Hi folks and our sponsors

 

Well the Moffat ram challenge as predicted...Winners all round. I would like to thank all who made the effort to do the ride in the cold conditions, 22 mph headwind....With The old Battering Ram Fitz strutting about the hotel car park at 0700 making sure the bike would start!! Start "I thought for a minute" and taped on the extra energy drinks and a few gels to his bike. I assured him it was not chain lube?

So Nina and Fitz were off at 0720, heads down fighting the wind up to the beef tub. but the Hairy monster frae Abd Chris Burnet and Thom Sherrington passed them at 0800 on the way to the scheduled start at the Bronze statue...0900... He was not impressed " Hay chiel need tae gan noo mon ool never catch them" Aye rite Chris, With a body panicking at 0910...nae sign of Eric Maitland. When Eric arrived we had a quick photo shoot then off. Chase on.

With the butterflies settling we all started working in a group trying not to think about the duo up ahead... which was encouraging but within a mile we were split! All of a sudden the pace lifted.  Poor Eric didnae have time tae digest his breaky before the pace picked up!! Bunch of wild rams after the auld Ram Fitz who was shielding Nina being the only.... ewe among us.!!

By the time we arrived at Peebles the autumn leaves were scattered along Tweed side,the scenery was stunning, salmon leaping,pheasants trying to emulate Fitz....Hewel said.... Although I am Welsh boyo you can't beat Scotland for beauty this is God's country!!"say that again it's too windy cannae hear you" so he did. I chuckled at that one.

We headed for Selkirk following the banks of the Tweed Valley,arrived at Selkirk still hadnae caught sight of them. Started motoring up the Yarrow Valley towards "Tibbie Shields" Famous watering hole where James Hogg the Ettrick shepherd, poet/novelist Sir Walter Scott and Robbie Burns conversed. Finally caught the pair of them just below the swire. I headed to Tibbies to get the drinking chocolate ordered for the peloton and low and behold whae walks out the door but the wayward ram frae ABD "Chris how did you get here so quick  "tak the shortcut min" ach well suppose it's a tough climb over (paddy's slack).  Although I can assure the poetry frae Fitz and the rest of the peloton when they arrived wiz the best Scot's slang ave heard in a long time ????

 

Fifteen miles to go tail-wind blowing us towards Moffat at 40 mph Ian Chapple, was talking sprints??? with lead out man (Welshman) Rob Worton who were both quiet up to Tibbies but holding steady pace. Hewel (also Welsh) made quick break down to the Grey Mare's tail (famous waterfall that freezes in winter). Rob follows, the pace gets really quick they slow down to look at the sheep, which are all over the road. Tom gets off the saddle and makes the break for Moffat he holds out to the finish pursued by Hewel.

 

Fantastic day!  We all arrived back safe and well, stayed for a meal in Moffat and talked about the best way round; long way round, we did the hard way round ...we all agreed. Next year is on the cards again. 90 miles errrr... aye 120 fur next year cause we finished too early??

I would like to thank. Wally Wallace for the inspiration, Seven Pelican welfare, SIS for supplying the go fast drinks and food. Endura for helping us with the appropriate apparel, Alpine bikes for spare parts, tubes and back up and last but not least, everyone who turned up.

 

See you all next year

Kindest regards

 

Thomas Ferguson

 

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