Return to the Cairn O'Mount

"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft... As for me, give me a fixed gear!"Henri Desgrange-Founder of Le Tour de France

Well Monsieur Desgrange, I’m afraid I’ve been seduced by the dark side. It had to be either EPO or a triple chainset but I needed something for the return to the Cairn O’Mount-the scene of my tandem shame. As you can see from the picture of Dr Strangeglove putting on my new chainset I opted for the lesser of two Evils. As for performance enhancing drugs all I had was several cheese and Vegemite panini. Last week during the 200km Audax I had suffered from Lucozade/Energy Gel/Jelly Baby overload and began to crave Vegemite. I thought I’d put it to the test this week and I can declare it an absolute master stroke.

Our loop was Aberdeen-Cairn O’Mount-Auchenblae-Stonehaven-Aberdeen, a distance of about 123km. After the clear vista from the top of the Cairn O’Mount we turned into the Drumtochty Glen Road, which was one of the most pleasant routes that we’ve done so far. Saturday morning was the perfect day for cycling in Scotland- sunny, no wind, new born lambs frolicking in the fields and breathtaking scenery. As soon as the clock struck midday we were faced with a wild hail shower for the last 30km. As they say in Scotland-if you don’t like the whether wait ten minutes.