On Yer Bike Melrose Weekend 22 to 24 March 2007

The weekend got of to bad start with yours truly taking a wrong turning and getting lost in and around Glasgow. But Willie came to the rescue and we eventually got out of the city and on our way.

On Saturday we set of for a tour of the local sights, visiting/passing Melrose Abbey, Scott's View, what a climb, Wallace's Statue, Dryburgh Abbey, crossing the Tweed and into Newton St Boswells and then on to very picturesque village of Bowden.

The route on Saturday was mainly quiet unclassified roads with a couple of expeditions on to rougher ground using parts of the St Cuthberts Way in particular. The group split just after Bowden with some heading over a more direct route, but equally as challenging, to Melrose.

4 of us took of over towards Selkirk by a cross country route. fallowing farm tracks and my vague memories of walking in the area in the past. The route was still there but a few changes had been made by farmers making it a little more difficult to find. But we got there and again making use of country roads dropped down into the Tweed valley and linking in with the Tweed cycle way, passed through the outskirts of Gallashiels and along the river to return to Melrose. A super day.

We had two punctures on route and a few chains playing up but no major mechanical or other types of misshapes. The feedback was that it was a challenging day for every one, The downhills into the Tweed Valley at Melrose and nearer Selkirk were described as bottle testing and very fast. Sunday brought us to a skills development session at Glentress. A little slower pace at first with coffee at the Hub and then on to the upper car park and the skills course. Very much a come and try session with every one choosing to have a go at the various obstacles. Then a few circuits of the outer circuit to put these new found skills to the test. Then of down hill to the Hub for a lunch stop. Some took on to the lower part of the Blue route and rest of took the forest road down.

All in all a very good weekend was had by all with gods being kind to us and rewarding with fine weather. A less challenging drive back to Glasgow and every one of home well contented.