Highland Events

gb-locks

Can anyone recommend any events in the Highlands, I was hoping for something around 60 miles. I can't seem to find much on the net other than the Etape Caledonia which would be probably too tough to start with.
Cheers
Gary

Crapaud

You don't say whereabouts in the highlands you are, gb-locks. The Trossachs Ton might be worth a look.

I'm not a sportive type cyclist, so others will be able to give you more info on them. You may want to consider an audax brevet populaire, 100km or less may suit your requirements:

150km 25 Apr Forfar Pitlochry 150 08:30 Sat BP £4.00 David Husband 100km 25 Apr Lochside Leisure CentreForfar Scone the Flat Way 09:00 Sat BP £4.00 Ron Harrow 50km 26 Apr ForfarLeisure Centre Lintrathen Loop 10:00 Sun BP £4.00 David Husband 100km 26 Apr Lochside Leisure CentreForfar Glen Isla 09:00 Sun BP £4.00 Ron Harrow U 200 02 May Ballachulish Port Navigation Light 07:45 Sat BR £4 Graeme Wyllie 100km 02 May Ballachulish Lochaber Serendipity 09:00 Sat BP £4.00 Graeme Wyllie U 300km 03 May Ballachulish The Half Light 06:00 Sun BR £10 Graeme Wyllie 150km 03 May Ballachulish Ardnamurchan Quarter 09:00 Sun BP £4.00 Graeme Wyllie 200km 17 May Forfar Deeside Loop 08:00 Sun AA3 [3105m] BR £5.00 Alan Ferrier 110km 17 May Forfar Howe of the Mearns 09:00 Sun BP £5.00 Alan Ferrier 300km 06 Jun Kirriemuir The Snow Roads 06:00 Sat AA4.75 [4800m] BR £8.00 Alex Pattison 200km 16 Aug Forfar Pitlochry 200 08:00 Sun [2787m] BR £5.00 David Husband 200km 29 Aug Newtonmore Dulsie Dipper 08:00 Sat BR £3.00 Sonya Crawford 100km 29 Aug Newtonmore Grantown Gallop 10:00 Sat BP £3.00 Sonya Crawford 82km 30 Aug Newtonmore Strathspey Treasure Hunt 09:30 Sun BP £2.50 Sonya Crawford 80km 30 Aug Newtonmore The Gaick (off-road) 09:00 Sun BP £2.50 Sonya Crawford

There are a few more in the central belt - check out the AUK site.

wakemalcolm

Gary
Agree with Crapaud, if you were thinking about 60 miles now, the Etape C, which has a mainly flat course and the Trossachs Ton which is a bit later in the year should be well within your reach. Have a look at the sportives run by Hands on evets too: http://www.handsonevents.co.uk/ their Skye and Aviemore events have a 50 mile option whilst the Bealach Beag is just on the 43 mile mark.

Hope you give some of them a try.

gb-locks

Thanks for that chaps, that'll give me food for thought.
I'm based up near John O'Groats at the moment.
Cheers
Gary

BigG67

Etape C is fine for a first time. I took road riding up in Winter 2007 and rode it in the June.

In total I only had 40/50 rides under my belt before I got to the line and managed just over 5hrs.

As wakemalcolm says it's a flat course other than the one climb up Schehallion (wrong spelling I know but I can't be bothered looking it up again), and it's worth it for the mental descent with no cars!