We managed to choose a day that amazingly had absolutely no wind which was pretty incredible as for the days leading up to our ride gales had caused carnage on the roads around the West of Scotland. Slate grey overcast skies welcomed us to Helensburgh but at least the light rain had stopped, leaving a gloss finish to the tarmac which was still showing signs of the winter’s teeth tearing chunks from it. Rolling out of the town along the waterfront it became obvious that the green painted cycle path was not the place to ride as it had collected the debris of the council’s winter gritting programme as well as some mighty pot holes. Thankfully, this was short lived as made our way out of town the road surface improved and we travelled North through Rhu towards Faslane with the millpond that was Gare Loch on our left. We agreed that this would be a good fast hors d’ouvre to the circuit ahead and as we passed the multi coloured caravans of the “peace camp” outside the naval base the road had already began an initially unperceivable rise towards a short downhill to the first roundabout on the course.
The road surface here is excellent and allowed us to concentrate on the first long drag of the race as we continued North on the A814 and what we decided to call the Whistlefield “A” climb up to the roundabout which signified the start of the circuit proper. No respite here though as the climb continued at a steady six or seven percent as we turned South on the high road heading down the peninsula. With road nestling down between rock faces it looked as though it had been cut especially to hide travelling vehicles from the elements, we hoped that this would be the case when the wind was stronger than it happened to be for our ride.
Two or three more sneaky undulating rises awaited before a long sweeping right handed descent to the Shore Road commenced. Make no bones about it this will be really fast on the day and not for the faint of heart or brake blocks, especially if rain falls, the hairpin turn at the bottom will catch those ill prepared out, you have been warned! The fun isn’t over there either because the exit onto the Shore Road is where the weather has taken it’s toll more than anywhere else on the circuit with a hundred metre section of pave like road to negotiate before things settle down again.
The lower part of the course couldn’t be more of a contrast to the bleak high road. Flat, fast and lined on one side by the open expanse of the entry to Loch Long and on the other the mansions of rich industrialists long since departed, leaving their exuberant legacies in brick and stone on the shore line. This part of the circuit will suit the non-climbers and allow them the opportunity to exact some revenge on those who prefer to cause their adversaries suffering elsewhere. Narrow roads with the occasional twist and turn will no doubt have the peleton strung out and gaps will open up as wheels are fought for. There will be no hiding in the bunch in this race, I predict there will be no bunch!
Rounding the bottom of the peninsula it is easy to forget that you are heading North again, you may even catch sight as we did of some military hardware as you travel fast and furious through Rosneath itself, followed by Clynder and Little Rahane and eventually back up to Garelochead, where the left turn takes you immediately into the realms of pain with the ultra steep Whistlefield climb staring you right in the face. You first catch a glimpse of the tarmac poking it’s nose out at you at the top of the tree line, never a good sign as the road doesn’t so much tilt up but simply rises straight out of the ground like a missile so infamously stored along the coast. No gentle lower slopes here, it’s straight into ten percent climbing swiftly followed by twelve and fourteen percent. A slight levelling half way and then straight up again to the roundabout that signifies the start of the next lap which as you may recall continues upwards for a few kilometres more, ouch!
Three circuits later and thankfully only twice up the Whistlefield you take a right turn and make your way through Garelochead and rejoin the A814 southbound towards the finish in Helensburgh. The road is fast and flat and if and that’s a mighty big if, there is a group together the sprint will be a fair one. Somehow though I doubt if there will be any groups of more than ten riders coming in together, this is an event for tough men who can climb and ride in the wind, because I’m pretty sure that we stole the only one they’ve had in those parts for several years!
Well done Janette this is a fantastic circuit and will provide the stage for some excellent racing, there is one sure and certain thing the guy over the line first will not have fluked a win….
The lower part of the course couldn’t be more of a contrast to the bleak high road. Flat, fast and lined on one side by the open expanse of the entry to Loch Long and on the other the mansions of rich industrialists long since departed, leaving their exuberant legacies in brick and stone on the shore line. This part of the circuit will suit the non-climbers and allow them the opportunity to exact some revenge on those who prefer to cause their adversaries suffering elsewhere. Narrow roads with the occasional twist and turn will no doubt have the peleton strung out and gaps will open up as wheels are fought for. There will be no hiding in the bunch in this race, I predict there will be no bunch!
Rounding the bottom of the peninsula it is easy to forget that you are heading North again, you may even catch sight as we did of some military hardware as you travel fast and furious through Rosneath itself, followed by Clynder and Little Rahane and eventually back up to Garelochead, where the left turn takes you immediately into the realms of pain with the ultra steep Whistlefield climb staring you right in the face. You first catch a glimpse of the tarmac poking it’s nose out at you at the top of the tree line, never a good sign as the road doesn’t so much tilt up but simply rises straight out of the ground like a missile so infamously stored along the coast. No gentle lower slopes here, it’s straight into ten percent climbing swiftly followed by twelve and fourteen percent. A slight levelling half way and then straight up again to the roundabout that signifies the start of the next lap which as you may recall continues upwards for a few kilometres more, ouch!
Three circuits later and thankfully only twice up the Whistlefield you take a right turn and make your way through Garelochead and rejoin the A814 southbound towards the finish in Helensburgh. The road is fast and flat and if and that’s a mighty big if, there is a group together the sprint will be a fair one. Somehow though I doubt if there will be any groups of more than ten riders coming in together, this is an event for tough men who can climb and ride in the wind, because I’m pretty sure that we stole the only one they’ve had in those parts for several years!
Well done Janette this is a fantastic circuit and will provide the stage for some excellent racing, there is one sure and certain thing the guy over the line first will not have fluked a win….
