Dennis

Why don't you guys come over to Blackwood next Sunday (13th) and form a faster group to Peebles and back (setting off a few minutes in front of the other group at 9.25). You'll not only get a 100 rolling miles in, but you'll do it on completely different roads (mostly good surfaces), in the absolutely wonderful scenery of the Borders AND get goodies at the end. If this idea appeals to you, I'll try and do a map-thingy Dennis

Hi David, If your mate is comfortable with bunch riding, and fit enough for the distance, it would be great to see you both there. So, we have:- Mike Chung Lesley Frank Richard David David's mate me myself a group from the Royal Albert Would be great to see more Johnstone Jerseys... Any more takers? Still spaces available Dennis

Only two weeks to go. This run is intended to be a platform for displaying stamina over a very long distance and hilly terrain. High speed is not the priority. The group will keep together, as it did last year, so there won't be sprints off the front, nor plane-crashes at the back. Riding such a distance in this way allows us to 'know ourselves' better over a long distance, and therefore how to handle what other long distance events, such as sportives etc ,may throw at us. Apart from all that, it will be fun In order that transport arrangements can be made, here's the when and how: Sunday 13th April, meeting at the carpark of Blackwood Hall. The run leaves there at 9.30am, so you should aim to be there for about 9.00. Allow about an hour from the Johnstone area. Soup, cakes etc afterwards at our place, about 100 yards from the car park. Directions from Johnstone: M8 through Glasgow Follow signs for Carlisle - M73 South Follow signs for Carlisle - M74 South Come off M74 at J8 and follow signs for Blackwood [left at foot of ramp off M74, 300 yards to Canderside Roundabout turn left on B7078 to Blackwood - 3.5 miles enter village and turn left after half a mile, at mini cross-roads (Southfield Road) Car park is 100 yards on the right.] If you reach Lesmahagow, turn back 2 miles... So far we have: Mike Chung Lesley Frank (verbal) Please can you post if you would like to come on this ride. It would be great to see you there. Oh yes, and just a reminder that there will be a voluntary collection box available, in aid of Wishaw Hospital Cardio Unit. I have been asked by a club member for the name of the appropriate payee for cheque donations, and I hope to have this shortly, and will post later. Dennis

Nine of us left the clubroom - Chung, Mike, Frank (single freewheel, 150 inch gear), Lesley, Mark, Colin, David, myself and, for a few miles before he turned off, George. We went over the Erskine Bridge, up the Kyber Pass, then across to Lennoxtown and up the Crow Road. A group of six climbed steadily and we all regrouped at the top, before descending to Fintry against a stiff wind. Over to Killearn, where Mark, Colin and David (who did extremely well on what was only his second club run) deposited the others at a tearoom. But the Inn was full so we went over to Drymen and lay back in the conservatory enjoying soup, bacon rolls, cake, tea and coffee. Then the 28 miles back to Johnstone, by which time we had covered about 75 miles. Back at the car at 4.40pm (the same day). There were what must have been a record number of punctures (six), which probably held us back for over an hour. A good ride, in good company, on terrible road surfaces, with reasonable weather for the time of year. Dennis

I hope to be there too, Chung. It was the cafe stop that did it.... Dennis

Just four weeks on Sunday and you'll have the chance to take part in what is becoming an annual event - to ride long distance over some beautiful Border roads and scenery. Last year's ride was enjoyed by all. Here's this year's general route - leaving Blackwood at 9.30am, Biggar, Blyth Bridge, over the Meldons, Peebles, lunch at the Hub cafe at Glentress, Stobo, Biggar Rigside, and free soup n stuff at Blackwood. Cafe stops optional both ways. (Lunch and cafe stops are not free. ) There's no entry fee, but as mentioned in the previous post, there will be a voluntary collection box available, in aid of heart monitor equipment for Wishaw Hospital. You never know, this could also help other cyclists. As it would be useful to guage the likely numbers, for catering purposes, organisation, and general nosiness, please can you put your hand up if you intend to take part in this ride. It would be great to see as many Johnstone Wheelers as possible. It is also hoped that some riders from Clydedale will be joining us. According to www.guaranteedgoodweather.com, it will be a sunny, dry day with tail winds both ways. Dennis

I was in the 70 mile 'gentlemens' group which left Lochwinnoch 5 minutes behind the FAST group. Martin obviously wasn't too worried about the two groups merging. There were only 5 in our group, myself, James from Royal Albert, Ramsay and Mike from the Johnstone and one rider from the Ivy. The sun shone for the first couple of hours or so, till we got to Largs, then the rain took over. We picked up Darryl and Black Bob, who 'elected to leave the fast group' near Gateside, then were just about to catch 4 from another dropped group, when one of them punctured and we lost the chance of a bunch of 12 against the wind. Black Bob dropped off the back without ceremony then there were 6, till we picked up another dropped rider, who split off up the Haily Brae at Largs, along with James and Darryl. Then there were 4. The wind and rain made it hard, but the pace continued to be good, till we reached Port Glasgow, where we turned up the Clune. For those who don't know this hill, you don't want to. Mike and I went up at our own pace and Ramsay and the Ivy rider went on, never to be seen again. At the top, I thought we should turn left but Mike said straight on, which erroneusly took us up another monster of a hill on the way over the top of another Inverclyde mountain called the Whin, with the wind on the nose. We turned left and were angled by a strong cross wind as we made our way over the undulations - ie, hills - on the 10 mile section back to Lochwinnoch. Our mileage was 2 or 4 more than is should have been, at just over 70, which we did in 4 hours 5 mins or so. Then we found out that most of the riders cut the route short by going up the Haily Brae... Well done to all the organisers and to everyone who contributed to the takings. Roll on next year. Dennis

The remaining 6 of the 9.30 group left Dalry and went down to Kilwinning, then over to Auchentibber, and up the 737 motorway all the way up to Lugton, where we turned left at the Paraffin Lamp (or is it now the Canny Man?), then turned right then left to Rigfoot, before going down the usual road to Howood via Bowfield, and back to Johnstone. Jim and Dennis had a wee sprint, at the 30s. Jim wasn't second. The total distance was 75 miles. These few words do nothing to describe the strength of the head winds, the amount of water on the coast roads and the single file pace at times; or the joy of the tailwinds, the dry roads and the sunshine later on. Jim showed his usual classy self by switching on his monogear up hill and down dale, without the slightest sign of extra breath being exhaled. Campbell was seen alternately riding off the front and the back (which attracted a certain amount of vocal attention from the group), and there seems no end to his strength. I would like to see him ride with a number on his back. Frank, please get an entry form for Campbell. Lesley typically rode strongly and steadily throughout, even although there were no cafe stops. Mike was, as usual, a workhorse who says he doesn't like hills, but that is not reflected in his riding style. Seb, who is returning to such runs after a bad accident last year, rode strongly till that awkward section between Kilwinning and Auchentibber, when he hit the wall. We ignored his requests to go on without him, and we all came back to the clubroom more or less together. Once we left the busy roads and got into the hilly bits, yours truly felt better the benefit of his pills , getting out a bit more on his bike, and reducing his intake of dairy fats! Overall, it was a good run and thanks to Jim and his wife for the great soup, and to Davie for staying to serve it and clean up afterwards. Fantastic. Dennis

Hi Chung, I hope to be there at 9.30, weather permitting. Referring to Kenny's initial post, a 9am start obviously does not suit me, given that I'm travelling about 40 miles just to get there. Also, when Aileen wishes to come along on a club run, it takes half an hour to get to the clubroom from her house. So, if an amalgamation of either the meeting place or run or both is ever going to take place (and there have been several public views as to why it should), 9.30 would be preferable to us. Anyway, it would also give Martin a long lie every Sunday! Dennis

Hi Lesley, You’re right. It’s a tender subject, but I have taken a note, to coin a phrase, to fit a pay as you go box on the toilet door in loo of a bog-standard collection box, for convenience. Dennis

After last year’s successful run on Borders roads, another one is planned this year. The timing of this run will fit in with Sportive and personal training programmes. What’s more, the roads hopefully will be clear of salt, so it should be time to get out the good bikes! There will be some subtle changes to the route, with fewer BIG hills, but still lots of WEE-ER ones. Café stops are optional both ways and lunch will again be at the Hub MTB Café, near Peebles. Magnificent views, great Borders back roads with mostly good road surfaces, are not optional, but mandatory! Morag has again kindly volunteered to lay on soup, cakes and tea at our place after the run. One of the many reasons for the success of last year’s run was the fact that the bunch kept together all the way. This will be our aim again this year, as well as to finish a 100 mile run as freshly as we started! It can be done you know; we proved it last year… Some of you may know that I have had a heart rhythm problem over the last year and a half, and I’m glad to say that it’s now been resolved. As a way of saying ‘thank you’ to the local hospital, I would like to make available, on the day of the run, a voluntary fund-raising box. The proceeds from this will go some way towards the purchase of pocket cardio-memos, as the hospital has a shortage of these instruments. These are used to record what the heart is actually doing when a patient experiences heart rhythm problems, and if one had been available to me, my problem would have been resolved much earlier. Maybe I wouldn’t have been dropped on the climbs quite so often! Any contributions to this cause would be gratefully received. Finally, it’s hoped we’ll be joined by members of the Royal Albert, as well as other local riders. More details to follow nearer the time. Dennis

I'll have to miss this run, as I need to be back early. Will be cycling locally, to get back for......decorating Have a good one on Sunday everyone! Dennis

Have a good one lads, am over in the east this weekend - will get a hard time out with Dave and Kevin ramorra. Dennis

Ok I'm a bad planner - too wet n windy! Dennis

I plan to be there, regardless of the weather Looking forward to a good bunch run. With cafe stop Dennis

Sorry you can't be with us tomorrow, Leslie, and I hope you feel better soon. For the rest of us, I believe there's a cafe down the Clyde somewhere, where we might have a Yuletide plate of soup... and a cup of coffee...and a bacon roll... and a bit of cake... Dennis

Aileen and I will be out on the tandem tomorrow for a couple of hours or so, probably down the coast so far before turning back. Hope to see the usual suspects and, of course, anyone else. Dennis

I won't be out this week, but will be taking Aileen out on the tandem on Sunday 23rd, and will be able to do so on some of the following Sundays too. However, if someone can help out this week, we can take it from there. I would also be happy to 'take' the 9.30 run on the same day, if required (provided the bunch is kind to the tandem on the hills!). So, please post for tandem and leader duties this Sunday. Thanks. Dennis

Kenny, I know you weren't happy about making the minutes available online (for example, as the Edinburgh Road Club do), and assume that the committee also takes this view. However, in order to avoid the need for someone to open the clubrooms to make the minutes available for the Sunday runs groups, is the next best solution not to simply issue the minutes to members by a simple attachment to an email? I know of other organisations that use this method. Is there any strong reason why the JWCC couldn't do this? Dennis

Hi Kenny, Why is it not "feasible" to make the minutes available to members online? Would it not be possible to allow members access by special registration? For your information, the Edinburgh Road Club makes the minutes of their meetings and AGM openly available to members and public alike, without any special registration at all. http://www.edinburghroadclub.co.uk/jsp/docs_index.jsp Dennis

Well, apart from the bad news we got about Kenny, that was a fantastic weekend. We missed the worst of the bad weather - ice, rain and head winds - both days, and even had lots of sunshine. Thanks to Darryl for organising, Alan for taking the bags both ways in his car, and to everyone else for their company. Kenny, I hope you are out of the pain zone and on the mend. Below is a link to 21 of the pics taken on the trip. Sorry about the quality of some of them, but I'm not used to the new camera yet. The movie I took of Paul singing 'Leavin' on a jet plane' wouldn't copy over, I'm afraid. Also, I couldn't get the pics copied over in the right order, but hopefully the captions will give a clue! Dave Philip really enjoyed it too and we may yet see a post from him. http://flickr.com/photos/21245902@N07/?saved=1 Dennis

Aye, c'mon Frank, we need your banter as you spin that big fixed gear up to Wanlockhead! Dennis

Hi Darryl, Don't have one of these things, but I do have two elastic ropes and can bring one for you on Saturday. Forgot to mention in my last post that the hostel does have a coin-operated tumble dryer, but I'm told that a load would take 20 mins which, given the potential numbers of people wanting to use it, would likely take too long. Anyway, the weather will be fine! Dennis

You may be interested to know, for bag-packing purposes that, unlike the old days, the hostel doesn't have a drying room. The radiators can be used and there is a pulley in the kitchen, but if 17 of us are a' drippin' wet? Naw! Looking forward to a great weekend. Dennis

Hi all, Just found out from the hotel in Leadhills that the Wanlockhead pub is closed Monday and Tuesday and opens about 5pm Wednesday. Could anyone not going to spinning tomorrow night call them after 5, find out if they can take us, 'book it up', and post the position here. If we are stuck, the Hopetoun Arms Hotel in Leadhills, a mile down the road, say they will be happy to take us and they have a good range of pub food. For the purpose of coming back to the hostel after the meal and a drink, it would be a bit of a climb back to the hostel in the dark. Lights would be required. Here's the web link: http://www.hopetounarms.co.uk/ Dennis