If my memory serves me correctly, Dave LLoyd had just won the Circuit of the Dales (again)in April 1982 when news came through that the Argentines had invaded the Falkland Islands. The Falkland Islands? How the F**K did our combined armed forces (extensive back then) miss an invasion by sea of some island just off Scotland? Its like 1066 all over again...Of course, as any idiot knows by now Las Malvinas are of course over 8000 miles away. I mean, who would sail half way around the world for some rocks? Oh yes.We did.
It was much the same when the Ullapool Sportive was raised as a season ender. All day to get there on the friday plus 2 nights in a hotel. All that effort just to go to Merseyside? Anyway, as any idiot knows its in the north of scotland. Almost the north pole. And it looks a real blast.
So who is joining the party? Who is going to celebrate the end of the season in style with a two night break (just think of that...) with a 130mile ride on the sat (i think, who cares? just pedal) followed by the night to end all nights on the saturday night...Haggis, kilts, ginger wigs and tam o shanters, booze, returning the favour the scots did to us at Wembley in 77 (?) when they snapped our goalposts and of course more recently when they urinated all over Manchester and caused a riot(come to think of it - good work). Its all happening at the Caledonian Hotel, Ullapool…
Cacophany and el cid for more details....fun awaits you.