KennyS

Just a brilliant day out on the bike with Chung today. Big thanks due to him for helping to pull my fat ass round Flanders. Can't wait for the next instalment of his adventures. 
Pic of the Joansin family at the finish. 

Hi Folks,
Well, here I am in Flanders again, this will be my 4th time in 5 years & certainly will be my longest stay thus far!
Traveled from Glasgow yesterday early morning, 12 hours later I was in Brussels.
Sitting in my hotel room last night, I was thinking - why am I here?! I’m missing home already & worrying about the busy traffic outside (I’m staying just across from the Eurostar terminal & it’s not the best part of town) & if I will manage to get out of this busy city without bother   All I had was my IPhones google map app & some old fashion paper map ........ I was nervous ..... & my last minute change of plan (only 2 days prior setting off) carrying 2 rear panniers instead of my original single “trunk bag” had me really worried, I only manage a wee test ride of 5 minutes around my street on Tuesday & I did not enjoy it  
Needless to say, I didn’t have a very good night sleep :-/
Fortunetly, shortly after I set off from the hotel this morning, all my worries & concerns prior quickly vanished, I guess my question from the night before had been answered, once I started riding the bike, everything just felt fine  ....... great even :-) That was why I was here!
Despite the busy Brussels roads, the driving & cycle paths are just first class, I felt safe & riding with the rear panniers wasn’t that bad either!
A quick detour into Geraardsbergen was a good call & definitely the only time I would be able to stop & admire the place! The App did not show were the Kapelmuur was so I stopped & asked an auld local who understandably did not speak English, but the “Muur” is famous, he apologises & appointed straight on & left, but he did warn me though :-) - Check my Strava photo please!
The Mulholland & I had planned to meet in Oudenaarde in the afternoon so I made my way there hoping to have lunch with them. As I left Geraardsbergen, I spotted a bike shop & quickly stopped & chap the door, it was shut but the man let me in anyway, I was missing a bar tape end plug (it fell off in the a Eurostar transit) & the tape was about to come loose, not ideal for tomorrow!
Anyway, he sorted me out & as I left he told me he was a pro rider, his name was Tony Bracke & use to ride for Lotto :-) I asked him did he rode with Cadel Evans :-) maybe that’s why he thought I was Australian ..... haha!
He gave me one of his old autograph card - €7 well spent!
Met up with the Muls & now back in my hotel, getting ready for tomorrow ......... & it’s raining outside :-/
Not to worry, I’m sure everything will be just fine when we start pedalling!
Cheers
Chung

ok Stevie
It is 56 miles around arran. The classic challenge is the single loop between to 0700 ferry and the return at 1105. effective time once you get off ferry and get back on in time is 2h45m which means an average just over 20mph for the 56 miles. It is challenging as the roads are twisting turning up and down which means lots of braking and hits the average. Approx 20 people are in the hall of fame for the single. Once you do that which I think you definetly could do, there are  4 other halls of fame.
1) The 56+50 which is one single plus a second loop with a minor short cut, this between 2 ferries (5 in this Hall of fame)
2) The solo single (3 have done this)
3) The new kid on the block, the winter single which must be on winter bike and winter ferry timetable (4 people attempted this winter but no one done it yet)
4) The mythical and immortal DA, the Double Arran, 112 miles at average 20mph (2 in this Hall with lots of help from super domestiques). You should definetly set your sights on this as it will truly change your life. It will also cripple you for a week
am I selling it
 
 

You've just made Paul McDonalds DAy 

CTT Scotland are proposing to have a Season long Sporting Courses Series for 2019 and are inviting clubs to have their event included in the series. We currently have four events in 2018 that could form a basis of the series ie Carrick CC Hilly TT , The Ballachulish TT  , Tour of Loch Ken and the Tour of the Trossachs which gives a spread from April to October. These events will appeal to the "purists"  and the  "roadies" and will give a season long objective for all. If you would like to have your event included in the series for 2019 please get in touch. Any suggestions on format or overall awards would be welcomed and considered by the committee.    
 Best regards  Bill McMillan Secretary CTT Scotland

Fun night.  First was a 40 lap points, group of 4 of us had small gap and i won the 2nd sprint and continued riding thinking the others were going to do the same. They sat up though. Decided to push on and got about half a lap but then the bunch started chasing and it came back together a lap before the next sprint and i couldnt respond. Recovered a bit for the final one got a 4th in that i think and 4th overall. Next was scratch. Few attempts to get a break going but nothing stuck but still thinned the field. About midway through i somehow got dazzled (maybe a camera flash or looking at the light) and was seeing stars in my left eye...not good! However despite that should eally should have done better in the final sprint was 2nd wheel with 3 to go  to go but waited too long and ended up getting boxed in and not really able to sprint ended up 5th or 6th. Devil...felt comfortable but made a mistake when it was down to 6 riders, i thought it was 8 left and i was trying to work myself out of a box thinking there were a couple of riders still behind me. There wasnt! My worst result in the elimination all winter i think.
Anyway was an enjoyable season, 19 race evenings with 1 cancelled for snow.  Had intended to do less this year but it gets addictive and im a lost cause
 
 

Kenny, I have a bike box available.

That was some experience. After puncture, jacket zipping issues and road work closures and having to dodge diggers and holes in the road I managed to just miss the ferry (I know how you felt Robbie!). Having said that there is something addicting about it and I dont think this is the end . I must say, one thing that kept me going is the amazing views that I managed to take in every now and then in the head down tt mode position.
Thanks Paul and Michael for trying to get back to me, but seems like it wasn't meant to be this time...

The myth of the Arran challenge grows ! Destiny plays its hand again.
ToDAy did not quite go to plan but that is what makes the challenge the challenge. Set off fine and DAndy and rolled through first 10 miles at a good pace. Then the shenanigans started. Michael got an impact puncture, turned out sidewall ripped. Repaired it and set off in the knowledge that if Michael punctured again, as was likely, then we other two would continue. In the course of this repair I somehow knackered the zip on my jacket and so could not close it at all. Galeb mADe and excellent improvised suggestion and I tied the knackered tube round my midriff like a dressing gown to try and get some chest coverage from my jacket. So we set off with Michael on front planning to bury himself until the tube inevitably poked out through the hole and punctured. He duly punctured again about 2 miles on and Galeb and I continued. I had some discomfort from the tied tube and cold chest but not compared to the discomfort of trying to hold Galebs wheel. So I shouted to Galeb to continue and turned back to see if Michael ok with second puncture. I met up with Michael and we returned to Brodick for tea and scones.  Then headed up the east coast to hopefully meet Galeb and assist him at the end. As we rode out of Brodick we saw that the road to Lochranza was closed and had a diversion ! We continued on thinking Galeb might have ignored the diversion and rode around whatever works were taking place. When we did not see him we rode back to ferry. Unbelievably Michael punctured again within 500m of ferry so walked the last bit. Guy at ferry said a cyclist had gone on boat so we thought maybe Galeb went over the String when he saw diversion signs somewhere on other side of island. However he was not on boat it was another guy.
Have spoke to Galeb and he did indeed continue past the diversion signs and missed the ferry by minutes riding round the bay as the ferry floated off the pier. A fine effort indeed. And of course that means a 3 hour wait during the winter timetable for next ferry.
Michael now very motivated to do this challenge. Me too. Now that Galeb has scoped it out I'm sure he will crack it if he wants to, had he carried on at the puncture incident he woukd have made it.

 
 
 
 

CTT Scotland are proposing to have a Season long Sporting Courses Series for 2019 and are inviting clubs to have their event included in the series. We currently have four events in 2018 that could form a basis of the series ie Carrick CC Hilly TT , The Ballachulish TT  , Tour of Loch Ken and the Tour of the Trossachs which gives a spread from April to October. These events will appeal to the "purists"  and the  "roadies" and will give a season long objective for all. If you would like to have your event included in the series for 2019 please get in touch. Any suggestions on format or overall awards would be welcomed and considered by the committee.    
 Best regards  Bill McMillan Secretary CTT Scotland

Enjoyable afternoon.
Points i was a little frustated - won a sprint and felt like i had legs to do better but race didnt pan out as i thought it would. Scratch was better with 3rd.  Was  hard and tried to help push onthe pace ended up maybe a group of 6 or 7 with a lap,  couple of passengers in this group soft tapping through or double switching. Of course by time sprint came round i was cooked while they were fresh so couldnt pass them.  Devil, my usual tactic, survived until the bell but then the lights went out couldnt respond to the kick and finished 3rd. Pretty pleased with all that it was a tough B group today, harder than a normal Wednesday.
 
Cedric got a 2nd in the A devil so good return to track for him!

Why not have ride  one leg  of the Georgetown?
Just need 2 timekeepers and a holder

Winter Solo Single 
Where do I begin.
Last night I was visualising my moment of glory on the Hall of fame.
Arrived on Arran this morning with nothing but positive vibes, winter bike metal frame full muddies rear light but chose to ditch the front to go for the title. Set off on a steady pace and feeling good, weather was meant to be sunny but still foggy.
Half way round, 5 minutes behind the summer pace, first negative thought creeps in but crack on.
36 miles, 2 hours dead, means 20 miles in 45ish minutes, games a bogey but again I'll crack on. 
Got to the top of Lochranza climb with 30 minutes until the ferry leaves, bottle empty and a wee packet of wiggle haribo, I can make it, I've lost my minerals!
Rode as hard as I could, really really  struggling by this point, missed the boat by 5 minutes.
I'm writing this still on Arran, next boat is 2hrs 40 minutes later, ouch!
On the plus side I don't think I'll have a harder training ride this winter, rode in  Z4 for 1hr 2min and Z5 for 1 hr 52min!
Anyone who completes the Winter Solo is a strong man!
Cheers

GuARRANteed Paul will eventually work up to recruiting a bunch of TA squaddies!!.......what have I done???!!!

Good news, Robbie although I note that your wife was initially just angry. She is now pregnant & angry.
busy few days?

Team JWCC
 
The doctor said it was ok for me to think about Arran one or two days a week. So I did.
 
ToDAy I thought it would be splendid to extend the Arran challenge a little further. We have the SA(single Arran) the SS (solo single), the 56 +50 and the DA (mythical and immortal DA).
 
Clearly that is not enough. So we need to add the WSA (winter single Arran). To qualify it requires that you must do it during the winter ferry timetable (Oct to March) and it must be on your recognised winter bike with muddies.
 
That may well lead to a WSS (winter solo single) etc.
 
Just sayin like.
 
But I would be up for this one SaturDAy if the weather looked benign.
 

Bit of a mixed night for me - 1st up was a points race, did the usual attack got some points. Small group of us were then about to take a lap with 3 to go....i held back after losing the race a couple of weeks ago largely due to taking the lap and missing out on points. Aim was go high, keep about 20metres behind so im the front of the race but close enough to get the sprint and the lap at the same time. Of course  my cunning plan fell apart when the comm signalled that the front of the bunch was the head of the race and they got the bell not me. Lesson learned dont try and be smart. However felt good and enjoyed it so thats the main thing, Next was a scratch and i didnt really do anything then it was an olympic devil and i didnt do anything there either so pretty frustrating end to the night as i didnt feel like i managed a proper sprint - had to back off due to couple of riders drifting up and it getting a bit close to the advert boards!

I've entered B group. And I have factored in a severe kicking for the next few Wednesdays !
No pain no gain

DA18™©

Big shout out to Schoolboy Matti D for taking on the newcomers and continuing his unbeaten run in the Group A Elimination this season
 
Youth Gears as well
 
C'mon the Jets :-)

Big shout out to Schoolboy Matti D for taking on the newcomers and continuing his unbeaten run in the Group A Elimination this season
 
Youth Gears as well
 
C'mon the Jets :-)

Fun night in the Bs. Started off with a scratch, think i was in the top 5 but no idea where was 3 or 4 of us in a line across the line. After that another scratch - made a bit of an arse of this, i thought it said 2 to go on the lap counter so moved up and started sprinting, then next time around it was still  saying 2 to go so hesitated. Should have just gone for it. After that a points race, had a few attempts to get a break going, eventually worked but then too many in it and it broke down a bit but kept at it and things thinned out a little again. 4th in one of the sprints and 2nd in the final. No idea where that placed me. Last up devil, usual tactic for the most part and managed to hang on until the bell but after that nothing left to sprint so ended up rolling in 3rd.
 
Result of the night Matti winning the A devil, chapeau 

Finish 482 Paul Leavy 334 14:52:21 5:22:21 MV40 Johnstone Wheelers Finished      
Good to know our boy is safely in, looking forward to the report!    

For some of us, it's simply "the bike" summer, winter, whatever!

Got an entry... was sure I wouldnt, I think im meant to be happy

OK this it getting very embarrassing. I actually have a place in the race, got email this morning. I apparently entered it online about a month ago !
Anyone else ?