. Number 5 ran into the cyclist soup. I do remember thinking as I went sailing over the handlebars in slow motion ‘I wonder if my leg will hold up…’, and once again the cards were in our favour. A few skinned knees and knuckles, a few bent bits on bikes but nothing serious, and especially no cars to run into the tangle of bodies. Five minutes later we were up and off again meeting up with our familiar Loch Lomond and a feeling of almost home. We stopped at Tarbert for a coffee and chance to clean the cuts, and then down Loch Lomond to home.
Dave and Bennie still smiling on Loch Eilt.
At home, some friends and neighbours joined our team and support crew as we sat out of the front of the house and had a glass of champagne, followed by glasses of milk for recuperation. I phoned my Dad and he welcomed me into the now slightly less exclusive club. The sun was still shining and it was still light at 1030 as we called it a night (and a day).
I really enjoyed the day – all of it. All of the training and preparation was worth it, and we all saw a lot of Scotland at its absolute best. The weather could not have been better, and the support team was fantastic – special thanks to Jan, Pete, Barbara and Evelyn – as you have read above, without them we simply would not have made it.
As well as indulging my challenge we have also now raised close to £2000 for NASS, the Ankylosing Spondylitis charity and my sincere thanks to all who donated.
That’s it – thanks for reading.
Eric and Crawford enjoy a well earned glass of champagne with Barbara!
P.S. – for anyone interested and for my own record here was my diet for last Saturday, you will not find it in any slimming publications
1 bowl porridge with full fat milk and extra honey added
1 banana
1 large glass full fat milk
1 large flapjack
1.8 litres isotonic drink
2 carbohydrate gel packs
1 honey/oat cereal bar
1 huge bowl soup with 2 bread rolls
1 coffee with large flapjack
1.8 litres isotonic drink
2 carbohydrate gel packs
1 pack glucose tablets
1 mini mars bar
1 huge bowl pasta, tomato and chicken
1 bread roll
1 large flapjack
1.8litres isotonic drink
900ml water
2 carbohydrate gel packs
1 oat/honey cereal
1 pack glucose tablets
1 huge bowl rice pudding with raisins and jam
1.8 litres isotonic drink
2 carbohydrate gel packs
1 cup coffee
1 normal size mars bar
2 glasses champagne
1 bowl crisps
2 glasses full fat milk
1 bottle beer.