Ramsay

Good effort Jim. Sounds like real hard work. Most of us would struggle with just riding 95miles, let alone racing! Cheers, R

Following on from Paul's post in respect to punctures etc, I thought I'd share my weekend of mixed fortunes. Saturday was meant to be spent racing at the Barmil APR. After sign in and warm up, I got to the line, only to find my inner tube sticking out the side of my nearly new tyre! Jim Daly noticed it and as he touched it, it blew! Jim then very kindly gave me a lift home to get my winter bike, so I could at least have s spin round to watch the race - thanks again Jim! Sunday was a day without misfortune on the bike, and in fact it was a great ride. Darryl, Paul and myself went down to Dalry, over the Fairlie moor (rather quickly!) and then stopped in Largs for a coffee and a good chat. We then headed back up the Haylie and onto the track at Lochwinnoch, where we met up with Rita (and someone else Paul & Darryl knew), then Iain Manson (and friend) and finally met a former colleague and saw Howie. So a pleasent and social 65miles. Monday was a morning of DIY followed by a couple of hours out in the sun on the bike. I got to Bridge of Weir/Kilmacolm area and a spoke on my relatively new back wheel broke. Normally probably not too serious, but on a 20 spoke wheel when you are 6'3" not so good! It would hardly turn even with the brakes fully loosened, so i had to get rescued! It was a lovely day to have to walk two miles in my road shoes to meet my rescuer! Net result from the weekend is that I need a new tyre and a wheel re-built, but it could have been worse (either could have happened coming down off the Fairlie moor at 40mph!) C'est la vie. Ramsay

Elaine will see you at the clubhouse at 9.30. Have fun.

Jan/Fiona, My wife Elaine might join you in the moring. What route are you doing? Where are you leaving from? Cheers, R

Darryl, I'll join you for a run out. Meet you on the track somewhere between Lochwinnoch and Johnstone. Cheers, R

Good effort Claire. Best of luck in the last one.

I'll have a look as I leave work today.

There are roadworks on the eastbound A8 at the moment, with only 1 lane open. Would not recommend that the TT is held there on Tuesday. Will keep an eye on the works and post when they are finished R

Meant to say that the legs were not working very well today, so Paul and I just did a steady ride (well, steady for Paul, but getting on for hard for me in places!). perhaps two nights out with the Renfrew Bunch this week took more out of me than I thought!

Fiona, I'm heading out tomorrow morning with my wife for about 30miles or so. As we are out tonight we won't be leaving Beith until 10, but you are more than welcome to join us. Planning on heading up the track to Johnstone, left to Kilmacolm and then back over the road through Lochwinnoch. Should be about 2 hours or so. Pace will be easy. Let me know if your interested. If you are in Eldeslie it would be a bit out of your way to come all the way down to Beith, just to turn and head straight back. But let me know anyway. Cheers Ramsay.

Paul, 9am at the Beith cross sounds good. Darryl - The things I needed to do on Saturday monring now don't need done, so I'm heading Sat not Sun. I will be out at some point on Sun with the missus, but at a fairly gentle pace. Cheers, Ramsay

Bigger bunch last night. Unfortunately for David, he took a nasty wee tumble on the dualcarraigeway just before Newark. Some road rash and a few cuts and grazes seemed to be the worst of it, but falling into the outside lane could have been very nasty!! Hope you are not too sore and stiff this morning and are OK for the weekend. Of all wheels, he hit mine (wasn't weaving, braking etc...honest). I stopped to help pace him back up to the group and it ended up he paced me for most of it!! Was a hard night into the wind and then those of us with only 13t at the back ran out of gears on the way back! R

Anyone up for a 4 or 5 laps of the Barmill circuit, with a sprint/prime on the hill and at the start/finish on each lap? I can do Sat or Sun morning. Let me know. R

Alan, Have riden with glove loops for years and never had one caught. Sounds like it is time you changed to Campag! R

Didn't realise that someone actually threw up! Did hear people mention it, but thought they were just exaggerating. Lovely night for it though. Will try to get out next Tuesday and Thursday. R

Good effort guys. Sounds tough. I've just finished 4 days touring round Islands and Highlands. Cracking weather for the most part. Next race I'm hoping to do is Paul's APR on 1st (I have a nominated marshall/helper to take my place), I'll then need to see about the British Eagle (it's the same day as Bishopbriggs Tri, where I will be expected as a helper/supporter!). Can't make it out this weekend, but will be keen for some hard training miles on 24th/25th. Should make the Renfrew bunch tomorrow night. Cheers, R

Cheers Jim. Had realised I was tenth, but hadn't realised ther was prizes that far down. Paul and I got changed and then just decided to get on the road. Am away for a week or so, but will catch up with you soon. Hard days racing in really poor conditions. Shame Paul punctured, as he was going really well. Sorry to hear Claire had an off day and that Jim got the finish wrong. We will get our team work right one day! Hope that a few wheelers make it out to race in Paul's APR next weekend. Sorry I can't be there. Good luck to all. Cheers R

Yep, thanks guys. Great night.

All, Time for another shameless plug for my cousin, Mark Beaumont. His new three part documentary starts tonight on BBC 1. The Man Who Cycled the Americas is on at 10:35. I saw the first part a few weeks ago and it's really good ( not just my biased opinion). I'd say much better than The Man Who Cycled the World! Hope you get to see it. Cheers, Ramsay

Kenny, Extra large bibshorts and large windtex jacket please (as per other post that Alan started). I'd also take a pair of extra large mitts if you can get them. Cheers, Ramsay

Yeah, what a fantsatic result for David. Hadn't realised that he'd done 15miles on his own on the first lap! No wonder his legs were not responding at the end! I hadn't realised that I was "in the mix" for 3rd, although my legs were totally gone and it wouldn't have made a difference anyway. I sat up with 200m to go. Roll on next Saturday (yep guys, I did get it wrong on my calander!), where David, Jim, Paul and myself are in a road race in Dunfermline. Hopefully a 4 man team will be good for the mass start race.

Yeah, I'd be keen. How much?

I was looking last week to see if this had been put on street view yet, as I remember the car there during the race (probably should have been concentrating more on the racing!). Have seen Greg, Jann, Tony, Mike and the back of one of the bunches. I do remember waving at the camera around the finish, but it couldn't have been taking shots then! R

Thanks for starting a bit earlier guys, much appreciated. See you at the turn off from the main Beith - Barmill road onto the circuit. I might go and do a lap as a warm up. Cheers, R

Paul, I'm off to the rugby in the afternoon, so need to be home for 11:15 latest. Will probably head out for an hour or two and then join you for a while, unless you can start at 9? Cheers, Ramsay.