Cycle Cuba 2020, Selection Weekend

The Cycle Cuba 2020 expedition has been in the pipeline for several months. The idea came about when two pupils came to me asking to do a cycling expedition to the Italian Dolomites. During our planning, the expedition became a really interesting undertaking in a culturally fascinating country, through beautiful landscape.

Before pupils commit to a major Outdoor Education expedition, we hold a 'selection weekend'. The purpose of these are to explore with pupils whether this is the right expedition for them (do they enjoy the activity and how do they work as a team) and in what ways their expedition plan needs to be adjusted. So as to see the group come together as a team and deal with the obstacles that all expeditions encounter, environmental and social pressures are part of the selection weekend. 

The group started straight after school on Friday. The rain was torrential and it wasn't due to 'let up'. They changed into their cycling gear and discovered that they were to get on their bikes from school. They learned that their tents were pitched in a campsite near Drymen and they were to see how far they could get on the National Cycle Route. The group did a fantastic job of keeping in their team and navigating. Despite the forecast doing exactly what it said and resisting the school support vehicle must have been an extremely tempting alternative, the team managed a whopping 49km to their campsites. A very soggy campsite, lots of equally sodden West Highland Way walkers and hot pasta awaited them.

In the morning the team decided how far they thought they could cycle: Killin, just shy of 70km north on the cycle route.

So, off they set. Known as the 'Pipe Road' by road bikers (of which this area is a cycling mecca), this takes in a couple of hundred metres of climbing and some lovely riding and views

The group had a range of bikes amongst them, and their performance was gauged with respect to this. As is so often the case, my respect for our Outdoor Ed'ers evolves: Kenneth's fitness was remarkable over the weekend. His ability to cruise along with the road bikes really was a delight to see!

Some of the team enjoyed a bit of playing about in the water on our now underwater National Cycle route in Aberfoyle!

Elliot and Kenneth make the most of the picnic table!

The second big hill of the day was the 'Duke's Pass' which climbs another few hundred metres. This is the halfway stop at David Marshall Lodge where the team took a breather. They did really well on this hill to set the right pace. Having ascended the road, they then descended the forestry tracks on the other side.

Mechanical scenarios engineered by me were not required on this trip: they happened organically! Here, Youcef and the team try to sort his bike out after two spokes snapped in quick succession and buckled the wheel. They didn't get very far....but then neither did the bike shop. Luckily for Youcef (a lot less so for me) he fits my bike.

The team picked up their pace and made good time through Balquidder, Strathyre, Lochearnhead and Glen Ogle). So keen were they to clock up the miles, that they opted to cycle to the end of Glen Lochay, adding another 20km or so and, once again, in the tipping rain.

 Breakfast bar open!

The team broke camp again with the weather a little brighter on Sunday morning.

 On the final morning the team decide they can get to Aberfeldy.

And they did. It's a very undulating road and they clocked a further 46km. 

In total, the team managed over 180km during the weekend. Although this may have been less than they expected, it's important to take in to account the range of fitness, wellness and equipment amongst the team. Some of the group abandoned the weekend  because they weren't well and others realised that, perhaps, multiple days of cycling wasn't their idea of a holiday. What I can say without reserve, and I believe they can too, is that they know themselves a little more; they know what sort of support they can give and receive in their group and what a powerful impact that this can have. 

We now also know that our Cycle Cuba 2020 expedition will not be taking place. We simply didn't have enough people who were ready for that trip. What we do have in place is a February 2020 Cycle Mallorca trip. And that looks amazing.

Congratulations to the group for their fantastic efforts over the weekend. I hope they have now dried out and are feeling a good post-exercise ache rather than outright soreness!