Cairn O'Mount Challenge
The Training
The Event
After the Bauchaille Mhor ride I was willing to give it a go, despite the fact that the ride would open with a few flat miles and then pitch upwards on the 2-mile, 1000 foot ascent of Cairn O'Mount. I had ridden down this during my recce of the northern part of my self imposed 200 mile challenge and remembered vividly just how steep it is. Whenever there's a hill that has me reaching for my brakes you have to know it's steep. Challenge said the website and this, along with the rest of the climbing on the not-very-flat route, would certainly count as a challenge.I agreed to meet Andy, and his pal, at the event start. Not knowing how long it would take to get to Edzell I arrived way too early (there were about 2 cars in the car park), got changed and then hung about waiting, chatting to other entrants as they arrived and registered. The guys (Andy, his pal and then another pal of his) arrived at the appointed time and in relatively short order we were ready to go.
The organisers were letting us off in groups of 10-15, so leaving Edzell was a very different experience to my usual outings. We were strung out in a line with Andy one or two in front of me and his pal Neville a couple from the front with his mate, Dave. My instant reaction to this group riding was that it wasn't as fast as I would have liked, but not so slow I could do anything about it. And I would have felt a little rude going to the front, especially this early on. I didn't want to embarrass myself; I didn't know the riders I was with and perhaps they were just keeping their powder dry. I also noticed a distinct lack of smoothness in the pace, and a complete lack of calls or signals regarding the road surface. Not the best of introductions to larger group riding.
We arrived in Fettercairn, still as a group, with me still stuck near the back. I now suspect this strategy paid dividends for me in the next few miles. A little more than a mile from the bottom of the Cairn O'Mount (now looming very large in my head) there was a little ramp. Not ridiculously steep but a ramp nonetheless. I was somewhat astonished to see our group fragment on it. Suddenly the guy whose wheel I had been behind and I were climbing through the group. And by the time we got to the top of the ramp he had just about dropped me and I had pretty much dropped everyone else. On the understanding that Andy, me and his mates would be riding the day together, and especially as I wanted to help Andy, I didn't try to stay with this very thin, very light looking chap. I wanted to get to the bottom of the climb with reserves in place. So I sat up a little and assumed they would come back to me. It didn't work out that way, and I reached the bottom of the hill without them.
We had agreed that we would climb this big challenge of the day on our own and wait at the top, so I set off. I have never seen so many cyclists on one stretch of road. All ages, sizes and speeds. I had connected with the group that had been let off in front of us and as we started up some banter was to be had over, and through, the heavy breathing. Again, I found myself climbing through the group which for me is a very strange experience. I was in my lowest gear but my cadence was strong enough and I even had time to relax for the photographer.
If you ever have the chance to cycle up Cairn O'Mount this is how it goes. A very steep start for about a quarter of it's length. Sections here of 12-14% and it is hard work. Pretty but hard work. Then it backs off to 6-8% for about a mile. This actually feels quite pleasant but all the way up you can see the final hairpins which you can see are steep. I stayed in my lowest gear, let the cadence rise a tiny amount and concentrated on letting the heart rate drop a little. Again, I wanted some place for it to go on the final section. And that section comes along all too quickly. It starts with a subtle right hand bend onto a steeper ramp, which leads to the first left hand hairpin. This is steep! I went passed people walking their bikes up and then a couple really toiling round the corner. It does flatten off a little before the next one which isn't so bad and then you just have to get up the long left hand bend to the summit. In the last 1/2 a mile my heart rate climbed somewhat alarmingly but I held on and got it done. Phew! Climbing the hill had definitely been made easier by the other cyclists, either going past me or being past by me, because you get a little chat and a bit of encouragement. If you can, take advantage of an event like this, and it will make it seem better.
Making sure I finished the Strava segment I rode to the top of the rise, then turned and rode down to the corner where the steep stuff starts, or ends, depending on your point of view. I contemplated riding down to find Andy but decided that might be cheeky, so just waited and threw some encouragement and congratulations to those coming round the corner. Neville arrived first, then Andy and finally Dave. Andy was so chuffed to get up without stopping but needed a breather so we waited a minute or two. Neville and Dave announced that they were poor/slow at descending so would ride on and we could catch them up. We did, for about 30 seconds at the 1st feed stop. After that we didn't see them until the end.
Once Andy had his breath back we went about the fun bit of the day; the massive descent northwards from the summit. One small rise near the top saw me driving along keeping the pace high, and then more WHEE down to a more substantial and steep little ramp which stopped that bit of fun. I needed a comfort stop so took one before we continued downwards. The steepest ramp was to come and I saw 48mph on the computer, only to find Andy passing me! The one good thing about the mountain bike experience for Andy is he really doesn't mind throwing the bike downhill. And I'm just an idiot (as my pal Vic would say). Great, great fun.
Of course all good things have to come to an end and we then had a few miles of rolling terrain to negotiate before the climb up Slug Road. I really enjoyed this roll along. Some cyclists passed us, some we passed but all were friendly and we had a quite a few chats on this section. Andy and I rode a little apart here picking up conversation with those around but I always tried to make sure I wasn't riding away from him. And at the bottom of the Slug Road we were right together so I could encourage him all the way up.
It was on this section I realised how unconvinced Andy was of making it all the way round. Trying to encourage him I pointed out we had done over 22 miles so had less than 60 to go. All I got back was a "I'm not sure I can make that, Al". I'm always up for a challenge and it was here that I felt my real challenge for the day was to get him round the route. The Slug wasn't steep but went on for a while. I had a feeling the feed stop would be at the top and so it proved. And a good feed stop it was too. I didn't need much in the way of food (my pockets were full enough) but there was plenty of water which I did need so I got my bottles replenished. Just before we left a Strava mate (who I'd never met in the flesh) arrived, and went, "Al?". I replied in the affirmative and so it was we met Fede, who had taken the train to Montrose and then ridden to the start. He overtook us later and went on to finish in a very competitive time. All before he cycled back to the train station! Now there is crazy.
The next section of the ride is a little hazy now, but I remember it rolling up and down a fair bit. Amusement at Andy being in entirely the wrong gear as we turned out from a downhill junction onto a steep road. The groans and expletives were fantastic. Annoyance at myself for trying to blast up an incline when I should have known better (preserving energy is what these days are about - not killing yourself and your buddy). The gravel section where the road surface was being "improved". The really wide tractor requiring us to pull in to a passing place. Steep little ramps, nice descents and one tricky descent. Riding for a little while with a genuine audax'er. Not fast, but he did look like he could ride all day and all night if necessary. And he was giving us a good 10 to 15 years as well. More respect. The run into Inverbervie (great), and the pull out (painful). Andy on my tail, being stubborn and getting it done.
We arrived at the second feed stop. A parking place beside the sea. Lovely. And, once again, plenty of food and water. The rolls were going down a storm with other riders but I treated myself to a banana. Then the oddest meeting of the day. A rider rolled in and I recognised the bike! Another Strava pal, Nico, doing much the same for some of his pals as I was doing for mine. A quick hello and then we made space by getting back on the road.
The only issue with this sportive is the placement of this feed stop. Leaving it you still have 30 miles to go. And they aren't exactly easy miles. I could do with this stop being about 5 miles further on. It would make the middle section of the ride the longest but that's ok. As it was the next 5 miles or so were tough, a small downhill before an seemingly unremitting 4.5 miles uphill. Never very steep but by now Andy was beginning to suffer. And, if I am honest, so was I. Not so much with the riding (although I've had fresher legs) but with the constant checking to make sure I didn't lose my leader. I was trying very hard to be the faithful domestique. It was a sign of Andy's great determination that he didn't throw in the towel. One incident that sticks in my mind was about 3/4 of the way up this long drag, the incline very briefly nudged up as we went round a bend then took a left at a crossroads. I was nattering away to Andy and all of a sudden he just wasn't there. The small change had just put too much hurt into him. I rode slowly, let him catch up, then we rode on. Of course when we got to the next downhill section he was well away from me. Damn he was quick. I didn't really have the energy to chase him down. So I just waited for the inevitable pull of gravity on the next uphill section to slow him down. And it did.
We were getting closer now; I knew it. I'm not sure Andy did; he was just keeping those pedals turning over. Time for a bit of encouragement.
"Andy, apart from finishing did you have a target for today?".
"No, finishing was it. Well, maybe.... Six hours would have been nice".
"What, six hours riding or six hours all told?"
"I suppose, six hours riding". Something told me he meant 6 hours all told.
A quick glance at my computer told me that six hours riding was easily achievable unless neither of us bonked or had a mechanical. Six hours all in also looked just about possible.
"Six hours riding, no trouble", I said, "just keep going like we have been and we will be fine".
Of course, I'm thinking, can we make it six all in. About then Nico and his pals flew past us. No shame in that, he's built like a racing snake and rides in groups a lot. So it was just me and Andy against the clock. We made it to the next landmark. We crossed under the A90 and were on the road to Edzell, about 4 miles away straight down this road. Except the route didn't go down this road. It took a savage left turn and I knew that we were heading for a big challenge, just under a mile at an average of 8%. I was certain it was going to hurt.
We needed to get there first of course. Keeping well hydrated was taking its toll now and I needed a comfort break. A chance to get comfortable, to get some food and fluid in as well as out. And I was thinking that Andy needed a little minute of two off the bike too. This was now his longest ride by quite some distance. We had about 10 miles to go. A couple of guys we'd seen a few times went past us here and we exchanged some banter. Sadly we didn't catch them up.
To get to the climb was a bit of climb itself and I found out how tired I was when I nearly dropped the bike in some gravel. That woke me up sharpish. And then we were there. "Granny gear", I said in my best trainer voice. I don't think I needed to tell him. It was steep. I rode beside Andy, chatting, trying to chat, breathing hard with my own effort. Eventually I found him slipping away from me and, to my shame, I was too tired to fight it. We had a third of the climb to go. I rode on up. There was a small crowd at the top; walkers I presume, there is a small car park at the summit. They gave me some encouragement. I like to think I looked cool, but know I didn't. I rode slowly over the top and then into a really technical descent. It was scary even for me. I knew we would come to a junction and decided to wait for my man there. I knew he will cope with this part. And so he did, arriving just behind me with a grin. "Last big climb,that, Andy".
I was right and wrong. It was the last big climb but the run into Edzell was somewhat lumpy. I was feeling strong again which lead to some big ring work on the small inclines and a lot of self encouragement (i.e. shouting). I kept true though, slowing down for the leader. Then I looked at the computer. The problem is, I like my numbers. And I like, as a minimum, a 15mph riding average. And we had been keeping to it but those last wee lumps had put paid to that and I was sitting at about 14.8 with about 2 miles to go. Knowing that they were mostly downhill I asked Andy if he would mind us putting the hammer down. He agreed, I said "just keep close to my wheel" and accelerated.
I have to hand it to the man. He worked really hard to stay there and the elastic was just about to snap when we had to slow a little for some people crossing the road. Annoyed at this I was about to go again when I realised this wasn't fair and I slowed down again. We turned the corner to find the 30 mile an hour limit sign and Edzell. We had done it. Andy had done it. We rode down the road together toward the finish and I proffered my hand. The smile on his face will live me for a long, long time. The last rites, a turn on to the start/finish path with the electronic timing array. Unclip, stop, get off and revel in it. 82 miles, Cairn O' Mount from the south and one hell of a ride from Andy.
The Ride
Postscript
We got our bikes on our respective cars and went to the tent to get our certificates and our official time. I thought we might have made it but Andy's time came out at 6 hours and 44 seconds. I was one second quicker (rightly so in my opinion...) but gutted. I did however make my 15mph average riding speed. Too long at the various comfort stops, too long at the feed stops, too slow on the road? I don't know but it gives us a target for next year. When we will be older but fitter. Hopefully leaner, too.The reason I didn't know came back to me later. In our excitement at leaving I only started the computer a little down the road. About 1/2 a mile down the road and that meant just enough time for us to be over instead of under the 6 hours.
We met up with Neville and Dave at the finish. They'd had a good run, well under 6 hours. That left a bitter taste in my mouth though. Would they have left Andy on his own, could they have helped us to a better time? Again I don't have the answers to that other than I think 4 could have done better than 2 and I definitely waited on the top of Cairn O'Mount for all of them. Maybe next year we will put together a different team and I can pick some domestiques for us (Vic, are you up for it?).
Regardless, I (hopefully, we) will be back!
