2013 Solstice 150 Mile Lightweight Raid, June 22/23.

[slarge]

Bah. She has booked something this weekend so I can't now make it. Am still keen though so if anyone else wants to try a different weekend I may well be up for it.

[Ray Young]

The wife is now going to be away in London for two weeks when this is on so it looks as though I'm going to be cycling to the start and back home again, an extra three nights out for me :D .

[pushbikemike]

Nice one. :D

[Mike]

looking forward to this beauty guys!

[Chew]

Ray - My main bike is getting stripped down now. I'm assuming the routes rideable on a CX bike (with a bit of walking)?

Just looking into logistics - Anyone interested in a car shuttle, or know if you can just rock up at Berwick station and hop on the train to Newcastle (may be able to leave the car at a freinds)?

[Ray Young]

Ray - My main bike is getting stripped down now. I'm assuming the routes rideable on a CX bike (with a bit of walking)?

Just looking into logistics - Anyone interested in a car shuttle, or know if you can just rock up at Berwick station and hop on the train to Newcastle (may be able to leave the car at a freinds)?

Hi Chew, yes the route is rideable on a crosser with a bit of walking.
You should be able to get on a train to Newcastle from Berwick as long as bike spaces are available.
Sent you a PM

[restlessshawn]

Post WRT I'm having a bit of a reality check on the mileage of this for me in a weekend I was pretty knackered after 45 miles in a day with a loaded bike and I was running a fairly light setup :(

[Ray Young]

Three weeks to go so here's a quick reminder. A fast and 99% rideable, 130 mile coast to coast route ( Holy Island adds 15 miles) with 12,750 ft of climbing starting on the Solway Firth near Gretna and finishing at Spittal near Berwick Upon Tweed on Sat 22/Sun 23 Jun starting at 10 am. 1/3 b roads, 1/3 forest roads, 1/3 off road.
Race it or tour it, it's up to you. The challenge for racers is to finish on the same day you start giving you 14 hours to complete it. The Saturday is one day after the longest day and one day before a full moon so lots of light for evening/night riding. Post spot track links on here.
Suitable for semi slick tyres and CX bikes as long as it doesn't pour down for the next three weeks!
Any question then please don't hesitate to post or PM me.

[Blackhound]

Planning on being there, will have to think about just how light to go.

Are there many refuelling points?

[Ray Young]

Planning on being there, will have to think about just how light to go.

Are there many refuelling points?

Kielder 1/3 of the way has a bar selling food, a small general store (sat 9-5, sun 9.30-12) and Kielder castle cafe ( 9.30-5).
Wooler 2/3 of the way has shops, cafes, take aways and bars.
A garage not far past St Cuthbert cave.
Not much water on the Cheviot Hill ridgeline, fill up at Spithope burn on the climb up to the ridge.

[Blackhound]

Thanks Ray, so something every 30-40 miles means I do not have to carry much food.

Realised I will not be travelling very light as I will be there on Friday night and may stay over Sunday night as well so will still have a load of bivvy stuff weighing me down.

[Ray Young]

One week to go and so looking forward to this, how many others planning on coming?

Also just want to remind you there is no parking at the start due to narrow lanes, park in Gretna and cycle to the start, it's not far.

Jamiep, not sure if I'm cycling back to Edinburgh from Berwick now but will know by the start, speak to you then.

[paul78]

Any idea where the nearest anything that might be open 24 hours ?

Plan is to ride over through the night Friday from Newcastle but may be there a lot earlier than 10 and would like to start with everyone else .. just need somewhere to hang out for a few hours and wait for others to turn up.

[Chew]

I'm planning on heading up on the Friday night and I think Kevin is as well, so we can probably let you know where we will be. Probably try and find somewhere to get a good breakfast from.

[paul78]

Sounds perfect ... Probably leave my house 10pm Friday night so should be there 6am ish ... Will be probably getting train back to Newcastle at end

[Ray Young]

Not much that I know of in Gretna, a spar that opens at seven. McDonalds at Grearshill road in Carlisle opens at 5am. It's near A7/A689 roundabout. Probably find a 24 hour garage in Carlisle but don't count on it.
There is a cafe on the road into Gretna centre run by a strange old woman but not sure what time it opens, worth a visit just to experience her, it's like she doesn't want you there.
Me " morning"
Her aggressively " what you want"
Me. " er, can you do a full breakfast"
Her " no, we haven't got the stuff" then silence whilst still looking at me.
Me " er, what can you do"
Her " got egg and bacon"
Me " OK, I'll have egg and bacon on toast please"
Her " got no bread" , then silence again until she volunteers "got some bread rolls"
Me " OK, I'll have two egg and bacon rolls please"
After serving me she did start to thaw a bit until a young couple walked in then aggressively, "what you want"

[Ray Young]

Bugger, looks like we shall be having a bit of rain and the prevailing westerly isn't going to be prevailing . Still time for that to change though.

[Blackhound]

Still planning to go up Friday but not done anything about it!

Kevin

[Chew]

Without sounding like a big girl, have you seen the forecast

http://www.yr.no/place/United_Kingdom/S ... /long.html

Not sure i fancy get rained on all weekend. Fingers crossed it improves

[Blackhound]

That does look poor. I am off to Swanage early next week and wondering about going straight there and doing some riding as forecast is better. Or I could mtfu.

[Chew]

Hope you guys have a good trip.

I'm being a big girl and after looking at the forecast I dont fancy getting rained on for 24 hours and catching a cold so close to the summer trip :(

[paul78]

So who is still left riding ??

I am gonna ride to the start via watching a mate start the Hadrians Wall Ultra race on Saturday morning then up to Gretna .. was planning to wait till 10 to start with everyone else but if no one else is riding i'll just crack on :)

[Chew]

I think its you, Kevin and Ray as far as i've been able to work out

[jamiep]

I'm still a yes too. Hope someone else is as I don't have a GPS. The report has been looking marginally better as the week has gone on

[Blackhound]

I am out. Mostly weather related but off to Swanage on Tuesday and everything is a bit tight timewise.

Good luck to the tough boys who disregard the forecast.