Stephen Hickey

All the best Stevie. It's been a joy having you pass me all year in the club time trials. Glad you're keeping on the club membership. How soon will you be back racing in our colours? SH

Hope to be there. SH

I'm working that weekend which is a real blow because this was a fantastic trip last year. Have a blast. No hills on Arran Dave? I'm sure it will seem that way this year without a rucksack on your back Cheers SH

I'm away next week so that'll be a no. SH

As usual depends on work but aiming to be there this week. SH

I'm planning to be there. I'll be second in line for time keeping in case Tony can't make it (PM on its way Tony). Cheers SH

Thanks Ian Good luck this weekend SH

Well done guys. Sounds as if it was good experience but more to the point you have represented the club and kept us in good standing with WOSCA / SCU. Cheers SH

Ah......... the holiday obviously did me good....... in fact took years off me........ now that I'm not a vet any more must have been that easy paper round Cheers Dave for timekeeping Stephen H

I'll be there. Just back from holiday so would like to ride but will time keep if no-one else is available. SH

Jim APR stands for Australian Pursuit Race. The idea is that a slow group head off first then after a predetermined gap a second faster group goes and so on and so on. In theory if the handicapping is spot on all the cyclists will be contending the final sprint. This doesn't usually happen. Each rider in the group has to work together taking turns at the front (wheeling about) to keep the average speed to a max. In other words you have to work with the others in your group to stay out in front for as long as possible (or to allow you to catch the group in front) and then it's everyone for themselves on the sprint to the line. The key is you need a reasonable number of bodies to make it worthwhile. I'm packing for my holidays tonight and leaving early tomorrow so I'll not be there tonight but watch out for more posts. Cheers Stephen H

Kenny I just about fell off my chair reading that.......... SH

Well done to both of you Stephen H

Sorry Tony can't make it this Thursday. SH

Weather wasn't quite what was forecast but no too bad. Six brave souls battled it out - Kenny S, Liam, Tony Carrigan, Claire, Big Dave and Stephen H. Kenny S tried to call it off at the last minute by suggesting we all have a pint in the Gateside Inn instead but since Liam is still underage we thought better of it. After a quick chat at the start we divided into two groups of 3 - Tony Kenny and Claire headed off with a 4 minute gap on Liam Dave and yoors truly. It was a bit of a case of the blind leading the partially sighted but we sort of muddled along with varying degrees of success. Dave quickly developed his own style of "road racing" with shouts of "you stay in front Steve - it's helping me recover" Meantime Liam was looking very comfortable. We saw the first group just ahead after 1 1/2 laps and thought we must have got the gap badly wrong so stopped to give them another 2 min. It turned out they had had an unscheduled stop on lap one while Kenny made a reaquaintance with a couple of bananas he had eaten earlier (Q. What's yellow and smells of bananas? A. Monkey sick ) Luckily this didn't seem to put any of them off and they settled down again. The 2 groups came together again just after the start of the third lap: Kenny was feeling the pace (and was probably feeling hungry again by now) and dropped off but the remaining 5 stayed together. Claire, who had looked a bit nervous at the start, was much more relaxed by now and in her stride. Dave was attacking on the flat and everyone had a go at breaking away at one point or another. (It might have been a wee club confined midweek event but it was getting pretty serious by this point ) Over start line for the last time with about 2 miles to go and the pace upped with Liam making most of the running. He attacked on second last climb with only myself staying with him - we sat up a bit to prepare for climb to the finish at which point Tony appeared out of nowhere and shot past. A mad scramble followed - Tony was caught and passed - and Liam took off taking first place by about 20 metres. 1. Liam (in his first road race of any description) 2. Stephen H 3. Tony 4. Dave (first timer) 5. Claire (first timer) 6. Kenny S (first timer - last week doesn't really count) As you can see it was a bit of a novice handicap but I think everyone had a good time, had a good work out, and all keen for more. Congrats to Liam He looked very comfortable all the way round and I'm sure we kept him back. Cheers Stephen H

DATE: THURSDAY 16th June TIME: 1915 VENUE: GATESIDE CIRCUIT Gateside is just East of Beith on the B777. You can usually park at or near the church / village hall. Start line is further out this road (ie away from Beith): you will notice a road heading off on your right with a notice about a whisky bond. Start is about 100 yards along this road. Route is along this unclassified road past the whisky bond until you reach the A736 (Barrhead - Irvine road); turn left (careful here - the A736 can be busy) straight until you reach Lugton and turn left at the Paraffin Lamp (pub) which brings you onto the B777 heading back to Beith and turn left again to cross start line. Lap distance about 6 miles. Race distance just over 3 or 4 laps (finishing at top of hill at whisky bond). Any takers for this Thursday? Kenny and Derek were out last week - you up for it again? Dave and Claire were there also but not quite with the race. Can we get others out to form a chasing group? Any volunteers to coach the first group?? More to the point, what's the weather forecast? I should be there this week. Suggest meeting outside the village hall (opposite the Gateside Inn) at 1900 (prompt) - feel free to warm up going up and down the hill towards the start line if you are early - then ride up to the line for a 1915 PROMPT start. Distance and gap to be decided on the night. Cheers Stephen H

I made this mistake on the original post - Gateside is just East of Beith on the B777. Should be there next Thursday. If we arrange to meet at the village hall in Gateside (it's obvious - honest) then we could all ride to the start line together. I'll post a meet time / start time before Thursday. Cheers Stephen H

Congratulations Tony Stephen H

Sorry but I'm working tomorrow night. Next Thursday is a yes however - so far! Stephen H

Well done George Does anyone know what the club record on this circuit is? Thanks for the timekeeping Scot. I know a few plastic surgeons if you'd like a second opinion on that leg Stephen H

Fantastic Aileen Another sensational week for the club. Stephen H

That was my first time down at Westferry and found it absolutely hellish on the way out. I've no idea what gears are on my new bike (i suppose i could always have a look at them and maybe count the pointy bits) but there certainly wasn't one that worked well into the wind i noticed that Katrina was sporting her new club skinsuit with the world champion rainbow ensignia. It made me think: there can't be too many places where you can turn up for an evening of exercise with your club on a Thursday night and end up on the same playing field as a world champion?? Inspirational I'll be back for more - if only i can get this work thing to stop interfering with my cycling Cheers Stephen H

Kenny What a fantastic camera - managing to make last Thursday look like a nice night Stephen H

PS - Darryl: is the Herald interested in our midweek confined APR results? Cos I was 3rd Stephen H

Truly shocking weather but not bad enough to put us off 8 mad yins turned up tonight for the confined APR. 1st group consisted of David McKellar, Michael, Tony Carrigan (started late but joined the first group on lap 2) and Stephen H. Chasing group of Ian Manson, Paul McDonald, Scott Donaldson and Craig (guest). 1st group sort of made it up as they went along for 1 1/2 laps but worked well in the conditions. At some point on the second lap they met up with Tony C and Ian. Pace picked up at this point with some excellent coaching on the move from Mr Manson and all took a turn at wheeling about. Paul and Scott caught and passed on the last lap (we decided on 3 and a bit laps) and there were various attempts at staying on - none of which lasted very long. Once again Ian came back and offered more wheels than Santa Claus to the pursuers. On the run in it got a bit strung out but Paul took first place in a sprint with Scott - they had plenty of time to sit up and watch the rest: Ian and Stephen H came up the final climb shoulder to shoulder with Ian handing out lots of encouragement (sprint ya begger - or maybe i misheard him ). Stephen H taking third spot. Then came Ian, Craig, Michael, David and Tony. Kenny S turned up to provide support and photos of the event. I don't think we could have expected more out on such an awful night but those that turned up seemed to have a great time. Special congrats to Michael and Tony on their first event of this sort and to Ian for cycling 2 laps in the right direction and about the same in the opposite direction as he went back to help and coach others. Round 2 ?? Cheers Stephen H