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Edinburgh Century Challenge - On The Road - Sunday Herald

'On the Road

Why travel by tractor when you can drive a Ferrari? Richard Moore discovers why people are giving up mountain biking in favour of its road-based relation.

For more than 15 years, ever since the American Gary Fisher introduced the radical new concept of the mountain bike to the world, the humble road machine has lived very much in the shadow of its knobbly-tyred cousin. But in the last couple of years, that trend has been bucked with road bikes, particularly those at the higher end of the market, making a spectacular comeback.

Admittedly the comeback looks all the more impressive when you see the jagged lines of a sales graph because sales of road bikes were virtually zero just a few years ago, and certainly shops still sell more off-road bikes, but the gap is narrowing. Perhaps it is because people have realised that their mountain bikes, bought in good faith and with such admirable intentions, haven't actually seen too many mountains. Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. Or maybe not. Road cycling has always had a dedicated following with many attracted by the glamour of racing. But now there are an increasing number of non-competitive road rides, aimed at the many thousands who like a physical challenge without the competitive edge, and enjoy the camaraderie and the experience of riding in a group.

Today, for example, a group of 15 cyclists are tackling the Edinburgh Bicycle Century Challenge ride, over one hundred miles of quiet Perthshire roads, the fourth and final such ride in their popular series. Then, on September 17, there is the second annual Pedal for Scotland event, a 50-mile mass participation ride between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Both rides offer full mechanical back-up, while the Bike Bus, which operates all year-round, transports the Century Challenge riders to Killin and home from Blairgowrie.

If there is a typical participant in these types of events, then Scott Christie is perhaps as good an example as anyone. A 61-year-old retired dentist, Christie, a veteran of six Century Challenges, is unashamedly a roadie through and through and even apologises for going on so much about cycling.

His passion for cycling - 'I'm just totally away with it, its my big obsession' - is all the more intense, because, having come to the sport just 15 years ago, he's got some catching up to do. 'I just started by chance,' he says.

'The place I was working at the time didn't have a bus route, and a patient was selling a bike. I bought that and was instantly hooked. I started upgrading the bike, then got another one.'

As for the Century Rides, Christie is a big fan: 'Its an excellent day out and its very, very well done. Edinburgh Bicycle organises it immaculately. There's always good company; socially its very pleasant. I find that everybody who is a semi-serious cyclist is a nice person nearly always. They're interesting people, outdoors people with a bit of get-up-and-go. That appeals to me, and riding in a group has the advantage of working together. It's faster, more fun and more exciting way of cycling. Having said that, sometimes I like to ride on my own because you can kid yourself that you're going really well.'

Then Christie confirms what you might have suspected; that the competitive urge, on these challenge rides, is difficult to resist.

'It does give you a wee chance to compare yourself against other people,' he admits. 'Its important to me to know I can keep up.' And then there is the obligatory sprint for every 30mph speed limit sign; a tradition faithfully adhered to by groups of road cyclists since time immemorial.

'I suppose there's a wee bit of that, but its more a social thing,' Christie says. Of course if he wanted to race, there would be nothing to stop him, and though Christie initially says he regrets to say he never raced, he acknowledges that he may not have bothered anyway.

'Well, I've always been keen on sport and the outdoors, but who knows? In retrospect I'd have liked to have thought that I might have raced,' he laughs.

'Who knows? Your life changes continuously. The fact I love it now doesn't mean I would have loved it when I was younger.'

Christie owns a mountain bike, currently gathering dust in the garage, but the allure of the road is more powerful. As so many others frustrated by the physical effort of riding off-road have discovered, road cycling appeals for very simple reasons.

'For a start,' says Christie, 'I love road bikes the lightness of them, the engineering. I keep my good bike absolutely perfect. I just love having a smart road bike. Its something many may not consider when they're seduced by the promised freedom of an off-road adventure; you can go much further, and quicker, on a road bike.'

Take for example, the 100-mile Century Rides, or the 50-mile Pedal for Scotland.

' Prior to my first Century Ride my longest ride was 65 miles,' says Christie. 'So I had no idea if I could do it. I managed okay and I got quite a kick out of doing it actually. Its one of those landmark achievements. Once you've cycled for a bit the prospect of doing 100 miles isn't that scary at all.'

Which might be true but, for many more people, the roads are a different matter. Christie is not having any of it: 'I hear that all the time, but I'm not the slightest bit alarmed on the road. I think that the answer is to just do it, ride fairly boldly, don't cower in the gutter. Be positive and go for it.'

'The flip side of the coin, though, is that, while everybody is rushing about like lemmings on the main roads, Scotland has wonderful side roads. In the Borders, for example, or around my home in Fife I can go miles without seeing a car.'

So road bikes are back in business. Andy, who leads Edinburgh Bicycles Century Challenge rides, backs up what Christie says: 'Until recently there was a feeling that road cycling was something from yesteryear, but people are now realising that its a fast, interesting thing to do. You can see some great scenery, without having to look out for the next rock.'

Christie puts it even better: 'Its like the difference between a Ferrari and a tractor. A lot of people buy a mountain bike and then just ride it on the road or on cycle paths. That's a bit like buying a tractor and using it to get to work.'

Richard Moore
Sunday Herald; Wild Weekend
20 August 2000

For further info and booking details, see Century Challenge.

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