Colin H

I'm in for that. I take it the usual 0930 start time applies? How about a wee trip out to Moscow to refresh memories blunted by the pain of racing last year, in preperation for this year ? Colin

Anybody fancy a wee run out on Wednesday. Looking to close out 2008 with a nice steady ride, maybe down the coast, before the pure suffering for 2009 comes along Suggest leaving Millar Street at about 0930 wherever the destination may be. Martin, I know you were looking to get out on Tuesday but unfortunatly I can't make it. All the best for the New Year to those I don't see before Colin.

Having just read the local paper to find that the development plans for the ROF site at Bishopton have been given the go ahead (housing and industrial units) I would suggest that the Georgetown straights could shortly be disrupted by a couple of roundabouts While good news for my profession it would certainaly inflict a blow on my hobby. I would bet on at least two roundabouts appearing. Any advances on that???????? Anybody interested in a TT bike that may be for sale? Colin

In an attempt to quell the rumours that the Joansin is a fair weather cycling club I did my best yesterday to fly the flag on what was a pretty miserable day Turned up at the club house for 0910 for the 0915 run and nobody showed Waited until 0930 and still nobody showed So off I set down the track to Lochwinnoch, up John's hill, over to Kilmacolm, back into Quarriers and home. Approx 30 miles total, in conditions that were similar to but not as bad as the Braveheart . Hope to see some of you out over the festive season. Have a Merry christmas and a Happy New Year all. Colin

Hope to make it along for this if that's ok.... Been ill earlier this week and have now recovered (hopefully) so will tag along as long as possible and bail out when popped Colin

Will provide perfect build up to the new season ahead as the more I eat over the Christmas period the harder the intervals will be Build for the new season now....... Just give me a push whenever you see me out Colin

What can I say?????? An absolute mare of a ride!!!!!! Just goes to show that the wheelers is certainly worth being a part of as all the stops get pulled out when you are in trouble. A big thanks to new member Kenny for his assistance in trying to piece together my broken chain but unfortunately it was a lost cause. Even bigger thanks to Kenny Mac and Davie W for the push back into Neilston which proved to be good interval training (for Kenny at least ) It would have taken me ages without you guys and even when in Nielston I would have been beaten without Kenny Mac's knowledge of former members. And last but not least to the former member (sorry I have forgotten your name)for the lift back home. I did offer to return the favour of a push back home when we passed Kenny and Davie further up the road On returning home BBJ visited with a replacment chain so that I can make up for lost time today (now thats what you call service ) Once again thanks to all who helped and apologies to the others whose ride was rather interupted Colin

"Something a bit broader to float on the sand, with lugs out the sides probably would be better." So is that why you have been running?????? (body = broader than bike with lugs )

Me and the MRS could very well be interested. Any idea of the time these sessions would be on? Colin

The 3 amigo's (Jannza, my mate Donald and myself) headed off from Bridge of Weir full of hope for better weather by the time we got to Edinburgh. Our prayers were answered in part as at least it was dry but with a real hooley blowing by the time we pulled into the car park at Glentress. The beauty of mountainbiking is that you get pleanty of shelter amongst the trees Deciding that the middle car park was the best option we set out for the top from there. Since I was last there, earlier this year, the trial faries have been hard at work and the usual drag up the forest road to the top car park has been replaced with a nice section of singletrack climb, with a couple of obstacles thrown in to keeep your mind off the burning in your legs With the wind so strong very few people were larking about in the jump park so on we crashed heading for Spooky Wood and the sweet sections of downhill . About half way up Jannza cut Donald and myself loose and we agreed to all meet up again at the top of the wood. This allowed Donald and I to get a few runs in but after the second one with still no sign of Jannza we were starting to get a bit worried (that forrest is an awful big place you know). Deciding that it was best to return to where we had agreed to meet up we slogged back to the top where we found Jannza a bit out of puff after missing a turn and taking in a sizeable part of the blue run before getting back on track . As a whole group we again took advantage of the sweet berms and jumps that make up the top section although I later discovered that the batteries in my helmet cam had run out That meant that the near disaster of me crashing into Donald when he stopped on a high speed berm was lost for all time Onwards back to the car the only incident to report was a crash for Jannza on the lower slopes that resulted in a bruised head (how do you do that with a full face helmet on????) and ego. A return back up to the top car park allowed Donald and I a run at the new section of Blue descent which is like a rolercoaster ride After tea and toasties from the Hub Donald and Jannza slept through the journey home while I fretted about the bikes getting blown off the top of the car A good day out and one to be repeated, soon hopefully, with a few more victims (sorry volunteers) for the helmet cam. Colin

This might help..... http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/cate ... -kit-32713 Colin

Whose up for a day at Glentress this Sunday? I have a day pass and quite fancy a change from the normal Sunday road runs (not that theres anything wrong with them mind ) Was thinking of the red route (with a couple of goes down spooky wood ) back to the top car park for a couple of turns down the jump park (blue one most likely) and then down the last section of SWEET blue trail to the HUB. Please note that mountainbiking to me these days means taking it VERY easy on the ups to have the most fun on the downs . Have room for 3 bikes, 3 bodies and kit and local pick ups can be aranged for a very reasonable fee (cup of tea and chesse and ham toastie from the Hub ) on a first come first served basis.Alternatively we can meet up in the car park. I was thinking around 10.00am. Anybody who does'nt have access to a bike could hire one from the shop at Glentress although you would probably have to prebook by at least close of play tomorrow I would have thought. Google "seven stanes" and follow the links. Drop me a line on here or reply with a PM. It's all good Colin PS will be taking my helmet camera to capture those moments suitable for You Tube

If there was one of the 5 in a World Champion top then that was the 9am bunch I know cause I woz there and it woz me in the top. Part of my campaign to have cycling catagorised by weight the same as boxing and then I might have a chance Colin

Oi!!!!! I resemble that remark Colin

Kenny, 1 Gilet size 6 & 1 skinsuit size 5 thanks. Colin

On top of all the man made trails through Edinburgh way there is also Carron Valley Forrest just out past Fintry (search for that name on something like Google and you will get their web page). One trail at the moment which I think is about 10k long and is mostly red graded (with a couple of spicy bits thrown in). The last section of trail is especially nice with lots of managable doubles and tabletops which can be rolled over if not confident jumping. You have the option of trying this bit several times in a day as the top is not too far from the car park and despite not really being that far up the hillside the trail follows tha contours very nicely, which means less peddaling Colin

Wow that was fun Following a missed pedal straight off the start line I got caught behind a faller at turn 2 on the second lap . That was goodbye to the bunch who I saw a further 3 times but they were lapping me . Got into a group of 4 which included Ruth Fraser-Moodie (former Womens MTB champion) who was the only one of my companions who could corner without touching the brakes . Over the following laps at least 2 of them fell off and drastic avoiding action was required. On one occassion when the bunch came past Ruth's team mate dropped back to pull her away from us. By the time I clocked what was happening they had about a 20m gap. Said team mate then sat up to allow her an advantage and then proceeded to fall off at turn 3 (you guessed it..... right in front of me). After all that and deciding that I was at least going to finish to get a position I punctured with about 5 minutes to go Looking at the results I reckon around 20th would have been my final place. A big thanks to Richard et all who were providing very vocal support along the start finish straight (amazing what that can do for your willingness to continue) and my MRS who acted as taxi driver & helper for the day A good experience and a style of racing that I think I will definetly have a go at again. Maybe the announcment from the Tour of Britain about some local city centre races will mean a return to the heydays of the past with criterium races all over the country and full television coverage Colin

Spent all day at work watching the weather and convincing myself that no matter what I was going to ride........ Then came the phone call to say that my wee girl had shut her fingers in the car door An evening spent in casualty followed by a consolation trip to the cinema to see Mamma Mia put paid to my plans to go for the course record (AYE RIGHT!!!!!!!) If you ask me trapping your fingers in the car door is a pretty drastic way to get your old man along to a chick flick

Having performed solidly all year in what would appear to be a splendid series it was with some surprise that I noticed that our own Mr McLean is bottom of the B Race points table with a grand total of 1 point Investigating further and tallying up the points it would appear that Alan's efforts have actually resulted in significantly more points and therefore a very respectable finish overall Now Alan, the best form of recourse in a situation like this is to save all that pent up anger and take it out on the field this Saturday At least that way I can justify sitting in (more likely off the back) of the bunch all morning Colin

Sean, Would be interested in your fixed frame etc. Could pop by tomorrow evening if that suits. PM me or give me a call on 07795418605. Cheers Colin

Sounds like a good run Lesley. Pity I can't be there Will be helping to ensure that our 25TT at Eglinton runs smoothly. Have a good one. Colin

Entry now in....... What have I let myself in for???????? Come on all you others. At the very least we will be able to offer Alan a half lap of shelter before getting dropped Colin

There you go Martin. Since you obviously enjoyed last Thursday so much we can now repeat the whole experience (although this time without having to go up the Whin ) Colin

Despite best efforts I will be unable to make it along tonight Me Mrs has an appointment which means I' am on chid care duties. Colin

Anybody intending to enter the 4th Cat race? Giving it some serious consideration and would be greatly influenced by others in Blue and Yellow joining in Go on you know you want to Colin