williecosh

Hi team, Three of us opted out the run today and went to the Caird park velodrome to dust the cobwebs off the track bikes instead: Johnny, Matthew McCusker and me. We had a really good morning and the highlight was newbie Matthew's first-ever 200m time-trial. On an exposed, windy and freezing velodrome, riding a less than perfect-fit bike, Matt did a 14 second time. This is encouraging and I hope he keeps it going. The stadium staff at Dundee were really invitational and supportive and what a contrast to Meadowbank! W

Hi Lance, The oversize bit of the question: I agree with Alan, the greater the diameter of the tubing the stiffer it will be (generally). Dependent on the quality of the alloy, the tube thickness can also be slightly thinner (and therefore perhaps lighter). The strength and stiffness is important, particulary at the point of the biggest 'bending moment' - where the bars are clamped by the stem - that's where they'll break! I think good carbon bars are at least as strong and reliable as alloy although Colin's point about critical torque settings is good advice. I recently replaced my alloy bars with very good ITM carbon bars and I don't like them. The road vibrations transmit and give me sore arms. I am going to persist for a while, but I think I will give up on them eventually. It is worth noting that some of the track sprinters (including Hoy) use STEEL bars. I have loaded two photo files I took at the the British Championships at Manchester in September; the first is Hoy with his steel bars waiting to start the Keirin. The second is Johnny in Round 2 of the Keirin (he is the only one with steel bars, which he prefers, and the rest have carbon). Most of the sprinters use very heavy-duty stems, e.g. Kore or Thomson, also. So, its probably what you feel best with and carbon is priced way over the top anyway. Willie

Hi Kev, I will need to phone tomorrow to confirm Ian's Friday night, so I'll add you for both nights. That evens it up to 12 people each night, I think. I'll confirm the booking on here tomorrow night. I can get the payment nearer the time. W

Ok Ian. You're in. W

Hi Brian, You're on the bus! It's preferable if we have one set-off point, but it doesn't have to be Johnstone. We'll work that out later, but I don't see a problem. If you're fastidious about bike scratches etc. (or OCD like me!) get some bubble wrap or similar to protect your bike on the journey. There is a bit at the back of the bus where two rows of seats have been taken out and this can take 6-7 bikes. I prefer to isolate them from each other, using padding of some sort, to avoid damage. W

Hi Team, I have booked the hostel as planned. The actual Blackwater Hostel is full, but they have an 'overspill' unit just along the road (The West Highland Lodge). It looked ok on the website, so I went ahead. The 'Hobbit' houses (see website) looked a laugh, but we would have just got drunk and sang "Roll out the barrel", all night and felt tired and silly in the morning. I have booked three, four bedded rooms in the WHL for each night @ £13/night/skull, including bedding. At this stage, there are more beds available and the owner, Callum (no surprises there) can take more bookings if we need them. I have given my card number as a deposit, so you can square me up and I'll pay when we get there. For those who know Kinlochleven, the WHL hostel is beside the MOD building (the big flat-roofed, cream coloured building up on the hill). For those who don't know Kinlochleven, the WHL hostel is beside the MOD building (the big flat-roofed, cream coloured building up on the hill) so we need permission to park vehicles there; we submit our registration numbers etc. This can be done the week before we go. One of my best mates is the local minister, so I am working on secure accommodation for the bikes, in case we need this and for Him to watch over them! The fall back position for bike security is to leave them in the minibus(es) which are alarmed. Callum advised that we need to be there before 8pm if we want food in the local pubs. I think we should be there about 7.30pm. Everybody ok with this plan, so far? W

Ok, here we go! Definites for Friday night: Iain MacAuley, Mark, Brian, Paul, Ian Manson, Johnny, Jan, Kenny C., John and Willie - 10 in total. Definites for Saturday night: Iain MacAuley, Mark, Brian, Paul, Ian Manson, Johnny, Jan, John, Iain, Mary and Willie - 11 in total. Ian makes a good point about the setting off time, so I'll make an executive decision! Let's try and leave Johnstone as close to 5 as possible. That possibly precludes a Friday evening ride, but the Saturday should be a belter anyway. Given the numbers, I'll take a school minibus up, plus my car - easily 10 people and bikes. If numbers increase more than this, we'll take two buses. We should have close to 16 people including our BSkyeB friends doing the Saturday run. Obviously the probables and possibles are still welcome but I'll concentrate on getting the definites fixed up for now. If I've made a mistake with any of the above text me on 07772226530. Johnny and I are at the Manchester track league tomorrow night, so I'll post the booking status on Saturday. Willie. ps Charlie has set up a Just Giving facility so that you can donate to the Flanders charity cause - give generously. I know Kersland School very well from my time working in Special Education and it is a superb school that will use the donations very wisely.

Ok, Blackwater Hostel it is!. I know the definites for Friday and Saturday and both, so I'll book that number tomorrow. Probables and possibles please let me know before tomorrow and I'll include you. I'll publish my roll call later tonight just to be clear. W

Hi John, Sorry I missed the session tonight - feeling rotten! I will definitely be there on Sunday and I'll do a two/three-hour run with you if you like, starting at 9 am. There will also be some interest for this from a few folk who don't want to do a big run on Sunday. Do you want to put up a post for this on the Club Run section and check interest? W

Hi Everybody, A new option for accommodation is available: http://www.blackwaterhostel.co.uk/ I forgot about the Blackwater Hostel. I haven't stayed there but it looks good and reasonably priced. For those who know the area it is adjacent to the Ice Factor - the climbing centre in the old aluminium plant - right in the town. What do people think? We will probably have to get definite numbers soon to book it. If the definites like it, I think we should book it very soon. W

I don't mind opening and closing if someone can give me keys, or I'll pick them up. W

Count me in for both. W

The early group had a great run and was well attended by the '30 milers' group. Our finishing grupetto did about 55 miles, our furthest to date, this year. Great to see James MacDonald back in form. Most interesting point today was James' new 'variable aerodynamic bars' which he was trying out - new one on me - but I think the adjuster palaver needs some redesign. Good to see some new technical ideas though. Cheers for the soup Jan!

New Roll Call: Definites: Iain M, Mark O, Brian, Paul C & me. Definites for Saturday only: Kenny and the Cuillins (a fabulous new ceilidh band from Skye) and Iain and Mary. Probables: Johnny, Jan, James and Stevie. Possibles:Ian Manson & kay Tennant. Mark and I will get the prices, options etc. sorted out in the next couple of days. W

Hi John, You're a brave man to mention Ibrox after today's massacre. The slow group should be back in time next week though. If we're in doubt on the day, I'll be happy to do a shorter version with you to get back for the game too. I don't think we've met, so I'll be the guy with humble pie stains on his jersey! Willie

Kenny, Are the Cuillin guys hoping to stay overnight on the Saturday or are you going home again after the run? Everybody, I have a scan of the proposed route map. If anybody wants it email me on [email protected] and I'll send it for your perusal. Didn't have time to phone the caravan site today but I'll try and find a few minutes tomorrow. W Latest roll call: Definites - Mark, Brian & Willie. Additional definites for the Saturday run - Kenny and the Cuillin Wheelers. Probables: Jan & Johnny. Possibles: Ian Manson.

The last two miles consist of a steep climb up from Kinlochleven (about the same as Bowfield - 300 feet in less than a mile) and then rolling hills back to the site. It would not be hard except that you will have completed about 65 miles before it!! We have a few days to make up our mind about digs but it will now happen, that's the main thing. W

Hi Mark, I don't think there will be much difference financially although the hostel is right beside the Clachaig Inn!! I think we should sleep on this over the weekend because there are pros and cons - actually the point is that we all get away for some good cycling and the hostel and site are close enough that people could choose whichever they prefer personally. I would go for a couple of caravans with any 'overspill', or people who prefer it, dossing at the hostel. I will find out caravan availability and cost tomorrow and we can give everyone the info over the weekend. What do you think? I have put together a route for the Saturday and checked it with Memory Map. It prints out official Ordnance Survey maps, so I'll print out a map and scan it for circulation by email later. If someone wants to convert the following route onto MapMyRide that would be great. I can never get this programme to work, sorry. So, the proposed route for the Saturday run is: 1. Leave the site and turn right (west) along B863 toward Glencoe village (3.6 miles from start) 2. Turn right onto A82 and continue west to Ballachulish Bridge (6.8 miles from start) 3. Head north over the bridge to Corran Ferry (11 miles from the start) 4. Turn left at the other side of the ferry crossing, heading south-west, then west through Glen Tarbert towards Strontian, until the junction with A884 is reached (24 miles from the start) 5. Turn left (south) onto A884 and continue along the south side of Loch Sunnart towards Liddesdale. The road turns generally south before Liddesdale and this will be the hardest part of the run – an 850 foot climb in 2 miles. 6. Take the well-earned steep descent for approximately 1 mile and turn left (east) onto the B8043, continuing a general descent for approximately 5 miles towards Kingairloch and the north shore of Loch a Choire (35.5 miles from the start) 7. Continue in a general north east direction along the north shore of Loch Linnhe until the A861 is reached (44 miles from the start) 8. Turn right onto A861 and retrace route back to Corran (51 miles from the start) 9. Turn right (south) after ferry crossing and retrace route back along the A82 to North Ballachulish (58 miles from the start) 10. Turn left (east) at the B863 and follow the road along the north shore of Loch Leven towards Kinlochleven (67 miles from the start) 11. Continue along the road on the south side of the loch back to the site. The last two miles are pretty hard. (total journey approximately (70 miles) This is obviously a long, hard run, but there are plenty of good ‘bug out’ places to make your run 40 or 50 miles, if you prefer. Known facts: the A82 is a very dangerous road, but the route isn’t on it for a great distance (about 14 miles). Unknown facts: I can’t vouch for the condition of all of the roads over the Corran Ferry. I know most of the route and it is fine. The roads around Kinlochleven are brilliant, but then again they were built by German PoWs! What do you think? Is this route worth a try? W

Hi everybody, Greg Balden accrued enough points to come second in this ranking last season and never told anybody! Well done Greg - a brilliant achievement, considering the time out with injury too! W

Excellent Kenny, even more excellent Brian!

Hi Jan, That sounds like a good contingency. Let me know what the hostel capacity and costs are as that might be a better option for everybody. W

Ok team? We are going for the weekend of 6th, 7th & 8th of May (2 overnights). This could be changed if another weekend suits more members; we want this to be as accessible as possible. I know the weekend before is a holiday, but this would possibly mean that the caravans are less available. Also, in true 'Teuchteresque' tradition, Patsy, the site owner, charges like the Bengal Lancers on set holiday weekends! You may remember that I've not exactly been Henry Kissinger when haggling with Highland landladies! The site can be reached by car, legally, in about 2.5 hours, unless there are some roadworks or other holdups around Loch Lomond. Mental cases in super-chipped Subarus could drive it in about 90 mins, just for reference. We can sort out travel and car-sharing nearer the time. Mark and I will come up with a programme before we go but there are plenty of good places to eat and drink at reasonable prices. The site itself is quiet and 'bonfire on the beach' friendly. I believe it is sprayed daily with ned and asbo repellant and anyone who slips through security wearing a Burberry baseball cap is incinerated by flamethrower - harsh but, you have to agree, effective (see Figure 1). It is in the shadow of the north face of the fearsome and notorious Aonach Eagach ridge, so an added entertainment is sitting by the fire, sipping a well-earned cold beer and 'spotting' low-flying 'Munro Baggers' reaching terminal velocity! Contact me through this thread to confirm or make suggestions, so that everyone knows what is going on. We need to know by the 28th of February so that I can book the accommodation in plenty of time. The site is also brilliant for camping if anybody prefers that, but, I'm no gonnae kid yeez, remember the midges! (Figure 1.) Definites so far: Mark, Brian, Willie. W

Good point Brian! I think Mark had an idea in mind and we will try and fit everyone in around it. Obviously, this is always the critical decision and there is usually some other event clashing, but at this stage we are trying to accommodate as many people as possible. Mark, what weekend were you thinking about? That would give us a start. I think the important thing here is to develop a template for cycling weekends away, so that we can do it a few times a year from now on, safely, cheaply and hassle-free, no matter who is in the group.

A few of us are trying to organise a long May weekend away, possibly in Kinlochleven.The idea would be to book a couple of residential caravans on the Caolas Nacon campsite (its half-way up the south side of the loch between Glencoe Village and Kinlochleven - a brilliant site, but midgy metropolis - so camping is out!). If we got there early enough on the Friday night, we can do a brilliant 20 miler round Loch Leven. On Saturday, I would recommend a trip over the Corran Ferry, head for Strontian on the Ardnamurchan peninsula and do a 50/60 miler. On Sunday we could do a run up Glen Etive before heading home (about 25 miles). Iain MacAulay, Mark O'Neil, Kay Tennant and me have expressed interest, so far. Anyone else let me know soon and we'll try and get a weekend organised. W

I saw it through the window!