Ride to the Sun 2024

Currently sat I Edinburgh train station trying not to look like a sleeping tramp.

Fantastic event…… serious contender for my fave ever.

And all the fellas off here who said hello…… Nice to meet you all.

Missed the badges at the start, arrived (way) too early to wait out for sunrise and got *screamed at by a car full of coked up **** on the road into Moffat – and had an absolute blast.

What a brilliant, stupid, fun event done just for the hell of it – hats off to the organisers, I couldn’t recommend it highl enough. A great way to tick off a first century. Shall dig out the details of the charity and bung them a few quid because we totally the chance to do so on the route (perhaps some kind soul that knows could stick a link in below?)

(*Shamefully it very (very) nearly culminated in a stand-off after I’d had enough of being abused from the passenger and back windows and reacted (my bad, I do know better) They were absolutely out to start a fight with *somebody* on a bike. Until they finally arrived into the town and, presumably realised that there was ~1000 other people on bikes waiting before about turning and scuttling off again. It was glorious. What a bunch of absolute d*ckheads.)

chap on the eliptigo.
Passed him in Penicuik in good spirits.

Got back to County Durham around 8am this morning (sister-in-law kindly drove us back) after completing this with my brother. First time for him and second for me after doing it last year. Such a great event, nice market on in Moffat this year, many thanks to everyone who organised. And if your interested here is a link (sorry if its already been posted) to a podcast with Gary and Fraser

Had a great ride, loved the atmosphere (except for said nutters yelling from the car at moffat).

Donated a crank bolt to a guy who lost his, was amazed by the guy who rode without a saddle(!) and tbh i had a bit of a mare between the crook and leadburn – the road surface was “interesting” to say the least! Perked up by penicuik though, and the run through town was a hoot. And I arrived two hours before sunrise 🤦 so plenty of time for coffee and rolls.

@fatmax

Great to meet you and Gary again,with a ton/scotroutes bonus 👍😊

Timed it perfect for the sunrise this year,so I can now erase 2022 from my memories.

As always,an excellent night out #steelisreal 😉

@nickingsley

I ditched the idea of Silloth as it was my son’s first 100,so we went down to Bowness on Sands, touched the sea,then back up to Carlise on cycle route 72 (which is a lovely road). He still clocked 135 mls all in💪🙃

@jamesmio

It must be a thing about Moffat, we got passed by two ‘kids’ on motos (125s with L plates) ,one with feet up on the bars and the other doing a superman along the seat 🫤🤣🙃

First of all, a massive thanks to Fraser and Gary for “organising” this event. I know they claim little credit but it really shouldn’t be overlooked. Also, thanks to the various “helpers” en route, the Moffat chippie, the piper, the DJ, Bananaman, the Crook Inn community and the Cramond Kirk lot. Special thanks to the Scouts for taking care of the transport logistics. I can thoroughly recommend it and I’m already making plans to do it again next year, but better!

As usual, nerves had gotten the best of me before the event and I was very anxious about missing the sunrise at 4:28. As luck would have it, I met someone who wanted to swap buses so I ended up on the 15:00 coach to Carlisle and so was ready to leave just after 18:00.

I met up with @fatmax and @fasthaggis for a wee chat but seeing as lots of folk were leaving already, I set off around 18:30.

The A7 out of Carlisle was busy with Amazon vans but turning left at Longtown soon got rid of them and I found myself passing various small groups of participants. There was the obligatory photo stop in Gretna.

The next part of the route runs parallel to the M74, crossing over and under it. There was a bit of a headwind along here, but nothing too strong. A couple of small towns/villages were passed but nothing really notable until Moffat hove into view. There was some sort of street market/party going on that I was almost sucked into but realised the chippie was further along. I got straight in and bought a doner kebab. I’d calculated that this might not be too “heavy” for the Beeftub climb.

As I was eating it, many more cyclists started to stream in and there was soon a sizable queue for food.

The Beeftub climb went in pretty easily, though I’d noticed that I was having to swat off a few midge on the ascent. The flying menace just got worse at the top where the poor piper was already suffering.

The descent towards the Crook Inn was mostly on lovely tarmac and a high speed was possible. I heard the music about the same time as I saw the Inn and pulled in for a cup of tea and a banana.

Bananas, Glow-sticks and Smidge. It could only be Ride to the Sun!

A few folk were milling around but the midge were gathering here too so I grabbed some Smidge and got ready to set off again. It had also got a bit damp in the air so I took the opportunity to put a thin jacket on too.

The section of road that followed was pretty awful. Very rough and many potholes. I reckon a really bad resurfacing job rather than just wear and tear. I had to dial back the speed a bit and switch my lights to High, just so I could see the worst bits. From here there are a few more small villages to pass through and it’s an area I was once very familiar with so I could tick them off as I went. At one point (approaching Leadburn) I saw a runner heading North. I thought that the poor guy must have been very confused by all these cyclists being out at Midnight, but it turned out he’d got the train to Lockerbie earlier in the day and was actually running the 75 miles to Cramond!

Cont

By now, I was seeing fewer and fewer other cyclists and the street lights of Penicuik were a welcome sign of progress. Suddenly being cast back into the dark after the Gowkley Moss roundabout actually came as a bit of a shock, despite having already ridden many miles in the dark. Then it was onto Hillend and the big city. The descent into Morningside felt pretty quick and I started to see more cyclists again – probably bunched up by the traffic lights. The late night folk on Lothian Road were safely navigated and we were soon at Cramond. The only problem being that it was only 1:45 🙂

I dumped the bike in the van, got changed and headed to Cramond Kirk for a bacon roll, tea and a natter with the other early arrivals. Around 3:00 I wandered out and grabbed a beer from the Cycle Law Scotland beer tent.

After celebrating getting to Cramond safely, I lay down on the grassy knoll for some shut eye before the closing speeches and the sunrise.

So – 2025? Yes please. I’ll try to calm my nerves a bit before departure, set off a bit later, and try to enjoy the buzz a bit more.

Suggestions for improving the event? Well, some bike racks would be handy in Moffat and Portaloos at a couple of places. These would involve a cost though and would sort of go against the DIY nature of the event (unless a willing sponsor could be found). The only other thing I can think of would be a checkpoint/gathering point somewhere between Carlisle and Moffat, just to break up that section. I’ve no idea what it would involve or where it would be.

Good write up @scotroutes brought back good memories 😊, thank you.

I’ll have to do better at meeting up with you guys in 2025. I was in the Devonshire Walk Car Park whilst some of the bike off loading took place!

Did I say 2025 😀, if so think I’d benefit from something lighter and better geared than .. .. not that it stopped my enjoyment of the event

On the only negative side, I do think the organisers should sort out the traffic lights in Edinburgh, the group I went through the city with must have hit 90% at red!

I mean, the TdF, would never tolerate it😀

My wife keeps asking why I’m smiling   .. .. RttS 2024 😊

Apologies, last comments.

Spoke to the guy on the recumbent who can only use his arms several times during and after the   he said this was his 4th RttS, .. .. humbling.

The lady outside Kirk Hall who hadn’t been able to finish but had been helped out by the support van of another group.  Though obviously exhausted she came across as very positive and upbeat 👏

The above seemed to sum up the attitude of all those involved.

Thanks for the kind words folks, sincerely appreciated. We loved and have just had a beer together – we’re still buzzing.

As someone said on our Facebook post today, a gofundme campaign for better road surface between the Crook Inn and the bypass would be well supported!

Gary goes on hols on Saturday so we might not tweak the website / open entries before then, but RttS X will actually be on the solstice next year…so pencil June 21st 2025 into your diaries. We’ll think of something different / quirky / big to mark the occasion.

Hmmm…

@scotroutes – now that might be something to consider…followed by Moffat toffee?

@jamesmio – https://www.freshstartweb.org.uk/donate 🙏👍

Extended gastronomic version of Ride to the Sun?

Grasmere Gingerbread (unless Carlisle has a sweetie/cake?)
Ecclefechan Tarts
Moffat Toffees
Hawick Balls
Jethart Snails
Edinburgh Rock
Cramond Antacid Tablets

330km, perfect for the RttS Doublers.

330+km, if you enjoy a challenge