Big Al

Thanks Paul! Yes, managed to pull out an 8th place finish in the national 25.
 
I wasn't really feeling great after a busy week and a couple of injury tweaks but decided to ride anyway. I've got a good warmup routine going so got set up and ready to go.
 
There are a few dragging hills on the course, and these are what I was worried about, but I managed to keep up a good 25-27mph on most of them, and also negotiated the 15 or so roundabouts at a good speed too so kept the average speed up nicely. I really enjoyed the downhill and tailwind bits and was flying along at between 31-36mph.
 
I came in at the end with a 53:52, a good two and a half minutes up on my PB, and I sat in the GSK social club in the lead untill the last seven, and in the end, fastest riders. I was quite close to Ben in 7th, and a minute off 4th so quite pleased with the result at the end!

Thanks Paul! Yes, managed to pull out an 8th place finish in the national 25.
 
I wasn't really feeling great after a busy week and a couple of injury tweaks but decided to ride anyway. I've got a good warmup routine going so got set up and ready to go.
 
There are a few dragging hills on the course, and these are what I was worried about, but I managed to keep up a good 25-27mph on most of them, and also negotiated the 15 or so roundabouts at a good speed too so kept the average speed up nicely. I really enjoyed the downhill and tailwind bits and was flying along at between 31-36mph.
 
I came in at the end with a 53:52, a good two and a half minutes up on my PB, and I sat in the GSK social club in the lead untill the last seven, and in the end, fastest riders. I was quite close to Ben in 7th, and a minute off 4th so quite pleased with the result at the end!

Well done to all and thanks to Jane, Graham & Mary for timekeeping.
 
Another routinely outstanding time from Al and a great effort from Carol to pip the women's prize.
 
P.S. I owe dosh for tonight - will pay next time - Mary omitted to settle on my account - must be jet lag!
 
Iain

A good turn out on a reasonably good night on the West Ferry, 13 riders took on the slight breeze on the way out and a slightly stiffer headwind on return than expected! At least the rain stayed away!!
 
I'll do finish order first, then category riders/prizes
 
In order of speed:
 
Karen G. 29:50
Carol. 29:11
Dave. 28:27
James McK 27:10
John S. 26:59
Greg. 25:10
Alan T. 24:14
Mike F. 24:06
Billy. 23:54
Iain A. 23:24
Couttie. 23:15
Mr Cowden. 22:55 PB!
Big Al. 20:39

I think the key word there was "refreshments" Billy

Here is a link to assorted photos and a couple of videos from tonight's ride. Well done to all who took part and a particular welcome to new member Ian Archibald.
 
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=108471197075695942039&target=ALBUM&id=6018220451530098673&authkey=Gv1sRgCNro_Z6Zi-iEowE&feat=email
 
If you want a better photo Graham says cycle slower!

Well done to everyone & congratulations to all the winners & PBers!
 
Great photos from Mr & Mrs F by the way.
 
Chung

Congratulations Al. Another mighty fine time
 
Chapeau Mr Cowden on the PB !!
 
 

Thanks Jane & Graham for timekeeping,lovely cake and photos
 
Well done to everyone hard work but worth doing also thanks to Mary & big Al
 
Carol & Dave :banana

Silicon spray the surrounding area ? I despair ! This is why Chung spends half his ride time sorting out other peoples mechanicals Well, SOMEbody got screwed !

A good turn out on a reasonably good night on the West Ferry, 13 riders took on the slight breeze on the way out and a slightly stiffer headwind on return than expected! At least the rain stayed away!!
 
I'll do finish order first, then category riders/prizes
 
In order of speed:
 
Karen G. 29:50
Carol. 29:11
Dave. 28:27
James McK 27:10
John S. 26:59
Greg. 25:10
Alan T. 24:14
Mike F. 24:06
Billy. 23:54
Iain A. 23:24
Couttie. 23:15
Mr Cowden. 22:55 PB!
Big Al. 20:39

Categories as above, maybe a fastest on road bike depending on turnout.
 
Prizes will be awarded at presentation night in Nov.

It's the Club Championships Frank Lauder 10TT, there will be prizes and trophies, hopefully we can see a good attendance after some woeful turn out for club events so far this year

I think the key word there was "refreshments" Billy

Thank you! Another 24 seconds off my PB, down to 20:20, 1m4secs faster than I've been on the Westferry so far

Tuesday 27th May and it's time for the Frank Lauder Memorial, the club 10 mile individual time trial championships. Open to every member
 
The course is the West Ferry:
Meet at 18:45 for first rider off at 19:00.
 
Can someone please volunteer for timekeeping.

Billy, I was 6 seconds behind Silas and 24 behind Ben

Sorry can't make it going out for a run in the even warmer sunshine

Reaches parts the Renfrew bunch can't reach, Andy.

A full field of 60 on an overcast but largely dry night on the Drumclog circuit. Lots of decent riders in the field and a particularly classy turnout from the Gales, who must have had at least seven in the race. Me and Paul McD for the Wheelers after Colin's mechanical problems and Andy's sore back. Mul providing roadside support and a pre-race pep talk. A stiff headwind on the way out; a fast run-in to Strathaven with the wind at our backs.

Keen to avoid a repeat of last year's early bath, I was riding in the front 15 of the bunch when the comms pulled in the neutralised flag. Felt OK on the way out to the first turn. The surges always come as a shock to the system but it was manageable. A few chancers cutting across the white line and moving up the bunch on the wrong side of the road. Paul McD doing his usual floating-through-the-head-of-the-field routine. (This magic trick began with the roll-out. I was sitting 12 riders from the front, waiting in the queue for the race car to lead us out. Paul's leaning on a wall, talking to some folk about 20 yards behind me. As soon as the race car starts to move, Paul's directly behind it, close enough to touch the bumper with his tongue!)

Anyway, a quarter of a mile from the first ascent of the climb to Dungavel, I look behind me and find that I'm the last man and somehow at the back of the bunch. Hanging on for dear life up the climb with the juniors throwing their tiny featherweight bodies into the slope with venom. Safely back in the pack at the end of the first lap.

Second lap, second time up the climb and I'm starting to cramp. Can't really stand up so I have to sit and spin like mad. Dropped near the top but I managed to get myself back on before Brown's Bridge after two and a bit miserable miles of chasing. End of the second lap and I'm safely in the bunch, but resigned to the fact that the final time up the climb on lap three, I'm toast.

So, lap three out of Strathaven and into the wind again. Paul's now about four riders in front of me, looking good. Maybe about 20-25 riders left in the bunch. Not totally sure about that. Jason Barnes and Nicky Cronin are off the front together. The sky over Drumclog is very, very dark and it's starting to rain. We arrive at the foot of the piggery climb for the final time. I'm not dead last, but I'm still at the wrong end of the bunch. Before we get onto the slope there's a crash in front of me on the outside. A couple of riders down, including Lewis Mul, I think. A slow-motion wheel slip. Nobody hurt. I go round the rider on the deck and onto the climb. Spin, spin, spin, but my body's had enough for today. I move to the side and wave the cars through before spelling about over the last five miles with a guy from Icarus.

Even without the crash, I was always going to get dropped on that last ascent. Too far back and too many matches burnt already. The crash victim I overtook at the foot of the climb remounted and left me for dead before the summit! Lewis Mul finished fourth overall, second in the bunch sprint after the breakaway stuck. Nicky Cronin from the Glasgow Wheelers took the win. Paul McD finished safely in the bunch. Jason from the Gale was second. No' bad for a TT-er! :-D

Great race, great course. Really well-marshalled; riders (on the whole) looking out for each other. A lovely atmosphere in Sandford village hall with kids helping their parents out with the food and the sign on. Well done, East Kilbride RC!

B race for me tonight and i did a bit better. Felt comfortable in the bunch, rather than hanging on the back and then getting dropped. Partly it was a bit slower although my fastest lap tonight was better than ive done in previous weeks so partly it recovery from injury and finding a bit of form and getting to know the course better as i was able to carry more speed through the corners that were giving me difficulty previously. Anyway i didnt do any work at all only moved up the group if someone attacked so i could get mark any moves if someone tried to bridge. I had no intention of bridging myself though! Last lap a sizeable group (i think about 12) still together, i moved up on the double corner before the back straight but someone drifted off their line and i had to go on the grass. It didnt slow me much but i lost a few positions so had to make my way through again through the zig zag (someone near the front was forced onto the grass here so i made up a place because of that) then by the final bend i was sitting about 5th then round the bend and into the sprint, managed to overtake one guy on the corner gap then chased down the guy in 3rd. Soon as he checked his shoulder i knew i had him However i didnt have enough distance left to get 1st or 2nd. Happy with 3rd, but feel i had the speed to have gone better if i'd made it through the final corner 2nd or 3rd wheel which had been my intention - but presumably also the intention of everyone else too!
 
There is a new feature on strava that lets you track riders that have passed the same gps co-ordinates as you on a ride, makes for a virtual race playback. Perhaps not very interesting for a crit that ends up in a group sprint but will be good to see for road races to see when winning moves and attacks are made.
 
http://labs.strava.c...W8IHeFvCNYFcAg=
 
Anyway ive typed too much - still buzzing a bit (from the race that is ive not been following the Boonen recreational activities!)

Thanks Alan!
 
Yes Iain, it was a 20:44 which is 11 seconds off my PB from 2 weeks ago, the course just suits my power profile really well being reasonably flat and in a straight line! Will really need to get a power meter some time soon as that's how everyone else rides it, I just go off heart rate and cadence (which I have really been experimenting with over the last few 10's).
 
It was a steady ride and I didn't think it was fast until about 2 minutes to go, I still find it hard to judge where I am on that course, it just all looks the same! I was still fairly battered after Wednesday night on the A77, that is a tough course, and yesterday was my fourth 10 in 8 days. I think the thing that really made the difference was a good 1hour warm up, getting there early, and being in a good organised routine! It sounds utterly daft, and it's the simple things, but having a pop-up gazebo has also made things much more comfortable for getting ready and warming up in, I had 3 of the top 7 riders over begging a shot for their warm ups too!
 
Thanks for all the nice comments and encouragement, it does make a difference, hopefully there's plenty more good riding still to come, I'm looking forward to a float night on the Westferry

Didnt realise there were other Wheelers riding! Hope you all enjoyed yourself
 
Was an enjoyable event. Pleased with my time and also my sprint placing, have much to improve on with the king of the mountain section though. Highlight was towards the end - there is a tough little climb at Logierait that catches riders unaware because most are in the big ring then take a corner directly onto a steep slope which is hidden from view. Anyway because i knew it was coming i'd changed down in advance and overtook a guy on a Boardman bike who was also wearing Boardman top...it was only after i noticed these things that i realised it was Chris Boardman himself.

Cheers
Sounds painful so will stick to wheel sucking

Thanks very much everyone, it means a lot!

Thanks very much everyone, it means a lot!