Gore Bike Wear Road Sportive

Selkirk has been very popular over the last few years amongst the Mountain Biker fraternity through being the hosting town for the Merida Bikes MTB Marathons and the TransScotland 2007. Pete Laing is our man on the ground and besides having extensive knowledge of the trail and road network of the Scottish Borders. He works closely with road clubs and road enthusiasts of the region to create a fantastic sportive course which hits the balance between challenging course and breathtaking views just right.

For this event he put some extra effort in by not just putting two but three courses together.

The Selkirk round of the GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportive series is the only round that features 3 rather than 2 different courses. The ‘Extreme-distance’ was created to give the experienced sportive riders a challenge of a new level. Please keep in mind that we recommend this event only for experienced and well trained riders.

GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportives:
The Selkirk road sportive will be run on the Saturday of the event weekend with an open start from early in the morning onwards. Following the huge trend of non-competitive road events the GORE BIKE WEAR Road Sportives are trying to set themselves apart from the rest by offering a high quality event package with outstanding courses and first class support around the course plus all inclusive camping, parking, facilities, event meal and finisher present…pretty much the same deal the riders of the marathon series have been enjoying since the very beginning.

Each route makes the most of the network of narrow hill roads linking the river valleys that the Scottish Borders is so famous for. The climb tot-up for each distance is... 47 mile: 4 climbs, 95 mile: 8 climbs, 120 mile: 10 climbs. None of the climbs are Alpine in scale but only one is less than 100m vertical and if you check the course profiles, there isnt a flat road in between, so the ascent total soon builds up. The 120 mile route especially is a bit of a beast with 3600m of ascent.

The 3 courses: (climbing shown in brackets)

Everyone will head out of Selkirk [120metres] along the picturesque Ettrick Valley, with 2 miles of easy spinning before hitting a singletrack road that snakes its way up onto the Woll Rig [334m]. After a fast descent to the village of Ashkirk, you start a lovely undulating moorland road that takes in Blawearie, Alemoor Reservoir and The Rankle Burn before reaching the first feed stop at Tushie Law in Ettrick Valley. Here the 45 milers turn east and take on two of the best climbs in the Borders, The Berry Bush [380m] and Witchie Knowe [362m] before an easy run back to Selkirk along the valley floor. Everyone else turns left and makes for the wilds of Eskdalemuir.

Given a calm day, its a big-ring churn up to the source of the Tima Water near the glamorously named Foulbog [334m] and on past Samie Ling Tibetan Monastery. Stop for tea and contemplation if you want but you may be persuaded to stay (in silence) for 3 years, 3 days, 3hours, 3mins ....you get the drift. At Eskdalemuir village (two houses and a tree) its a right turn and a tough peck over to Boreland through he endless Spruce plantations of Castle Oer Forest. Look for a well-stocked feed table at the village.

After more sticky roads, a near miss with Moffat and a marvellous 10 mile climb alongside Moffat Water (blink the sweat from your eyes long enough glance at the areas highest waterfall, the Gray Mares Tail if you can.) the Dumfries/Selkirkshire border marks another high point [338m], the return to civilisation and the start of a 45 minute rolling descent past the Borders best known beauty spot, St Marys Loch. Feed stop #3 soon comes into view at The Gordon Arms Hotel.

Next up is The Witchie Knowe [362], 167 vertical metres of hell for tired legs and the last climb of the day for the 95 milers who turn left on reaching the Ettrick Valley road and follow the same return route as the 47s. Psychological trauma sets in for the full distance boys and girls because at this junction they have to go in the opposite direction and tackle another 30 miles and two fair sized climbs before reaching home base. Climb #9 is The Berry Bush over the Gordon Arms again and climb #10 The Paddy Slacks [360m] starts straight away and takes any gibbering wrecks still left in the event over to the Tweed Valley and a lumpy run back to Selkirk by a leafy back road along the south bank of the river.

The clockwise direction of each route means that the outward leg will be into the prevailing wind and unlike last year, there are no busy main roads included; in fact on some sections youll be lucky to see a car.

Statistics - short course (standard sportive)
Length: approx: 47 mile
Climbing: approx. 1,600 meters

Statistics - long course (classic sportive)
Length: approx: 95 mile
Climbing: approx. 2,700 meters

Statistics - extra long course (‘extreme sportive)
Length: approx: 120 mile
Climbing: approx. 3,600 meters

For further details including route maps, profiles course description and entry facilities please go to the Selkirk page on our sportive website www.gorebikewearsportives.com.

Start Address

Selkirk Rugby Football Club 
Heatherlie Park, Selkirk
Selkirkshire
Scotland
TD7 5AL