This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2017/aug/17/hardcore-cycling-in-almost-guaranteed-rain-scotlands-no-frills-anti-sportive
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Hardcore cycling in almost guaranteed rain: Scotland's no-frills 'anti-sportive' | Hardcore cycling in almost guaranteed rain: Scotland's no-frills 'anti-sportive' |
| (5 months later) | |
| The Ride of the Falling Rain on the Hebridean island of Islay has no entry fee, route card or medals, but its laidback, friendly vibe keeps riders coming back despite the weather | |
| Trevor Ward | |
| Thu 17 Aug 2017 06.45 BST | |
| Last modified on Thu 17 Aug 2017 10.09 BST | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| View more sharing options | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Close | |
| The Ride of the Falling Rain is an annual cycling event on the Hebridean island of Islay that proudly describes itself as “anti-sportive”. | The Ride of the Falling Rain is an annual cycling event on the Hebridean island of Islay that proudly describes itself as “anti-sportive”. |
| Held on the first Sunday in August, there is no entry fee, no feed stations, no timing chips and no medal or certificate at the end. Yet in its 14-year history, it has attracted a hard core of regulars who travel from all over the UK. | Held on the first Sunday in August, there is no entry fee, no feed stations, no timing chips and no medal or certificate at the end. Yet in its 14-year history, it has attracted a hard core of regulars who travel from all over the UK. |
| “It’s remained popular because there isn’t the ‘free’ T-shirt accompanied by a £75 entry fee typical of most sportives,” says Brian Palmer, who came up with the idea after advertising in the local newspaper for riders to join him on his annual century ride. Of the three riders who joined him that first year, one “was never seen again after stopping to take a nap on a bench in Portnahaven”. | “It’s remained popular because there isn’t the ‘free’ T-shirt accompanied by a £75 entry fee typical of most sportives,” says Brian Palmer, who came up with the idea after advertising in the local newspaper for riders to join him on his annual century ride. Of the three riders who joined him that first year, one “was never seen again after stopping to take a nap on a bench in Portnahaven”. |
| Another, Tom Hunter, recalls the look of horror on a rider’s face when he was told there was no route card. “He was an audax rider, and you know how hardcore and no-frills they are. So for him to be shocked says something about the nature of this event,” he said. | Another, Tom Hunter, recalls the look of horror on a rider’s face when he was told there was no route card. “He was an audax rider, and you know how hardcore and no-frills they are. So for him to be shocked says something about the nature of this event,” he said. |
| Hunter was one of about 30 riders who turned out for this year’s event. Sure enough, it was raining (and continued for most of the day). | Hunter was one of about 30 riders who turned out for this year’s event. Sure enough, it was raining (and continued for most of the day). |
| As well as the 100-mile route, there was the option to join the “conversational group” that rides a shorter version at a slower rate. | As well as the 100-mile route, there was the option to join the “conversational group” that rides a shorter version at a slower rate. |
| Among the riders were Jeff Winstanley and Suzanne Duncan-Gilbert, coaches at the national cycling centre in Manchester who were making their 11th visit to the event. | Among the riders were Jeff Winstanley and Suzanne Duncan-Gilbert, coaches at the national cycling centre in Manchester who were making their 11th visit to the event. |
| Winstanley said: “It’s rained pretty much every time, but we love it. It’s friendly, without any pretensions – nobody’s got anything to prove. We don’t ride sportives, because of the cost and the standard of riding on them. Also, it seems as though sportive organisers are always trying to outdo each other, by making theirs the longest, or the hardest. This is much more relaxed.” | Winstanley said: “It’s rained pretty much every time, but we love it. It’s friendly, without any pretensions – nobody’s got anything to prove. We don’t ride sportives, because of the cost and the standard of riding on them. Also, it seems as though sportive organisers are always trying to outdo each other, by making theirs the longest, or the hardest. This is much more relaxed.” |
| Cameron Park had made the five-hour drive and two-hour ferry ride from Kendal in Cumbria with his wife, Sharon, and son, Henri. “We’ve been before, it’s a really nice atmosphere with most people wanting to have a chat while they ride. Of course you can really go for it if you want. There were some London clubs up last year, and they treated it as a race,” Park said. | Cameron Park had made the five-hour drive and two-hour ferry ride from Kendal in Cumbria with his wife, Sharon, and son, Henri. “We’ve been before, it’s a really nice atmosphere with most people wanting to have a chat while they ride. Of course you can really go for it if you want. There were some London clubs up last year, and they treated it as a race,” Park said. |
| Palmer says they average about 70 riders each year, with the number peaking at “108 one year when 30 riders from the Czech Republic turned up for the event”. | Palmer says they average about 70 riders each year, with the number peaking at “108 one year when 30 riders from the Czech Republic turned up for the event”. |
| Though there is no entry fee, he recommends that each rider donate £10 to World Bicycle Relief. “The work they are doing in Africa – helping students get to school, farmers do their work – is exactly what bicycles are for,” Palmer said. | Though there is no entry fee, he recommends that each rider donate £10 to World Bicycle Relief. “The work they are doing in Africa – helping students get to school, farmers do their work – is exactly what bicycles are for,” Palmer said. |
| In view of the weather – there is a 20 mph headwind to contend with as well as the rain – I elect to join the conversational peloton. | In view of the weather – there is a 20 mph headwind to contend with as well as the rain – I elect to join the conversational peloton. |
| When we reach the Old Kiln Café at the Ardbeg distillery at the halfway point – one of seven distilleries (out of the island’s nine) on the route – we are welcomed by bike racks, reserved tables and a complimentary dram. It certainly beats the chaos and lukewarm water offered at the typical sportive feed station. | When we reach the Old Kiln Café at the Ardbeg distillery at the halfway point – one of seven distilleries (out of the island’s nine) on the route – we are welcomed by bike racks, reserved tables and a complimentary dram. It certainly beats the chaos and lukewarm water offered at the typical sportive feed station. |
| There’s even a three-mile long shared-use bike path that links Ardbeg and the Lagavulin and Laphroaig distilleries with Port Ellen. | There’s even a three-mile long shared-use bike path that links Ardbeg and the Lagavulin and Laphroaig distilleries with Port Ellen. |
| The toughest parts of the ride – apart from the weather – are the steep, short climbs that pepper the start and finish of the route. Apart from that, it’s relatively flat, with exposed expanses of wild, heather-flecked moorland or desolate peat bogs. “It’s not a headwind if you’re not in the small ring,” says Palmer. | The toughest parts of the ride – apart from the weather – are the steep, short climbs that pepper the start and finish of the route. Apart from that, it’s relatively flat, with exposed expanses of wild, heather-flecked moorland or desolate peat bogs. “It’s not a headwind if you’re not in the small ring,” says Palmer. |
| Through the rest of the year, Palmer is one of just three or four regular riders on the island. | Through the rest of the year, Palmer is one of just three or four regular riders on the island. |
| “The only thing that stops us going out is if the wind speed is over 38 mph – that’s dangerous if it’s a crosswind, and I’ve been blown off my bike twice. But the advantage of our weather is that no one will ever steal your bike, because no one is stupid enough to want to ride it in these conditions,” Palmer says. | “The only thing that stops us going out is if the wind speed is over 38 mph – that’s dangerous if it’s a crosswind, and I’ve been blown off my bike twice. But the advantage of our weather is that no one will ever steal your bike, because no one is stupid enough to want to ride it in these conditions,” Palmer says. |
| Even Scotland’s tourism bosses realise the island’s unpredictable weather has a masochistic appeal to cyclists. VisitScotland chief executive Malcolm Roughhead says: “The popularity of the Ride of the Falling Rain, coupled with our own research, show that the weather is of little consequence to visitors.” | Even Scotland’s tourism bosses realise the island’s unpredictable weather has a masochistic appeal to cyclists. VisitScotland chief executive Malcolm Roughhead says: “The popularity of the Ride of the Falling Rain, coupled with our own research, show that the weather is of little consequence to visitors.” |
| The ride starts and finishes at Debbie’s Cafe in Bruichladdich. Though effectively an extension of the village’s general store and post office, its framed jerseys on the walls, leather sofas and quality coffee are the equal of any trendy cyclists’ haunt in London or Manchester. It even has its own official, retro-styled jersey. | The ride starts and finishes at Debbie’s Cafe in Bruichladdich. Though effectively an extension of the village’s general store and post office, its framed jerseys on the walls, leather sofas and quality coffee are the equal of any trendy cyclists’ haunt in London or Manchester. It even has its own official, retro-styled jersey. |
| By the middle of the afternoon, most riders have regrouped at Debbie’s. Many of the 100-mile riders cut short the route because of the relentless rain. | By the middle of the afternoon, most riders have regrouped at Debbie’s. Many of the 100-mile riders cut short the route because of the relentless rain. |
| Palmer says the beauty of the event is in its freestyle, friendly nature: “There is no official timing, there’s no certificate at the end, so you don’t have to prove anything by trying to complete the whole thing. For me, it’s not about average speeds, Strava segments or distance. It’s about getting out and riding your bike.” | Palmer says the beauty of the event is in its freestyle, friendly nature: “There is no official timing, there’s no certificate at the end, so you don’t have to prove anything by trying to complete the whole thing. For me, it’s not about average speeds, Strava segments or distance. It’s about getting out and riding your bike.” |
| Next year’s ride takes place on Sunday 5 August. Just turn up at Debbie’s Cafe at 10am on the day. | Next year’s ride takes place on Sunday 5 August. Just turn up at Debbie’s Cafe at 10am on the day. |
| Environment | |
| Bike blog | |
| Cycling holidays | |
| Scotland | |
| blogposts | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Reuse this content |