Scot DURO20, 5 & 6 Sept 20 - Mike Jeavons

A ride report for my bike-related exploits over the weekend. The ScotDuro 20 was a 330km self supported bikepacking race from Inverness to Glasgow via a 90% off-road route with over 5,500m of climbing. There were about 17 of us that entered in the end (difficult to say exactly as the mass start was ditched due to Covid and there was no meet up at the end for the same reasons). The event has minimal organisation - you “enter” on Strava and then record your route on gps and upload to Strava where your cumulative time over 5 segments is extracted by the race organisers.

The weather was a mixed bag with rain and wind in day one that made the climb and descent of the Corrieyairack Pass quite interesting! The route also varied from extremely rough, rocky terrain that would have favoured a mountain bike, to flowing single track, superb forest trails and even old railway line bike paths. The scenery you pass through is incredible - my pictures don’t do it justice. I met several of the other riders on the route and even shared a meal at the fantastic Corrour Station restaurant on Saturday night. The bivvy on Rannoch Moor was remote and I managed to avoid the worst of the midges!

Day 2 was glorious with some of the best weather I could have hoped for. With 190 km to push on the second day, I knew it was going to be tough, but there was less climbing than day 1 and the going was generally easier. I got into a good rhythm and plugged away with a couple of stops as we re-entered civilisation at Killin and Aberfoyle. Then it was head down and push for the finish. The beer in Glasgow tasted great!

So all in all an awesome couple of days and definitely whetted my appetite for more of the same! Watch this space...!

Mike Jeavons