Fort William-Glasgow +100 Cycle 1 Day - 11/11/12

So our day came for the big +100 mile 1 day cycle from Fort William to Glasgow. And on my birthday, but more importantly we were raising some money for my ongoing fund-raising for Neuroblastoma Children's Alliance bringing my total to £1200 against a target of £1500.



It was an early start. Very early. Was up at 345am, pre packed, I put the bike on the bike rack and went to pick my Dad up, at 430am and then up to East Kilbride to pick Neil up (@aerobic247) who was joining me on another long run.

We then headed up towards Fort William and arrived just after 8am. After a breakfast of champions in McDonalds, we got set up, and my Dad was away. No turning back now. - We got set up and left at the back of 9am with a clear thought that based on other +90mile runs we have done, we should easily be in Glasgow for the back of 5, minus any break stops….how wrong that would be.

Not long before we are heading through Glencoe, with some stunning scenery. Pass Jimmy Saville's house, notably now covered in graffiti, wonder why eh!

Most of the road is quite flat, a couple of hills but nothing to sore. - Stop for a breather and a couple of photos and dodging the bus load of tourists we batter on, by Glencoe Ski centre and down past Tydrum….. We had to watch the old roads especially coming into Tyndrum as I could clearly see black ice on the roads, and didn't exactly want to come off.- haha. that happened to each of us later.

We got to Crianlarich at around 2pm, 52 miles in and with 4.5 hours on the clock…

not as quick as we would like, but this run was never about timing. We hunted for somewhere to heat up, get some soup and chill for 45 mins, before starting part 2. Not much in this small town and well even the pub was dead.

So back of 3 we still had +50 miles to go, and we thought , it's going to be dark as we head down Loch Lomond. - We batter on, 17 miles down towards near the north end of Loch Lomond. This was now at the back of 4. I was getting a bit irritated at the close call of drivers not giving enough clearance and got pissed off when a blue monedo drove straight through a big puddle and soaked me all over haha. A 1 finger and several swear words was my reply.

Get to Tarbet, and I am waiting for Neil. Still waiting……. so I phone him. He had bolted through the car park past me and was about 3/4 of mile further down the road FFS.. haha - its wasn't long till I caught him up. .

It was now well past 4pm and getting quite dark and we weren't even at Luss. We had separated quite a bit. Almost 2 miles. Neil took the cycle route  and I took my life into my own hands and decided to stay on the road, lights on and well noticeable ( I think) my head was down, and kept cycling……. on what seemed to go on forever!

Was now approaching Balloch and the 80 mile marker. Legs pretty sore, but more my feet were freezing to the point that I could hardly feel them. lol. Cycling in the dark, with a white line as a guid means you crawl to a snail's pace and this was also evident in the last part of the journey. Finally I got to Balloch and stopped just outside the railway station. Quick call to Neil who was about 10 mins behind, it was very tempting to jump on the train……

Stopped for around 20 mins in Balloch. refill water and scoffed some crisps, we planned the last leg of the journey. - A 21 mile cycle run along the Balloch to Glasgow cycle path…. In the pitch darkness. People commenting we were mad but thought this would be safer than the main road….

So keeping together we batter on, 2 miles out of Balloch Neil comes aft his bike a cracker, and I laugh. 2 Miles later I come aff mine, and its his turn. that makes it 2-1 in falls to ME…. Obviously I will win that 1.

So Dumbarton, Erskine, we were getting there, onto Clydebank,  (had some sore cramp in my legs. - Painful !) - where we had agreed to call it a day, but I was being arset as it had to be plus 100 miles, and we were at 96. - so Neil was made to cycle to Loch 27 at Anniesland which made it just over the 100…...

 

So it was nearly 8pm, time in the saddle was just under 9 hours. 100 miles done and some very sore legs. What a personal achievement. But McMillian always gets the upper hand as he has done more than that…. haha.

We got the train to central and I had an hour or so till my train home, where my dad was going to pick me up. Sunk 4 pints in the pub, which went right to my heed…!

Got in the door at the back of 11pm with a takeaway for dinner. 20+ hrs of a day out and my personal biggest cycle achievement to date. A fantastic day, and not 1 bit of rain apart from it being very cold.

Thanks again to those kind people who over the last 9 months who have given me their well earned cash. I still have 300 quid to raise to my target and plans afoot for the next run.

http://www.justgiving.com/Alex-Hamiltonfeb26th

You get the bug for it eh….? or its madness.