All week I’ve been looking at the BBC weather forecast. It wasn’t good.
“Definitely going to rain on Sunday”.
Then “60% chance of rain on Sunday”
Then “Rain early, and 40% chance after 10.00”
Fortunately, it was wrong.
I was heading across to Strathaven, to take part in the “Round Stra’ven 50” ride.
About 500 riders were registered. It was advertised as being the ride with the best cake stops! I can confirm that that’s probably true.
Started at the school in Strathaven, most of the riders were in rain jackets and long sleeves/leggings. A few hardy souls had bare arms.
The drizzle had mostly stopped by 10.00, when the trip started, but it was very damp - it was more “low cloud” than rain. Roads were wet, and a bit slippy with mud.
A slow start - with 500 bikes on the road, it’s crowded. Once it started to stretch out, it was much better.
We headed west out of Stra'ven, on farm roads. Then we’d do a loop round the area, and back in by the same route.
Half an hour later, it was dry. Roads were still wet, and some very big puddles, but the rain jacket was starting to feel a bit “boil in the bag”, so came off as we neared Loudon Hill.
First section was lumpy, but no big climbs. Past a wind farm, on round Loudon Hill (the only part of the route I was familiar with!) and across the A71 towards another windfarm and Drumclog.
After about 20 miles of farm roads, we arrived at the village of Sandford, and Cake Stop 1.
And it was a good cake stop.
The event is a fundraiser for local charities, and the modest entry fee (£20) plus any donations collected at the food stops go to them. The local charities man all of the check points and road crossings, and organise the cake stops. Lots of sandwiches, home baking, tea and coffee. And bananas.
I left that cake stop, knowing that the next one was only 10 miles further on. Seems a bit close, I thought, but then I realised we were about to hit the hilly part of the route.
A short climb after the cake stop, then dropping about 100m as we came into Stonehouse. Then a steep climb, a drop as we came towards Larkhall, and then a long slog up towards Glassford, where we were rewarded with Cake Stop 2, which was of the same high standard.
By this time the roads were mostly dry, and there was even a brief glimpse of blue sky.
After Glassford, it was onwards to Chapelton, Audlhouse, and then one more steepish climb before we joined the route of the 15 mile “family trip" (which had started later) and headed back towards the finish at Strathaven, and the 3rd lot of cakes!
50 miles, and no rain!