Tom Hill

Weather was truly horrible, couldn't stop shaking at the end of the race and even at race HQ, thought I was going to have to get chung to wrap his small frame round me for some body heat I was that cold. But apart from that it was pretty good. I had heard there was probably going to be a break and true enough there was, very early on, I thought I'd missed my chance as they'd opened up a bit of a gap but decided to go for it, no one came with me and I made it across thanks to a strong tail wind. There was now 10/11 of us with a couple not working but the pace set by the nightingale and ivy boys was fast and we soon shelled the drafters. I started to really feel the pace the 2nd time we did the dam climb and by this point hands and feet were totally numb, I started doing some drafting of my own and luckily managed to recover for the sprint which I had decided to go for alot earlier with the idea of getting better than 7th, I managed 3rd and happy with that, must say it was a very well organised event and great circuit, cheers to charlie and Iain for the jwcc road side support and to chung for the in car support and well done Colin and Paul on a tough night, oh and Cheers for reading. 😉

Already back in bed after emailing the organiser.
 
Have a good one.

Great run today. Weather was very kind with views over Glen Fruin even making Greenock look good - honest!!
 
297km in legs over the last two days so now feeling a bit happier about LBL. 
 
Good luck to Chung et al for Paris-Roubaix next week......... Nutter!

Hi Richard
Hubs and skewers for me please. That us all I was needing for my Flying Scot rebuild.
 
Tom

Are you trying to fit the tyre to a metal dustbin lid?
 
Made the same mistake myself.

If we're looking at a Friday then later in February is good for me or midweek more flexible. Main this is to have a wee get together before season starts?

I'm up for McGinty's session!!

I'll come out to see if I can still recognise Richie...... a bit like time lapse photography!!

Alan
I rode a lot of these North East roads in August this year...well worthwhile.  I however did it over two days with a good meal, sleep and shower in Nairn...like a normal person!

I just try to hang on to the wheel in front......... seldom know where I've been or are going!!
 
.......... obviously lost said wheel in Flanders.... before anyone else steps in!

Two tickets please.
Thanks
Tom

Typically the case for the defense has several errors.
 
The 8 miles were to the O2 arena. After that we had to cross the Thames (not to be as easy as we had expected) then head for Olympic Park, a further 4 miles. We then rode to the opposite corner of the Olympic Park, adding several more miles.
Heading up the main dual carriageway to Blackwall tunnel with two lights to share between us was not a good idea and somewhat alarming. Mind you the Garmin 800 is very slow to update and is not very good for using as sat nav.  Unless, that is, you are trundling along and do not have a committee of three second guessing it all the time. Yes, a recipe for disaster, your honour. 
Nevertheless, in the inclement conditions, I sheltered McCuker and Yuille all the way to the start so that they would be fresh for the day's challenge, with ample time to waste before the start of the ride.
 
As mentioned above we set off at a cracking pace. The garmin gives me an average speed of 23mph for the first 30 miles.
It was higher but as we entered Richmond Park I took out a gel and dropped back a few riders from Al and Charlie. This was just before the first right hand turn where the guys in front, over cooked it and we ground to a halt. One foot on the ground I saw Charlie and Al disappear into the distance. I remember thinking on several occasions that I really should be in some sort of amphibious craft and undoubtedly I would be faster with a paddle. Perhaps I was hallucinating, but I am sure Moses made a cameo appearance near the diversion away from Leith Hill.
Despite going through the inevitable bad patch for about ten miles or so, speed was high and the only major incident was at a sharp left turn at the bottom of a hill just after the 75 mile marker. As we turned the previous corner and descended towards the next, we could see bodies everywhere lying in 5-6 inches of water. Braking heavily (should read frantically as carbon wheels and deluge is not a good combination!!) It seemed like an eternity waiting to get through the carnage but it was probably only a few minutes. There didn't appear to be any major injuries.
Riding along the Thames and passing the Houses of Parliament before heading for the Palace was a memorable experience, brilliant! I was in a little group of six at that point and won the sprint for the line.
I have to say that even though the weather was awful the people of London and Surrey were out in force and offered great encouragement.
The Garmin gives me 4h24m and an average speed a shade over 20mph which, for me, is considerably faster than any other ride over this distance.
You may well think that cycling in Biblical storms is insane and it probably is, but I enjoyed the whole thing.  Perhaps a bit like Paris-Roubaix though; not to be repeated!!
 
Finally two hours to get out of London; I blame the co-pilot. Which one? the App or McCusker, is for the jury to decide. 
I rest my case.
 
Tom

Cheers Ian. Will investigate the Braes. New to mountain biking myself, I was down in Glentress a couple of weeks back. Great setup and tracks; only pay for parking (£5 for the day, bike wash and showers. Don't forget the £1 coins). Also recommend Go Ape as an aside; 2nd last flying fox 1/4 mile across the valley 150 feet up is brilliant.

Cheers Ian. Will investigate the Braes. New to mountain biking myself, I was down in Glentress a couple of weeks back. Great setup and tracks; only pay for parking (£5 for the day, bike wash and showers. Don't forget the £1 coins). Also recommend Go Ape as an aside; 2nd last flying fox 1/4 mile across the valley 150 feet up is brilliant.

French hills for me . Leaving on the Saturday.

Greig
You're supposed to practice on the bike!!

You pair obviously suffered metal impairment as a result of the vibrations from the cobbles happening at the resonant frequency of the two neurons you each possessed!

Chung pretty well gives a flavour of the soul destroying torment and perverted satisfaction of riding 170km of silky roads interspersed with 55 god foresaken kilometres of the the worst road surfacing known to man that was the norm before Mr Macadam came to be.
Why the rural north didn't adopt it we'll never know. But then I guess it would not have been a day in Hell if they had. (Not to mention a holiday)
Now that 24hrs have passed and some semblance of touch has returned to my hands I am, through a vin rouge mist, thinking that I kind of enjoyed it. Though it is a box that does not need ticking twice!!!
There is of course the usual Johnstone Fare and tales to be told of blocking roads and reversing up dual carriageways at 4:15 in the morning. As a previous "winner" this has my vote, regardless of the year remaining, for the Hamuk award!!! Mind you Coutie's unconventional use of a roof rack almost converting road side vehicles to convertibles does come a close second!
 
A great couple of days, proud to be a part of the JWCC's group finish in the Roubaix velodrome.
Well done guys!!

Chung pretty well gives a flavour of the soul destroying torment and perverted satisfaction of riding 170km of silky roads interspersed with 55 god foresaken kilometres of the the worst road surfacing known to man that was the norm before Mr Macadam came to be.
Why the rural north didn't adopt it we'll never know. But then I guess it would not have been a day in Hell if they had. (Not to mention a holiday)
Now that 24hrs have passed and some semblance of touch has returned to my hands I am, through a vin rouge mist, thinking that I kind of enjoyed it. Though it is a box that does not need ticking twice!!!
There is of course the usual Johnstone Fare and tales to be told of blocking roads and reversing up dual carriageways at 4:15 in the morning. As a previous "winner" this has my vote, regardless of the year remaining, for the Hamuk award!!! Mind you Coutie's unconventional use of a roof rack almost converting road side vehicles to convertibles does come a close second!
 
A great couple of days, proud to be a part of the JWCC's group finish in the Roubaix velodrome.
Well done guys!!

Chung pretty well gives a flavour of the soul destroying torment and perverted satisfaction of riding 170km of silky roads interspersed with 55 god foresaken kilometres of the the worst road surfacing known to man that was the norm before Mr Macadam came to be.
Why the rural north didn't adopt it we'll never know. But then I guess it would not have been a day in Hell if they had. (Not to mention a holiday)
Now that 24hrs have passed and some semblance of touch has returned to my hands I am, through a vin rouge mist, thinking that I kind of enjoyed it. Though it is a box that does not need ticking twice!!!
There is of course the usual Johnstone Fare and tales to be told of blocking roads and reversing up dual carriageways at 4:15 in the morning. As a previous "winner" this has my vote, regardless of the year remaining, for the Hamuk award!!! Mind you Coutie's unconventional use of a roof rack almost converting road side vehicles to convertibles does come a close second!
 
A great couple of days, proud to be a part of the JWCC's group finish in the Roubaix velodrome.
Well done guys!!

Only finished Flanders counselling in Dec 2013! Something to do with cobblitis I was told

Just checked this. Ian, I'm dropping kids off at rugby & hockey. Back in Langbank by 9:30am
If it suits let me know.

Cross-training in the Alps for the next two Sundays!!

Alan
Riding in sportive or audax mode?
 
Quite fancy it too.

Billy
The track aka velodrome is that new big building in the East End of Glasgow......