Moffat Toffee Audax: Hard to swallow

Audax events are a traditional part of the cycling calendar, they are more relaxed, cheaper and less glamourous than their more prominent cousin, the Sportive. Next weekend Graham Foster and Stuart Andrew ride the "Scone the flat way" Audax and last weekend Neil Fraser completed the Moffat Toffee event.

The Moffat Toffee is a 200km audax that starts and finished in Galashiels. The route went Gala - Innerleithen - St Mary's Loch - Talla - Beeftub - Moffat - St Mary's Loch - Berry Bush - Hawick - Melrose - Gala.

It's a lovely route normally - good roads, some stiff climbs and some ace cafes! For the last few years this event has had really good weather, but the luck ran out yesterday. Started off fair, with just a wee shower of rain going over Talla. We'd all dried off by the time we got to Moffat and when we went into the cafe I was optimistic about some sunshine for the afternoon. Wrong! When we came out the rain was bouncing off the pavement. The temperature dropped as the day went on and I was wet through and freezing by the finish. A tough day out but as usual with audaxes the good company on the road made the day worthwhile.