GGCC 56YEAR ANNIVERSARY SPORTIVE - Sunday 13th August 2017
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GGCC!!!
This Sunday we would love you all to join us to celebrate GGCC's 6 year anniversary! Its our yearly Sportive and it would be great if you can head out and join the fun!
We are a full 6 years old and we plan to have a great day out with some great roads, scenery and craic!
This years Sportive heads North taking in some of our beautiful roads, countryside and climbs before stopping off in Strathblane for an extended coffee stop at The Kirkhouse.
The route is posted here and we appreciate its a big day in the saddle so there are some potential shorter options for those that want / need it and also if the weather doesn't behave.
We have planned it so the coffee stop is very much towards the end of the ride and day so 'if' we are damp from the weather its only a short hop home. Hope that's suits most members. We will be awarding The Broons Award for Member of the Year and also announcing the Strava Art competition!! along with whats happening for the rest of the year and its been a belter so far!
We are planning to head out towards Stepps and onto Kilsyth before taking Tak ma Doon, a favourite for some and nemesis to lots! over the junction and along and north into Stirling.
From Stirling once you have navigated the town, we will head west along the Stirling flats and swing a right at the roundabout towards Thornhill and then along to take in Lake of Mentieth. Up over the Arnprior climb then its a freewheel down into Fintry.
From Fintry we will bimble over The Crow road and then right along to our extended coffee stop at The Kirkhouse who will be hosting us! After our coffee, rolls and cake, we will head back into town via Milngavie and Possil.
There ARE some bail out / shorter options for those that want and need it for example, left after the Tak to cut out Stirling, Don't go right to Thornhill to miss out Mentieth loop, Back right at Fintry instead of up and over The Crow but we will go over these in more detail on Sunday morning.
All we ask is that you look at the route and make sure that EVERYONE is comfortable with the route prior to Sunday!
There may be some cars at the Arch when we set off so if you want spare kit available at Strathblane you can put it in the car. I will be buzzing about on the big shouty red bike and I have panniers so can take some stuff for you too. The ride wont be supported but your kit will be available at The Kirkhouse.
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/16004965
Please meet under the McLennan Arch on the green for an 8:30am sharp start. It would be great to have time for another group photo so please get there in plenty of time.
Sundays Sportive is a social ride so there will be NO PACED GROUPS, this day is about riding at a nice pace and having the time to mix the groups and enjoy the days riding, its not a training ride.
Could the ride leaders please all chip in and help where they can and make sure the run goes as smoothly as possible throughout the day. We will make each group around 10 - 12 riders but have stops along the way to enable mixing of groups and we can discuss the finer detail on Sunday and welcome your ideas too as its your day!
Please remember your £5 for coffee and roll which we will be collected once we get to the Kirkhouse. The Kirkhouse has been called and arranged and are expecting us all and jugs of coffee and tea will be waiting for us. There 'may' be a cake or too but bring extra funds in case you want some food there like soup or extra cakes.
If any new riders come along, can folk buddy up where possible?
We will go through some basic safety, group riding etiquette and group riding technique, first aid and basic bike maintenance before we set off so that everyone stays safe and knows exactly what’s happening on the ride.
For those of you who are first aid trained and have been issued first aid pack, can you please bring these along on Sunday (and each run you attend)
Weather is to be cracking!!!!!! Dry with sunny intervals and only a less than 5% chance of rain. A calm day too with winds around 5mph from the SW gusting to 16mph and temperatures up around 13 to 15 degrees! :-)
NOBODY gets dropped on Sunday as its a social so we ask that everyone really works together on Sundays Sportive, thanks
**Please remember tubes, pump, levers, multitool and also please ensure your bike is in good working order, oiled, lubed, maintained and clean**
We look forward to seeing you and we hope that you all have a great day!