Ramsay

Instead of riding over carpet tacks in Perthshire on Sunday, I decided to do 111miles around the best (and steepest) of the Dales. The Etape du Dales course takes you over some incredible climbs (and quite frankly, terrifying decents! 50mph ++ ). I went to the event with three friends. We set one of them off 50mins before us, as this was her first ever "ton" on a bike and we didn't want to drop her at the beginning. The other three of us set off and enjoyed a bit of sun and a fairly fresh tailwind for the first 50 miles or so. We had all decided that we were just out to do the ride and not aim for the Gold or Silver times, so the pace was reasonably leisurely as were the breaks at the checkpoints. All four of us briefly re-grouped at the 50 mile checkpoint (and stopped for at least a 30mins tea/lunch break). We tried to ride together for a bit after this, but on the next climb, two of us had to ride away due to our much higher gearing (i.e. - no triple chainsets!). Not much further up the road, we turned at the farthest point of the course into a fairly stiff headwind, and for some reason I got a "homing instinct" and just put my head down and rode off all the way to the end (45 miles or so). As I got closer to the finish, I realised that I could get inside the Silver time (under 8 hours), so really pushed on the last 10 miles (it had also started to pour, so with a headwind it wasn't a pleasant as it could be) . Annoyingly, I was 8hours and 21 seconds, so we all got Bronze! Hadn't entered to do a good or fast time, more to just enjoy the Dales and the experience the climbs. Some of the climbs were not a lot short of brutal, but great riding. I would really recommend this ride to anyone looking for a good one day challange. If I can get an entry next year (800 places sell out in 5-6 hours) I will definetly do it again. Might aim for the Gold time (under 7 hours) next year, as I am a bit competative. Ramsay

Hope all goes well tomorrow and Friday. Looking forward to hearing about it and seeing it on TV. Ramsay

Well done Iain. Best of luck to all on Saturday. If it's windy, just remember that it's windy for everyone!

Kenny C, The same Black Audi TT passed me with only inches to spare, then I watched it pass the others in front in the same way (It makes me feel sick when I see idiots passing cyclist so close and so fast, especially as it was clearly on purpose!). Kenny S did his best to "protect" the riders and show how you should pass cyclists (i.e. - wait until it's safe to overtake and then give them as much room as you would give to any other road user), but to no avail! After it passed me, I did make use of several hand signals, some of which might not be found within the pages of the highway code. Anyway, great ride. You looked like you were very strong all the way. Cheers Ramsay

Darryl, Calendar says it is 6:30, in which case there is no way I'll be able to make it from work in time. Last year it was 7:00, which would certainly suit me better. Anyone object to 7:00? (It's now light until past 9:00.) Ramsay

Kenny, Alternative route sounds great beacaue it is close to home. My only concern would be the riding/racing/training on the A737, especially the turn from the Barmill road to the A737, which is very busy and is actually a STOP (due to the number of crashes there), not a Give Way. Is there any reason we couldn't use Paul's Barmill circuit? The surface is not too bad and there are only a couple of "undulations". I think it is a 9 mile circuit, so either 2, 2.5 or 3 laps. Forecast is great for tomorrow night, so really looking forward to it. Cheers Ramsay

Thanks Paul for organising a great race, and thank you to all the marshalls/drivers/support crew who essentially allowed me to race. Also thanks to Kenny MacD for picking up my bottle, which I then lost again on the last lap (must try and get tighter bottle cages). It was another race for learing a lot! I started with Paul and Jim in the second group and we reasonably quickly caught the first group, which Greg was riding in. Not long after Paul had punctured, a small breakaway formed and held about a 10 - 20 second gap. As it was only about half distance, I didn't want to jump over to the breakaway (when they started), because I thought that they wouldn't stay away! Basically several thoughts were going through my head: 1 - It's too far out and they won't have the legs to hold on. (not sure why I thought this!) 2 - Our bigger group will catch them. (Hadn't banked on most of our bigger group not being willing to work together!!) 3 - When the scratch group catch us i'll jump on for a ride back up the the leading group. (Aye right!! Despite a lot of effort over threequarters of a lap or so, the guys coming through from the scratch group just had that little bit extra to continously accelerate away and make a gap I eventually couldn't bridge! I was the last of the group they dropped though!) Anyway, came home in the middle of the second group. Legs a bit sore after probably doing a bit too much at the front (in an attempt to get some others to do some work, or to drop them!) and a bit too much trying to stick with the scratch guys. Really good fun and looking forward to the next one already. Was good to have some club mates around as well, although we never really managed to work as a team or anything as fancy as that. Ramsay

Gutted!!! 4 minutes off Gold, but more importantly, 14 minutes off the longest lunch break!! Must try to eat more next year!

Like Tony said, it was a cracking day out, with great company and a suberb array of sandwiches and cakes for lunch. Couldn't believe they actually had cheese and jam sandwiches! I thought I was the only one to eat them. That was my first sportive ride. Need to get my mind around the whole idea of "non-competative" riding! Was happily cruising along to the bottom of the Mennock, when a small group passed us and I just couldn't let them get to the top before me!! I controlled the competitive urge better in the afternoon, but still shot off up the last hill! Would recommend that part of the world (and indeed that ride) to all that have not riden there before. Ramsay

Chung, I have stolen the link below from last years discussion on the confined APR. So thanks to Tony Carrigan... http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-ki ... 4810620313 It's a great circuit. Start is at the gates to the scout camp and finish (after 3 laps) is about 1/4 - 1/2 of a mile further along the road opposite the end of a side road. Hope to see lots of people along on Tuesday. Cheers, Ramsay

Not going to be able to make it down tonight! Will be at APR and TT next week I hope. Ramsay

Kenny, I'll take a pair of the lycra overshoes please. Cheers Ramsay

Paul, Would love to join you, but am heading to the Drumlanrig sportive. Have a good run. Ramsay

Colin, Looks a sore one. The sort of road rash that sticks to clothes, sheets etc.. Have you got those "plastic" dressings that let it breath but slightly reduce the amount it weeps and sticks to stuff? Hope you are back out and about soon. Ramsay

Well done all. Great to be getting PBs and prizes.

Cracking day out for a spin round the Moscow circuit (5 times!). 250 yards from the finish line I was a couple of metres clear of the field in first place! Unfortunately a lot can happen in 250 yards! Myself and Mike had set off in the second group, and from the off the pace was fairly high. I was one of only 6-8 working all the way round, which was possibly a mistake, but I'm not the sort to sit in for a free ride! Anyway, as the pace was generally kept up we did reduce the size of the group a bit (including Mike ) and more importantly, we kept away from the scratch group!! About half way round the final lap a couple of guys crashed (unfortunetly two that had been working hard all the way - apparently all ok apart from road rash and some bruises). Two or three of us were out in front and we tried to take advantage of the wee gap that formed, but by Moscow it was all back together. Tunring back onto the road along to the finish the pace was up at about 35-40mph, due to a fresh tailwind. A Discovery Junior rider was hovering around the front and as he had clearly been the strongest all day, I was not keen to let him slip away. However, as a result I was probably too far forward and expending too much energy! As we came round the last corner with about 300 yards to go, I thought I would have a go, even though my instinct was saying sit in! I put the hammer down and got a couple of metres clear with 250yards to go. Turns out my "Finish Line Fever" was a move of madness and before long most of the 15ish strong group (a lot of which had just been sitting in all the way round ) had barrelled by me, as my legs had actually turned to blocks of lead! Anyway, you live and learn! Finished about a second or two down on the winner, so fairly happy for only a second ever APR. Might even enjoy this more than time trialling, so I'll be back for another shot. Although I'll need to work on tactics, including learning how to not do too much work. Ramsay

Alan, Myself and Mike Ferguson are in the second group of three. Start is at 12 midday. I assume 5 laps (35miles), but I'm not sure. Hope it doesn't turn into a time trialling training session again! Have a good run. Cheers Ramsay

Alan, Would love to join you, but will be racing at Moscow on Sat. Paul - Did I not see your name on the start sheet? Ramsay

Ian, Mine are available "this weekend" (I presume you mean next? 25th - 26th). Only for a loan though. Although based on todays result, I may in fact quit cycling and take up gardening! Will you be down at the Georgetown on Wed? Cheers Ramsay

Tony, I sent off my entry for this a while ago now, but not heard anything. (Have just checked my bank balance and the cheque has come out, so I guess I'm in!). I think Darryl was going to enter also. I am happy to drive and can comfortably take two others with me. Could do three at a push, but it would be a bit toight. Not sure what time the start is. Do you know? According to a computer map thingy it should take between 1.5 - 2hours to get there. Cheers Ramsay

I've got a TT first thing on Sunday down at Irvine, but if I finish early (don't know my start time yet) I'll try and head across to shout a few words of encouragement. Have fun Jim.

While the subject of safety at a confined events has been raised, what are everyone's thoughts on wearing helmets? I know it is (for some reason) a controversial subject, but to me it's like wearing a seatbelt in a car and the only time in the past 10 - 15 years I have ever riden without one (a helmet, not a seatbelt) was in the JWCC hillclimb. I know they don't always help in a crash, but if it only stops you cracking you skull open once, then it must be worth it. I have in the last month witnessed a club member crashing and landing entirely on his head in the middle of the A82. Without getting into the whole "what if" senarios, the simple fact is that this crash cracked his helmet and luckily not his head. Everyone enters these fun/training events at their own risk, but surely wearing a helmet should be positively encouraged? In open events (often on exactly the same roads) you cannot start without a helmet! Anyway, morning rant over. Hope there is less wind on the Georgetown next week, or that it at least stays as a tailwind all the time by magically changing direction as soon as I get to Houston! Cheers Ramsay P.S. - Jim D - Hope you are OK if you did have a spill.

I'm still volunteering for timekeeping duties tomorrow night, unless the GRC guys are there to do the honours, in which case I'll ride! Cheers Ramsay

Well the bad weather didn't really happen. Was a bit windy, but other than that it was a lovely afternoon. Anyway, I did a hilly 70miles this afternoon, which was good. Glad I didn't do the Dunoon run though, as my legs were shot with "only" 70! Apart from meeting Duncan for a two minute chat I was on my own the whole way. Not going to be able to make it out on Monday now, as I'll probably be hill walking. Cheers Ramsay

Jim, The forecast is not looking great for a big run tomorrow! The best of the three forecasts I have seen is "heavy showers", with the other two saying sleat! Call me a fair weather cyclist if you will, but I may just do a short local run tomorrow and try for a long run on Monday, when all three forecasts show much better weather. I'll post if I do go Monday. Cheers Ramsay