17/07/10 FANTASTIC FIRSTS AT THE RADAR
In addition to the plethora of changes at this year's edition of the RADAR RIDE the 2010 event was also choc-a-bloc with firsts. Tandems, pink socks, runners and walkers - they were all there.
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| Yes, that's a tandem on Talla! Greig Walker (no.243) and unnamed stoker rip up the 'Wall' on the way to a top 50 placing on the full RADAR | Jamie Buchanan - no.34 - in pink jersey and matching dayglo compression socks. On such a miserable day he was unmissable. |
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| After 102 miles on a bike the first thing you want to do is pull on your running shoes and leg it 6 miles up and down the highest road in Scotland | Joanne Ellison (no.69) and Morag McConville (no.143) come over all Lemond and Hinault - 1986 vintage - and cross the line hand in hand |
15/07/10 PHOTOGRAPHS NOW ONLINE
Photos of the 2010 RADAR RIDE are now online. Susan and Richard from SEB Photography/Dumfries & Galloway College were
with us on the day from the start of registration at 7am. The action and reportage images they captured are simply stunning and easily a match for any of the awesome photography that has previously graced these very pages.
Organiser Peter Smith said; "After the disappointment of last year when we ended up without any pictures, this year has more than made up for it. The team have produced a stunning set of images. What 's more they are absolutely free to download!"
The deal struck between organisers sus8events and Dumfries & Galloway College means that competitors can right click and 'save as' on as many images as they like. "At other events," said Peter Smith, "you might pay between £10-20 for something similar. So not only is the RADAR RIDE a unique event it is also incredible value for money."
To view the 700+ images captured on the day click here.
12/07/10 TALLA TAKES IT TOLL
Famed for its 20% 'up-slopes' the Wall of Talla took an altogether different toll on ther field of the 2010 RADAR RIDEwith two riders hospitalised after spectacular high speed crashes on the deceptive descent.
Nick Doherty - number 63 - was first to go. A combination of slick new tyres and slick wet roads saw his front wheel slide away and Nick hit the deck. He was taken by ambulance to Edinburgh where a gushing head wound was found to be a nasty gash but, thankfully, nothing more serious. The broken collar bone was the real damage. After the hospital decided not to plate the break Nick was released and now has to repatriate both his bike and his car from Wanlockhead.
As Nick was being cared for at the side of the road by fellow competitors and supporters, Derek Hamilton (number 89) decided it was time to produce an even more spectacular spill. Attempting a Lance 'cross country' manouvre, Derek left the road at high speed. The crack he heard as he thundered over the rock-strewn heather was the sound of his steerer snapping. Although he managed to somehow get back onto the road, the bike was now ploughing its own furrow - back off the road, through a fence and into a burn. Derek was taken to Moffat hospital sufering from a couple of broken ribs and a large smattering of raw-looking road rash. Derek had been trying to make up ground lost on the climb and, in his own words, was simply going too fast.
The Rider Briefing issued in each of the past 3 years now seems prophetic in the extreme; 'The descent of Talla, whilst not particularly long or steep, IS very narrow and not blessed with the greatest surface. The rock-strewn moorland on either side of the road will be particularly unforgiving to those who get it wrong (and their bikes)!' For those of you entering the 2011 edition - you have been warned!
12/07/10 STOBIE LOSES LANTERNE CROWN
Lanterne Rouge for the first two editions of the RADAR RIDE, Will Stobie (left) stunned spectators at the finish of the 2010 edition by finishing almost an hour ahead of the new last man on the road.
In 2008 and 2009 Will spent most of the 105 mile ride with only the Broom Wagon for company. Yesterday he left 21 riders in his wake and lopped more than an hour and a half off his previous best time. Allowing c45 minutes for the aborted climb of Lowther Hill, Will still posted a personal best by a whopping 45 minutes.
Interviewed at the finish Will refused to put his dramatic improvement down to 'extra training'. Questions on pharmaceutical or motorised help were met with a stony silence. Will did, however, admit to using a car to get to and from the event and left Wanlockhead with the ominous words; "See you again next year".
12/07/10 WEATHER CLOSES LOWTHER HILL
For the first time in its short history the original summit sportive did not have a summit finish. Yesterday's atrocious weather led to the decision to close the private road up to the radar station at the summit of Lowther Hill and re-locate the finish arch to the garage at the foot of the climb. RADAR RIDE organiser Peter Smith felt it was the right decision; "Once we'd seen everyone away from the depart we dismantled the start area and ferried it up Lowther Hill," he said. "However, when we got there low cloud reduced visibility to around 20 yards, the rain was coming in horizontally and the wind was gusting up to 80kph. We simply felt it was too dangerous." The decision was supported by NATS and the National Escort Group. "One of our NEG outriders got half way up the last climb and turned back after nearly getting blown off his bike," said Peter.
The organisers of the RADAR RIDE are already considering a change of date in the search for better weather than the last two editions.
12/07/10 2010 RESULTS NOW ONLINE
The results from yesterdays RADAR RIDE are already online. Many thanks to Race Timing Systems for the speedy turnaround and superb support on the day. Click here to see how you did.
08/07/10 WHO WILL BE THIS YEAR'S HEROES?
The inaugural edition of the-then SOUTHERN UPLANDS SPORTIVE in 2008 was described by Cycling World magazine as 'A ride for heroes' and both previous editions of what is now the RADAR RIDE have seen their fair share of such heroes.
In 2008 we had Will Stobie's first Lanterne Rouge (a title he defended successfully last year and aims to do so again this Sunday), the fastest man and woman in RADAR RIDE history, a man on a folding bike covering the full 105 miles and the infamous 'Vomiteer'! Click here for more.
Last year anyone who threw their leg over the bike on a miserably wet and windy day deserved to be called a hero. Those who completed the course deserved to be institutionalised! But above all this the hero who stood head and shoulders above the rest was an 10-year old boy from down south who travelled all the way to Wanlockhead to become the youngest rider to conquer Scotland's highest road (above). Click here to read the story of his trials and tribulations on the fearsome slopes of Lowther Hill.
07/07/10 HERE WE GO AGAIN
Is it really 12 months since the weather-induced armageddeon of the 2009 RADAR RIDE?
Apparently it is as the 2010 edition is this weekend!
The usual rider briefing is now online. Click here to view.
The start list is also up - click here to see what time your day begins.
The weather forecast is a high of 19 degrees, light winds and a 30% chance of precipitation (that's rain to you and me). For anyone who lived through last year's RIDE if it only rains for 30% of the day that'll be quite a result!
26/06/10 DECISION TIME
Anyone who has havered about entering the RADAR RIDE has just over a week to decide. Entries for the 2010 event close at midnight on 7th July. After this we will be collating the final start list, allocating riders to start groups and issuing the rider briefing. For those still to enter, click here to secure your tilt at the infamous Wall of Talla and the fearsome slopes of the highest road in Scotland.
04/06/10 THANKS TO THE TIGERS OF MOFFAT
When, 2 miles into today's Recce Ride, one of our riders suffered a broken spoke it appeared as though his day in the sun had well and truly gone up in smoke. The bike was loaded onto the following car, the aforementioned rider climbed into the back and off we went to support the remaining riders. However, two phone calls later we were high-tailing it to Moffat - home of Tiger Cycles - were Judith and Ben duly fixed the problem and got us back up to a full complement for the rest of the Recce.
Tiger Cycles are a wholesale business based in Moffat. They are not a bike shop and had nothing to gain from inviting us round to their place to help us out. They are just genuinely nice people. The thanks of all here at sus8events and the entire Recce Team goes out to Judith and Ben. Thanks for your help guys.
Tiger Cycles can be contacted at www.tigercycles.com.
04/06/10 RECCE RIDES INTO HEATWAVE
10 willing volunteers enjoyed near perfect weather conditions today as they completed the RADAR RIDE recce in advance of the official roll out on Sunday 11th July. A full report and pictures wil appear shortly but for now we have posted a few intial snap shots. Click here to view.
Thanks to the Dumfries crew (Terry, Graham, Simon, Brian and Alec), the gang with the comedy logo from Border City Wheelers (Karen and the two Pauls) as well as Gary (first back to Wanlockhead - top man) and Jamie (get that knee fixed guy). Thanks also to Susan our new photographer who got to see a whole new side of ther glorious Scottish southern uplands.
21/05/10 COME JOIN THE RECCE
Following the completion of our 'free photo' deal we have arranged a recce ride of the full RADAR route to give our new
team of snappers an early taste of what to expect in July and to allow them to provide us with some stunning new images for this very web site.
The recce will roll out of the car park of the Wanlockhead Inn at 9am on Friday 4th June.
We already have a group of willing volunteers but will welcome anyone else keen to join us on the day. We will provide full support on the day including a following car stuffed with food and drink, lunch at St Mary's Loch and photos from the day.
In order for us to properly stock the car we need to know numbers joining us. If you want an early crack at the full route of the original summit sportive and the highest road in Scotlanbd just drop an email to Peter Smith at peter@sus8events.co.uk or peterasmith30@hotmail.com.
21/05/10 FREE PHOTOS FOR RADAR RIDERS
Competitors in this year's RADAR RIDE will be able to download photographs for free after the event.
As part of a recently signed deal with Dumfries and Galloway College, sus8events will provide a commercial project for a team of photographers from the College's media department. In return, the College team will make their work on the day available for free download.
The RADAR RIDE is one of the most visually-stunning events on the UK sportive calendar and no more so than at the iconic finish alongside the radar station atop Lowther Hill. We have seen some of the sporting images produced by the team at the College - they are startlingly good; every bit as good as anything we've seen from the first two editions of the RADAR RIDE.
28/01/10 ENTRIES OPEN FOR RR3
Entries for the 3rd edition of the RADAR RIDE are now open. Click here to get in ahead of the crowd!
15/01/10 SPORTIDENT TO HOST RADAR ENTRIES
With the necessary permission to run the 2010 RADAR RIDE already in the bag, the only thing preventing us from opening entries was the availability of a reliable online entry system. That issue has, today, been resolved. For 2010 entries to the RADAR RIDE, JUNIOR RADAR and BABY RADAR will be managed by the well-respected Sportident. The guys started work this afternoon on putting together our mini-site. With the grace of God and a following wind entries for the 2010 event should open in the next 7 days. Entrants from the first two years of the RADAR RIDE will get advanced warning so if that's you - watch your email inbox in the coming days. There are only 350 places available (any more and the infrastructure of Wanlockhead would collapse under the strain) and if the previous 2 editions are anything to go by demand is likely to outstrip supply.
01/01/10 HAVE YOU STARTED TRAINING YET?
What do you mean "Have you seen the weather?" A wee dusting of snow and you hole up for the winter?
Some people have found a way. Have a look at our exclusive photo.
Okay, so the bike is a bit on the small side and the clothing is less than figure-hugging. But those are quality miles passing under them there wheels.
If you're sitting indoors with your feet stuck up the chimney, feel ashamed, feel very ashamed.
24/12/09 DON'T BRING THE WEATHER WITH YOU
It seemed like a good idea at the time...Xmas Eve, drive up to Wanlockhead, take a wee walk up Lowther Hill, snap some 'atmospheric' shots of the radar station for the web site. Yep, great idea. The cold was something else, the snow is now down till April and the photos? See for yourself. Click any image for the full size version.
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| Near-total whiteout at the NATS installation atop Greeen Lowther, site of the 2009 RADAR RIDE finish | Somewhere under all that white stuff is the steepest part of Lowther Hill |
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| Wind sculptures at the summit of Lowther Hill | The start line is in there somewhere |
21/12/09 NOT AVAILABLE IN A SHOP NEAR YOU
The kit for the 2010 RADAR RIDE has now been finalised.
It features the new event logo far more prominently than its 09 predecessor and comes in black harking back to the jersey from the inaugural running of the Southern Uplands Sportive.
But that's where the similarity well and truly ends. Next year's RIDE kit will be in Black Isle tartan (tartan patterned lycra, not the real woollen stuff of course) and trimmed in lilac as a nod to Dumfries and Galloway - home of sus8events.
This year's kit will not be available for sale. We've decided this year to 'stick to the knitting' and concentrate on organising a killer sportive rather than diverting our attentions with merchanding. So, if you love the new stuff, which we already do, your love is likely to be unrequited.
16/12/09 HERE WE GO AGAIN...
The 3rd running of the RADAR RIDE is officially on for 2010. The date for your diary is Sunday 11th July 2010.
The 'Village Depart' is Wanlockhead as per the previous editions. If the first two Radars are anything to go by then demand will quickly outstrip supply. So when entries open in January, get in early to avoid disappointment.
All the details for RR3 will appear here first. See you in Wanlockhead next July...the challenge of the highest road in Scotland and the original summit sportive await.
01/12/09 NO LIMITS, NO PHOTOS
For those of you who have enquired about the photos from the 2009 RADAR RIDE, or been waiting patiently to see a repeat of the glorious images from the 2008 event, wait no more.
There will be no images from the armaggedon that was the inaugural RADAR RIDE.
The team at No Limits who created such a stunning 2008 portfolio have let us down. The upshot is that the most photogenic event on the UK calendar will not have a visual record for posterity. It will live on only in the memories of those who rode and suffered.
For the 2010 RIDE, we are already in discussions with a local college in Dumfries to use the skill and enthusiasm of their visual arts students. Prepare to be snapped from the back of a speeding motorbike in true Tour fashion!