Episode 5 The Adventure Show


Episode 5

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Transcript


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Lovely day for a ride!

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Hello and a very warm welcome to The Adventure Show.

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This month, we're at the UK's highest sportive,

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the 3 Pistes,

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and as the name suggests,

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it takes riders through three of the most iconic ski resorts

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in the country - Glenshee, The Lecht

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and then, the sting in the tail,

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finishing right here in the Cairngorms.

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Hello, guys!

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It's a total of 102 miles

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or 165km long and takes in

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the two highest road passes in Scotland.

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There's just about the same amount of climb as three Munros,

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which will be a lot.

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There's over 2,000m of ascent

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and eight long, unremitting climbs.

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-It's a bit of a shocker, this one!

-LAUGHTER

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Technically, this is a sportive, not a race,

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with no prize money at the end,

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but be rest assured, these Lycra-clad heroes

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are absolutely out for the best time.

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You'd be lying if you said you didn't want a good time.

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Everyone wants an amazing time.

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I always try and focus on the cyclist ahead

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and try and catch up with him and then concentrate on the next one.

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Also in this month's Adventure Show,

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we have an exclusive report from Nepal

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after the devastating earthquakes earlier in the year.

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We follow Fife man James Lamb

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as he returns to the hill village of Phortse

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and discovers that five months later,

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no outside aid has reached these mountain communities.

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There's an elderly guy who's living in a tent on his own

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and he can barely, barely walk.

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Winter's not that far away.

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But first, to the 3 Pistes Sportive.

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This is the final climb of the event up into Cairngorm.

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I've done this a couple of times before and it is a monster,

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so, no, I couldn't be persuaded to take part in the event.

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Deziree Wilson, however, will be the Adventure Show guinea pig

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and she'll be tackling the gruelling ascent into Glenshee

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and we'll see how she gets on later in the programme.

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Right now, though, there are some pretty nervous bikers

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way back at the start in Pitlochry.

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The biggest fear for them

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is actually at The Lecht, going up the big, steep wall,

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because if that's wet and they stop,

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they're not going to get started again.

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It is going to be walking up the hill.

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Are you ready for a good bike ride, lads?

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-Absolutely.

-There we go.

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LAUGHTER

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Over 900 people have signed up

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for what's one of Britain's most prestigious sportives

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and, as usual for this kind of event, it's a staggered start.

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Cyclists can set off any time between 7 and 9am.

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Good luck, boys!

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As ever, tactics are vital.

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Some of the faster riders are playing a waiting game.

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Why? Because later, the weather's forecast to get better.

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Right now, it's raining down here in Pitlochry

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and it's much, much colder higher up.

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This is what Scotland is about.

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LAUGHTER

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I hope we'll be able to see the actual Lecht path.

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You know, the bit where it goes, like, "Whoo! 20%!"

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I camped last night in a tent so I'm absolutely knackered.

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Anything that you're feeling a bit nervous about?

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Yeah, snow, ice - things like that.

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It looks like upwards of maybe 100 riders

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looking for the earliest slot possible.

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-ANNOUNCER:

-Five, four, three, two, one -

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have a brilliant ride folks, we'll see you at Cairngorm.

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Enjoy the mountains, enjoy the rain!

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And they're off.

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It looks like a fairly sedate start.

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Because it's such a long ride,

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folks are starting off really quite slowly, actually.

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But make no mistake -

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although this is not supposed to be a race,

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there are some extremely serious riders

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who'll be going flat-out for the best times.

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The event starts here in Pitlochry

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with a 40km ride to the Spittal of Glenshee,

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just to get everyone in the mood.

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Then things get serious,

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with over 600m of climbing to the top of the pass

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at the highest point of the course.

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There's a speedy whizz down to Braemar

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followed by a lung-breaking ascent

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up to The Lecht.

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The bikers then wind their way round to Aviemore

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before that final, brutal climb to the Cairngorm Ski Centre.

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It will take careful pacing, as well as strength and endurance,

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to make it round this course,

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and for slower riders,

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there's the added pressure of the broom wagon,

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sweeping up cyclists who don't make it before the cut-off times.

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So, back to an unseasonable May Saturday

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and the 2015 3 Pistes Sportive.

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There's no warm-up, straight out of the village

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up this very, very long and very cold climb this morning.

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And the other factor is that it's forecast to be very, very windy.

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We're down to about maybe five degrees, rainy and windy.

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A true Scottish cycling challenge today.

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It nearly always snows, rains

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or there's hail in the weather.

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Hail in the wind hurts. It stings your face.

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If it snows...it makes it all the more fun(!)

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How are you getting on?

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-Are you loving the weather?

-Oh, grand(!)

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I did it last year

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so I know what I signed up for.

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I think it's the greatest sportive

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in Scotland and, well...it's not easy.

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And some people seem to be making it even harder.

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Tim Downie has decided to tackle the route on an ElliptiGO -

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a bike that's like a cross trainer on wheels, and one with no saddle.

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Not going fast but we're getting there.

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-Good, you're doing well.

-Thank you.

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A day before the event, he gave us a demonstration of its finer points.

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You never get a sore bottom.

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I'm the one who's always comfortable,

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I can still walk afterwards,

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cos you don't get those kind of wobbly legs when you step off

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cos it's more like a running motion,

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you step off and you just carry on walking normally.

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And in terms of speed and things like that?

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Downhill, I can go quite quickly, but on the flat,

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I'm lucky if I hit about 15mph.

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The aerodynamics are not good. You're standing straight upright.

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I'll be grinding away in bottom gear quite a lot, I should imagine,

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but, yeah, it...it'll be interesting.

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Tim's not the only person tackling this event in a different way.

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Sean Stone and his partner Laura Anderson

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are doing it on a tandem.

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So, the big question is, how many times do they argue?

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-LAUGHTER

-Erm, oh...lots!

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Last weekend I did say to Sean, "Slow down a bit."

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He said, "What's up, what's up?"

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I said, "Nothing, I'm just scared!"

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LAUGHTER

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The tandem is very fast on downhills,

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significantly quicker than ordinary bikes.

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You've got a lot less wind resistance, too.

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It can get past 60mph on downhill. I'll be watching the speed,

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I've got a speedo on the bar so I'll make sure I don't break the speed limit

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going down the far side of The Lecht.

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Obviously you have to trust each other.

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I have to trust Sean more because he has gears and brakes.

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It is quite scary at times.

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-Cheers, guys, see you later.

-See you, bye.

-Enjoy.

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Well, after a staggered start this morning,

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the riders are now really quite spread out

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and the journey so far has been quite undulating,

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lots of lumpy, bumpy roads,

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but we're now at the start of the first really big climb

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up to the top of Glenshee.

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We're nearly at the top.

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I'm not too scared, coming from Switzerland.

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On the other hand, I must say that the way the roads look

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on the images and on the maps I've seen is a little intimidating.

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You know that in Switzerland, we usually go uphill in switchbacks.

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Seems like the Scottish do it differently,

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they just go straight over the hills,

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so I'm not sure how this is going to work out.

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SHE YELLS AND LAUGHS

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So this is a big moment for a lot of these riders

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and they have a good road and the wind's just dropped a little bit.

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As this is a sportive and not a massed start race,

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there's quite a lot of tactics about when to start.

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Do you want to get it over quickly

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or do you wait until the weather clears up?

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-Morning, gentlemen.

-Morning. Gorgeous day for it(!)

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LAUGHTER

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Some happy faces on the climbs.

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Hopefully they'll be like that in another few hours in Aviemore.

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I'm just loving this hill.

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LAUGHTER

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-You have to get out of the saddle for the camera.

-Oh, yeah...(!)

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We're about an hour and 40 minutes into the event

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and you're beginning to work out yourself

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whether you've got enough fuel in the tank to finish it

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and you can see it's cold.

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A cold breath there

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and as we're up coming up towards Glenshee,

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it must be about two or three degrees.

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Whose idea was this?

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Good. First big climb's almost over.

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I'm now at the feed station at Glenshee

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and some people are taking quite a long break here,

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having a lot to eat and drink,

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and others are just literally in and out in a few seconds.

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I've got a mouthful of pretzels,

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which are the best things you can ever have in a sportive,

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apart from cheese sandwiches.

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First sportive, so I'm definitely going to finish it

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but, yeah, yeah, I need to keep the hands moving.

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How are you going to warm up before you sit down?

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Well, I just do lots of arm movement, you know -

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I look like a giant flappy bird.

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I'm hoping that the broom wagon is still a distant nightmare.

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Hasn't caught up yet, so I'm happy.

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Not quite singing, but I'm getting there.

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So after the grind of the uphill,

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this is where the riders can really let go.

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Some of them will touch 60kmph or 60mph going down here,

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with only two small pieces of rubber between them and the road.

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It just makes you feel alive, really.

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It just...the hairs...

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You feel the speed

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and I think it's probably the one thing I always check

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on my Strava is, like, "Oh, how fast did I go when I went downhill?"

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Now the leading riders have made it over that herculean first climb

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whilst others are still struggling on the way up.

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Yesterday, Deziree "volunteered" to see what all the fuss was about.

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Let's see how she got on, shall we?

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Being a spectator is all well and good,

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but I usually find that I'm itching to actually just give things

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a bit of a go myself.

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I'm quite keen to see what's involved

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in tackling one of the bigger ascents on this route

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and I'm going to do it for real,

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so I'm going to get timed from the Spittal of Glenshee

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up to the summit and I'm going to see how long it takes me.

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So, give us a countdown, Mark.

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OK, are you ready? Three, two, one.

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-OK.

-Go!

-Here goes nothing.

-And good luck.

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Just a few wee potholes around

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that I need to try and make sure that I'm avoiding

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with these skinny tyres.

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The bike does feel super-lovely to ride,

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it's just really light.

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I'm just struggling to try and remember how to work these gears.

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Now, I have to confess, I was quite nervous about this

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because I've only ridden a road bike once before,

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so before setting off,

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I thought I'd better get some handy hints and tips.

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-So, Kevin what do I need to know?

-The main thing you'll notice

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is that the tyres are a lot skinnier and the terrain you're riding on

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is road, not off-road,

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so the gearing on the bikes are different

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cos you've obviously got a lot more traction

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than on a mountain bike.

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You'll find yourself standing up on a road bike quite a lot more

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and brake-wise, brakes on road bikes

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are a lot less powerful than mountain bikes,

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cos they're not discs, so when you pull that brake on,

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it's a bit different to mountain biking.

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The time that I did try a road bike, I just found it really uncomfortable

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and I don't know whether that's because of the saddle

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or the positioning of it,

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so am I going to feel that way again?

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Everyone, we size them up, we don't just plonk them on the bike.

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It's one of the biggest mistakes that people can make,

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so I know the frame size right for you.

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I'll adjust the seat height and then I've actually put

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the stem quite high for you because you're new to road biking.

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Let's keep it fair, let's not go too racy too quick,

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and I'm confident we can get you sorted on this in a way that is...

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You're going to be off to the best start of the day.

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'Well, that's me sorted.

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'Now I just have to get up this hill.'

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It'd be good to get a reasonably good time

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so that I don't feel completely useless.

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It's absolutely beautiful round here, I have to say,

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as long as you can remember to keep looking up from your bike

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and from the road.

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Oh...

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Oh, it's still ages away.

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Come on, Deziree.

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I'm cycling right into a headwind.

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It's amazingly deceptive

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how steep this hill actually is to ride up

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because it doesn't look it at all.

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Oh, starting to feel like quite hard work now.

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Oh...out the saddle.

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That feels better.

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I don't think I'm going to be winning any prizes

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for fastest time any time soon.

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Come on, summit, where are you?

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Looks like it's about to get really steep.

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I'm hoping that that's a call up there.

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Oh, great - a nice, stiff headwind. Excellent(!)

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At least it's cooling my face down a bit.

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Is this the top, yeah?

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Oh...

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Nae bother. Oh...

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-33 minutes.

-Oh, no, really?

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I said to myself if I could do it in under half an hour,

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I'd be really pleased.

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33 minutes, dammit.

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-I wanted to do it in less than half an hour.

-I know.

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-Go and try again!

-LAUGHTER

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From the challenge of the 3 Pistes,

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we're heading east to the Himalayas and Nepal.

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Earlier this year, we followed James Lamb from Fife

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who was campaigning for better conditions for Sherpas

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in the mountain village of Phortse.

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He'd formed a charity, the Little Sherpa Foundation,

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with a local monk, Tashi Lama,

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but at the very end of our visit,

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the first of two devastating earthquakes struck the country.

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Five months later, he discovers that none of the aid sent to Nepal

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has reached the people of the Everest National Park.

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Cameron McNeish takes up the story.

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When James Lamb was here in April,

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no-one could have known what was about to happen.

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The two earthquakes made major headlines around the world.

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Since then, Nepal's faded from the news,

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but for the people here, the problems still continue.

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James has now returned to the Himalayas.

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The day of the second earthquake

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I received numerous e-mails, messages, texts.

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Worst of all was phone calls from Tashi Lama.

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Everyone telling me how devastating it was.

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and I can remember Tashi's message to me was,

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"All of our people are running,

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"crying - all they do is run and cry."

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I remember not sleeping,

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I remember lots of e-mails and messages, all bad.

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It's an emotional return for James

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and a 30-minute flight from Kathmandu to Lukla

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reunites him with his two great friends,

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Tashi Lama and Pemba Rita.

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How are you? It's so good to see you.

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Those who experienced the horrendous earthquakes

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will never forget them.

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I was in Lukla.

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There was the biggest one

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and all the phone line is cut.

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We're very shocked, we're very worried,

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very afraid because my family, my wife's in the village,

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all my kids in Kathmandu, so we don't know what's happened.

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And all night, we couldn't sleep,

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and the next day, there's another big one coming,

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around one o'clock, so all the...

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there's rock falling everywhere.

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It's two-day trek from Lukla to Namche Bazaar,

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the gateway to the high mountains.

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And every step of the way,

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the devastation caused by the earthquakes is obvious.

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I suppose I had anticipated to see some houses...slightly damaged.

0:17:110:17:17

I think that's what I was expecting,

0:17:170:17:20

and yet the very first house that we came to was demolished.

0:17:200:17:23

It just slipped down into the valley.

0:17:230:17:26

In this area, of course, insurance is just an alien concept,

0:17:270:17:31

they simply can't afford it,

0:17:310:17:33

so they just have to dust themselves down and rebuild,

0:17:330:17:38

which is amazing mental resilience that they have.

0:17:380:17:42

Using basic hand tools, these houses in the Khumbu

0:17:430:17:46

are being rebuilt literally stone by stone,

0:17:460:17:50

but this isn't the only problem facing the people here.

0:17:500:17:54

The economy is heavily dependent on tourism

0:17:540:17:57

and the usual crowds of trekkers are nowhere to be seen.

0:17:570:18:01

If there hadn't been an earthquake, this would've been

0:18:010:18:05

just masses of people, masses of porters

0:18:050:18:08

but the numbers are quite devastating,

0:18:080:18:11

of how few people that there are.

0:18:110:18:14

It's like a completely different area for me.

0:18:140:18:17

So the financial implications are vast for the people in this area.

0:18:170:18:21

I don't know because the media tell about the disaster in Khumbu,

0:18:230:18:28

in Nepal, so we don't have much groups coming in

0:18:280:18:34

so we're sad, because we have no business.

0:18:340:18:37

It's a big problem now.

0:18:390:18:41

When we were here in April,

0:18:450:18:46

you had to dodge people, you had to dodge animals.

0:18:460:18:50

I mean, it's fun, it's part of being in Namche

0:18:500:18:52

and when we went there today, it was just me.

0:18:520:18:56

There was nobody else to avoid and when we came to a shop

0:18:560:19:00

that I was thinking about buying goods at in April,

0:19:000:19:03

it had all shut down.

0:19:030:19:04

It had just gone, just the sign.

0:19:040:19:05

One sign saying, "Sale, 50% off," the other sign saying, "Shut".

0:19:050:19:11

It's not quite a ghost town, but it kind of is.

0:19:110:19:14

Namche Bazaar, it's the richest village in...

0:19:140:19:18

I mean, it's the centre,

0:19:180:19:20

it's the capital of the whole of the Khumbu

0:19:200:19:22

so if they're feeling it as drastic as it is...

0:19:220:19:25

..I'm a bit anxious about what I'm going to see

0:19:270:19:29

when I go further up into Phortse itself.

0:19:290:19:32

The trek from Namche Bazaar to Phortse

0:19:340:19:37

is as fine as any in the Himalayas

0:19:370:19:40

and when he arrives in the village,

0:19:400:19:42

the local people are delighted to see him again.

0:19:420:19:45

There's a simple reason for this -

0:19:450:19:48

Phortse is a village that's been forgotten.

0:19:480:19:51

There have been no film crews here, no reporters, no photographers

0:19:510:19:55

and crucially, no outside aid has got here.

0:19:550:19:58

Predictably, there's been widespread damage,

0:19:590:20:01

but less predictable has been the fortitude and resilience

0:20:010:20:05

of the Sherpa people.

0:20:050:20:07

And that's nowhere more evident

0:20:070:20:09

than with Tashi's 88-year-old grandmother.

0:20:090:20:12

She tells him how she's survived since the earthquakes.

0:20:120:20:16

SHE SPEAKS IN OWN LANGUAGE

0:20:160:20:18

You slept down there?

0:20:180:20:20

Did you just have this over?

0:20:240:20:26

She said three months, she's spent under this tent,

0:20:260:20:30

this is the yak wool blanket.

0:20:300:20:33

She made this little shelter for herself,

0:20:350:20:39

she makes a little shelter there.

0:20:390:20:41

-So she was outside completely for three months?

-Three months.

0:20:410:20:44

-Shows the resilience of the Sherpa people, doesn't she?

-Yeah.

0:20:440:20:48

What I'd like to do is to give to your gran a jumper,

0:20:480:20:51

so she's just about to try on

0:20:510:20:53

my wife's traditional Scottish jumper.

0:20:530:20:57

Ooh - like a tiny baby.

0:20:580:21:01

LAUGHTER

0:21:010:21:02

SHE SPEAKS IN OWN LANGUAGE

0:21:020:21:03

Oh, it's going to be warm.

0:21:030:21:05

She said keep really warm.

0:21:050:21:07

She's looking forward to winter.

0:21:080:21:10

LAUGHTER

0:21:100:21:11

Is she just keeping it on? Oh wonderful, wonderful.

0:21:150:21:17

Later in the programme, we'll be back in Phortse

0:21:190:21:22

to see how the generosity and support

0:21:220:21:24

of folk throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK

0:21:240:21:27

will help local people survive the harsh Himalayan winter.

0:21:270:21:32

Hopefully it's all going to be worthwhile

0:21:320:21:35

and the next week, hopefully, will be one of the best weeks

0:21:350:21:38

of my whole entire life.

0:21:380:21:39

Walk in the park.

0:21:510:21:53

Welcome back to the 3 Pistes Sportive.

0:21:530:21:55

Now, the riders are getting well and truly stuck into this event

0:21:550:21:58

and Duncan McCallum's out on the course

0:21:580:22:00

right in the heart of the action.

0:22:000:22:02

Morning.

0:22:020:22:03

One of the secrets about riding such a very, very long race

0:22:030:22:07

is keeping yourself fuelled, get the energy levels level

0:22:070:22:12

for as much of the day as you can,

0:22:120:22:14

so you might be eating every 30 or 40 minutes,

0:22:140:22:17

taking gels, small bars.

0:22:170:22:19

It's always hard to eat when you're on the move,

0:22:200:22:22

but you have to do that over this 102 miles, nearly 2,000m.

0:22:220:22:29

I've decided this time I'm just going to stop at every opportunity,

0:22:310:22:34

at every feed station there is

0:22:340:22:35

and just take time and not push myself too hard

0:22:350:22:39

and just take it easy, stop every time I can

0:22:390:22:42

for at least 10 to 15 minutes.

0:22:420:22:43

When I first started cycling, I just had the water,

0:22:450:22:47

but my dad's a big cyclist.

0:22:470:22:49

He was, you know, "Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition."

0:22:490:22:51

And I just... Every half an hour, I eat something -

0:22:510:22:55

gels, bananas, bars, chocolate, whatever -

0:22:550:22:57

and it really, really helps.

0:22:570:22:59

You know, it's all down to fuelling, for sure, definitely.

0:22:590:23:04

And Siobhan Prise from Aberdeen is having a great day.

0:23:040:23:07

Everyone knows this is not a race, but each rider's time is monitored

0:23:070:23:12

and a results list at the end reflects who is fastest.

0:23:120:23:15

Right now, Siobhan is the quickest woman on the course.

0:23:150:23:20

There's a group of us, Sunday Kintore Cycles.

0:23:200:23:23

You know, cycling with a bunch of guys

0:23:230:23:25

really, really helps with strength and pulling you along

0:23:250:23:28

so my strength is getting a bit better,

0:23:280:23:31

but it never gets any easier, it's so tough.

0:23:310:23:34

Currently in second place is Shana Young.

0:23:340:23:37

Originally from Michigan in the States,

0:23:370:23:39

Shana's lived in Scotland for the last 14 years

0:23:390:23:43

and says the cycling here is fantastic.

0:23:430:23:46

In America, especially where I'm from,

0:23:460:23:48

everything's flat and it's a grid,

0:23:480:23:50

you know - you go left, right, straight, nice road.

0:23:500:23:53

Here, every hill is kind of an unexpected turn

0:23:530:23:57

and gorgeous scenery.

0:23:570:23:59

You start exploring all these roads,

0:23:590:24:01

these different passageways to different places

0:24:010:24:03

and you keep thinking, "Well, which way does this one take me?

0:24:030:24:06

"Which way does that one go?"

0:24:060:24:08

And all of you sudden,

0:24:080:24:09

your 20-mile cycle turns into 40,

0:24:090:24:11

turns into 60, turns into 80,

0:24:110:24:13

turns into 100 and you end up signing up

0:24:130:24:15

for challenges like the 3 Pistes.

0:24:150:24:17

The 3 Pistes is not only the highest sportive in Britain -

0:24:190:24:22

it must be the most spectacular.

0:24:220:24:25

You just get lost in the scenery,

0:24:250:24:27

you just get lost in what you're doing.

0:24:270:24:29

Quite often, you can forget 20 miles,

0:24:290:24:31

often you've reached a point, you wonder what you've been doing

0:24:310:24:34

for the last 20 miles when it's like that.

0:24:340:24:36

I mean, I've done one into Edinburgh

0:24:380:24:40

and the scenery down south doesn't...

0:24:400:24:42

Nowhere comes close to up here. It's spectacular,

0:24:420:24:45

it's absolutely spectacular, especially this one.

0:24:450:24:47

It focuses you, to a certain extent.

0:24:470:24:49

Takes your mind off the... certainly off the pain.

0:24:490:24:52

That makes it worthwhile.

0:24:520:24:53

The hardest climb now lies ahead -

0:24:530:24:56

the notorious, unremitting grind up The Lecht.

0:24:560:25:00

Well done, guys, how's it going?

0:25:000:25:02

Some riders will be tempted to fuel up before then

0:25:020:25:05

and fortunately, there's a convenient cafe and feed station at Corgarff.

0:25:050:25:09

There was a sort of nasty sign further back

0:25:090:25:11

-saying, "You're not even halfway yet," so...

-Oh, that's cruel!

0:25:110:25:14

But I think maybe as you passed that sign, that was you at halfway

0:25:140:25:17

so it's maybe a bit...someone's sense of humour,

0:25:170:25:19

but no, it's all good fun.

0:25:190:25:20

It's going really well, it's nice that the rain's stopped, obviously,

0:25:200:25:24

and I've had one puncture,

0:25:240:25:25

but Alistair here, my new friend, from...we just met cycling away,

0:25:250:25:30

very kindly stopped to help as well, so that was nice.

0:25:300:25:33

I'm tired.

0:25:330:25:34

It's a lot of hills, but I've got somebody to keep me company,

0:25:340:25:38

so yeah, it's nice.

0:25:380:25:39

Have you done much training for this?

0:25:390:25:40

Eh, clearly not enough!

0:25:400:25:42

LAUGHTER

0:25:420:25:43

-Do you guys know this circuit anyway?

-No, no, no.

0:25:430:25:45

I've done part of it but not... I've never been up The Lecht.

0:25:450:25:48

For good reason!

0:25:480:25:50

It's going to be an experience.

0:25:500:25:51

So we are 105km into the sportive

0:25:540:25:59

and this is the second big climb, by far the steepest of the route.

0:25:590:26:04

Alan Dobbie, number 613, has pushed out in front.

0:26:050:26:09

It's a fine effort and much, much, much more difficult to cycle

0:26:090:26:14

this sort of thing on your own.

0:26:140:26:16

You get a 15-20% drafting effect

0:26:160:26:21

if you're cycling with a group of people,

0:26:210:26:24

but if you're on your own, it's harder.

0:26:240:26:27

Alan was in the first group to set off this morning

0:26:270:26:30

and joined by our cycling cameraman,

0:26:300:26:32

he's reached The Lecht summit in great time.

0:26:320:26:35

In fact, he's arrived before the feed station is properly open.

0:26:350:26:39

I was after some more High5 or something to put in my water.

0:26:390:26:43

I need some.

0:26:430:26:44

Are you worried about cramp?

0:26:440:26:46

Yeah, I had really debilitating cramp last time.

0:26:460:26:50

Uh..and I couldn't do anything about it -

0:26:500:26:54

outside, front, sides of thighs, calves.

0:26:540:26:57

It was much hotter last year. Anyway, cheers.

0:26:570:27:00

As Alan Dobbie from Edinburgh heads down the other side

0:27:010:27:04

and onwards towards Cairngorm,

0:27:040:27:06

others are still pushing up this seemingly endless hill.

0:27:060:27:10

Once you crest that first hill after the switchback

0:27:100:27:12

and then you've got a small downhill

0:27:120:27:14

and you can just see the hill in front of you,

0:27:140:27:16

that's always quite punishing.

0:27:160:27:19

It's pretty full-on in the best weather

0:27:190:27:22

but just trying to get through

0:27:220:27:23

before the wind picks up from the west

0:27:230:27:26

and that'll be pretty grim in the last bit of the day.

0:27:260:27:32

I enjoy going up the hills - once you've got an end in sight and you can just kind of plug away,

0:27:320:27:36

and get to the top, there's a bit of achievement.

0:27:360:27:38

Sometimes the flats are the harder bits for me

0:27:380:27:40

cos you're just, you know, there's nothing so much to aim for.

0:27:400:27:43

I suppose I quite enjoy the climbing.

0:27:430:27:47

You cannot sit on the seat - you need to stand on the pedals

0:27:470:27:50

and when you do that, you've got the feeling

0:27:500:27:52

that you can touch the road with your hand,

0:27:520:27:55

just when you put it forward, it's so steep.

0:27:550:27:58

You need to just squeeze your teeth and that's it,

0:27:580:28:02

but the best solution is to squeeze your teeth

0:28:020:28:04

and just think of things you like and forget that it's so steep.

0:28:040:28:09

Several people have told me

0:28:090:28:10

that my cassette at the back is just not suited for...

0:28:100:28:14

Don't get me wrong, I don't think I'd get up it anyway,

0:28:140:28:17

but I just don't know.

0:28:170:28:18

I pass guys on hills who are spinning.

0:28:180:28:21

You can see now the difference of gear choice here.

0:28:210:28:25

Some people running compact cassettes.

0:28:250:28:27

That means that the gearing on your front ring is much, much smaller.

0:28:270:28:32

It means your feet and legs rotate far quicker.

0:28:320:28:37

It's far more efficient on the climbs

0:28:370:28:39

but it's a lot less efficient on the flats,

0:28:390:28:42

so, yeah, you want a small ring on this and a compact cassette.

0:28:420:28:47

It makes all the difference to good, efficient climbing.

0:28:490:28:53

The gearing has moved on massively, even in the last probably ten years.

0:28:530:28:57

I feel I've cheated in a way.

0:28:570:29:00

It used to be it was the hard man thing,

0:29:000:29:02

you'd use a 23, 24 in the back, but luckily those days are gone.

0:29:020:29:07

The pros started using them - I probably shouldn't say...

0:29:070:29:11

I had 32 teeth in the back

0:29:110:29:12

and it just makes a huge difference, you know?

0:29:120:29:14

You're sitting in a saddle and just out for short bursts.

0:29:140:29:18

It's out the saddle that destroys you.

0:29:180:29:21

This event's staggered start

0:29:210:29:23

means the fastest riders are not necessarily the first up this hill.

0:29:230:29:28

Lindsay McCrae from Inverness was one of the late starters,

0:29:280:29:31

but he's been eating up the miles

0:29:310:29:33

and currently, we estimate he's the quickest man on the course.

0:29:330:29:37

The field is reasonably competitive

0:29:370:29:39

cos it's one of the bigger sportives.

0:29:390:29:44

You could be starting half an hour before

0:29:440:29:46

or half an hour after the other people

0:29:460:29:48

who are going to be fast also,

0:29:480:29:50

so you have no idea on the road

0:29:500:29:52

where you are in terms of the overall field.

0:29:520:29:55

So you're constantly catching people and passing people

0:29:550:29:59

but not knowing if they set off half an hour, or an hour, before you

0:29:590:30:03

or two minutes before you.

0:30:030:30:04

So psychologically, it's quite difficult in some ways.

0:30:040:30:07

In other ways, if you start off possibly in the latter half,

0:30:070:30:11

you've always got people ahead of you so you can chase them down

0:30:110:30:14

and it's almost motivation to get the next one and then keep going.

0:30:140:30:19

See who the next one is.

0:30:190:30:21

Ultimately, you may have started at different times

0:30:210:30:25

but you will try to beat them across the line if you can.

0:30:250:30:28

It might be totally pointless

0:30:280:30:30

because you're half an hour difference in start times

0:30:300:30:32

but there's that psychological element also.

0:30:320:30:35

Another late starter is Donatos Markevicius.

0:30:350:30:38

Originally from Lithuania,

0:30:380:30:40

he's lived in Pitlochry for the last five years.

0:30:400:30:43

He's also having a tremendous 3 Pistes.

0:30:430:30:46

I never knew there was an event like this in Pitlochry.

0:30:460:30:50

Once I seen the climbing I really wanted to do that,

0:30:500:30:55

something challenging I never did before.

0:30:550:30:58

Then I saw on the website, I was actually really kind of scared

0:30:580:31:04

to get the climbs like this but there was a few guys from my club

0:31:040:31:08

that were actually stronger than me so it just pushed me to the top.

0:31:080:31:12

Meanwhile, Siobhan Prise, who set off at 7am,

0:31:120:31:15

is almost at the top of the climb up The Lecht

0:31:150:31:18

and she's still in the lead for the women.

0:31:180:31:21

I did this race last year and it killed me,

0:31:210:31:23

but it's just beautiful, it's so nice,

0:31:230:31:25

it's just such a beautiful route, isn't it?

0:31:250:31:27

And The Lecht is a pretty steep climb, how was that?

0:31:270:31:30

Yeah, 20%! 20%!

0:31:300:31:32

You have kind of a fast bit down

0:31:320:31:34

and then you just have to make sure you get into the right gear

0:31:340:31:37

and you're not beside anyone to get up that 20%.

0:31:370:31:40

I mean, I found it...

0:31:400:31:41

I've been working a lot on my hills recently

0:31:410:31:43

but it never gets any easier.

0:31:430:31:45

So a little breather before the summit call here.

0:31:470:31:51

Just let your legs spin out a bit, get rid of the lactic for a while.

0:31:510:31:55

So she's nicely tucked in,

0:31:580:31:59

just wanting to spin some of the cramp out of the legs.

0:31:590:32:03

A tiny little push up to the summit.

0:32:050:32:07

So that was a nice little recovery after that very steep climb,

0:32:070:32:10

obviously gaining...efficiency

0:32:100:32:15

back into her legs very quickly after that tough climb.

0:32:150:32:18

The reward is now in sight -

0:32:190:32:21

a long, swooping, steep and fast descent down the other side.

0:32:210:32:25

For most, it's a welcome relief.

0:32:250:32:28

I love hills, especially going down hills,

0:32:280:32:31

it's just the best ever

0:32:310:32:33

and you always forget about whatever it is that's bothering you.

0:32:330:32:36

I used to be fit in the past, before I had this one,

0:32:380:32:41

and I would have been thinking about, you know,

0:32:410:32:43

what time I could do

0:32:430:32:44

and which boys I could beat

0:32:440:32:46

but now, literally, this is the first thing I'll ever have done

0:32:460:32:49

where I really, really don't know if I can finish it.

0:32:490:32:51

But that's actually quite exciting, just to know if I can complete.

0:32:510:32:56

I'm not the world's fastest climber. I'm pretty good on the descent

0:32:560:32:59

but I'm going to try not to kill myself in your nice country.

0:32:590:33:02

Everybody has their own tolerance and that's what's interesting

0:33:020:33:04

is that I always feel that I'm safe

0:33:040:33:06

but I'm sometimes faster than other people.

0:33:060:33:08

And there's people who I think are crazy

0:33:080:33:10

and they probably think they're safe,

0:33:100:33:12

so...it's very personal.

0:33:120:33:15

It's very personal but...you know, I'm not 21 any more

0:33:150:33:18

and I have kids and I want to make sure that I go home from Scotland,

0:33:180:33:22

so I think...I'm not going to push it too much.

0:33:220:33:26

The cyclists are well into their ride,

0:33:260:33:28

with much of the ascent behind them, but there's just that small matter

0:33:280:33:32

of the final climb up into Cairngorm.

0:33:320:33:35

It really has a fearsome reputation,

0:33:350:33:38

but just how tough will it be with over 90 miles on their legs?

0:33:380:33:41

We'll find out later in the programme.

0:33:410:33:44

Right now, we're returning to the Nepalese village of Phortse,

0:33:540:33:57

high up in the Everest National Park.

0:33:570:34:00

Cameron McNeish follows Fife man James Lamb

0:34:000:34:03

as he comes to terms with the damage

0:34:030:34:05

caused by two earthquakes earlier this year.

0:34:050:34:09

I think, five months on,

0:34:090:34:11

I thought Phortse would be in an awful lot better state than it is.

0:34:110:34:16

I mean, Tashi told me that some places were destroyed

0:34:160:34:18

so I was ready for that,

0:34:180:34:21

but half the buildings...

0:34:210:34:23

It's a huge number of people.

0:34:240:34:25

It is distressing, it's quite disturbing.

0:34:270:34:29

Since the earthquakes, the community of Phortse

0:34:310:34:34

has received no outside help,

0:34:340:34:36

yet James discovers that in the face of enormous adversity,

0:34:360:34:40

the villagers won't be beaten.

0:34:400:34:43

Eight people in the family

0:34:430:34:45

that would normally be living in the house that we're looking at.

0:34:450:34:49

It's obviously been almost completely destroyed

0:34:490:34:52

in the earthquake.

0:34:520:34:54

There's three tents that are accommodating them

0:34:540:34:58

and have done for the last five months.

0:34:580:35:01

There's an elderly guy who's living in a tent on his own.

0:35:010:35:05

He can barely, barely walk

0:35:050:35:08

and the fact that we're in October already...

0:35:080:35:11

Winter's not that far away.

0:35:110:35:14

When James last came here, he met Ang Shering.

0:35:140:35:17

Once he was a high-altitude porter, but after an accident,

0:35:170:35:22

now uses his yaks to move goods up and down the valley.

0:35:220:35:26

On his earlier visit,

0:35:260:35:28

James spoke to him about the dangers of high-altitude work.

0:35:280:35:31

They met in the upstairs room of his traditional Sherpa home.

0:35:310:35:35

HE SPEAKS IN OWN LANGUAGE

0:35:350:35:38

-TRANSLATOR:

-He thinks it's very dangerous,

0:35:380:35:40

but the main income source is climbing Everest.

0:35:400:35:43

That's why people keep going back. He does not want to go back again.

0:35:430:35:48

Now Ang Shering's house is largely destroyed.

0:35:480:35:52

The ground floor is all that's left.

0:35:520:35:54

For the last five months, he's slept in an old tent outside.

0:35:540:35:59

What's left of the house is in a dangerous condition -

0:35:590:36:02

even the makeshift kitchen has had to be dug out of the rubble.

0:36:020:36:07

HE SPEAKS IN OWN LANGUAGE

0:36:070:36:09

-TRANSLATOR:

-It was totally blocked downstairs

0:36:090:36:13

before he can manage this place

0:36:130:36:17

and he cleared all the rocks

0:36:170:36:19

and took all the wood and dirt

0:36:190:36:23

and he can manage to set up this little kitchen for himself.

0:36:230:36:28

If your house was completely destroyed, you received 50,

0:36:300:36:34

and if it was partially damaged, you received 30.

0:36:340:36:38

When we were chatting, he told me that he'd had builders in

0:36:380:36:41

and the estimate is 5,000 to fix the outside of the house

0:36:410:36:46

and 4,000 to fix the inside.

0:36:460:36:49

I did ask him, "So what are your plans for winter?"

0:36:490:36:52

And he just shook his head and he said,

0:36:520:36:54

"I'll be living in the tent, I don't have any option."

0:36:540:36:57

Earlier this year, James formed a charity,

0:36:590:37:01

the Little Sherpa Foundation, with a local monk, Tashi Lama.

0:37:010:37:06

Its original aim was to support families of high-altitude Sherpas

0:37:060:37:10

who had been killed in the mountains.

0:37:100:37:12

Now, it's expanded to assist those villagers caught up in the disaster.

0:37:120:37:17

On this trip, James has brought money, clothing, tents and equipment

0:37:180:37:23

to help as many people as possible.

0:37:230:37:26

After the earthquake,

0:37:260:37:28

our house was in a critical state.

0:37:280:37:29

If we stayed there, it will be like our life in danger,

0:37:290:37:32

so my father and my brother helped

0:37:320:37:36

to build this small temporary house here and we are living here.

0:37:360:37:40

We feel more safe.

0:37:400:37:42

We make a fire here and cook here.

0:37:420:37:46

So this is a drum of water

0:37:460:37:48

and we have put in all the necessary things for cooking here.

0:37:480:37:54

And me and my parents sleep here - these are three beds for we three.

0:37:540:38:02

Sonam is a teacher in the village school

0:38:020:38:04

and she's witnessed the profound effect

0:38:040:38:07

the earthquakes have had on everyone in Phortse, especially the children.

0:38:070:38:12

Everyone was frightened and they were shouting.

0:38:120:38:16

The houses were, like, collapsing.

0:38:160:38:19

We just thought we won't live any more.

0:38:190:38:22

All the children, they want to run out of the classroom

0:38:220:38:26

and I stopped them and tried to convince them.

0:38:260:38:32

Later on, we slowly walked out of the school

0:38:320:38:36

and we stayed for an hour on the ground.

0:38:360:38:42

James is a former teacher

0:38:420:38:43

and he's also been working with schoolchildren

0:38:430:38:45

in Freuchie and Falkland.

0:38:450:38:48

What's happened to their counterparts in Phortse

0:38:480:38:50

has struck a chord with them.

0:38:500:38:53

You're just carrying on with your normal life and in Nepal,

0:38:530:38:55

you're getting texts from somebody that's experiencing an earthquake.

0:38:550:38:59

It was really sad to see that they didn't have a home any more

0:38:590:39:04

because they'd all been destroyed in the earthquake.

0:39:040:39:07

We thought it would be nice, not only nice, but better for them

0:39:070:39:12

if we gave them money so that they could rebuild their homes.

0:39:120:39:16

We did a pyjama day and we had to bring a donation.

0:39:160:39:22

-So everybody wore their pyjamas. Teachers?

-Yes.

0:39:220:39:25

Came in with messy hair and we brought in a teddy bear

0:39:250:39:32

and our class sold cakes for the school.

0:39:320:39:35

The best bit was probably feeling like you are raising money

0:39:350:39:38

for the people out in Nepal.

0:39:380:39:41

They need this money

0:39:410:39:42

because their houses have been destroyed and everything.

0:39:420:39:46

These Fife pupils have not only been raising funds for Phortse,

0:39:460:39:51

but also making gifts for the children there.

0:39:510:39:53

They wanted to send everybody at the school a present.

0:39:530:39:56

There's a friendship bracelet for every single person in here

0:39:560:40:02

as well as all the teachers.

0:40:020:40:04

Colours of Nepal, colours of Scotland.

0:40:040:40:07

Some children still dream of the earthquake.

0:40:090:40:12

They are mentally, like, frightened, you know?

0:40:120:40:16

Frightened, and even when strong winds blow,

0:40:160:40:21

they want to run out of the classroom.

0:40:210:40:24

-Has everybody got theirs on?

-CHILDREN: Yes.

0:40:240:40:27

-Excellent, good job.

-CHILDREN: Thank you.

0:40:270:40:30

CLAPPING

0:40:300:40:32

This last year has been a huge learning curve for James Lamb -

0:40:340:40:38

a seemingly endless round of talks, fundraising

0:40:380:40:42

and collecting much-needed tents, sleeping bags and clothing

0:40:420:40:45

to bring out to Nepal.

0:40:450:40:46

But this trip has had its own frustrations.

0:40:480:40:50

The equipment should have arrived almost two weeks ago,

0:40:500:40:54

but got held up by the inevitable bureaucratic delays.

0:40:540:40:59

With just one day left of his visit,

0:40:590:41:01

the consignment finally makes it to the Khumbu

0:41:010:41:04

with Ang Shering in charge of the yak train.

0:41:040:41:07

-Ang Shering, a hero. How are you?

-I'm fine, thanks.

0:41:070:41:13

-How was your trip?

-Good, thanks.

-Aid boxes?

0:41:130:41:15

Next morning, the goods are handed over to the villagers.

0:41:200:41:23

It's an emotional event for everyone.

0:41:230:41:26

-OK, enjoy.

-Thank you.

0:41:260:41:27

Oh, no, you're welcome, you're welcome.

0:41:270:41:29

Those most in need are given money to help them survive

0:41:290:41:32

the harsh Himalayan winter.

0:41:320:41:35

In total, over half the people of Phortse have been helped.

0:41:350:41:38

CLAPPING

0:41:380:41:39

And no-one is more grateful than Ang Shering.

0:41:390:41:42

So I've put up little tents and put up big tents

0:41:420:41:45

but I've never put up a tent

0:41:450:41:47

with somebody who's climbed Everest three times.

0:41:470:41:51

LAUGHTER

0:41:510:41:53

-Ang Shering, where do you want the door?

-This side.

0:41:550:41:58

Door on that side - right, OK.

0:41:580:41:59

HE SPEAKS IN OWN LANGUAGE

0:41:590:42:03

-TRANSLATOR:

-Compared to the other tent where he's sleeping now,

0:42:030:42:07

he thinks this tent is much warmer and will keep him warm

0:42:070:42:12

so he said it's a big difference.

0:42:120:42:14

It feels like home.

0:42:140:42:15

A final present for you, Ang Shering.

0:42:160:42:18

A sleeping bag. I hope it keeps you warm.

0:42:180:42:20

-OK, thank you.

-I think you'll need it in this winter.

0:42:200:42:24

James is also very keen to provide longer-term help to the village.

0:42:240:42:28

Key to that plan is the building of a tea house and meditation centre

0:42:280:42:33

on land that Tashi Lama owns.

0:42:330:42:35

And already, they've had some powerful support.

0:42:350:42:39

Award-winning Scottish architect Murray Kerr

0:42:390:42:42

has agreed to design a building

0:42:420:42:44

that will set new standards in the Himalayas

0:42:440:42:47

and will be earthquake-resistant.

0:42:470:42:49

This whole concept of this building,

0:42:490:42:52

I think, is going to be the way to go, not just for tea houses,

0:42:520:42:54

but just whole buildings up in this area.

0:42:540:42:58

I think this is... Our builders can...

0:42:580:43:01

All the bedrooms and...

0:43:010:43:03

I think, we hope, we can build this.

0:43:050:43:07

Absolutely amazing

0:43:070:43:10

because we've never seen this kind of building before.

0:43:100:43:15

We're all in agreement that these plans are fantastic.

0:43:150:43:19

We want them to happen.

0:43:190:43:20

All we need now is a small matter of the money.

0:43:200:43:24

During the last year, James has met hundreds of people

0:43:240:43:27

who are keen to support the work of the charity.

0:43:270:43:30

No-one is more enthusiastic than Pashupati Bhandari.

0:43:300:43:35

He's one of the UK's leading Nepalese businessman

0:43:350:43:38

and by good luck, he's visiting his family in Kathmandu.

0:43:380:43:42

Tashi Lama and James meet him and ask if he can help.

0:43:420:43:45

I had a look at it, you know, the business plan and everything.

0:43:450:43:48

We need to work out proper costings out.

0:43:480:43:51

I've been talking to Tashi

0:43:510:43:53

about this total cost and everything.

0:43:530:43:56

The cost we still have to get...

0:43:560:43:58

-I mean, we are very much happy to invest up to 60% for now.

-Wow.

0:43:580:44:04

I'm very happy to build a tea house.

0:44:040:44:11

Especially this one.

0:44:110:44:12

Yeah, especially this one, because

0:44:120:44:15

I'm thinking about the tourism.

0:44:150:44:20

Khumbu one of the best

0:44:200:44:22

tourism area in Nepal.

0:44:220:44:24

I'm very much excited, I mean, definitely -

0:44:240:44:27

surely if we work together, we can make this happen quite soon.

0:44:270:44:32

-High-five.

-Whoo!

0:44:320:44:34

LAUGHTER

0:44:340:44:36

It's a fitting ending to James' return trip to Nepal.

0:44:380:44:41

And to find out more about this project

0:44:420:44:44

and all the other Adventure Show news,

0:44:440:44:47

follow us on Facebook.

0:44:470:44:48

Welcome back to the action at the 3 Pistes Sportive.

0:44:570:45:00

Now, those riders at the front are now preparing

0:45:000:45:02

for that last leg-sapping climb up to the Cairngorms,

0:45:020:45:06

whilst others still have a bit further to go.

0:45:060:45:09

Tired.

0:45:090:45:10

It's about 102ks, so we're not doing too bad now, right enough.

0:45:100:45:14

Oh, yeah, you've kind of broken the back of it now.

0:45:140:45:16

-Well...

-HE LAUGHS

0:45:160:45:20

..this is still a bit of a romp up, though, isn't it?

0:45:200:45:22

There are many cycle events in Scotland now,

0:45:220:45:24

but this has to be one of the most spectacular.

0:45:240:45:27

It has some of the steepest climbs,

0:45:270:45:29

it certainly has rolling terrain

0:45:290:45:31

and with 2,000 metres of ascent,

0:45:310:45:34

it means that the cyclists get an absolutely incredible challenge.

0:45:340:45:38

Unlike the Bealach na Ba and Applecross,

0:45:380:45:41

which is a very famous defined climb,

0:45:410:45:43

the accumulated climbing here is far, far greater,

0:45:430:45:46

and the terrain, it seems, much, much more remote.

0:45:460:45:50

It's a brilliant route. I love the Cairngorms -

0:45:500:45:54

fantastic scenery.

0:45:540:45:57

I mean, cycling-wise, it's a challenge.

0:45:570:45:59

There's plenty climbing and it's just a beautiful area

0:45:590:46:02

to be in, really.

0:46:020:46:04

There are two lead riders,

0:46:050:46:07

if we can call them lead riders, in the sportive,

0:46:070:46:10

at 140km complete of the 165,

0:46:100:46:15

and they're just trading leads here, swapping it,

0:46:150:46:18

doing a bit of drafting, swapping over,

0:46:180:46:21

maybe one minute or so in front of each other,

0:46:210:46:25

just to ease the last little bit.

0:46:250:46:27

This is the time of the race where your brain

0:46:290:46:31

really starts to wander.

0:46:310:46:33

You've been on the bike now for over five hours.

0:46:330:46:37

You are definitely going to be tired now.

0:46:370:46:40

You've already cycled, by this stage, about 145km.

0:46:400:46:44

But still a fair chunk to go and a vicious last climb up to Cairngorm.

0:46:450:46:51

Very hard to focus on what is ahead.

0:46:520:46:56

It's not over yet.

0:46:560:46:57

You've got to keep something in reserve.

0:46:570:47:00

That reserve, at this stage,

0:47:010:47:03

is definitely going to be psychological.

0:47:030:47:05

The person who actually does best in this event today

0:47:050:47:09

will not necessarily have the strongest legs,

0:47:090:47:11

but definitely have the strongest mind.

0:47:110:47:14

It is a very long way indeed.

0:47:140:47:16

-Turn left.

-Turn left.

0:47:160:47:18

-Thank you.

-You're welcome.

0:47:180:47:21

I have moments when I'm cycling and I think

0:47:210:47:24

I don't know why I'm there doing it

0:47:240:47:25

because it's so hard, but at the end of it, it makes it worthwhile.

0:47:250:47:29

It's nice to see different parts of Scotland too -

0:47:290:47:32

the scenery's beautiful if the weather's good enough to see it.

0:47:320:47:36

If you're out on a normal ride and you're 40 miles from home

0:47:370:47:40

and you've got to get home,

0:47:400:47:41

you just have to keep ploughing on.

0:47:410:47:44

Even if your speed drops to walking pace,

0:47:440:47:48

you have to get home and that's it.

0:47:480:47:49

Again, we know we have to get to the finish,

0:47:490:47:52

hopefully it will be before the broom wagon sweeps us up.

0:47:520:47:54

LAUGHTER

0:47:540:47:56

Towards the end, it'll be much better.

0:47:570:48:00

So once you've sort of finished the really hard climbs,

0:48:000:48:03

except for the last one up round Cairngorm and Nethy Bridge,

0:48:030:48:06

it'll be sort of a bit flatter,

0:48:060:48:08

so you might put your head up and look, which will be good.

0:48:080:48:11

So, yes, so hopefully we'll see plenty, but it's stunning anyway.

0:48:110:48:14

I just love it. Just love it to bits.

0:48:140:48:16

It's just, you know, once you get on a bike you start singing.

0:48:160:48:20

It's fabulous. Can't stop.

0:48:200:48:22

I think it's the freedom, it's enjoying the scenery.

0:48:220:48:25

Scotland's a great place and it's made even better

0:48:250:48:29

when the weather's really nice, but we can't have everything.

0:48:290:48:33

So we're now on the last few kilometres

0:48:330:48:36

up to the summit of Cairngorm,

0:48:360:48:38

where your legs are screaming, "Stop, stop, stop, stop!"

0:48:380:48:41

but your mind will not let you. You've just got a little bit to go.

0:48:410:48:44

The end is close.

0:48:440:48:46

So this is the position that Alan Dobbie has been in

0:48:470:48:50

since the very start - in the front, hunched over his handlebars.

0:48:500:48:55

We haven't seen him stand up or change position all day.

0:48:550:48:59

It's an absolutely epic performance.

0:48:590:49:01

He was just joined a little bit

0:49:010:49:03

for the last few kilometres through Nethy Bridge.

0:49:030:49:07

Even now, though, even though he's leading the group,

0:49:070:49:10

we do not know and he doesn't know

0:49:100:49:12

whether he's going to win the Sportive.

0:49:120:49:15

Alan's had a fantastic ride

0:49:160:49:18

and he should make it over the finish line in just over six hours.

0:49:180:49:23

But Lindsay McCrae from Inverness may have the edge on him.

0:49:230:49:27

He started out later and has been flying round the course.

0:49:270:49:30

It could be a close call.

0:49:300:49:32

I just like going fast.

0:49:320:49:34

I just like to push myself and see how fast I can go.

0:49:340:49:38

I tend to go for the longer sportives, the higher ones,

0:49:380:49:41

the more climbing, just because it's more difficult and it's...

0:49:410:49:46

It's more just down to how good you are.

0:49:470:49:49

There's less variables, as in the more sprint ones

0:49:490:49:52

can depend on groups and different things,

0:49:520:49:53

whereas the longer ones tend to be just a lot of cycling on your own,

0:49:530:49:57

but it's just a bit more challenging.

0:49:570:49:59

The more difficult, the better.

0:49:590:50:01

Donatas Markevicius was also one of the later riders out of Pitlochry.

0:50:010:50:05

He's comparatively new to the sport, but that's not apparent today.

0:50:050:50:10

This is our second season on the road bike.

0:50:100:50:13

I found cycling last year, so I bought my first bike,

0:50:130:50:16

road bike last year.

0:50:160:50:18

This year I bought a new one, a bit more expensive,

0:50:180:50:21

-faster on descents.

-HE LAUGHS

0:50:210:50:23

It's really fun to challenge yourself.

0:50:230:50:26

Those who started earliest are now beginning that long, arduous climb

0:50:260:50:30

to the Cairngorm Ski Centre.

0:50:300:50:32

Over eight miles lie ahead,

0:50:320:50:35

but most riders are psyched for this last, punishing stretch.

0:50:350:50:39

Hi, Mum.

0:50:390:50:40

I grew up around here,

0:50:400:50:42

so I've cycled round this area quite a lot.

0:50:420:50:44

It's just ticking off places I knew along the way,

0:50:440:50:47

so breaking it in until it's sort of...

0:50:470:50:49

I think it's about five-mile segments.

0:50:490:50:51

Though all that you can think about for the last...

0:50:510:50:54

From Nethy Bridge all the way along is just the last climb,

0:50:540:50:56

so I guess it's good to get started,

0:50:560:50:59

but your legs don't half scream at you

0:50:590:51:01

for that last whatever, three miles.

0:51:010:51:03

Glad to be here. I'm saving my wheelie until the end.

0:51:040:51:07

Last year that was my one low bit of the entire day,

0:51:090:51:13

I hadn't taken on enough nutrition in the hour leading up to it,

0:51:130:51:17

so the tank was nearly empty.

0:51:170:51:18

The fuel tank was running empty,

0:51:180:51:19

so by the time I got to the steep section

0:51:190:51:21

from Glenmore up to the Sugarbowl, I was suffering a little bit there.

0:51:210:51:26

It's hard work.

0:51:260:51:27

I'm not far now, eh?

0:51:290:51:30

I've never cycled up it. I've been up in the bus

0:51:310:51:33

and it seems quite easy in a bus,

0:51:330:51:35

but I was just saying to Gavin, it doesn't seem that steep.

0:51:350:51:37

but I've only ever actually been up it in a bus, so I don't know.

0:51:370:51:40

I'm loving it, I'm loving it!

0:51:400:51:42

We were in a group, which makes a big difference -

0:51:420:51:45

if you're riding in a group, it's a lot easier.

0:51:450:51:47

But as soon as you hit the hills, that's when it splits.

0:51:470:51:50

But it was just a gentle ride up for me.

0:51:500:51:53

I rode with a couple of guys, but it was definitely the hardest bit.

0:51:530:51:57

I would have to say the last climb was hard

0:52:000:52:05

because you were just exhausted.

0:52:050:52:08

I think on any other normal day if that was the only climb,

0:52:080:52:10

it wouldn't be, but I was going so slow, I was thinking,

0:52:100:52:13

"Oh, what's wrong with me?"

0:52:130:52:15

Of course, it has all those switchbacks

0:52:150:52:17

where you just keep thinking of the next one.

0:52:170:52:19

"Just the next one," and then, no, it's not the next one yet,

0:52:190:52:22

but probably this one.

0:52:220:52:23

It just keeps going that way until you see the finishing line

0:52:230:52:26

and the car park.

0:52:260:52:27

And for Alan Dobbie, that's the end in sight.

0:52:270:52:30

6 hours, 9 minutes and 15 seconds after setting off from Pitlochry,

0:52:300:52:34

he's the first rider to reach the finish line.

0:52:340:52:37

Alan, that's an amazing performance,

0:52:370:52:40

so did you manage to keep warm throughout the whole thing?

0:52:400:52:43

Too warm. I was expecting much worse weather.

0:52:430:52:47

There's only two layers here, but it's very warm, so...

0:52:470:52:53

Ah, I'm exhausted.

0:52:530:52:55

I noticed that you didn't change the position on your bike

0:52:550:52:58

the entire day, you were right down on the handlebars the entire time.

0:52:580:53:01

There was a lot of wind.

0:53:010:53:03

Were you just trying to do that to keep out of the wind?

0:53:030:53:05

Yeah, but my back is now crippled.

0:53:050:53:07

Yeah, it puts a lot of pressure on your spine,

0:53:080:53:10

so my back's really sore now.

0:53:100:53:12

Second over the line, just six minutes after Alan,

0:53:150:53:18

is Scott Murray in a time of 6 hours, 14 minutes and 20 seconds.

0:53:180:53:22

We don't know yet what the final positions will be,

0:53:220:53:25

but what a tremendous ride he's had.

0:53:250:53:28

You were kind of really close to Alan there for the last

0:53:280:53:31

maybe 20-30 kilometres,

0:53:310:53:33

and then did you have a wee crack at the bottom of the hill?

0:53:330:53:36

I probably cracked about 80 mile,

0:53:360:53:40

and the last five mile was just... Oh, it was just brutal.

0:53:400:53:45

For the women, Siobhan Prise has kept up a great pace

0:53:450:53:48

and is now nearing the end of this final climb.

0:53:480:53:51

She's the first woman up this hill and completes the 102 miles

0:53:510:53:56

and 2,000 metres of ascent in a fantastic time

0:53:560:53:58

of 6 hours, 50 minutes and 38 seconds.

0:53:580:54:03

Hi!

0:54:030:54:04

Well we've been watching you the full race.

0:54:040:54:07

Oh, my God! That's a mental race.

0:54:070:54:10

It's so amazing though, it's so beautiful.

0:54:100:54:12

Scotland's amazing.

0:54:120:54:14

I was really struggling over Glenshee,

0:54:140:54:16

cos it was lashing with rain,

0:54:160:54:17

but as soon as you get to Coylumbridge

0:54:170:54:19

and you see the "eight miles to Cairngorms"

0:54:190:54:21

and you know it's a really good surface along there

0:54:210:54:24

and you kind of know you're nearly there.

0:54:240:54:26

Then you get to the snow gates and it's like, "Oh, goodness me!"

0:54:260:54:30

I've done that now twice and it never gets any easier.

0:54:300:54:33

And as the cyclists cross over the finish line,

0:54:330:54:36

there's a sense of exhaustion, relief and exultation

0:54:360:54:40

for a ride well done.

0:54:400:54:42

I made it! Yes. There was times I wasn't sure.

0:54:420:54:46

It was, eh...

0:54:460:54:48

Some headwind after The Lecht, that's what really got me.

0:54:480:54:53

It wasn't quite as bad at the start as we thought it was going to be,

0:54:530:54:56

but, yeah, the last bit's been windy,

0:54:560:54:58

so those guys that are out on their own at the end,

0:54:580:55:01

it's absolutely brutal.

0:55:010:55:03

So it's now time for the final reckoning.

0:55:030:55:06

For the men, the first over the line,

0:55:060:55:08

Alan Dobbie's time was 6:09:15

0:55:080:55:12

and he came in 11th overall.

0:55:120:55:15

In 3rd place, it was Donatas Markevicius

0:55:150:55:17

with a time of 6:00:44.

0:55:170:55:21

Just ahead in 2nd place was Richard Dowling in 6:00:12,

0:55:210:55:26

but out in the lead to take the top spot was Lindsay McCrae

0:55:260:55:29

with an amazing time of 5:55:32.

0:55:290:55:34

I was very surprised

0:55:340:55:36

because my time was almost exactly the same as the previous year.

0:55:360:55:39

I knew the weather had affected me a bit, but I wasn't sure

0:55:390:55:42

if it was going to be fast enough.

0:55:420:55:44

I think the wind probably added...

0:55:440:55:49

45 minutes to an hour onto my time,

0:55:490:55:52

so I was very surprised, but I was very pleased as well,

0:55:520:55:55

because it's a tough distance and the conditions were brutal.

0:55:550:56:01

And the women's results look like this.

0:56:010:56:03

Carolyn Hunter-Rowe came in 3rd in 7:10:14.

0:56:030:56:09

Shana Young was second in 7:08:35

0:56:090:56:13

and 18 minutes faster with a time of 6:50:38,

0:56:130:56:17

Siobhan Prise was the fastest woman on the course today.

0:56:170:56:21

Today, the morning was so wet and my hands were freezing.

0:56:210:56:24

I was terrified about The Lecht because I couldn't move my hands

0:56:240:56:28

so I couldn't brake and I couldn't really change gears

0:56:280:56:30

and then once they're over, then it's just a home straight really.

0:56:300:56:33

A great result for Siobhan

0:56:330:56:35

and what a fantastic event Shana's had as well.

0:56:350:56:38

She certainly didn't expect to come in second.

0:56:380:56:40

I nearly didn't do it.

0:56:400:56:42

I broke my leg in January,

0:56:420:56:44

but then you get past one climb and you think, "OK, that's done,"

0:56:440:56:47

and then you tackle The Lecht, which is one of the hardest climbs

0:56:470:56:51

I've done in a long time and the sense of achievement

0:56:510:56:53

which each little step that you take just brings you on.

0:56:530:56:56

Then when you finish it, you just feel like, "Yeah, I've done that."

0:56:560:57:00

And in case you were wondering, both the ElliptiGO bike

0:57:000:57:03

and the tandem made it all the way.

0:57:030:57:06

Congratulations to all who took part in this event

0:57:060:57:08

in pretty challenging conditions.

0:57:080:57:11

That's almost it for this programme

0:57:110:57:13

but we'll be back next year with the Three Peaks Ultra Marathon Hill Race,

0:57:130:57:16

but to keep you going over Christmas,

0:57:160:57:18

Cameron McNeish will be forging a new route through the Western Highlands.

0:57:180:57:22

This year I'm travelling through

0:57:240:57:25

some of Scotland's most dramatic scenery.

0:57:250:57:28

From the grandeur of Glencoe,

0:57:280:57:30

the rugged Sunart peninsula,

0:57:300:57:32

the majesty of Kintail

0:57:320:57:34

and along some of the best coastline you can find anywhere in the world.

0:57:340:57:39

Mind your head.

0:57:400:57:41

This is a very special journey because it's much more than a walk.

0:57:420:57:47

I want to explore the secret corners of our West Highlands

0:57:470:57:51

so my home will be on wheels.

0:57:510:57:53

I tell you, you'd be hard-pressed to get a view like this

0:57:530:57:56

from a hotel bedroom.

0:57:560:57:58

I'll be walking, cycling and packrafting

0:57:580:58:01

as I make my way along these roads less travelled.

0:58:010:58:05

You know, I really like the notion of following a footpath

0:58:050:58:08

and having no idea where it's going.

0:58:080:58:11

You get the sense of peering over horizons,

0:58:110:58:14

not knowing your destination.

0:58:140:58:15

Oh, I'm in heaven.

0:58:170:58:19

This is as good as it gets.

0:58:190:58:21

Well, that really is it for this programme.

0:58:220:58:24

I hope you're able to join Cameron over the festive break.

0:58:240:58:27

In the meantime, from all of us here at Cairngorm,

0:58:270:58:29

thanks very much for your company. Bye for now.

0:58:290:58:32

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