borderduc
Desmodromically delirious
With the Mysterious Marathon Midgie Masher almost upon us I thought it'd be worth mentioning a few things.....
Friday evening
It would be good for those of us who are staying in Moffat on Friday night to meet up for a refreshment or six so how about meeting in the bar of the Annandale (where Scott and Davie are staying ?) from 7.30 onwards ?. If there's a better place up the street we can always move there later.
Saturday morning
The sun will be scorching and the sky will be blue (be positive !). It looks like a healthy number will be turning up so, to give us an idea of likely numbers can all Mashers please add their name to the list in the calendar section if they have not already done so. As it'll be a cracking but long day we need to assemble in the car park at the Woollen Mill at 8.30 sharp fuelled up (the filling station is just beside it on the main road). By 8.45 we'll be off.
On Saturday morning before we go we'd like to split the group into two - a clockwise group (which I'll lead) and an anti-clockwise group (which KDBlamire will lead). If each group is still big then we'll split them again (WeeIan and PaulV as extra leaders ) so we're not riding around en masse. The idea is to have two main groups each riding the same route but in a different direction, and the groups will meet up at various points during the day. Let's do this PDQ so we can hit the road 8.45 sharp.
There will be no fast or slow groups. However, you can pass the leader if you want (the leader will say where the next stop is) but you're at the mercy of your own navigation. A sweeper will follow each of the two groups to catch any tail-enders with problems. All leaders and sweepers will be in contact with each other (assuming we can get mobile signals). For general contact purposes my mobile is 07957 498240 and KD (Duncan) Blamire's is 07880 742471. The important things are ...
1 If you have a problem of any sort pull over at the side of the road and wait for the sweeper.
2 Act as a guide to the rider behind you. Wait at junctions/roundabouts or places where the route might not be clear. Don't worry about being left behind - the rider in front should know to wait for you too.
3 Whilst we'll move at a steady pace this is not a race. Go at your own comfortable pace and enjoy some of the best biking scenery in Scotland. We've chopped the route into bite-sized chunks but if towards the end of the day you feel like stopping a bit more often then do just that. We all know what can happen when rider fatigue sets in, so take it easy - there'll be a nice cold beer waiting in Moffat for you at the end.
Most importantly of all - HAVE A FANTASTIC DAY, and we'll see you on Saturday !.
Friday evening
It would be good for those of us who are staying in Moffat on Friday night to meet up for a refreshment or six so how about meeting in the bar of the Annandale (where Scott and Davie are staying ?) from 7.30 onwards ?. If there's a better place up the street we can always move there later.
Saturday morning
The sun will be scorching and the sky will be blue (be positive !). It looks like a healthy number will be turning up so, to give us an idea of likely numbers can all Mashers please add their name to the list in the calendar section if they have not already done so. As it'll be a cracking but long day we need to assemble in the car park at the Woollen Mill at 8.30 sharp fuelled up (the filling station is just beside it on the main road). By 8.45 we'll be off.
On Saturday morning before we go we'd like to split the group into two - a clockwise group (which I'll lead) and an anti-clockwise group (which KDBlamire will lead). If each group is still big then we'll split them again (WeeIan and PaulV as extra leaders ) so we're not riding around en masse. The idea is to have two main groups each riding the same route but in a different direction, and the groups will meet up at various points during the day. Let's do this PDQ so we can hit the road 8.45 sharp.
There will be no fast or slow groups. However, you can pass the leader if you want (the leader will say where the next stop is) but you're at the mercy of your own navigation. A sweeper will follow each of the two groups to catch any tail-enders with problems. All leaders and sweepers will be in contact with each other (assuming we can get mobile signals). For general contact purposes my mobile is 07957 498240 and KD (Duncan) Blamire's is 07880 742471. The important things are ...
1 If you have a problem of any sort pull over at the side of the road and wait for the sweeper.
2 Act as a guide to the rider behind you. Wait at junctions/roundabouts or places where the route might not be clear. Don't worry about being left behind - the rider in front should know to wait for you too.
3 Whilst we'll move at a steady pace this is not a race. Go at your own comfortable pace and enjoy some of the best biking scenery in Scotland. We've chopped the route into bite-sized chunks but if towards the end of the day you feel like stopping a bit more often then do just that. We all know what can happen when rider fatigue sets in, so take it easy - there'll be a nice cold beer waiting in Moffat for you at the end.
Most importantly of all - HAVE A FANTASTIC DAY, and we'll see you on Saturday !.
This means 2 horsepower!!! 
