Stephen Hickey

Emmmmm that'll be east of Beith - Just a reminder to all...... £2 entry. It's race conditions so if you puncture or have other mechanical you're on your own (I will drive round the course at the end to make sure no-one is abandoned) 7 pm prompt (first group)- daylight hours may be a problem. (3rd group will be about 7:45 so don't rush ) See you all there Stephen H

The more the merrier Craig Stephen H

Good news Stephen. Make sure he realises that there is a sprint at the end of this one - he was left standing still the other Sunday after the gallop to the thirty sign with a "what was all that about" look on his face Cheers Stephen H PS I think there were about 8 replies to this one last night - did the worms eat them?

After speaking to a few folks it is planned to hold a confined APR on DATE: THURSDAY 28th APRIL TIME: 1900 PROMPT (daylight will be an issue) VENUE: GATESIDE CIRCUIT Gateside is just West 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 4 laps (finishing at top of hill at whisky bond). This event is being run specifically to encourage new comers to racing to try it out. Derek McFarlane has kindly agreed to coach the first group. We do need chasing groups as well though. Ideally 2 more groups. 2nd group could be faster riders with less race experience, those coming back from injury or time off, those who are still working on perfecting their power to weight ratio etc etc. And ideally a 3rd group of elite riders - you know who you are . Kenny Mac will be on hand to make sure that the time gaps at the start are adhered to rigorously No day date time will suit all but let's have a show of hands and with the Bellsdyke series being cancelled then this might make up for some lack of early season racing for the good guys. See you all there. Stephen H ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paul 7th May is ok too. Stephen H ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paul I can confirm that I'm free of work commitments on the 8th May and can help out on the day. Let me know what you would like me to do. Cheers Stephen H ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Neil - as far as I know this year the pedal for Scotland ride is going from Edinburgh to Glasgow for a change. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm glad it wasn't any worse Scott - hope you're better soon. I was run off the Georgetown road by a WH Malcolm truck on a bend on Monday. Fortunately it was onto a soft verge and the only damage was to my shorts (the inside!) but I was totally freaked out by it. (The letter's in the post - I'll let you know if I get a reply). I think you should pursue this to the highest court in the land - keep us informed of what happens. Am I right in thinking that some of the helmet manufacturers offer a free replacement service if your helmet's trashed in an accident? Or did I just make that up? All the best mate Stephen H ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm on call so can't ride or time keep. Sorry. Stephen H ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paul I'll need to double check my work diary but I'm pretty certain I'm not on call that weekend and will be happy to marshall or anything else. Cheers Stephen H ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm not sure why the confined APRs didn't happen last year and don't seem to be happening this year. However I have wondered for a while about trying to organise at least one confined APR as a Development race. There are quite a few newcomers to the club who have expressed an interest in taking part in racing for the first time this year - mainly with an eye to the TLI APRs. Even these relaxed events however can still seem to be a bit daunting to anyone who has never raced in any shape or form. For these folks a club APR might help with the transition needed to go from Sunday bunch run to an actual race. I dont need to go into specifics just now but obviously there would be a first group with newcomers and hopefully a coach to ride with them and keep them organised (I'll try and persuade Kenny Mac to do this if he is available). The pursuing group(s) could be sorted out on the night but hopefully we could find a day / date / time that would fit in with the training schedules of the club's established racers. One of the TLI APRs last year was run as a development event and to encourage first timers the rule on the day was that the first group had to keep together until a certain point on the course - if one got dropped the whole group would be disqualified. This might be a worthwhile plan for our own confined APR, for say the first 2 laps (unless the group gets caught before then) to make sure everyone gets a chance to take a wheelabout and have a good long go at riding in race conditions. I asked a few folk on today's Sunday run about arranging this and got a very positive response. I think the best time would be a midweek evening after the clocks go forward. How about Thursday 21st or 28th April as a possible date? (I'm not sure if it will be light enough by then?) Could you let me know what you think folks, and I'll firm up arrangements if I get a response. Cheers Stephen H PS I think I'm right in saying the confined APR course starts just outside Gateside, is about 6.5 miles per lap, usually 4.5 laps long and is a "rolling" course with no horrendous hills (honest ) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I think this listing is concentrating on a possible hilly TT at the end of the month but I would like to try and get at least one confined APR to take place soon - but to avoid confusion I'll start a new topic Stephen H ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear all Joyce McKellar, Cultural and Community Services Manager for Renfrewshire Council, addressed a recent Friday evening clubrooms meeting with a proposal which could benefit the club and it's members. Renfrewshire Council Sports Development Team are planning to introduce an initiative aimed at getting women back into sport and would like cycling to feature in this. The model is based on the jogging networks that arose from the extremely successful woman's 10K race held annually in Glasgow. The idea would be to have a group going out on a weekday evening, initially on the cycle tracks, with a view to increasing distance with time and perhaps onto open roads. Ideally an event that the group could aim for would be identified as a goal. Those taking part would register in advance to ensure that the correct number would turn up (hopefully even in poor weather). The first age group to be targeted would be the 17 - 24 year olds. Joyce has asked if the club would consider supporting this initiative. For each group going out (perhaps up to 20 cyclists) there would need to be at least two "coaches". To qualify as a coach it would be necessary to: 1. Know the area 2. Have a first aid certificate 3. Have completed a coaching course in cycling. Kenny Mac has agreed to liase with those that run courses in cycle coaching and try and arrange them at a time that would suit those interested. The courses run over 2 days usually held at weekends but it would probably be possible to run them over a few weekday evenings if that is what suits most. I will need to find out what is involved in getting a first aid certificate for this sort of thing, and will post details. Joyce hopes to start this initiative in mid to late May, which means a relatively tight schedule. The club would clearly benefit from raising our profile with Renfrewshire Council Sports Development Team (which may be of considerable help with future grant applications etc) and may also lead to increased club numbers if any of those taking part wish to take the sport further. As is often the case we need to know if there are interested parties out there who would be willing to give up some time to complete the training course and accompany the riders. If there seem to be enough volunteers then we can firm up details of when and where the coaching courses would be run (most likely in the club rooms), and whether it would be possible to tie in a first aid course with them. Could all interested parties please make themselves known in this listing? Also if you require any further info or have comments please put them here. Thanks. Stephen Hickey Development ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Congratulations to both of you. At this rate it might be worthwhile getting the clubrooms extension fitted out as a creche ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All the best mate. I'll miss you out on the Sunday runs. I'll catch up with you in Dooleys I'm sure. Cheers Stephen ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Congratulations to both of you Stephen H ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computer needs, spares & repairs - PC Express, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

yup i've now read the bit about the yellow computing company....... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computing needs, new machines, spares & repairs - the Yellow Computer Shop, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PS I dont have anything against the yellow computing shop but I didn't include their paragraph in my message..........do they have permission to add their bit? I'm sure Iain will let us know SH -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computing needs, new machines, spares & repairs - the Yellow Computer Shop, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fantastic weekend Thanks Douglas de la Rosa, and Darryl "i've got a good plan b" Gunson Next year: same route on the Saturday: stay later and do "round the island" on the Sunday? Stephen H -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For all your computing needs, new machines, spares & repairs - the Yellow Computer Shop, Love Street, Paisley 0141-561-0323 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fantastic Aileen

I heard your interview on the radio Aileen - well done. I was at my computer at the time and managed to send in an e-mail wishing you all the best from everyone at the club. It was read out but I'm not sure if you will have heard it - there seemed to be a bit or trouble hearing you at the very start of the interview. Shame you're missing the opening ceremony, but I guess you'll need the sleep. Good luck tomorrow Stephen H

All the best Aileen. If you find an internet cafe can you keep us posted on here? Stephen H

TAXI .......... I think I'm closest to Paisley..so start at Andy C's via David McKellar's (is Ian Manson going?) and pick me up at 7:45 ish if that' s ok with you guys. Stephen H

Suits me sir

Any more details about the 10k?