Harry’s post-ride Blog
Thirteen-year-old Ayr Burner Harry McGarvie is one of our ‘Champions’, promoting youth cycling alongside Christopher Scott. We are delighted that Harry offered to provide a blog from our Ayrshire Ardennes ride. Enjoy!
Ayr Burners Ayrshire Ardennes Ride
On Saturday the seventh of February, a field of nineteen hardy Ayr Burners set out on the inaugural Ayrshire Ardennes classic, run by Christopher JG . Altogether, four youths; Myself, Christopher Scott, Stuart Campbell and Jack Cassidy, turned up to ride, as well as three women; Katrina McGarvie, Janet Erskine and Frances Stevens.
19 riders turned out for the Ayrshire Ardennes ride
This 29 mile long ride included various tough hills, each one respectively matching the Koppenberg and co. for toughness, (only with no pave on show, phew). Each hill was free to contest, and great fun!
After meeting at the traffic lights in Monkton, the three ride leaders, John – Paul Baxter, Dave Clifford and Lindsay McGarvie, led the field out, as all of us braved the crisp morning air. Very soon though, we were all a lot warmer, and in high spirits, as we approached the first ‘berg’ on the list. This was the Corraithenberg, a short climb from Loans to Dundonald, which offered us all a good opportunity to warm up.
As the ride progressed, the ride leaders took the executive decision to remove one climb, the climb up to Barnweil monument, from the ride agenda, due to the risk of ice. This didn’t dampen any spirits, though, as Chris immediately thought of an alternative route to go on, YAY! After climbing up to Stafflar, we rode along for a couple of miles, before turning off in the direction of Craigea. The next few miles included various different hills, and a range rover, which offered some a drafting opportunity!
Riders enjoyed stunning winter sunshire throughout the ride
The group then headed on in the direction of Tarbolton, where we were promised the opportunity to put in a wee’ dig on the climb UPWARDS. Despite this, I was then told, jokingly, by Chris and my Dad, that it was the climb out of Tarbolton. All part of the fun and banter, eh?
There was now just one hill left in our Ayrshire Ardennes epic, and this prompted John Paul to remind us of the cake and coffee stop which we would take at the end of our adventure. This sparked something in the group, and everyone was immediately eager to get over the hill. Soon after we crested the hill, all the Burners’ regrouped back in Monkton, where we were treated to coffee and cake in Pollys’ Tea Room. Afterwards, everyone went their separate ways, satisfied with what turned out to be an excellent day of riding, with some top quality banter and great cake to top it all off.
The stampede to order coffee and cake at Polly’s Tea Room in Monkton
Funnily enough, Chris was one of the first people to leave. I’m sure it had nothing to do with not wanting to pay for the cake or anything…
Harry.
Editor’s note: we can confirm that Chris did leave his lunch-money! A big thank you to Harry for his entertaining report. Harry is turning into a bit of a freelancer, having also recently had his blog published for Frog bikes. You can read this here.
If you have a blog or article you would like to contribute to the site please email it to ayrburners@gmail.com
