So with me needing kilometers in on the bike and Alex wanting to reccie the Etape and Aberfeldy Middle Distance routes that she'll be tackling this year, a wee away trip was in order; I took the two routes, mashed them together and from the debris pulled together a 100km route starting from Aberfeldy and taking in the Etape route back over Schehallion, with an 80km route the next day following the Etape route, except for cutting out Loch Rannoch and popping over the Aberfeldy Middle return route over Shehallion.
Friday was a bit overcast with a nip to the air, but thanks to a reasonable number of layers, it felt good. My experiment with knee warmers worked a treat, as I didn't get the feeling that my knees were turning white at any point! The day progressed well and we were up the first climb of the day and down to Tummel Bridge in about an hour. We had started later than planned, so even though it was about lunchtime, the sandwich in Posts Taste was going to have to wait untill we got round Loch Rannoch. Taking turn about at the front, we pulled each other round to the west end of the loch in about 37 minutes, stopping to take on some food before heading along the south side. With energy levels flagging, we got the deserved sandwich (& green tea) to put a little bit of warmth back into things.
On the road again and round Schehallion, I was surprised how (relatively to me who has been scared of climbes) easy I was finding the climb. Don't get me wrong, tehre were a few steeper sections where my legs got a bit confused at why I was being so mean to them, but there was never any time when I felt I couldn't top the climb, unlike several rides before. I just knew that all I had keep cycling and that my legs had it in them, which was nice!
Up at the top meant that we had the decent to come, and how much fun is that descent???? The one into Tummel Bridge is lovely, but knowing the home stretch awaited put an extra sheen on this for me.
Into Aberfeldy and back at the car, for many cyclists, that would be that, but no, not for us; it was brick run time. Liz had joined us now, so after what would be a slow Ironman transition, we were off and running.
It felt surprisingly good to be running; the few knots in my calves melted away within 50 metres and my quads that had been screaming at me with the cold for the last 20kms stretched out and warmed up quickly too, so after the first km I opened up and found that my legs were working very well thankyouverymuch. At 1.5km, I decided that I'd make it out to 2.5 & turn, and given a target, I started to wind the speed up, surprising myself at how well I was holding it after almost 100km on the bike. The run up the hill to the sports centre was an unusual kind of torture, but there I was, done, after about 27 minutes of running. THen it was off to Pitlochry to the youth hostel then shower and out for a rather large burger and chips.
Day 2 was the (most of the) Etape route. A quick stop in Escape Route to sort out a my rear gears shifting turned into a much longer stop with new cleats for Alex, a shorter stem for Liz, a whole host of useful pointers given to us with enthusiasm and a blether with a bunch of cyclists doing Lands End to John O Groats. Brilliant wee place!
Sorted out, we headed off, and let me tell you, it took me a good 10km to get properly warmed up for a second day in the saddle. I struggled for bits and gratefully clung onto wheels as much as possible until the legs were functioning correctly, then happily took my turn up at the front (though I may have let enthusiasm take me a bit too much off the front at times on downhills; sorry). We made quite good ground, and again I was very surprised how well my fatigued legs took the big climb, with the descent being just as much fun the second time around. Cutting across in front of Fortingall, the fact that Liz has done the etape before and that I hadn't looked a the route properly saved us from going through Glen Lyon like I would've tried to take us, and we headed on round to stop for a bite to eat in Kenmore.
We passed a group of 3 girls following the Etape route coming out of Strathtay, which I don't think the lead cyclist took too kindly to, as a couple of miles later they came past us, so I latched onto their wheels for a while. Liz moved up to the front for a bit, so I moved up to take a turn at the front, but Alex had another idea, coming past and cranking the pace a wee bit harder, quickly dropping the 3. I'm startign to understand why cyclists do things like that!
One more missed turn because we were tramping hard along the road, a few short, sharp climbs and we were back in Pitlochry, with only the climb to the youth hostel to go to finish the day. And what a good day it was.
In summary, in 2 days I cycled the distance I'll be cycling in Roth, climbing 75% more height; my legs don't feel too bad and my ability to climb is steadily improving. I need more weekends like that, but that was exactly what I needed.
No time to find choons for you guys right now as I'm off swimming!
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