Alan McLean

Max stair pitch is 42% under Building Standards. Welsh hill is not far off that. 
(I am only idly posting while watching stage 17 TDf on Eurosport for footage of Luke Rowe punching Tony Martin, who said sportsmanship was dead?)

Alan. Glad you found it hard too. Just seen that we shared the Erskine KOM so that's the fastest bogs bunch through there for a while and into headwind too.

Erskine fine but should not be attacked full gas. On Tuesday I was already shredded by the time we got to Bishy hill. I had to bail at Quarriers to go home for a nice lie down much to Paul's amusement. The wee drags up from Red Smiddy and again from the Bridge Hotel could cause big splits. Suggest sensible pace early in the ride.

I use gas to ban the beads on. Once they are on they usually don't come off even if tyre is completely deflated.

Mechanical. Hope it was good.

Name the offender. ( Participants in recent Dunoon ride not allowed to enter).
I initially thought this was a smeary chainring mark worthy only of a quick slagging but on closer inspection I realise it's Individual chain links and you can almost make out the maker's name. Fantastic work by a club stalwart

Name the offender. ( Participants in recent Dunoon ride not allowed to enter).
I initially thought this was a smeary chainring mark worthy only of a quick slagging but on closer inspection I realise it's Individual chain links and you can almost make out the maker's name. Fantastic work by a club stalwart

Name the offender. ( Participants in recent Dunoon ride not allowed to enter).
I initially thought this was a smeary chainring mark worthy only of a quick slagging but on closer inspection I realise it's Individual chain links and you can almost make out the maker's name. Fantastic work by a club stalwart

Name the offender. ( Participants in recent Dunoon ride not allowed to enter).
I initially thought this was a smeary chainring mark worthy only of a quick slagging but on closer inspection I realise it's Individual chain links and you can almost make out the maker's name. Fantastic work by a club stalwart

excellent ride in warm sun. Ten of the Joansin finest in glorious Argyll scenery. Helensburgh/Rest/Hell's Glen/Sandbank.
Alex enjoyed himself so much he turned right after disembarking to head for Largs. The normals turned left and as I peeled off for home there were rumours of beers later in Amaretto in afternoon sunshine.
I suspect some are still there on their third by now.
 

excellent ride in warm sun. Ten of the Joansin finest in glorious Argyll scenery. Helensburgh/Rest/Hell's Glen/Sandbank.
Alex enjoyed himself so much he turned right after disembarking to head for Largs. The normals turned left and as I peeled off for home there were rumours of beers later in Amaretto in afternoon sunshine.
I suspect some are still there on their third by now.
 

So much for spontaneity. No room on train to FW for my bike so rollover to next weekend if weather ok. I have already had massive dinner in anticipation of long ride and am in possession of vast amount of uneaten cheese sandwiches. 

So much for spontaneity. No room on train to FW for my bike so rollover to next weekend if weather ok. I have already had massive dinner in anticipation of long ride and am in possession of vast amount of uneaten cheese sandwiches. 

Utterly bonkers but brilliant.
Is there a strict time cut off for PBP proper? If so what is the minimum  required km/24hr?
Suggest you guys  write a little piece on kit/pacing/feeding strategies, or give a winter talk.

The clue is in the title. Again!

Utterly bonkers but brilliant.
Is there a strict time cut off for PBP proper? If so what is the minimum  required km/24hr?
Suggest you guys  write a little piece on kit/pacing/feeding strategies, or give a winter talk.

Shame, I was looking for you at Bishy. Did you get caught at lh turn onto barnsford Rd? I am guessing that you were absolutely fine in the bunch to end of gtr but a small gap and the tailwind was just too much when the road turned. You are fit and will do fine if you get to head of bunch at the brief pauses at the end of gtr, red smiddy roundabout and bishy lights. I have been caught at all of them with a lack of concentration. If people sprint from the stop and you start at the back they will be gone!

Easterly tailwind, sunny, big bunch. 50kph on the Westferry, Giro on telly=May banger.
I did a massive turn to Langbank to nobly drag the bunch past Leavy who was hanging out front. Hard.
Tailwind was really interesting and left nowhere to hide. 

Easterly tailwind, sunny, big bunch. 50kph on the Westferry, Giro on telly=May banger.
I did a massive turn to Langbank to nobly drag the bunch past Leavy who was hanging out front. Hard.
Tailwind was really interesting and left nowhere to hide. 

Elaine, yes.
You will get to end of Georgetown no prob. The challenge is getting over Bishy Hill in contact with the bunch. If you are at the front at Bishy lights you should be fine, if you are at the back at the lights and let the leaders open a gap then it can be very hard to get back on. As I have proven many times. If at the front then I usually ride steady up the hill but someone usually decides to spice it up and split the group.

Dear racers/all
Unfortunately the club has not yet found a volunteer to organise a club road race this year. Past races have been great participation events for club members, good publicity for the club and important contributions to national cycling heritage and tradition, as well as being  polite in reciprocating our sister clubs' events.
Although it is getting late we think there is just enough time to set up a race for late summer.
If anyone or, maybe groups of two or three of the regular racers/chaingang members would like to organise a race then please post here or PM me to find out what's involved.
The committee appreciates that we all have busy lives and assure any volunteers that they will receive full support of the club but we need someone to come forward first.
Regards
Alan

Working and it looks a bit cold. Might bring my camera to kilmacolm cross to get some pain shots.

Working and it looks a bit cold. Might bring my camera to kilmacolm cross to get some pain shots.

wow, sympathy to Colin and Gary.
Glen, If you think rim is simply worn out and you like Zuus then you might as well get another pair.
Rim brake wheels are essentially disposable items and will eventually need replaced, you certainly get good use of yours.
I'm very slowly moving all my bikes to disc brakes cos I can then buy really nice wheels and not worry about them wearing out.
I got my warning on Fairlie Moor too about 5 years ago when a worn alloy rim exploded, made me obsessively check for rim wear and bin when <1mm or wear markers gone.

wow, sympathy to Colin and Gary.
Glen, If you think rim is simply worn out and you like Zuus then you might as well get another pair.
Rim brake wheels are essentially disposable items and will eventually need replaced, you certainly get good use of yours.
I'm very slowly moving all my bikes to disc brakes cos I can then buy really nice wheels and not worry about them wearing out.
I got my warning on Fairlie Moor too about 5 years ago when a worn alloy rim exploded, made me obsessively check for rim wear and bin when <1mm or wear markers gone.