Scot Tares tells us of the “old-days” when a cup of tea was enough to let you cycle 280 miles in one day.

There used to be a time when the “biley-up” was a key part of cycling club tradition. The impromptu stop to brew up a pot of water for a cup of tea often happened several times during a ride and clubs and riders had their favourite spots to stop at for a “brew”.

The last “biley-up” that I was at was on the banks of the Tay by Dunkeld as part of the Perth United CC Christmas ride. Being Christmas it was not polite to just brew up a pot of tea and more often than not a wee tipple and a few sausages cooked over an open fire were part of the deal. That year I ended up in the bad books as my old shaggy lurcher, who I had taken along spotted, a string of sausages in a saddle pack and he was off with them quicker than a bunch of cyclists in cleated shoes could chase.

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Nowadays the café stop is an integral part of cycling club life, but preceding that was the “biley-up”. William Mclennan, who rode for Charles Star CC in Dundee and was a key figure in the Dundee Centre representing all the Tayside clubs, told me of a ride report he read in the Forfarshire RC club book that detailed an impromptu ride in 1964. “Members left the gates at 12.30am on Sunday morning…” it began and then went on to describe a ride of over 280 miles taking in Lochearnhead, Glen Ogle, Crianlarich, Glen Falloch and Stirling. By the time they got to Glen Devon for their second boil-up of the day they were starting to tire, “The run from Glen Devon was ‘pure hell’ with the sun, sore legs and sleepiness taking their toll. A good time was had by all… or so they said”.

It proves the masochistic nature of cyclists and as I sit here and type I’m thinking to myself, “that does sound like fun and I know I’ve still got the old “biley-up” kettle in the shed somewhere.”

Get out and ride

Scot Tares

Cycle Route

Cycling in Glen Devon and Glen Eagles