gregbalden

Start times ; clubroom: 0900H
; bridge: 0930H
Pace: just right.
 
Administration, can we re-name this ride Gregs birthday bash?? It is my bday and 6 years to the day since flanders '11. How time flies 😂

Start times ; clubroom: 0900H
; bridge: 0930H
Pace: just right.
 
Administration, can we re-name this ride Gregs birthday bash?? It is my bday and 6 years to the day since flanders '11. How time flies 😂

Sounds good Jan. Liking the 10 week idea aswell, good for shift workers

Some possible changes to the World Champs this year. What are your thoughts?

First. Would anyone prefer it to change to a couple of 10 week leagues? A spring - summer one and a summer - autumn one. The reason for this is if someone is injured or misses the first few weeks then it's not going to set them miles back for the rest of the year playing catch up. In between each 10 week block then there will be a couple of weeks where something different can be tried - perhaps an APR or two if there is enough interest.
 
Alternatively just stick to the one competition same as last year (which was over 23 weeks i think)

Second. Changing the course from time to time to keep things fresh. it will mostly be the usual chaingang route but as the nights get lighter then every so often this will change to the extended loop (route as normal, then back through Bishopton past the Monkey House and finish at the Houston 30) and also the Sewing Bee route to give a different sort of challenge and mix things up a bit.
 
I had thought about altering the scoring so there were more placings available (eg for the first 5 up the Clune and first 5 at the finish) but i think this might make things a bit difficult to remember so instead of this how about a weekly strava segment challenge?
 
This will run alongside the Thursday nights, and is for a virtual points jersey and will give those who cant make a Thursday a chance to take part.
Every week i'll pick a strava segment and the fastest riders on that segment over the course of that week can get points - 6 points for 1st, 5 for 2nd, 4 for 3rd and 3 for 4th, 2 for 5th. 1 Point for everyone else that completes the segment. This will run Monday to Sunday and you can have as many attempts at setting a time as you like. The scores will get added to the following weeks chaingang score. The points jersey will also be a seperate competition that runs all through the summer so you dont need to take part in the chain gang to take part in this.

Some of these segments will be climbs, some will be flat, some will be sprints and some longer efforts. I'll try to choose a stretch of road that doesnt feature on regular club runs and also try and spread it out around the area so everyone has a local one to attempt a few times when the wind conditions are just right.
 
 

Thursday would be better if possible

I'll likely only make Saturday now, so ill be out George, will meet at the start of the road leaving houston, towards monkey house, 915ish

Thank you to Jonny Jobson of the Sunday Herald, as well as our own Charlie McCusker, for all of their research and time in putting this nugget of club history together
 
JWCC1926-2016.pdf
 

Kenny Christie & Ian Cowden are the riders on page 1. Regrettably former members but cracking picture.

Major 'rule 5' points to the guys that made it out this morning. It was absolutely foul when I left the club rooms just after 11.

Aberfoyle,Callander, Kippen etc
 
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/393250438
 
110 or so from clubrooms
 
18/6 as good as any for Campbeltown Billy.

Couldn't resist this - 
 
Miller St. - Bowfield - Lugton - Stewarton - Fenwick - Galston - Prestwick/Troon - Dundonald - Gatehead - Kilmaurs - Stewarton then usual route back to Johnstone 
Plenty of bale outs on route home. Easily 60 miles. Mix of climbs, rolling roads and flat. 
 
Miller St. - A77 (various routes) - Eaglesham (via moor) - Jackton and south of East Kilbride - Strathaven (nice choice of Cafes) - Galston - Moscow/Waterside - A77 - Clunch Road - top end of Sewing Bee route - Barrhead - Miller St. Again 60+. Easily doable in reverse with the climb out of Eaglesham a killer with tired legs. EK and Jackton roads reasonably traffic free.
 
Miller St - Eastwood Toll (Barrhead option available) - A77 to Fenwick - Stewarton - Dunlop - Barrmill - Garnock Valley (choice of Kilbirnie Largs Road past the golf course or Swinlees Road) - Largs - West Kilbride - Dalry - B714 to Ardrossan - Kilwinning - then pick up the Bogs Bunch route to Barrhead/or pick up Barrmill circuit past the Bonds and take in the Bowfield.  Lumpy route in either direction.  70miles+. Darryl and I rode this in prep for Liege. Plenty of Bale outs for tired legs or those under time pressure. 
 
Kenny Christie's Dalmally/Inverary dawn raid? Meet at north side of Bridge - A82 to Tarbet - Tyndrum - Dalmally - Inverary - Tarbet or Helensburgh - Bridge. Lumpy and requires a very early start to avoid lochside and Inverary to the Rest traffic. Right turn for Dunoon an option. Big day out 100+ and some vertical bits
 
Finally...... Anything that takes in the Crow Road, Tak me Doon, Callander, Thornhill and Kippen in a single day
 
That's July sorted for you all.
.
 
M

All sounds good. Glad to hear from you Mark!

Prob not suitable really as it is all day but been trying to do this for a while.
 
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/403464230
 
Nice day out with 3 ferries. 70 from Dunoon- Campbeltown. 90  riding from Club. 110 if riding back from Ardrossan.  Ferry leaves Campbeltown at 1700 arr Ardossan 1930. (Poss pick up or train from Ardrossan). Time to ride back on beautiful summer's eve and grab a few beers somewhere. 

Tighnabruaich via loch tarzan and c11. Western ferries 930
9th April.

Can we have a ride captains bib?!? If not I'm making one up!!!

Greg 1100 at counties so 1040 at Morrisons

Billy is an evil man!

Morrisons Johnstone 1045 then Couts place

What's the plan for tomorrow? Still at 10am meet?

Charlie...you can keep me and Greg company and I can resurrect my domestique pacing duties of old
 
Billy will be too busy battling with Le Bison!!

I should be available on Thursday. I'm away at a wedding this weekend so will be my only chance at getting out probably.

Guys
Massive thanks for your kind messages and to those of u who visited me in hospital. Don't think I was great company but your kindness and support really touched me especially at a time when I was feeling quite melancholic.Not got much recollection of crash. Remember a young fella nearly taking me out about 3 laps earlier then remember being in 3 rd last lap as had made decision to go for sprint with 2 to go. Unfortunately crashed on bend of 3rd last lap.Had no idea what caused crash. Remember guy telling me I had been out cold for 90 secs. In ambulance another rider involved in crash told me that he and another fella touched wheels and came down. I presume they took me down but if any one heard anything different please let me know. Also are the other riders ok.
I sustained a left neck femur fracture left rib fractures a head injury and a few bruises.The consultant told me that femur op went well but unfortunately chest X Ray today
Showed a very small left pleural effusion so my recovery may be longer than I first thought.
This has been my 3rd serious bike crash in as many years so time for me to pause & reflect. My wife is already trying to invoke 3 strikes and you are out rule. I have already conceded track cycling but jury still out for the road but as Prof Gunson recovered from a far more serious crash than mine feel it would be rude not to keep him company for the first part of a run at least.
Once again many thanks for your remarkable support
Charlie

Strangely I really enjoyed it today, despite the Baltic conditions, and to top it off I got home to find i had no keys and the missus was at her mums, so was forced to spend the next couple of hours in the pub, seems like every cloud has a silver lining

Hi. I went to see him when I left the clubrooms this afternoon.
By the time I found Ward 61, he was just getting the good news to be allowed home

Thursday likely Wedensday no