Stevie Blom

Awrighty folks are we winning...? Friday the 10th is not good for me as i will be working that night + plus few problems at work regarding staff holidays so hours have to be covered. Anyway seems you have a good turn out for a good night Stuart. Stevie B.

1 x size 5 bib shorts. 1 x size 5 short sleeve tops 1 x size 5 long sleeve top 1 x size 5 skin suit. 1 pair of track mitts. kenny any chance of 1 o those winter jackets that you sometimes kick about in??? Stevie B.

Looks like the 50 mile tt has been cancelled due to some cows crossing the rd in stirling. So i might do the Straiten TLI APR race too if im not working on saturday morning ...same situation as paul mcdonald. Cheers Stevie B.

see you there Kenny!! Stevie Blom

Marco Van Whiteheed , Nice script about the holiday mate , yeah i agree a night down the clubrooms might be the right choice. A few softdrinks and a photo shot with other club members guests etc , we could have a good night. Head round monday or wednesday night Mark!! Cheers Stevie B.

Hi all, As some of you maybe aware 12 of us dafty's cycled about the alps for several days. Since i have been back i have not had the time to think out a report so i will post one over the next few days. This report will be a lenghty one so any one who did not enjoy the italy report dont bother to read this 1 as it will be longer and more detail!!!! YES i will be describing the colour of the soap bars etc...... So no nasty comments at the end please!!! I just have to find that hardrive with all the data from the trip so should be posted soon and maybe some other riders can add some bits and pices in. Adios Ciau for now. Stevie B.

Well put kelly looking out for other fellow riders!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well im another gringo with no licence. Sorry cant help. Stevie B.

"Hooked on Cycling" 16/07/2004 11:14 To "Stephen Blom" cc Subject New Tour Hi Stevie I hope all is going well with you are the cycling club , you may have seen the newstletter on the new tour of Andalusia and wondered if you could post the description on your web site or let people know about it , maybe you are also interested? Many Thanks about this and I hope the cycling is going well , say hello to all the guys we met in April To view prices click on the link below http://www.hookedoncycling.co.uk/Spain/ ... lusia.html A large part of the route uses spectacular mountain roads which are regularly used as stages of the Tour of Andalusia and Tour of Spain. By the end of the tour you will have ridden the highest pass in mainland Spain and Western Europe, (Pico Veleta 3396m), the Sierra Nevada Vuelta time trial stage, stayed in the highest village in mainland Spain, (Trevelez,1500m) and ridden many major climbs of between 8km and 44km in length. The ride includes comfortable, traditional hotels, welcoming, hospitable service and a chance to savour the varied cuisine of this part of Andalucia. All you need to do is pedal, (mainly in low gears!), to enjoy a truly memorable cycling holiday that will be a real achievement. Day 1 Arrival and collection from Malaga airport where you will be met by the Ride Venture team and taken to our base near Alhama de Granada. Here you will have a chance to visit the Arab dungeons, HQ of the Spanish Inquisition, Roman Baths/Hot Springs, (47degC) or walk in the deep gorge above which the town is built. Day 2 Two region circuit. 105km. This first stage takes in a number of passes and climbs as we ride via Puerto del Navazo, El Boquete de Zafarrya, Vinuela, Periana, Puerto del Sol, Alfarnate, Puerto de los Alazores, Zafarrya and back to Alhama. Day 3 - Alhama to Granada. 85km The scenic route takes us via Bermejales reservoir, Jayena, Venta del Fraile and Puerto Suspiro del Moro, through Granada, passing below the world famous Alhambra Palace (optional visit) to our finish hotel in Cenes de la Vega. (Route subject to variation depending on Granada access). Today's climbs: Jayena, 910m., Los Becardes, 1350m. Day 4 - Cenes - Cenes, the Vuelta TT route. 90km. The Tour of Spain regularly has stage finishes in Sierra Nevada, usually in the ski resort of Pradollano but there is another 14km of climbing before reaching the summit of Pico Veleta 3396m, the highest pass in mainland Spain. Today we ride the whole 2600m climb but what comes up must come down, over 40km of descending to end the day! Today's climb: Pico Veleta, 3396m. Day 5 - Cenes to Trevelez. 120km. This will be a tough day. Once through Granada we head south via Padul and Durcal to Lanjaron, famous for its spring water. From here we climb the steep roads of the Alpujarra via Orgiva, Pampaneira, Pitres and Busquistar to Trevelez which is the highest town in mainland Spain (1500m). Trevelez is famous for Serrano Ham and cured pork legs are hanging everywhere, a vegetarians nightmare, but the thinly sliced ham is extremely popular throughout Spain. Today's climbs: Pampaneira, 1055m, Pitres, 1245m, Portugos, 1310m, Trevelez, 1500m. Day 6 - Trevelez to Almunicar. 90km. An easier day, rolling and descending roads through the Alpujarra via Almegijar through the impressive Guadalfeo river gorge before we reach the Mediterranean coast at Salobrena. From here we take the road through the Costa Tropical to Almunicar. Our hotel, popular with Paraglider pilots, isn't far from the beach for those who fancy a paddle. Todays climbs: Venta del Relleno, 1200m Day 7 - Almunicar to Alhama de Granada. 85km. The final stage begins with a one km. descent followed by 42km of climbing. Over 1250m of superb, twisting ascent, via Otivar, through rugged mountain scenery before we head for Bermejales, a few more climbs and a final descent to Alhama de Granada, a well earned rest and an evening party. Todays climbs: Otivar, 268m, Los Becardes 1350m. Day 8 Tour Complete after breakfast. Back to Malaga airport Sue and Jon Hooked on Cycling Great Cycling Holidays Tel/fax +44 1501 744727

Martin, Got that video of robert millar last night from you. Cant wait to see it and hopefully it will have the brakeaway he did that darryl is on about. some climb that restefond - i managed it in 2hr 15min unlike our club mate marko van whitehead who did this in 1 hr 48!!! 2806 meters altitude - the highest rd in europe. Why is this??? Well ze french froggs decided to lamp another 200 meters of tarmac on top of the mountain so they can claim it to be the highest rd. About 200 meters down the moutain on the descent you pass an old 1st world war french army barracks. Its still got the main structure of the old building including picture of a Massive Canon being pulled up the mountain by a 1000 men. Quite amazing !! Stevie B.

All the best David Stevie B.

when is phase 2/?

type in "cycling.tv" in your web browser and you will gain acces to a new online tv cycling network. Pretty good stuff and give's you coverage of main events over the globe including the celtic manor british rd race championships highlights etc. 1 problem though - you need broadband for this. Stevie B.

Congratulations to Sean and susanne!!!! Another Junior member to the JWCC!!! Cheers Stevie B.

Stephen, Myself , paddy and mr el mechanico vvor sprung dorch techniek mcskimming will be leaving in the dooleys van armed with polo bikes!!! So be warned as we have the strength of nae men. Polo will take place after the race so i have heard should be a good show. See you all tomorrow and good luck PUT THE DOWN!!!!! Stevie B.

In an upcoming book, an ex-masseuse for US Postal claims that she had to cross borders to courrier pills, bin syringes, and cover up injection marks on Lance Armstrong's arm. Excerpts of "LA Confidential -- The Secrets of Lance Armstrong" were published Monday in French weekly news magazine L'Express. The book, co-written by Sunday Times writer David Walsh and former L'Equipe reporter Pierre Ballester, most notably quotes Armstrong's former masseuse, Emma O'Reilly who recalls the night in the 1999 Dauphiné Libéré race, when the Texan told her on the massage table that his red blood cell count was at 41: "But that's terrible, 41, what are you going to do?' Everyone in cycling knows that you can't win with a count of 41. He looked at me and said, 'Emma, you know what I'm going to do, I'm going to do like all the others." She recalls having to bin syringes on the 1998 Tour, drive nearly five hours from France to Spain to pick up a small bottle of white pills from US Postal sporting director Johan Bruyneel and bring them back to Armstrong. When she asked the American if she could bring her fiancée, Simon, along on the trip, he allegedly replied "don't tell Simon what you're doing." TOUR COVER-UP O'Reilly also told of how she had to go out and buy make-up to cover up injection marks on Armstrong's arm before the pre-race medical on the 1999 Tour to avoid any traces in front of the cameras. Later on that same Tour, Le Monde would reveal a failed doping test for a non-declared corticoid on the same day that Armstrong took the yellow jersey in the Pyrenées. According to O'Reilly, the team held an impromptu meeting while she was massaging Armstrong after the day's stage to get their stories straight: "We have to all be telling the same story when we walk out of here," she recalls Armstrong as saying with the team coming up later with a back-dated prescription for a pain relief lotion he would have taken several weeks earlier on the Route du Sud race. LEMOND ROW The book also quotes Kathy LeMond, the wife of the first-ever American Tour de France winner, who recalls a veiled blackmail attempt by Armstrong in a phone conversation she overheard. LeMond, whose brand of bicycles are distributed by a major sponsor of US Postal, refused to answer the reporters' questions. Armstrong, who was allegedly furious that LeMond had criticized his decision to entertain relations with controversial trainer Dr. Michele Ferrari, was to have told the Minnesota native "I'll find at least ten people to say that you took EPO, ten people who will testify." Kathy says that her husband replied: "That's impossible. I know that I never took any. If I had taken EPO, my red blood cell count would have been higher than 45 which was never the case. It's impossible and it's wrong. I can produce all my blood tests that prove [it]. .. and if I hear this accusation, I'll know it came from you." Does he need EPO for only 1 big Grand tour per year? Maybe just media at its best? Stevie B.

Martin, Please can you keep a pare of gloves and cap for me ill square you up next time your at the polo or something. Stevie B.

Good day all,. I have next saturday free so i will want to ride the TT. I am not going to ride the road race if its open to all. If it suits i can help out in some way for the rd race event. Stevie B.

I will try and make it Kenny , need to check the work situation. Stevie B.

All, Just heard that Ian has gone to hospital to get his head treated due to constant blood flow which he could not stop. Hope all is well with Ian , Think the glengarnock idea is better for everyone's safety. Stevie B.

Hi folks in yeterdays PDE Sean Gray makes the headlines with his great 10 mile tt result a few weeks ago. In this mornings edition there is a lovely picture of oor Kat and Kelly's great performance down south of the border. Stevie B.

Yeah a few things But when you are on ltd time you just batter the keyboard as fast as you can so no time for any extra's Just wait till Scott Donaldson gets his report in with photo's etc

Italy Report Part 1 Hi all here is my report in the trip to riccionne on the adriatic coast 5km from rimini. scott donaldson will report other indepth details like total km plus altitude etc. hopefully he can report on day to day riding too. in attendance where the following: 1 stevie blom 2 ali winship 3 euan mckay 4 scott donaldson 5 andy cambell departed on the 24th april 04 and returned on the 1st may 04. 1 week in the sun riding the adriatic coast into mainland tuscany why italy: alison contacted kenny mac asking if any1 would be interested in joining her on a winter break holiday and to get away from the norm of “majorca†etc. kenny mcdonald new i was a fan of italy as i have been many times with my father in his truck. i was in rimini last year summer time and thought to myself one day i will do a tour here. well why not this year! i got in contact with alison and arranged we should get a bunch of fellow wheelers to join us in a great trip. i scanned the internet and the company hooked on cycling caught my eye! they are based in coatbridge which is close to us so makes sense to book with them. contacts where john and sue hook. later i met john at the hotel in riccione and realised i had met him before at an audax run that me and scott did last year up in cupar. they sold us a package in a 3 star hotel called the “belvedere†in riccionne. for 2 people sharing it was a total of £392.00 this is the brakedown £308.00 for the weeks stay £55.00 for the transfer from and return to airport £29.00 insurance 9 day plan the £55.00 is a standard fee for up to 5 people so it will be divided. the flights was a tricky part as we did not want to go with easyjet (aka sleazyjet) easyjet do not transfer your luggage to the next flight or airport you would have to reclaim your baggae and check in at london stansted. so we opted for klm airlines via amsterdam - scott donaldson and his magic net skills managed to find a cheap price of £118.00 return. flight route glasgow - amsterdam - bologna total £510.00! the hotel belvedere is a very popular hotel with our european friends. moslty used by ze gurmans and many swiss , austrian and australian with the odd from the uk joining in. after we booked up the package we received a hotel brochure information with routes , maps , specific details to what we would be in for. very handy and gave you basic tips on what to bring with you especially if you are to be flying over. the airline klm could only take 3 bikes per aircraft so be warned make sure you call them 24hrs before your flight to arrange space.(this is due to size of aircraft) if you can not bring your bike due to space problems then the hotel belvedere has many different bike's on hire. for 7 days hire it will set you back about 90 euro’s = in our money that works out about £65.00. now, here is the good news if you was to hire a bike! the hotel owner marina has a very close couple of friends: 1 ernst colnago 2 da rosa!!!!! believe it or not they had brand new c50 and c40 frames with not bad wheels and campaq chorus groupsets on hire for 90 euro’s. many assorted da rosa frames including the dougie da king due to the overwhelming amount of foreign tourists cycling in that part of italy from many hotels , colnago and da rosa with fondriest arranged a few deals for her. they handed in many top quality bikes which are for sale later in the year normally in october. so if you have always wanted a quality frame then she is the person to speak to arrange an ex hired c40 / 50 frame! for a good price i hope! on the saturday morning we departed on the 0920 flight ex glasgow! connected with the 1415 to bologna . flight time from glasgow to amsterdam is 1hr 20 minutes flight time from amsterdam to bologna is 1hr 30 minutes we was greated by the hotel 7 seater driver marccio! a very polite bloke - this guy was a bit of funny bloke with all the patter and jokes as his english was very good. journey from bologna to riccionne was 1 hr drive. everyone was in high spirits enjoying the nice country side scenery so a bit of italien music in the back ground and the journey felt like it lasted 5 minutes. finaly we arrive at the hotel belvedere approx 1730 itlay time.(1 hr ahead of u.k.) once we got our luggage out of the vehicle the owner insisted we should down tools and sit outside the hotel in the terrace on lovely sunbeds and enjoy a free drink on the house. what a way to enjoy your 1st day in the sun with a free beer /cofee etcetc in 25 degree heat. the hotel was situated infront of the beach so it was only a few steps away. near the hotel you had many bars , cofee shops , resteraunts , and the top quality clothing stores such as timberland , iceberg and gucci etc. the staff at the hotel where extremly friendly and very helpful , on our 1st day each member of staff introduced each other and gave us an idea what they would be doing on the bike and gave us insight detail to the hotel. now the hotel had 4 levels with bar resteraunt , internet , sauna , steem room , jaquzi , plus a large rest room.. once we drank our free beverage we where then greated by the other cycling tourists who where all german bar 2. the hotel laid on a large introduction all in german which left a few us concerned as ten minutes went by without a sinlge word in english. i understand german to a degree but looked just as confused as the others. moments later the bloke who was giving the introduction shouted “are zer any inglish peeeeple in ze tour?†so scott put up his hand but the rest of us did not , next thing i see all the german tourists looking so curious to find out who all the english was as they had arrived in battle force. a moment later another german bloke stood up and shouted to the group “ aaaa zeee zer iz only ze won inglish man ha ha ha ha “ what a £$%^ i thought! anyway we killed him off in the mountains hehehe.(climbing that is) finaly it was our turn to listen to the introduction in english - they inform you of the type rides we had , they have different terain for levels of fitness. what a good start: that night we got more free drink from the cheff plus a traditional type of cuisine: a pancake with some ham / cheese salad squashed together. must say tasted better than a deep fried mars bar and a tad healthier. after that we was placed to our seats in restraunt , we where allocated at the same table each night which had the party’s captains name on it which happened to be mine “captain blom†as i was to be addressed as for the week. food each night was glorious all served in buffet style - real cyclists grub and would suit the type of bloke that eats for scotland. you could fill up your plate as much as you wanted and nothing said. type of food: plenty of starter to choose from - ranging from salad’s to various cheeses and cold meats. main course fish steak sorted pasta dishes pizza it goes on for ever and all prepared in high standards. put it this way not a single person thought about eating out in a restraunt at any time of the week. best news we was told that we where to have free unlimited wine per table which was obtained from the wine machine each evening. restraunt hours: breakfast 0730 - 0930 lunch 1500 - 1630 evening meals 1930 - 2130 breakfast was unlimited grub too ranging from english to continent. again eat as much as you like. before your tour begun the cheff would prepare plenty of apples and bananas with cheese rolls for your trip. after each trip the cheff would have a prepared lunch for each person at 15:00 to refill your carbs - eat as much as yo like. god i think im putting weight onL hotel rooms: each room had either a balcany or retracting windows on the hotel roof which you can open inside. a bowl of fruit each morning with a free colnago water bottle. nice tiled floor with a very clean toilet with shower. all rooms have t.v.’s with access to satelite. the hotel even cleans your cycling kit for free!!!!!! bike storage the hotel had even a section for bike storage! this included bike maintainance if required with the aod of a guide. at the back of the hotel they had a wash bay with degreaser and other type oils to keep your machine in top condition. tours: ok all the tours are split into sorted groups and each group has a selected fitness level. team 1 normally the long fast group with 1500 - 2000 meters climbing. ditance 120 - 155 km team 2 this is for medium fitness with slower pace a bit less km and no where near as much climbing. team 3 strictly for beginners only probably the pace as close to a snail with a heart attack! well so i was told. tour guides: every tour guide had a shot at a long run 2 or 3 times per week. these guys where not to be messed with as some of them are professional couriers: this is 24 hr team time trialing but only 1 person of the team working at 1 time - target is to gain the most amount of km in 24hrs between 4 of you. something not heard of in the uk - maybe we should try it?? so the majority of our guides had 10,000 km in the legs by the time we even got in the joint. guides names: chris: - very fit lad who has been in 43 cycling tours in total martin: pro courier can ride for ever till he drops iris: took care of the beginners group giovanni :- the mountain man - gave him a doin only the once J but he can climb all day and all night pure strength and stamina most trips where up and down all day and had some 10 - 20 km climbs. some of the scenery was amazing and probably the best italy has to offer. cycling by houses on top of mountian tops in about san marino with 18 % climbs. just pure class for a bike rider nothing could be better in nice comfrtable heat. mostly weather was 24 - 25 degree’s if someone was to ask me where i a was each day could not tell you as you passed many historical building and small villages. after 50 km of each trip we would stop at a cafee for 30 minutes in some great moutain villages. scott donaldson will have more routes with heights and altitudes for all you who would like to see it. people: most people respected you as a bike rider even the car driver would beep the horn just to let you know they would be passing so no angry drivers. beach: very nice and 1 of italy’s top tourists areas - the hotel would have a volley ball game set up for any 1 inrested. most days me and scott would attack all the climbs and do them hard. every now and then some guides would be on your wheel to test your power so we took them to the end. mostly we would give them a doin as we would be fresh but nearer the end of the trip we would be the one’s getting hard time but all in high spirits. one of the german riders who was on holiday asked me and scott if we came form the highlands J i told him that we lived on an island called cumbrea which he later informed his other german mates . armstong: well well i know that somebody on this world is your double ! we thought it was him but not to be - a german bloke who looked identical to the great man himself. we teased him but kept on replying : i am not ze lance arsmtrong: non cyclists: the hotel caters for non cyclists too! most riders had family members with them and they either did a beginners run or just enjoyed the beach and shopping centre. the hotel mini - bus gave people a lift to other shopping areas down the coast line. generaly visit catolica or pessaro. the owner even has her own cooking classes for anyone interested. finaly: this has to be best touring holiday i have been on - well france had the real climbs - but food and the price of beverage was cheap. we did not have to pay for our bar bills till the day we departed and my bill was a total of 40 pounds. next we will book up this holiday next year direct with the hotel which means we could save money by not using hooked on cycling. plus the more people go next year the better the deal!!!!! hotel will be 4 star next year so price might go up by small amount due to a swimming pool being added! hope i have not bored anyone but i have much more to tell but that’s for you to find out next time. any questions please ask… ciau stevie B. p.s. started this report on sunday night and spend a few hours doing it but when i hit the submit button i was redirected into the loggin screen which meant all my stuff has been deleted my fault and should have known better so do not make that mistake!!

Hi all!! Just been told by Aileen McGlynn That she has been selected for the great Britain team for ATHENS - OLYMPIC GAMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well done Aileen i wish you all the best !!!! Congratulations , Maybe our press man can get you an interview with Paul Behan from the Paisley Express for a special coverage as this is surey big time news!! What do you think Jim? Stevie B.

Hi all, In todays Paisley express we have an article from the road races over the last few weeks. Mainly goes on about the man inform DONALD SCALLY Stevie B.

Kenny i will be at the photoshoot as planned for sunday. I will bring the trophy's back too. see you all on sunday for the photoshoot then Stevie B.