fionnghal

B****r! Just been reminded I had committed to being somewhere else tomorrow am. Ah well. Will keep a look out for another time.

Hoping to be there just so I can reassure myself that Kilmaurs has withstood the invasion. You guys still on summer bikes?

Take it y'all got out of the station bar in time for the last train up the road? Next year I'll try to keep up at the start and not be lulled into thinking the bunch in a "Novice" race might go at 18mph instead of the 25 you guys were doing. I was doing 22mph when you dropped me. Who cares - I got a PB anyway. Thanks for the craic though. Fiona

I have definitely improved since I last went out on a Wheelers ride well over a year ago (with the 30milers) and I'm looking for some Sunday runs that aren't any slower than 13-14mph average speed and that have moderate to slightly moderate plus hillwork. Have ridden a little bit in a chaingang but am a long way from expert in it. How fast do you guys go? I am very familiar with the route you've mentioned on this thread but would average only about 14-15mph over it. Don't want to hold you back. Cheers Fiona ps any girlies go on these rides? (I mean real proper females - not just you being rude about some poor bloke)

I have a number of pics of the Wheelers I took as I was "nesting" (as one of you guys put it) in the sand dunes. Some of them are even free from the camera shake I incurred as a result of laughing so much at the antics and repartee of the trench Posse. Is there a central repository for photos anywhere on the website or do people just upload to their own image hosting accounts? I'm reluctant to put them on my own blog as a number are of the youth race. Let me know the best way of getting them to you. Not quite 188 though. But as an appetite whetter: http://i44.servimg.com/u/f44/13/64/32/21/genera10.jpg Or maybe not.

Sorry I won't be able to join y'all. In Newcastle this weekend. Next time I hope.

Dunno how I missed that link - next time I'll read the whole message before I post my response. It's an interesting route and one I should be able to do. But I am recovering from a major sinus infection and having done only 1 ride in the past 3 weeks has seriously dented my fitness. I'll come along but on the strict understanding that if I'm holding you guys up, you must go on without me. Might just short-cut that last loop through Moscow and Waterside and cut straight up the track at Fenwick to where you guys'd come back out. Usual script - If I'm not at the clubhouse by 9am I'm not coming.

What route do you tak for this one, Grant? I may join but like Jannza, might not make the 54 miles. Would like to though.

bummer, Jannza. I've managed to keep it down to only a few hours at work over the weekend. Anyone else out there?

Anyone on for a 30-miler? I have work at 2.30pm so I was hoping for something reasonably local.

I'm in as it stands currently. But have been pole-axed by a migraine the past two days. If I am not there by 9.30am just assume I am still not feeling up to it. Did a few turns round the block with no probs today and an early night planned, so here's hoping.

Jannza, have we decided which run we're doing yet? I've been a bit poorly the past few days and would prefer to do whichever is flatter to ease myself back into the saddle (which I have only briefly sat in all week). Is the Balloch on the flatter or is that just an illusion?!? Haven't heard from Natalia but will text her tonight.

Anyone up for a 30-miler this Thursday or Friday (29th/30th) during the day? I love my daytime runs but am getting bored going myself. Was thinking just a run round the Renfrewshire/Nth Ayrshire roads/tracks but if the weather picks up I could be persuaded across the river. Not got a particular time in mind - I usually go out some time between 11am and 2pm so I miss the rush-hours at either end.

Either of those OK for me. Remind me of the Strachur route so I can go and Multimap it? btw - do we ride to McInroy's Point or take the lazygits' alternative known as the car?

Jan. Thanks for taking me on board today. Rain or not, I enjoyed my first proper ride with the Wheelers. Am going to try them thar hills again some time this week - tomorrow or Tuesday during the day - so I can do them better the next time we venture up. Ah well, didn't have to stop on the big incline so I'm reasonably happy. Look forward to the next run-out.

My plan for tomorrow morning is on another thread. http://www.johnstone-wheelers.co.uk/php ... php?t=4921 I'd be heading out of Elderslie at 9.30am so could swing by the club instead of going on to the track at my usual bit (behind the Night Palace). As I explained to Ramsay, I'm wary of holding people back - and ideed of making a total innertube of myself. Hills are not a strong point yet either so I'll be taking the Carruthmuir very slowly I reckon. I've got to be back home by 12.30pm to greet some guests but if time allows I might tack on a dive down the track to Glengarnock and back before heading homewards. Was it yourself I met about three weeks ago on the track at Morrison's? I met two ladies one of whom was called Mary but I couldn't remember the other lady's name.

Hi Ramsay. Are you talking about the Carruthmuir road? I've once done it going from Lochwinnoch to Kilmacolm - it wasn't bonny to look at but I got there! I don't want to upset your ride, but am interested in trying the route. So what I'll do is head over from home to Kilmacolm and try it out on my own for this time. If you guys pass me on the way, throw me some encouraging words, some oxygen and a king-size Mars Bar for energy. I'll be the one on the Dolan Mythos (or possibly lying in a crumpled heap beside it), and I usually wear a blue GoreTex jacket and a determined look on my face. Thanks for the offer anyway, and do stop if you see me so we can introduce ourselves.

Thanks Jim. Not sure I'd want to get in the way like that at this stage, but if I'm free I'll certainly come down and watch/take stock. I'd volunteer to help but as it stands I may be in Newcastle on that day so don't want to commit. That may (and prolly will) change so I might get back to you later in the week with an offer of assistance. I tried the route today but was time-pushed so could only do 1 circuit. Seems like I was going anti-clockwise too! Average speed from junction at railway bridge and return was about 13/14mph. I'm assuming I'm a million miles off the standard of you guys but I'd appreciate your input and comments on whether that was any good bearing in mind it was the first time I've been on the road plus I had to stop for a tractor taking up the entire road on one of the hills.

Richard./Darryl/Anyone I'd be up for a 9/9.30am run somewhere on Sunday that allows me to be back in Beith for 12noon. Be warned, though: I'm a rookie at this but would welcome some company - especially people who can and will give me an honest appraisal of my current abilities/suggestions for improvements (or possibly a recommendation to jack it all in and take up macrame.) Lemme know what you think - either on this thread or in a PM. I won't be offended if you'd rather blow the cobwebs by doing your own thing rather than "baby-sit" me.

Could someone tell me the route for the Dunoon loop please. Cheers Fiona

Thanks, Jim. Will go and recce it today at some point. On Multimap it looks like the sort of thing I'd be interested in as a relative newcomer to this sport. My cuurent "circuit" is the track from Elderslie to Lochwinnoch - up on to A737 and down to Highfield - over the wee road through Longbar into Glengarnock - back to Elderslie on the track. It's given me a nice mixture of road and track plus flat and minor inclines (not to mention the opportunity to do a roadside fix of my first puncture since about 1969!) Comes in at just over 30 miles on my Garmin and I'm averaging about 14-15mph over that route. Mebbe some of you experienced guys could tell me how that compares as one of the "problems" I have is that i really haven't a clue how well (or badly) I am doing and I'm right now a bit wary of tagging along with a group if I'm just going to be a hindrance to it. Kind of hijacking the thread here, but all info/help/advice/recommendations for a good knitting club welcome. Fiona

new here - please tell me what route the Barmill circuit takes.

I'd really like to come along on one of these runs. I'm especially attracted to the Balloch one as I am new to this sport/hobby/obsession/madness (delete as appropriate) and not quite sure if I'm actually any good at it. Have been doing 30milers twice a week as part of commuting to work and have notched a couple of 50s in the last ten days as well. BUT - it's been fairly flat stuff, with some smaller hills usually around 3, 4 or 5% grade plus occasional forays up short 6 or 7% grade. I don't think I'm that good on hills yet and don't want to be a burden to a group, but it's at that stage where I'll never know if I can cut it if I don't try a group ride. Anyone up for letting me tag along with a "gentler" ride? Would be appreciated. I won't mind if the group drops me later along the way - as long as it's somewhere near an ice-cream shop. Fiona

Okay. I'm almost embarrassed to ask but could someone please explain for the benefit of the new diddy what is meant by the term "reliability". Sorry - daft question I know but I am not familiar with the lingo and I do genuinely want to know all this stuff. Many thanks in anticipation. Fiona

Thanks Darryl. I'll do that. I'm sure I was overtaken last Sunday mid-afternoon by a group of Wheelers just between Kilbirnie and Lochwinnoch. Whoever it was probably didn't notice me as I had stopped (embarrassing as it is to admit) to take a picture of some very interesting bracket fungi on a tree. Oh Lord, I really need to get a life! Fiona