The Long Dark Teatime of the Audax Soul

Galashiels is always wet, thats the conclusion I’ve come too. The drive to Galashiels had not been wet, we managed to set up the bikes in the dry, but that was the last time we were dry.

This Audax had caught our attention because of the name, both of us are fans of Douglas Adams, and it was only 100km (ish) away. With controls in Eskdalemuir, Longtown, Eskdalemuir, and finally Galashiels again, we would be travaling through some beautiful scenary, and challenging ourselves with our first 200kms.

The start of the route followed the same roads as the Ride of the Valkaries, until we entered the Ettrick valley, where the rain started. I’d thought I’d gone prepared, with a warm woollen base layer, a new jersey, gilet, and waterproof, with shorts, leg warmers, and trousers over the top. I was soon to learn I was mistaken.

I’ve long heard that the Ettrick valley is picturesque, and I was not disapointed, it starts as farmland, with the road winding along the valley edge, before turning wilder, with mashes and woodland. The rain and my thick but not thick enough cycling gloves meant I couldn’t take any photos, unfortunatly.

As we approached Lock Tima, I was getting really cold. The kind of cold where my hands stop doing what I tell them too, braking and changing gear is find, undoing buttons and zips to take a pee, really difficult (but always achieved without incident).

At the first control at Eskdalemuir Community Hub, we were, minutes away from the cut off. A side room had been set aside for the event because everyone was so wet. We enjoyed a hot drink, soup, and a cake whilst our gloves sat next to a fire in an attempt to dry them out.

We debated out options, I was shivering, uncontrollably at times, we were both soaked to the skin. The weather was to get better in the afternoon so we decided to continue, we would re-assess at Longtown, and if needed we could continue to Carlisle and home, missing the return leg to Galashiels.

Outside. Cold. Wet. Regret. We continue on.

20km further and Clara’s not feeling great, which causes a predicament. I cannot go too slow otherwise I’ll get too cold, Clara cannot go too fast, otherwise she’ll feel too ill. We manage to find a sort of compromise where we stick vaguely together, with me going faster at points where I’m cold but slowing to allow Clara to catch up. At this point it further to turn back than continue on.

The roads are full of water, hiding cavernous potholes.

We’re about 20km from Longtown when we start to see people on the return trip, this lifts my spirits, its always nice to see other people out, and since the start we had not seen anyone.

We roll into the Longtown control 8 minutes too late for the cutoff. To some degree I’m glad, thats made the decision to scratch much easier. I wanted to continue, but the weather hadn’t improved and I was still cold, and the thought of the return journey in the dark with the hidden potholes filled neither of us with joy.

As we pulled out of the control the sun came out, and we rode home, almost into the sunset. A hot shower, hot food, and a little brandy later and I was feeling warm again.

We totalled 122km, only 78 short of our goal, but we made the right decision to call it when we did. If anything we should have turned back to Galashiels from Eskdalemuir.

We will try again.

Things which went well:

• Fueling, we ate well.
• Pacing, neither of us were knackered at the end, or any point during the ride.
• We scratched before it got unsafe to continue
• Good prep the day before meant we arrived on time.

Thinks which could have been better:

• The weahter!!
• Warmer clothing
• Waterproofs, (marigolds 😛)