Stevie Blom

Sure is Dougie and i will be back in two weeks time draughting those Trucks That rd is a disaster , Dont think it will be worth it using your Gid wheels on that surface Im sure once the Renfra Bunch start's again people will then realise how bad it is. Dougie is wee budgie still into the bike? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Good news,,,,,,, The club hilly TT is to go ahead No better way to get stuck in to a hard TT ! Do we have a Time Keeper for this event? Stevie Flyndel will you ride this event with some of your guys? See you all there. Stevie B. Not long before the George tn Starts again ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

sorry Darryl i will just be returning from italia that evening. Enjoy guys as it will be great weekend of cycling! Stevie B. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey Mark , Ill be saving the pennies awright for a trip away again. I will ask big Christian if he is interested in going too as he was asking previously. He looks to be in some form guys i think this year he will kick some bigtime ASS. The big man has a new bike in order , Its a Eddie mercks Carbon job with 10spd ultegra - bought in belgium off course so this no doubt cost him a small fortune as he would not pay anywhere near the astronimical amount we would pay in certain places. Still a few more tales to be told on that report so watch out for part 4! Stevie B. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Darryl this seems a another classic touring holiday with all to offer. When i get beck from Italia i will need to sort out finances and others stuff/people and get back to you. I have only rode over the alps twice or two 1 week trips. Would be nice to have a few Pyrenees to the collection as well. Kenny Mac keeps on reminding that they are steeper and longer Stevie B. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part 3 After some Great grubb and the welcoming of Big chris Olsthoorn the team was now complete. Even got me talking dutch full time to the big man , just shows you what a few beers can do to you eh! Seriously though it was good for me as i can prep up my language skills as i mainly speak a little japanese + german + others to get by in my line of work but hardly speak dutch (unless iam back in holland) This was my chance again So Back in the Pizza Joint for some more of the same BEER.COM With all of us at the same table drinking away and enjoying our meal we exchanged tales with many laughs in to the bargain. Some hours later we all decided to hit the local bars again only this time we decided to go to a pub called sharky's bar! Now most of us had a bucket load to drink awreadys but this does not mean we are for stopping (Although we have a massive run ahead the next day) so i walks into Sharkys bar 1st and orders up a full round of drinks! After i placed the order everyone else decides to do a body swerve leaving me on my todd!! FER F--K sake's i shouted - then looked at the bird behind the bar and thought MAN JUST LEG IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so whilst she had a few pints being pored i decided to do a runner oot the door! SHAME ON ME AND THE REST OF THEM! Mind you has to go down as 1 of the most embarassing days of my life! Talk about standing at a bar with a mouthful of teeth ! So as i got outside everyone was as you can imagine on the deck with laughter! YEEZ are AUW BASKETS!!!!!! you know who you are!!! Back to the shaly to raid the fridge for more beer and wine Man next thing i know its 4am and everyone is drunk out for the count and Mr Mulholland is in the corner of the couch sitting in the paraletic / let me sleep inpeace position with a full roll of toilet paper wrapped round his nugget. I thought he was one of the Taliban with an empty can of beer in one hand! I made my way downstairs to hit the hay - my room mate was Dougie Da Rosa whom choose sensibly to go to bed an hour earlier than the rest - wish i did that! As i got in the sack i heard all sorts of clatter in the room above me - god knows what was going on but it was some noise! The next morning 0730 - sweated the alchohol out my system and its time to get ready again. i sneaked into The room where all the noises was coming from to clear up my curiousity. Sure enough - Alan Yoeman is lying in one corner in the crucified position with Paul Mcskimming in the other corner and Scott D. I had a closer look at Big Al Yoeman whom i thought was out for the count but he suddenly jumps up rappidly and shouts loudly whilst clapping his hands "There is only 1 stevie Blom - There is only 1 Stevie Blom etc etc etc " Jesus Christ did i Crap myself or wit!!!!!! His chants must have woke up all the others in shaly - I asked him what the noise was all about and he explained that when they tried to get into bed a few slats broke on the bed which resulted in them falling about the joint bringing down other Furniture - but thankfully no one got injured! A few minutes later Alan King returns from the shop next door with a large bag of croissants and other supplys all fresh - which was greeted by all of us hungover madmen! By 9am everyone is out the front ready for another long day in the saddle. Today the plan is to ride down the Alpe D'huez along to the start of the Lautaret then up that climb and start the mighty Col Du Gallibier then double back! So we all take off down the D'huez , the descent was for me a tad dodgy as many campers, cyclists , dogs , wet paint and god knows what else was getting in the way - this requires full attention. At one point i tunred on the hairpin and felt my back wheel slipping due to some paint that was still wet ! All those mad fans painting on the roads. Luckily i stayed on and all is ok for now , although you wanted to fly down the climb you just had to be carefull ,extra carefull and use the loaf! we all regrouped at the bottom at the roundabout just outside bourg d'soins. Here we turned left heading for le duex alps. This takes you in the direction of the begining of the Col du Lautaret. Still an awfull lot of work to be done before we even get to their. Halfway to the Start of the Col du Lautaret Alan King decides to give the run a miss and turns back toward D'huez. I figured if anyone here knows the terain then its him - as he knew what he was in for he did not feel he had the legs on the day so sensibly took the option to turn back. My alarm bells where going off as he was my compass , alan King riden these Alps many many times so he would know the rd.'s as we all regrouped again at the beginning of the Col Du Lautaret we took a couple of group photo's. After we got our mug shotts done we took off! All dreesed up in JWCC colours in true style except BIG CHRIS as he had his own Hyeres team kit on. So with me at the front i thought the hell with it its time to ripp it up. Just ahead of us i could see a whole big bunnch of Rabobank Riders - obviously Dutch Amatuer riders. So i sat in behind them - the climb itself was not the steepest which meant you could keep a good speed going. As i sat in behind the Rabo Boys with the others behind me i could hear one of them say in Dutch "Kijk is jongens , wat krijgen we nu dan? Een ploeg van Engeland achter ons!" This is typical dutch for - check this out lads a team of English sitting on behind us! the way it was said was as if to say get rid of them by going faster. The funny thing is that they did not realise i can understand the lingo so i shouted to chris in dutch "Eve Door trappen Jongen" this means lets put the hammer down What a laugh as our whole team passed them by with them now on the rear hanging in. Then the hairpins started one after another........it was begging to get tough very tough but still we kept it going. I looked round and i could only see MArk Whitehead and Scott D with Big Chris behind me sitting in. I truly was about to die as i could not give anymore. After an hour + climbing i just wanted this to end as the pain was hurting bigstyle = kept saying to myself keep going it will give you more power for when you get home. In the distance i could see the Top of the Lautaret , this is when an almighty sprint started. I tried to hold them off but nop not to be as Wee Mark and Christian battle'd it out with The big man just edging it. Scott However did the coolest thing got off his bike and actually took a picture of us all hammering us into the deck. We stopped for a bite to eat at the snackbar sit in place. This is where the othes joined us including the Rabo-boys. Still they sat next to us and all spoke away to each other and asking each other where we was from as our Strong Scottish accent had them confused untill big chris started talking dutch to me infront of them , now this had them baffled bigstyle. I thought it was very very funny indeed. Im sitting back drinking as much water , coke and other fluids as i could. I wanted to turn back home and go to bed......all that booz the night before was just exiting my body. Next step is the Mighty Col du Gallibier , this was 15 km further up the rd. Off we go, the temperature was quite cold and no sun as it had a hint of rain in the air. We got halfway up the climb , the road we was on kept heading round the outiside of the mountain. You couldn not see anything but a rd and a big mountain side blocking your view from what was to be! Minutes later we got completly round the side of this part of the Gallibier , the view we got was truly a work of god. A whole series of Snow Mountain peaks , hundreds of them - words catnt desribe how amazing the view was. I did notice the riders with me (Mark, Scott, Chris) all kind of stopped pedaling as our jaws had to be picked u from the deck due to the overwhelming site! we are now halfway up the Galliber and its starts to get mighty hard. This climb is probably one of the hardest climbs you can do out of all the mountains. I was beginningto feel very very weak , but continued to keep going sitting in behind Big Chris and Mark. Next thing i know Chris and Mark are HairpinS above me! Iknew when i was riding on that new tarmac surface that i would be in for some 15% action. I was right just a bout 3 Klicks from the top i could see what msy have been gradient like the Otter ferry climb. 39x27 bigtime and no messing. This is when you need to dig deep , deeper than ever before and just get yerself up , i struggled so badly that i bonked at the top. Mark and Chris where all up before me then seconds later scott was in the scene. The others had decided to wait a few minutes before we went as some where still recovering from the Lautaret. I must have munched 3 power bars atleast!!!! - i wanted shaz to pick me up with the team car! wanted to die after some Photo's where taken stuart Mcgreggor came up ! This was unreal - 3000 miles or whatever away from glasgow and out of all the days in the week he turns up. Knowing stuart and how powerful he is , i had a look at his race block whcih was 39 x 23!!!! now that s HARD! What happens next?????????????????? Till the next time as it will be continued ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

i will help if i can. Stevie ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Still trying to give up the fags ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Im not 100% sure but i remeber her saying that she forgot her password or something. She did use the above email address on the bunch to activate it. Iain maybe you can send her email and see? This is all i know. Stephen. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If anyone would like to get in contact with Sarah Fettes then please use the Following Email address: [email protected] She has problems connecting to the bunch. Messrs Laing can you please help her out? Stevie B. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stephen , Great idea mate 100% respect fo you even thinking about it. Have a chat with Kenny Mac about this as he has the knowledge on what is best to do. He was telling me before about events the clb did before and riders where not allowed to Engage the Big rinG!!!!!!!! this was some sort of time trial. Anyway mate again if you need any help or volunteers to help i will try and make myself availeble just keep me posted. If this does go ahead and we have people interested then others out there who are thinking about rd racing then dont let this chance go without a try. My 1st Road race was last season at the TLI Bellsdyke and dearie me (As jimB would Say) did i have stage fright or what!!!! Nill experience and some of the other riders where well known and strong. The usual question you ask is - can i do this ? am i good enough? will i get dropped? all the obvious negative thoughts that you think about. To my luck before the racing started i had riders such asd Darryl Gunson and Mark whitehead + Paul Mcdonald and others advinsing me on how to ride etc. What about an italien Persuit stephen at Glengarnock? This a great way to get fit for a wheel about. Split the number of riders into to teams of 3-4 each. Put the slowest rider to the front of each group make them do 1 lap full pelt with the other team going in the opposite direction. After the 1st rider takes his 1st full lap at full malky he then droppes off at the beginning of the 2nd lap then the following riders do the same untill you have both teams down to 1 man .........1st over the line wins the points. Something like that anyway................ Stevie B. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stephen , I would like to forward myself to help out. I live in johnstone know the area very well as most of my training is done about this area. Sparetime is something i have now as my working hours have changed and if its the bike then im your man. Put me forward unless others say different. A few hours helping out others to get involved in the sport cant be ignored. If it doesnt conflict with my training or racing then i can at least help out ? Stevie B. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We have a noted clander which explains on the 31st of march a 10 mile hilly TT is on. Since we have had ltd interest its been mentioned that we should change this event to a 9 mile TT on the RNAD circuit instead of a 10 mile hilly TT. Its against the clock people not against people. So who is up for what ? Stevie ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Congrats to all of you !!!! All the best ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have to say i was clipped at the Millbre roundabout at johnstone earlier last night. This has been the 10th near miss this year alone. Thats me cycling to work and nearly got killed 10 times.(counting)I have been very fortunate not to have been knocked down but the fact remains is that im still alive and not giving up the bike. It was alarming that the bloke in the silver jeep had to HIT the brakes hard and skid for 10 metres atleast , i was then clipped by his front bumper but survived. He did speed off as i did not get his number plate details. If anyone is heading home via that roundabout please avoid it. Infact avoid the roundabout at kilbarchan too because no-one can see you when you are going round it, they always come out at the last second and you are like a piece of mince awaiting to be road kill. BE WARNED BE CAREFULL. Stevie Blom ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dont forget guy sits up to ironman to decide and the comittee?? Anyway 1 member of ours has shown some interest ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ok after 28 people have seen this post no1 has even replied to say yes or no? total didaster if you ask me if the club has a confined calender and not a single person is willing to ride this? Whats the problem is it too hard??? Do we have a bunch of wimps in this club? I do recall last year riding this hilly TT and Yes for me it was brutal but that was the beginning of the pain which carried out till the end of september. Oh lets make it the George tn rd and see how many people say yes then??? Well here is another option............. Same date the 31st but make it the RNAD circuit? Is this any better .......Steve Flyndel are you interested in joining us with your guy from the fullarton? Maybe even get Jim Cusick down? Any others ??? what about some of our rd men like Paul Mcdonald , Darryl etc etc?? Please post here to decide. I hope people will ride these events? --- Stevie BLOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thats fantastic news Kelly!!! Glad to see your back! Stevie B. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All as per the club calender we should have had apr's at gateside??? Anyway as per below i see a Club Hilly TT is on for the 31st March. Do we have a Time Keeper for this??? Will anyone be riding??? c'mon folks its the new season starting - Lets get Moving!!!!!!!! March 5th Saturday Club APR - 2 of 6 10.00am Gateside, Beith 6th Sunday Club run 10.00am See Bunch 12th Saturday Club APR - 3 of 6 10.00am Gateside, Beith 13th Sunday Club run 10.00am Clubrooms 19th Saturday Easy run (2hr) 9.30am See Bunch 20th Sunday Club run 10.00am Clubrooms 26th Saturday Easy run (2hr) 9.30am See Bunch 27th Sunday Club run 10.00am Clubrooms *******31st Thursday Club Hilly TT 6.15pm to be confirmed*********** Stevie B. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Iain and others if others - Photo's on the club website are fantastic guys!!! Keep them coming eh? I am sure others members are happy too................. The best cycling website in Scotland Stevie B. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Looks like rrrreal leg ripper mate! Enjoy..... stevie B. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Not being an expert on the tour route but it looks like The organisers have made it easier for Lance Armstrong Competitors to get closer at him as we have hardly any mountain top finishes or individual time trials. Anyone else have a view? Stevie B. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scott remember it well in 43 degree heat the warmest day in france that year even the hair pin bends caught fire!!!!(mind that on t.v. that night?) How i managed to get by with my 15 stone i will never know. Anyway one memory that i have on that climb is the gruelling descent!!!!!!!!! Following Mark Whiteheads wheel down many hairpin bends and suddenly this next bend was a bit defferent , it had a large rock face sticking out the line of the bend which meant you could not see the other side so i was following the bend but unknown to me the rd swung inwards a further 90 % turn How i manged to stay on the bike?????? im still sure that god stretched out the rd by a further 10 cm's for me. Those Michelen Pro Race Rubbers are the best in town! They kept me on the bike and just managed to glue to the rd. Think about it folks hammering down a col at 55mph then you face a last second turn - my face was like a ghost when i got the bottom and i could see the Point where i could have fallen from which must have been about 1000 m at least. Must say after that descent every other one was taken very slowly and sensibly. so the result of this is that i am know a born again christian! GAAAAAAD bless Michelin pro race! Dougie - Can you explain how you got on through that tunnel at the bottom of the Col du Galibier??? - now thats another tale that makes the heart rate go above maximum. Stevie B. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Brian , Can you please put me and Sarah down for the group 1 50 mile moderate pace ! Please have my name removed from the 70 mile run. Best regards Stevie B. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pete , Friend of mine has them for me which he is dropping of tonight. He can get many more free of charge! Will see you later Pete. Stevie ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------