Iain Cowden

Thanks Richard. The CTC also use Impsport - I found them very helpful when buying a skinsuit recently - they happily sent me a sample for sizing - for an order of 1 item! Glasgow Wheelers also use Carvalho - I see there is now an option on their website enabling members to order kit direct form Carvahlo on an individual basis. Iain

My apologies to you Jann (and everyone else!) - the fault is entirely mine - Jann is quite right. I thought Mary had only ridden Westferry once - in fact she rode twice in a week, before thinking the better of it. The family records have been duly amended and the record keeper sacked! Iain

Jann - have double checked on Mary's behalf - it's 30:55 right enough - 18th May 2010 confined 10, on her only outing on the Westferry. Mind you she was delayed about 20 secs by a Port Glasgow traffic jam at the turn (I was marshalling)! Good luck with the calculations! Iain

Mary's only 10 TT is 30:55 (2010) Iain

Well done to all the JWCC - what a day to be road racing! Great result Paul - ace way end to the season! Iain1

Heroic stuff Chung - I'm tired just reading it! Well done to you all. Iain

Well done to you both - great effort in that wind & rain! All I could managed yesterday was an hour on the turbo. Iain

Hi Chung - great idea and a fine route! Mary's visiting her Mum this week-end so won't make it - have a good one! Iain

Me too - thanks. Iain

Glad you've got an offer David - would have fancied it too but will either be in Lancashire or (more likely) grounded here to let a painter in to finish the outside of the hoose! Good luck to you both - have a good yin! Iain

Many thanks to Greig for timekeeping on a miserable night. Well done to everyone - that' the coldest I've felt on a bike in a long time (The Icebreaker)! Hope things ease for you soon Charlie. Great to see Mr.Christie back in the fray - its been too long (just pick a better night next time)! Iain

No problem Al - cu then. Time & place fine to-morrow Richard - looking forward to it! Iain

Hi Richard - forecast looks good so I am happy to join you(s)! If you fancy East Ren/Strathaven byways again I can sort us out with a variation on previous route. If not happy to go anywhere as long as it's quiet roads! Say 10-10.30ish? Drop me a text or post here and I'll check later. Thanks Iain

Sorry - make that plus fours!

As Ramsay says, it can be discussed on Monday, but inevitably by a sub set of members - it would be good to hear a broader cross-section of views. To be clear; Ramsay and George have as much right to favour the present colours/strip as Richard and I have to lament it - beauty/eye of beholder etc. If most folk want to stay as it is, so be it. On the issue of obsolescence, not at all sure the case stands up - Richie seems, to me at any rate, to have a firmer grasp on the matter - use it till it's done! For example, I and many others have non current JWCC kit - I just use it - even if we changed nominated colours to pink/purple, the older gear would just be used for training/general cycling purposes. In due course it might even be regarded as collectable retro. A jersey, for instance, is "obsolete" with every change of sponsor - it is not overnight unfit for cycling purpose. I will use what I have till it drops off me to ensure value - heaven knows it is expensive enough. Whilst, those (relatively few) members (myself included) who race in open events would, quite rightly, prefer to race in club colours, even that is not actually a requirement. Generally all you need is a club jersey/ skinsuit according to whim or taste or a plain non-black outfit. Even the best cared for kit doesn't last forever, particularly shorts/skinsuits etc. Clubs change kit design/colours quite regularly - it needn't be a trauma. I suppose if it wasn't for revolution we'd all still be riding penny farthings, not expensive carbon road and TT bikes. Front pockets? Perhaps not for racing kit, but Rapha and others do rather well out of quality/retro designs - it actually seems to be a bit of a winner (post modern perhaps?). When I came back to cycling 5 years ago there were two main reasons for choosing JWCC; 1) unashamed sentimentality - boyhood club/ fond memories etc 2) JWCC are a club with history back to 1926 - we are, I suppose, something of a heritage brand ourselves, with links back to cycling history not just as a sporting but also as a social movement. To my mind that makes us a bit special. Why would a heritage club not proudly use its traditional club colours? Anyway, just my thoughts - consensus may prove elusive - it usually does with cyclists! I'm off now to press my plus 2s for Monday's meeting! Iain

As Ramsay says, it can be discussed on Monday, but inevitably by a sub set of members - it would be good to hear a broader cross-section of views. To be clear; Ramsay and George have as much right to favour the present colours/strip as Richard and I have to lament it - beauty/eye of beholder etc. If most folk want to stay as it is, so be it. On the issue of obsolescence, not at all sure the case stands up - Richie seems, to me at any rate, to have a firmer grasp on the matter - use it till it's done! For example, I and many others have non current JWCC kit - I just use it - even if we changed nominated colours to pink/purple, the older gear would just be used for training/general cycling purposes. In due course it might even be regarded as collectable retro. A jersey, for instance, is "obsolete" with every change of sponsor - it is not overnight unfit for cycling purpose. I will use what I have till it drops off me to ensure value - heaven knows it is expensive enough. Whilst, those (relatively few) members (myself included) who race in open events would, quite rightly, prefer to race in club colours, even that is not actually a requirement. Generally all you need is a club jersey/ skinsuit according to whim or taste or a plain non-black outfit. Even the best cared for kit doesn't last forever, particularly shorts/skinsuits etc. Clubs change kit design/colours quite regularly - it needn't be a trauma. I suppose if it wasn't for revolution we'd all still be riding penny farthings, not expensive carbon road and TT bikes. Front pockets? Perhaps not for racing kit, but Rapha and others do rather well out of quality/retro designs - it actually seems to be a bit of a winner (post modern perhaps?). When I came back to cycling 5 years ago there were two main reasons for choosing JWCC; 1) unashamed sentimentality - boyhood club/ fond memories etc 2) JWCC are a club with history back to 1926 - we are, I suppose, something of a heritage brand ourselves, with links back to cycling history not just as a sporting but also as a social movement. To my mind that makes us a bit special. Why would a heritage club not proudly use its traditional club colours? Anyway, just my thoughts - consensus may prove elusive - it usually does with cyclists! I'm off now to press my plus 2s for Monday's meeting! Iain

I for one would welcome a return to traditional colours and design, including plain black shorts. The current strip is very close to a number of other clubs e.g. Lomond Roads, Dunfermline CC, even Fullerton Wheelers, Berwick CC etc. Personally, I also think it's pretty vile and dated! It's undeniable strong suit is it's high viz properties. The traditional design I remember from the late 60s/early 70s was essentially a royal blue jersey with a broad white band round the middle, edged with two narrow gold bands. In the version I had, JWCC was embroidered in blue capitals in the white band - that was dropped in subsequent versions. The only photo I have is black & white as befits the times! Kenny's photo is obviously a later derivative. At that time most club jerseys featured band or hooped designs - the one which has not changed at all is the Nightingale (very close to the Belgian national colours) and it still looks great/instantly recognisable. Go for timeless retro elegance say I! Iain

Well done all round, especially the "Sheilas" and all those giving an open event a go for the first time! Great rides from Ramsay and Phil and fair play to Paul McD turning out for the club in a dreaded time trial - much appreciated! Iain

Hi Ian - thanks for this. Is it just me or does the text suggest there is another (attached) document to be considered? Cheers Iain

Chung! Tonight around 6.30pm just south of Mearns Cross - looked like on the way home. It was me and Ewan kitted out as team Ribble heading the opposite way towards Malletsheugh - didn't register it was you till we were level or past - shouted but probably lost in the wind! 28 hilly miles for us - Windyett, the White Loch, Ballygeoch and Bonnyton hill/Mearnskirk - fabulous visibility all round - Goat Fell, The Cobbler and Tinto Hill. Iain

Glad to hear you are on the mend and not feeling too bad Mark - take your time and recover well I say! To confirm Mr McGinty's estimate - £51 to club coffers now including Mary's dosh. Iain

Many thanks to Kenny S, Ian Manson and all who helped out this morning with marshalling, sign on, shovin' aff and catering duties! Congratulations again to Mike Ferguson who won the JWCC 25 Championship in 1:1:28. I managed 1:1:38, trimming a massive 3 secs of my PB from a fortnight ago - progress of a sort! It was actually quite a breezy morning and not especially warm. Needless to say no one told the fast people that! Iain Grant of Dooleys won the open event in 51mins something seconds - fantastic effort, from Silas Goldsworthy in second, from Ben Peacock in 3rd. Thanks again to all the volunteers for the organisation and help, enabling Mike and I to ride. Iain

Thanks too to Billy for timekeeping and well done to all on a blustery Georgetown night - at least the rain kept away (more or less)! Iain

Hi Tony - a fine route for sure! Eskdalemuir has a fine secluded bleakness to it and the stretch from St Mary's Loch to Tweedsmuir is one of my favourite Scottish Roads, the view from the bridge at the top over Talla is often breathtaking! Really sorry we won't be able to join in this time as we are already committed and away that week-end! Hope the weather smiles upon you! Iain & Mary

Excellent stuff! And only six men as yet - surely we can balance the numbers? Iain