simon simpson

kenny it's 30 of my minutes to the bridge so if i am outside the house when you pass I'll come along for a bit you should be along at???? my guess is 8.25-8.30? ss

Colin - Kenny posted this as a Saturday run Kenny which day is it? I may join you out to Balloch and back. Also- best way to avoid the Dumbarton A82 section is to do the reverse of what we did last sunday. Stay on A82, turn right at last proper rbt ont road that is blocked off. follow that through the blocked off bit onto the Bonhill road- there's a small hill then go through balloch by turning left at first proper rbt @ national park offices then right at the one for lomond shores. take exit onto no through road follow to duck bay and rejoin main road there. The A82 has a strip at the side and a loch side cyclepath and it's fine over to tarbert then arrochar - it's fine and not too scary Other best way is via glen fruin- as above but left at arden then straight through the top of the hill rbt- Personally I'd always avoid the Dumbarton helensburgh A814 section - it's an accident waiting to happen and way more scary than the strip @ the side of the A82 Anyway up to you- I'll call you Kenny if I can come along for a bit ss Confirm Saturday? Sunday?

I may be out- maybe not. I'd say the laughing bunch ride to Ayrshire looks good. Sensible pace up the bowfield tho'? Memory is not what it was- was it Billy who had the Blackburn Airstick? If so, I have an unopened maintainence kit including the wee springs that rust. And also a part used one. i will bring along to next clubrun I am at.

but Richard did you turn back or go to Glen Fruin? ss

'yous'? !!!!

One rider missing? Went off the front with a tailwind and never seen again! 9 riders most of the time - not too hilly but good pace most of the way round low 50s miles 17 mph average no crashes no cafe stop let's see a nice big bunch next week: bowfield and deepest ayshire?

kenny is now coming with me so 9 am at clubrooms ss

Kenny Are you sure you don't want to go from Clober @ 7.50- 7.55? ss if so 563 8508 by 11pm....

I have easter bunny duties later in the day but hope to join the bunch til 10.30 or so The erskine bridge is a safe 40 minutes from the clubrooms so if leaving at 9 from Johnstone will be at Bridge South side just before 20 to 10 If leaving at 9.15 it is 5 to 10. I am up for a 9.00 departure so bridge a 20 to 10 south side 1/4 to 10 o'clock on the North side (Kenny?) I'd suggest onto Bowling then rejoin a82 Dumbarton - I'd suggest avoiding A814 to Helensburgh by going Bonhill follow through Jamestown and into Balloch. At the Roundabout at the National Park go straight then right at the next (don't go up to the A82) and then 2nd exit at the next one which should lead you up a road which is blocked to cars at the other end .This brings you out at Cameron House and then it's Duck Bay and then Arden. Go left at the Arden rbt straight across the crossroads (now a roundabout?) at the top of the Hill and into GlenFruin- alternatively go left then find Glen FRuin's turnoff on the right (I wouldn't) Come back by Sinclair st climb and over back to A82. I hope to be at clubrooms for a 9.oo depart but if not I'll be between there and the bridge. If anyone wants to join me I hope to be crossing the south side of the bridge about 7.25 (plus or minus a few minutes) and head along to Erskine then the Georgetown then Houston the Morrisons I will be out for a proper ride next week and the week after- one of these should be North Third Reservoir and the carron valley the other deepest ayrshire see you hopefully (bunny permitting) ss

Easter Sunday so I won't be out for long, if at all.... Will post up later- I'm hoping to come over for a bit... ss

While we are on the subject of the best way to spend £35...put this in your diary and spend the extra £27.50 on coffee and buns! Katrine Kapers : http://www.aukweb.net/cal/index.htm Johnstone 204 km Starting from: Johnstone, W Glasgow Google map Aerial view Date: Sunday 13th September 2009 Time: 08:00 Distance: 204 km Sunrise is at about 06:39 Sunset is at about 19:41 BST Metcheck weather AAA: 0 Total Climb: Ev No: 09-800 Category: BR Facilities: F L P R T X Fee: £7.50 Speeds: 15-30 kph Shoestring event few or no facilities or AUK controllers Parking free or reasonably priced, at start Toilets at the start Left luggage secure(ish) at the start Refreshments free or reasonably priced, at start and/or finish Food some free food and/or drink provided on the ride Body: Johnstone Whs Organiser: Campbell Crombie Address: 50 Dalhousie Rd Kilbarchan Johnstone PA10 2AT Phone: Email: [email protected] Event entry should be via snail mail to Campbell Crombie using a standard Event Entry Form or the organiser's own entry form, enclosing £7.5 payable to Campbell Crombie (ie not AUK), and two stamped addressed envelopes. Entries should arrive at least 2 weeks before the event.

good turn out today regulars, returnees, newbies, accidentally bumped into us etc etc 16 or 18 bodies at times three crashes (all low speed - one a comedy fall) two punctures (same wheel - check that rim tape) one great cafe stop and it didn't rain mid fifties miles - 56 ? average around 15 point something - everyone got round and the wind gave a great descent to Kilbirnie next week- Easter Bunny is coming so I may not be out- time for a run up the bowfield into darkest ayrshire I think? good to see so many out making a good effort

ok kenny steele we expect you 10 am @ the bridge... ss

ok guys clubrooms depart 9.20 onto cycle path to Morrisons TR onto road to Houston through Houston TR @ roundabout and along Georgetown TL at T junction at end (this might be about 9.40 but that's very approx. Through RBT to Erskine along to Bridge pick up at 10 at car park if there before 10 we will wait until 10. If there after that's because we are slow or puncture etc etc route then goes to Bishopton Turning right up the road that's now one way whicvh your not meant to then straight over the x roads onto the country road. I rode one way to Troon today 45 miles of misery into a headwind. It took me 1hour 15 to get on the cyclepath at Morrisons from Milngavie. Kenny- if you are coming I intend to leave at 8am from the house I may be running late because of the headwind and I am going out tonight - if you see a wobbly cyclist it might be me! If I am not there just carry on on the way to the Georgetown and Erskine hospital and I'll be plodding along the other way. Cheers ss

too late to buy a tag a long Anyway up to 3 or so it's a rear carrier seat then a front seat then a tag a long then a tandem....

That means south side of the bridge at the car park as you go into the hospital

I propose a Sun run meet clubrooms for 9.15 for 9.20 depature sharp if requested: (post this up) Erskine Bridge South Side Hospital Car Park 10 am for pick up- if then bishoptown Bishopton , road above Langbank by Gleddoch House and Finlaystone to woodhall through Port and Greenock Brisbane Glen to Largs Cafe stop on Main Street Haylie Brae John's Hill Home distance: no idea hilly-ness: flat and rolling with 2 half decent climbs time: 4 1/2 -5 hours? no idea really since i don't know distance usual rules- together on the flat / rolling re-group on proper climbs top and bottom who is up for it?

I will lead the ride if possible I am also probably but not defo riding to Troon via cycle path and Glengarnock to Kilwinning back road on saturday if anyone is interested - will post intention if so - sensible pace - quite flat so 16-17 mph? ss

It was Billy not David who went mountain biking at Bowling.... should check before posting! ss

Good ride today...apologies if I miss anyone out Chung, Frank, David, Martin Mc, Chris , Campbell and myself set off from the clubrooms at what was really just 8.15 in body clock terms. The strangest thing happened along the Georgetown as we thought Lesley was ahead waiting for us having heard about the cafe stop. It looked like her .... the hair was like her's..... However, it was Claire who was out for a recovery ride following yesterday's escapade..... over the bridge we picked up Kenny Christie and Mike and set off for Hardgate then the climb to Baljaffray. We had a near miss with an East Dunbartonshire Senior citizen at the wheel of his racing Astra (plain red - no metallic finish) Once on the Stockiemuir Mike, Campbell and Frank went for the hilly option, agreeing to meet us at the cafe, and they took in the Kyber and Cuilt Brae climbs. Atechnical with the chain and a "Who's got a chain tool?" moment sent Frank home early and cappucino-less We sat in the sun @ Drymen had the opportunity to see the multiple carrot cake and bacon roll combos disappear before setting off into a wee breeze to Croftamie and cycle route 7 to Jamestown / Bonhill. The road is nasty and busy from there for a bit even in these credit crunch times and we went for the cycle route to Old Kilpatrick where the one mishap of the day occurred when David decided to go mountain biking at the side of the path. All on again and up the hill to the bridge. Kenny, Chris and myself headed up to Baljaffray again this time getting a good run at the hill without anyone turning across our paths. The bunch should be rolling in about now. As can be the case we were a wee bit ragged at times..... blame who you will ......but we waited after every hill and got home together... Distance about mid 50s? Climb 3500 ? (That's feet) with another 600 for Frank's bunch So who is doing next week- How about Largs via Brisbane Glen, quick cafe stop if requested, Fairlie moor as an ad on if required? Same as today 15-16mph average.

ok over the bridge up to hardgate Baljaffray, option of Kyber and Cuilt followed by Stockiemuir then cafe then run home on route 7 which has had some quality resurfacing done on it , bridge and home Kenny 9.55 / 10 on bridge - just in case we reverse the route Chris 8.15Baljafrray junction w Hardgate rd We leave clubrooms approx 9.15- along the georgetown to the bridge

That isn't the blouse option the climb is almost the same and the raod is far worse to ride!\ ss

forgot abt clocks! ok let's leave the clubrooms at 9,15. This means barring unforeseen we should be at the bridge at 9.55 coming over the top. Who else is coming or who wants to do something else? ss

Ok a plan- Clubrooms for 9 am or 9.15 departure? Georgetown> bridge > bowling >cycle path to dumbarton, cycle route 7 to croftamie > Drymen cafe stop> return by route seven or the Stockiemuir option to include the hill behind Drymen between it and Gartmore if required Who is up for it? ss

Do we have a leader? Do we have a run? Drymen Cafe via Kyber and Crow? via Kyber via Route 7 or deepest Ayrshire sortie? ss