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@Nef
Did the Tour o the borders sportive. 74 miles/3800ft.
Up at 5am, at the start for 630. It was nice weather, we hung onto some terminator that was dragging about 40 people up the main climb halfway round the route, until they fell off the back (including us about a mile from the top). We then realised we’d probably overdone it and enjoyed rolling down the descent with no one else around. Couple of food stops - including one serving macaroni pies (Scotland’s best invention, the telephone can suck it).
Some fun riding in groups, and much faster than the solo riding I’m used to. But also fun blasting along solo (managed a long flattish section at 30mph with a tailwind and getting on the aero extensions). Got a puncture on a cattle grid and my brother caught up, offered me a gas canister which I refused but he insisted, which then bent the threaded bar in the valve, so I let him get off while I fiddled with it and got it sorted, which left about 20 miles to just go flat out and empty the tank. Failed to catch him by about 2 minutes but a good ride at a decent pace of 18.9mph.
I have to admit I found the whole “sportive” thing a bit strange. Getting a medal for going on a bike ride is odd etc. But riding on closed roads in amazing scenery in top weather was wicked.