[Closed] Ride to the Sun - a northern / Scottish Dunwich Dynamo!

A very long way away from me here in Hampshire but bookmarked 'just in case'.

MB that would be a long way! We have someone coming up from the Midlands, we know that is probably the longest way so far.
And this afternoon we got our 50th registration, so people are keen!

route through hawick and inners?

I'm in

Retrodirect - http://www.ridetothesun.co.uk/routes.html
Carlisle to Longtown, Gretna, then onto the B7076 up to Moffat. Chip shop, the climb, then down into the Tweed valley - through Broughton, left at Leadburn, Penicuik, then through the west side of town to the beach at Cramond.
Nice route and easy to follow. And the climb out of Moffat is lovely - a great steady gradient.
Happy to answer any more questions, and we'll have a FAQ tab on the website in the next couple of days.

Bump for the evening crowd

Nice. I've done Carlisle to Edinburgh but opted to route via the A7 to Langholm (the Samye Linge), Tushielaw, Gordon Arms, Innerleithen and The Granites.

FWIW, you don't have to go via Longtown to Gretna, there's a marked cycle route all the way.

Having done the DD a few times I hope this takes off as it sounds a great route. Good luck.

Colin, we thought about that route (and may come back to it at some stage, or just do it another time ourselves) but we thought that the route we've gone with would be easy to follow, and by going the longer route to Longtown be pretty much 100 miles on the dot. We'll just see how it goes. We had also considered Alnmouth in Northumberland as a starting point - up the coast, up the Tweed, over the Granites etc.

Ah - essential detour for the 100 miles. Makes sense 🙂

edit: just been reading the website

Fraser

Can I just say "That looks pure dead brilliant man" . 🙂

Fair play.
I've registered interest.

Thanks for that fasthaggis, that quote might end up on the Facebook page and website!
75 riders signed up as of last night, which is great!

How are people getting to/from the start/finish.

If it is only 100 miles I could ride over to Carlisle during the day 😉

Interested but have a few other plans for June and need to work out what my legs can take.

jonba - we'll be taking the train down I'd imagine, perhaps a bit earlier in the day so that we are there as folk start to gather at the proposed start. however, as its just the two of us organising it and its a free event, we don't want to have to sort out everyone's travel plans (as an example we don't want to organise luton vans for people's bikes then get abuse when they get scratched or damaged), but given the interest we have had we will perhaps set up a forum for people to discuss and organise together. we have had a quote for a coach for 49 people (Edinburgh-Carlisle) that worked out at less a tenner each. we have also received quotes from Stanley Taxi's 'The Bike Bus' and that is £30 for one way in a mini-bus, with bike on a trailer, either down to Carlisle on the Saturday or from Ed-Carlisle on the Sunday. We didn't know how many people might be interested, so will just have to see what we can do to help folk.

Ride to the start?

I'm in. Love the sound of this.

Riding to the start should be fine, I'm only in Newcastle. Bit to far to ride home again in one ride though. Had a look through your site and can either get the train home (easily) or book some accomodation and ride back the next day.

Jonba - my bro is in Sunderland and is thinking of making it a three day tour. Get to Carlisle, Ride to the Sun, then down the east coast!
Number are up to 86 this morning, so folk seem to be liking our idea!

100 riders! A century of centurions!

Pretty keen to give this a try too.

Sounds like the route used at the top of the LEL. I've still got the strava KOM for the stage 🙂
It's a damn nice ride. Tempted...

125 registered.
ir_bandito - there are some fit lads doing it that will be keen to take your KoM off you!

That three day/night tour option sounds ace. Have roped in some mates for the main event, wonder if they'd be up for it...

A few of us are planning to ride down from Edinburgh in the morning 🙂

Doh! Looks great but riding stoker on a tandem for the DD next year!!

Possibly interested...

there are some fit lads doing it that will be keen to take your KoM off you!

Go for it. If you reckon you can average over 30km/h over 80km. After riding 625km from London.

http://app.strava.com/segments/5011789

I'm in. I like the idea of riding both ways, but I'd probably do it a day or so beforehand and enjoy all that Carlisle has to offer during the day...

checked the tides? worth having a bbq on cramond island at the other end? get there before it closes off?

scandalous - we we don't clash with the Dunwich Dynamo. We are riding as close to the solstice as possible, while they are first full moon in July I think. Get involved!
ir_bandito - big performance! You carried straight on at Leadburn, but we'll be turning left and down through Penicuik. Your KoM is safe!
Exploring Cramond Island could be an option for folks, but we'll leave that up to folk to suss out for themselves. Not sure I want to contribute to the '200 cyclists trapped on Cramond Island' headlines!

Exploring Cramond Island could be an option for folks, but we'll leave that up to folk to suss out for themselves

[i]people sussing things out[/i]

That's the reason why the Queensferry lifeboat is the busiest in Scotland.

Thats me registered now better get some long rides in. I'm liking the sound of the 3 day tour as im in newcastle so a nice little round trip.

http://rnli.org/NewsCentre/Pages/RNLI-text-service-to-reduce-incidents-at-Cramond-Island-after-nearly-600-rescued.aspx
600 in five years, FFS!

Fraser
Bloody tourists,aye 😉
Even as kids ,we always paid attention to tide times around the island.
The stories about rats as big as cats ,(that came out after dark) had us terrified of being stranded there. 🙂

My favourite that I saw last year was the two parents and their kids that set off from the island when the causeway was already covered...waist (adults) and chest (kids) deep by the time they got back to Cramond!!

We now have 150 entrants, anyone else want to join us?
Merry Christmas all!
Fraser

Couple more roped in...

Thanks lemonysam - we are up at 209 riders as of tonight, which we are chuffed to bits with, word is obviously getting around.

You'll be able to charter a train at this rate 😆

Going to do a full coast to coast ,so a crowd of us are heading down to Maryport first 😀

250!

Was just about to sign up and realised it clashes with l'eroica britannia, damn

Been keeping an eye on this for a while but just noticed the website. Nice one and well done for organising a great route. Count me in.

Thanks SP, much appreciated.
The first email has gone out to those that have registered - all 276 of them.
Not huge amounts to report - just to let folk know we haven't forgotten about them and we expect to see them at Carlisle on June 20th!
The chip shop in Moffat is still part of it (it'll be quite a site to see a couple of hundred folk milling about on the High Street with bikes) and the cafe at the harbour in Cramond at the end are also on board too.
We are just considering whether we need a wet weather option at the end - we might book out the Cramond church hall, as it would be a shame if people drifted straight off at the end if it's a dreich morning.
www.ridetothesun.co.uk - we don't anticipate updating it regularly so please keep an eye on the Facebook page (Ride to the Sun - Scotland) and we'll send the odd email to those that have registered.
Cheers
F

I registered a couple of weeks ago when I was not aware of this thread. nice to see a STW though.

Lokoing forward to it! Just need someone to quickly build the second part of the Waverley line to make transport arrangements easier!

I'll make sure that there is a sign for STW-ers at the start, so that you can congregate and chat!

My brother and I are in!

As l'eroica brittania costs the same as the moon this year I have registered for this instead. Planning to still bring the 1966 Mercian I reckon

310 entrants as of this morning!

It keeps on growing - we now have over 400 entrants!

Is anyone looking into coach/truck transfer? I thought I might call round for quotes for taking a group from Edinburgh to Carlisle. I'd be looking for full up-front payment before booking anything though.

There is ony one problem about that route. The B7076 is mindnumbingly shit and has a really draggy surface. You'd be much better to ditch the Longtown diversion, head through Gretna, Annan, Hoddam, Dalton, Lochmaben, Moffat and carry on as you were from there. Nicer less tedious route.

Scotroutes - we are getting organised via mini-buses from Edinburgh, pals throwing bikes in, then the guys getting the train down. We just don't feel that we can start to organise travel for other folk, and hope that people sort themselves out in a similar way.
wanmankylung - I sort of know what you mean, it's not the most interesting road in the light. However, it is easy to follow, fairly easy cycling, got good sightlines, and is relatively sheltered from the wind. We anticipate running it again the next year, and I think that would be the time to look at alternative routes to Moffat, or alternative routes e.g. A7, Langholm, Gordon Arms, drop into Peebles / Innerleithen and into town over the Granites, or to start on the east coast, perhaps Alnmouth.

I'm in and have persuaded the Mrs to act as soigneur and team driver. I'll try to resist having a sticky bottle handover all the way up the 7 mile climb...

tagged

Any Carlisle locals know a nice route down to Maryport ,or is the A596 down through Wigton not too bad?

Thanks

Take train to import then ride out on coast to all on by and on towards silloth. Then just pick a route on a map as direct as possible to Carlisle all quiet roads 596 is bloody awful

Thanks.
I will bin the Maryport plan and sort out a route to Silloth .

Hi
Just a further wee update. We are currently at 493 people signed up - AMAZING!!
We know we will get a chunk of people not turning up (we think standard paid sportive drop out rate is 20%, and we are free), but whatever happens we'll still have a great number - more that we originally thought.
We did send an e-shot out a few weeks back (7th April) which has a few updates, but please let us know (info@ridetothesun.co.uk) if you didn't get it.
Use of Bitts Park in Carlisle approved with the Council, chip shop in Moffat still on board, Shand Cycles offering to help with a grub stop at the Crook Inn (Tweedsmuir), [url= http://torm.cc ]torm.cc[/url] offering deals on their jerseys, and we have the use of the Cramond Kirk hall at the end, and the Fresh Start charity will be serving up tea/coffee and bacon sarnies.
Not long now - less than six weeks.
We know that the train's bike spots are now taken.
Please continue to check out @RidetotheSun and 'Ride to the Sun - Scotland' on Facebook.
Cheers
Fraser

We did a recce last night in beautiful (but a little cold) weather, and it was fantastic. Chicken kebabs at the chip shop in Moffat. Put the pics up on the Facebook page if anyone is interested.
Sat at the seafront at Cramond at 4am, just getting light, 100 miles in the legs and a beer in hand...bliss!

Registered.

Mainly for the chips.

501 entrants!

Should be a good route, Beeftub is a grand climb - without a belly full of chips at least!

Updated gpx download on the website as of today.

Righteo - who from Edinburgh is doing this?

I'm considering riding down.

There is a group of us heading down with a Transit van of bikes while most of the guys get the train down.
Written description / route guide on the website now for those that are retro and don't have a Garmin etc.

The fantastic Markus Stitz (Capital Trail organiser and inspiration) has a spare space in his car, travelling from Edinburgh. Get in touch via @reizkultur if that's of use.
Perhaps a touch of rain in the middle section. Bring a jacket.

Cheers guys, that was great and I (and I am sure others) really appreciate the effort you put into organising things. We had a blast, it felt like a proper mini-adventure and everyone needs a bits of adventure in their life.

Thanks again.

Yes, well done fatmax and friends. That was really great fun & this event deserves to go from strength to strength. Never ridden any distance on the road at night and it is surprisingly therapeutic. Watching all those blinks red lights curl away into the night was a lovely sight. Nice route too.

Yup,well done Fraser,Gary and team for making it happen.

Gutted that I couldn't make the ride (injured a couple of weeks ago ),I had been looking forward to it for months.
Still,it didn't stop me enjoying a bacon roll when I picked up my mates at the kirk.They had a great ride up with some good company.
How many do you think rode it in the end then?

Only just found this thread, I'd have loved to have had a go. Here's hoping it's running next year.

Thanks for the lovely comments, very much appreciated. We enjoyed organising it and it was really enjoyable last night - the lights snaking into the distance, the bikes piled up outside the Moffat chip shop, the banter as folk cycled alongside people they hadn't met, and four guys singing at the top of their voices as they cycled along - brilliant.
Gary and I have just had a chat - Saturday 18th June is two days before the solstice and also a full moon. I'd imagine that this is what we'll go for.

And lovely to have someone introduce themselves as 'Frank Sinatra'!

Did it, loved it, in diary for next year. Thanks Gary and Frazer and also the volunteers at Crammond. Some so called professional sportive organising companies could learn a thing or two from you.

The string of lights winding up the Devil's Beef Tub at midnight was a sight to behold.

slowpuncheur - that's very kind. We are just two guys that fancied having a go at organising something a bit different - though it's a definite homage to the DunRun.
June 18th is confirmed for next year, exactly the same format.

www.ridetothesun.co.uk AGM / board meeting / planning session this weekend (a few beers and a blether). If you rode in 2015 let us have any feedback on things you'd change or wannt added. If you didn't, let us know any queries.

Over 200 riders already signed up for 2016.
Will post a new thread in the New Year.
Cheers to those that have entered.
Oh, and we had a wee article published in the tenth and last Ride Journal.
Cheers