January is traditionally the time when road cyclists start thinking of the coming race season. In the days before many could afford a winter training bike a ride known as the reliability ride took place. Each cycling club usually had their own ride which was open to riders from other clubs and on these early season rides the cyclists would be able to check the reliability of their equipment before a new racing season. These rides still continue and many clubs around Tayside have organised these events for years with routes heading out into the Angus and Fife countryside.

The routes of several of the Dundee Clubs traditionally head out towards Strathmore via towns such as Kirriemuir, Coupar Angus and Blairgowrie and a look at the OS Map will reveal the network of roads that make the Strath ideal for cycling.

My first club was the Charles Star CC, who were based, when I joined, in Menzieshill Community Centre in Dundee. At the Monday evening club meet, members such as Jimmy Gordon who had ridden with my father in the 1950s would discuss races and rides and one route that caught my young imagination was out by Tullybaccart. I had no idea where it was, but the way it was spoken about in the club, I imagined it to be of similar status to the Alpine and Pyrenean giants I watched Robert Millar tackling on the Channel 4 coverage of the Tour de France. One Sunday, during a club ride from Dundee to Perth and back, we tackled the airy heights of Tullybaccart on the return leg.

“You want to be like a carpet unrolling. Get faster as the climb goes on.” – Chris Carmichael

The reality was not as painful as the anticipation had led me to believe, but I can still picture myself grinding up the initial modest hairpin bends. In the end another new club recruit and I still had energy enough to ride out to Carnoustie and back, before returning home.

The route

Starting in Muirhead to the north-west of Dundee, head towards Newtyle on the B954. As you enter Newtyle turn left at the bottom of the hill towards Keillour. After half a mile take another left towards Kinpurnie Castle and Leys then follow this road until you join the A923 on the North side of the Tullybaccart climb. You can follow the A923 all the way back to Muirhead, but a nice wee detour is to follow the Lundie Road, which will take you back onto the B954 just north of Muirhead.

Some up and coming club reliability trials.

FIFE CENTURY – 12.2.2012 – Falkland (9.30am) £5

DUNDEE THISTLE – 26.2.12 – Lochee Boys’ Club (9.30am) £5

DUNDEE WHEELERS CC – 4.3.12 – Muirhead (10am) £5

Note: These rides are not supported. You must be fully self-sufficient. Please visit the club websites for more information.

A recent survey commissioned by the Big Lottery Fund found that 87% of children aged between seven and 15 regularly played computer games. However, debunking the assumption that our children are becoming a generation only interested in sedentary activities the poll also found that more than half (56%) of children surveyed currently go cycling and an additional 13% would like to have the opportunity to do so.

Parents can often be a key to whether children cycle or not and if they are enthusiastic they can open up a whole new world of discovery for them and their family. So your children want to ride, you want to get fit, what better excuse to get out on your bikes this weekend and go for a family cycle ride.

“Sighing for new worlds to conquer, I determined that I would learn the bicycle.” – Frances Willard

Balance Bikes

Getting children cycling used to involve a period of learning on stabilisers. For many it still does, but a quiet revolution in how children learn to cycle is taking place. Balance bikes are nothing new. The forerunners of today’s bikes were wooden frames on wheels, propelled by the rider’s feet on the ground. The balance bike follows the exact same principle and its beauty is that the rider learns to balance, which when you think about it, is the key to riding a bike. Once learnt the rider can then scoot along to their heart’s content and then when they are ready to progress to a pedal bike without stabilisers, they will have learnt the hardest part. The rest will be as easy as, well, riding a bike.

Tayside and Fife are blessed with a huge amount of green space areas and parkland that are ideal for children on their balance bike or just starting out on their pedal bike.

One of my favourites, where both my children learnt to balance and cycle is the North Inch in Perth. Situated right in the heart of the city, its circular path has a good surface for young children to ride on and is flat enough that even the youngest children will have no problems. Close to the centre of Perth, it’s very accessible for many and with amenities at the Bell’s Sport Centre and a play park on its route, it is a great place to take those first few bike rides.

Route details

A family friendly cycling route on the old A9

Cycling in Britain has never been more popular, and the successes of our Olympic and World Cycling Champions have further boosted the profile of an already growing sport. Whether it be for commuting, health benefits, environmental and financial concerns, or just wanting to revisit the sheer youthful joy of hurtling along under your own power, cycling is now a big deal. Whatever your reason for getting back into the saddle, now’s the time to start the New Year in a positive pedal-powered way and cycle your own trail along the roads and tracks of Courier country.

“Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride” – John F. Kennedy

When I think back to my first bike I can still remember the feeling of independence it gave me, allowing me to explore further and further afield with my friends. Now my own children are cycling and I was keen for them to have the same experience, even though things have changed since my childhood. This is partly to do with perception, but undeniably the roads are now busier and as a parent I would think twice about letting them ride about as I did so many years before. Thankfully there are still many, many options, both on and off road for families and individuals to ride. Over the coming weeks we will be looking at some of the popular and some of the less well known routes, as well as adding other little bits of information to get you out and about on your bike.

Driving along the A9 North of Pitlochry you may have noticed the National Cycle Network Route 7. Although it is surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery it is not the most appealing route for a family cycle. However, one section from Calvine and Struan to Dalnacardoch is a hidden gem. It follows the old A9 and is a surface suitable for all kinds of bikes. It isn’t closed to traffic, but since the only reason for driving along its length is to get to the few houses, it is virtually traffic free. Indeed the sunny summer’s day our family cycled along it we didn’t see a single car. Ideally for young children it is also very flat and our little boy rode the six miles out and back on his balance bike. As you ride the first few miles you are surrounded by natural woodland, with the River Garry on your left, you can almost imagine you are in the middle of nowhere, rather than right next to the busy A9. There are numerous places to stop for picnics, and the thought of cheese sandwiches, crisps and juice was more than enough motivation, if any was needed to keep our kids riding.

Route: Calvine to Dalnacardoch (return by same route)
Grade: Easy – Suitable for all levels of cyclist, including young children.
Distance: 12 miles (19km) return (the route can be shortened by returning before Dalnacardoch)
Climbs: No climbs, but a gradual ascent of 313ft (95m) in 6 miles (9.7km)
Start: OS 1:50,000 Map 43 – NN803 659
Finish: OS 1:50,000 Map 42 – NN723 704
Parking: There is plenty of roadside parking available by driving onto the first section of the cycle route.
For the more adventurous: The route can made into a circular by turning South at Dalnacardoch and following the old Military Road to Trinafour and returning to Calvine via Glen Errochty. This is a challenging climb from either side, but one of the best in the area and I would highly recommend the climb from Glen Errochty.

The column will be in the weekend supplement and cover all aspects of cycling from family rides, to competitive racing, sportives and all disciplines. The column was preceded by a profile of Scot Tares today

Profile Preview Courier — Scot Tares’ cycling column

Gold, Silver, Bronze - Three of the 24 medals the Scottish team took home

The Medal Haul

12 Gold Medals, 8 Silver and 4 Bronze and the team trophy for Scotland South and second place for Scotland North. The results are impressive and hint at the dominant force that the two Scottish teams were at the Sainsbury UK Schools Games in September 2011. The full results can be found here.

The riders mean business

As a coach of the Tay Titans Junior CC for 2 years, I was delighted to be selected by Scottish Cycling to be the coach for the North of Scotland team at the UK Schools Games.  I knew the experience was going to be great fun, but I wasn’t prepared for the feeling of pride that I got from working with a fantastic team of riders and staff.  It was inspiring to see young riders taking taking responsibility and acting so professionally. Each rider had a tremendous amount of fun, but when it came to racing they meant business and the results demonstrate how serious they were.

The spirit of Scotland

One of the many highlights for me was watching Stuart, Ben and Cameron take the three podium places for the Dirt Crit on the first day for Scotland North and South. The whole four days were stuffed with memorable moments; medals, inspiration, laughter, friendship, crashes, determination, guts and just downright good fun. But for me the moment I witnessed that summed up the grit and determination of the whole Scottish Team that led to a complete domination of the medals table was the 4th place of Ben Miller on the final day at the XC race. As he came back, his face was distraught. It was more than disappointment that was etched in there. He knew he had enough talent and fitness in there to medal, but circumstance of a crash in front of him that led to a jammed chain led to the loss of vital seconds. The look on his face showed how much racing and winning meant to him and for me it was inspiring to see. Ben encapsulated the entire spirit of the Scottish teams at the 2011 UK Schools Games; we weren’t there just to take part, we were there to win.

Awaiting the opening ceremony

The Games

The UK Schools Games are a multi sport event that are designed to give young athletes the chance to experience what it would be like to take part in events such as the Commonwealth Games or the Olympics. 1600 athletes from 12 disciplines descended upon Sheffield for the 2011 event and we took over the University Campus which was turned into an athletes village. The atmosphere was amazing as we were treated to a stunning opening ceremony in the Motorpoint arena hosted by Jill Douglas. The cycling events took place on the outskirts of Sheffield and consisted of five events raced over three days.  Each morning was an early start at 5.45 with breakfast at 6.15am and then we were transported to the venue at 7am. The day then consisted of heats, minor finals and finals with racing continuing into the early evening. We got back to the athletes village at 8pm each evening and had a great feed in the canteen. We took the opportunity to attend one of the many “Evening with…” workshops on the Friday evening focussing on “Gaining a psychological advantage.

The schedule was full and I felt like I was living in a bubble, with no idea of what was happening in the world. We ate, breathed and slept cycling for four days. Overall the experience was amazing and it was great to be part of such a huge event and it has given me a taste for more.

Rider and team Managers reports

You can link here to the Scottish cycling website to read more reports from each of the riders about their experience at the UK Schools Games

Below are some photos from the event. You can view the full album at Flickr

This was the second of our single day Etape Caledonia Training Rides for 2011. The route this week followed the Etape Caledonia route, but turned left at Tummel Bridge and missed out the Kinloch Rannoch loop. Instead we rode up the Braes of Foss side of Schiehallion, which is the second hardest of the three routes up.

The group had a fantastic day and although a bit overcast, it was dry and fairly calm. Our guides for today were Aly and Erni who gave the group lots of tips and hints on riding in a group and how to prepare for the Etape Caledonia in May. We stopped at the House of Menzies for lunch and then back to Pitlochry for a sports massage and coffee.

More photos of the day can be found on our Flickr page

This trip takes in the finest roads in Highland Perthshire and quite possibly the finest roads in the UK. The mercury was touching 21 degrees for the weekend and we set off from Pitlochry straight into the three mile climb of Moulin Brae. There then followed three days of stunning riding on quiet roads through deep forested glens, alongside mirror like lochs and winding up over peaks still with patches of the winter’s snow.

Within the route there are 13 categorised climbs, with over 30 climbs in total. Whether you are just looking for the best cycling holiday available in the UK or want to get some serious training in, then this trip is for you.

The next trip will run from the 15th to 17th July 2011. For more details and booking, click here.

For more photos click here.

The Etape Caledonia Training Ride 27.2.11 

This ride was the first Skinny Tyres Official Etape Caledonia Training Ride of 2011. With the recent snow, we were uncertain as to what the weather would be like, but we shouldn’t have worried. The day dawned clear and frosty, with Loch Tummel, mirror like, sparkling in the early morning sunshine as it reflected the snow capped summit of Schiehallion.

A group of ten cyclists gathered at Escape Route in Pitlochry to set of for a 37.5 mile loop around part of the Etape Caledonia course. The riding and company were fantastic and the group worked well together. We stopped at House of Menzies for a fantastic spread of soup, sandwiches, tea and coffee and shortbread and then back to Pitlochry for a post ride massage.

You will be able to find lots of photos from the day on our flickr page at Flickr.com.

I wanted to add this post to my website as Carole is a friend and work colleague, who had a torrid time after her accident, but has shown a huge amount of courage and determination to get back out and carry on in sport.

The following is taken form the Daily Record report:

THIS time last year, Carole Fortune couldn’t have imagined taking part in a marathon. The 48-year-old from Edinburgh had been a serious triathlete but was now facing a long period of rehabilitation after being hit by a car during a training session on her bike. The mum-of-two was forced to give up cycling, ending her impressive triathlon record at a stroke. But determined not to let the most serious of injuries beat her, she focused instead on swimming and running as she worked hard to get back in shape. And having just completed the gruelling Loch Ness Marathon, she admits she’s come a long way in the last 12 months, after having to start from scratch despite her previous high fitness levels.

 She said: “I’d only been doing triathlons for three years. I used to run marathons but I was looking to find a way of diversifying from just marathons.

It was around that time that triathlons were beginning to arrive on the scene.

“I tried it, found it was something I was quite good at and every race I took part in I was getting placed in my age group, so I was getting better and better.

 ”I did lots of triathlons in Scotland, and last year I also took part in the Holten Triathlon. That’s the biggest one I’ve taken part in and I represented Great Britain in my age group.

 ”I also took part in an ironman triathlon, just two weeks before the accident.

“That was a two-and-a-half mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and then a full 26.2-mile marathon at the end of it.

 ”I did that in Bolton and I finished second in my age group, so I was competing very seriously, probably too seriously.

 ”The amount of training that was involved in doing that meant that I didn’t really have a life last year.”

 But all that came to an end in August when Carole, who works for Capability Scotland, suffered an accident she was lucky to survive. She said: “I was out on my bike doing a training run and I got hit by a car at 50 miles an hour. I smashed the car’s windscreen, got carted down the road a little bit before being thrown off at the side, fracturing my neck.

“That was my most serious injury, and I had to have a metal plate inserted in my neck. Apparently, the two vertebrae that I fractured, C5 and C6, are the ones that supply the nerve endings to your arms and legs, so I’m very lucky I’ve still got feelings in my limbs.

“I do still have a little bit of numbness in my right hand but I was very lucky to survive a collision at that sort of speed.

“I spent two weeks in the Western General, where I underwent surgery on my neck, and then six weeks in Astley Ainslie Hospital because of the brain injuries I suffered as well.

“I spent nine weeks wearing a collar to stop me turning my neck left and right, and needed about six months off my work, by which time I’d had more than enough of staying at home.”

With the support of kids Jade, 14, and six-year-old Ryan, Carole was soon working on trying to regain the fitness she had prided herself on. She said: “After getting out of hospital, I was also determined to start walking as soon as I could, as I didn’t want the injury to stop me, so within a few weeks of the collar coming off I’d be going out for a walk with bursts of jogging. Soon she had set her sights on running the Loch Ness Marathon as her first big event.

“I can’t go back to competing in triathlons as I’ve been advised not to get back on my bike again, so I turned instead to running and swimming.

 ”I started swimming lessons with a triathlete coach as I thought it would be good way of improving my fitness while also being able to keep an eye on my neck.

 ”Swimming has been the easiest thing to get back into so far, while the running has been more difficult as I’m definitely not the runner I used to be.

 ”I don’t yet have the fitness level back, which is difficult to come to terms with, but the Loch Ness Marathon was all about proving I’m still able to do it.

 ”At the moment, it’s not so much a case of trying to be competitive as it is just being able to do what I can, then hopefully next year, I’ll be able to do more.”

And while most people wouldn’t blame Carole for putting her feet up and taking it easy after everything she’s been through, she insists that was never an option – although she does concede that there’s no chance of her ever being tempted to try triathlons again.

She said: “The reaction I’ve had from people has been mixed. People who know me quite well know exactly what I’m like and never expected me to do anything different, while other people think that doing this so soon after the accident is absolutely mad.

“But with swimming and running I’m not putting myself in the same sort of danger. My consultant has told me that if I suffer any sort of further head injury then I might never walk again, so there’s definitely no more biking.”

A keen club cyclist for most of his life, Toby has ridden with clubs in London and Scotland and raced across the UK. When he tells you he has not done much training, you know he’s about to rip your legs off. Toby just completed Lands End to John O’Groats in May 2010 and has plans for many other touring expeditions.

1. I own seven bikes
2. Favourite bike – Now that’s a hard one. My Ridley Excalibur? It’s fast, light and responsive. My 1984 Falcon is so smooth it’s like riding a pint of Guinness. My Genesis steel MTB, rocks off road. My touring bike? With Brooks saddle is like riding a thousand miles on an arm chair.
3. Best ever cycling moment – Has to be my first time riding up the Alpe du Huez
4. Worst ever cycling moment – When I’m on my bike i’m happy, so can’t think of one
5. I like cycling in Scotland because – Cycling in Scotland gives mountains, great views, not much traffic and some of the most beautiful and challenging rides in Europe