DavieB

The tale of the tape from the Garmin gizmo... http://connect.garmin.com/activity/111805167 Cracking day with I presume Arran rarely looking finer in the dappled late summer sunshine though the tyre in front was my main focus of the day. Have to say a Harmonesque chapeau to the 3 super strong guys of the day Paul McD, Alan and Fergus for getting me through my near collapse on the Lochranza climb (horrendous!!) and pacing me back to the ferry. The way these guys were riding they would have had time for a cafe stop half way round, bacon butties and all!! D

Was planning on rolling into Dalry and over the hill in the morning so if you are coming this way can meet you at Glengarnock track at 08:30ish. D

Not me ...will be freezing my nether regions off in a tent outside Kelso. Still always have the cyclo cross training programme to keep me warm D

Paul, If no Fawkirk I would be up for this on the 4th. Don't know about leading the pace line tho'

It has been mentioned previously but for those wanting to keep fit over the winter months Cyclo cross would be an excellent and fun way to train and race. Really accessable way to get into racing.

Keen to do the APR - is it enter on the day? D

Will be in the home of Magners cider so will not make it. FYI.... on a related note the Renfra bunch will be departing the bogs at 6:30 from tonight onwards according to BH posting so I will be struccling big style to make it 2nite. D

Yes superb racing by Greg, Alan and Barrie - great showing for the JW. As for me a real experience - no respite and need to be super fast and super brave into the corners otherwise you are at the back and toast. Good fun though. Congrats to Kenny S and all involved for putting on a great day D

Should be there the back of 9.

My social experiment to see how many events I can miss before Mr C overtakes me in the standings has now concluded with the emperical evidence pointing to the fact that you shouldn't take his lead when next standing in your local William Hill. Anyway time to start a Pantaniesque climb up the table with the following oddball selection. Have not really been paying too much attention up the back so not sure if it is one of the super tough Vuelta's which will have the pure sprinters, Cav amongst them, running back to their mammies mid way through the 2nd week so here goes nothing....... GC: Nibali, Anton, J Rodriquez KOM: Scarponi / Van Den Broeck (is he riding?) / J Rodriquez; Points: Friere / Bennatti (riding?) / Cav TTT: Garmin / HTC / SKY Team: Garmin Cav: 3 wins Wiggo: 7th - cueing up yet another of Brailsford's could a' been a contender speeches.

Yes still available outwith riding the GP. Would appreciate a slightly later start if possible as I will be up with the birds on Saturday (working). Let me know, D

Is there actually a difference? I won't be out - secret training. D

Won't make Renfra' bunch this week so planning on heading to Barmill circuit instead. Will be there for about 6:30ish with general plan of 3 circuits at brisk pace with some "intervals" thrown in. If enough turned up could do mini APR? Anybody interested? D

Spot on Darryl & Tony..the method of riding as described by Chung and others as "through and off" was first described to me as a "continental change" and I think the continued mis-reference to "t and o" in the above and other threads is not helping. D

Guys, Think we are reaching the stage where we need a time out on this. Seems this all harks back to one of my posts which has I believe been taken (by some) waaaaaaaayyyyyyy out of context. I will remind everybody my post was a serious (and very valid) point made in a tongue and cheek fashion after a Thursday night "chain gang". The issue was not of pace but erratic riding which was liable to cause an accident, the riding on the night was also disappointing because contrary to what several members of the bunch said that night most people there had been shown how to ride both a pace line and "through and off" by more experienced members, so there was really no excuse. I think I got pelters in some quarters but I think I was sticking up for the less experienced members who were getting a really bad lesson in bunch riding. To me the issue of how you come through on the line is a red herring the last big bunch ride I was on (over the Kybher etc) was 2 up, 2 drop back (i.e. not through and off) and the erratic changes in pace were downright dangerous, people were coming through and basically stopping pedalling leaving the people at the back on the brakes. I was very vocal that day, again not winning any popularity contests, but more people need to start taking some responsibility and speaking up when things are not right. In terms of pace you are never going to please everybody and it seems that the principle of trying to fit everybody into one "club run" is basically forcing square pegs into round holes. Some will struggle to keep up, others will get frustrated due to the slow pace the 2 combined make potentially painful mistakes more likely. Not sure why the club is not big enough to be inclusive of everybodys objectives (have fun riding a bike, getting home in one peace for starters), with several groups leaving but trying to meet up either during or after the ride. I was on the Falkirk club website to get info for last Sundays race and it is very open about the fact that there is a training bunch and "main" bunch who presumably co-exist quite happily together with the principle that they try to meet up after the ride - seems like the application of common sense, and removes the round pegs, square holes scenario mentioned above. Davie

Unlikely to be out 2night and before youse start it's no' just because of the weather! D

I am riding in the Grand prix but happy to help otherwise. D

Sold to the man in the blue and yellow jersey. Mark - watch my posts and see when I am out and about so I can pass them on. I may be out with Thursday's bunch so watch this space. D

Kenny, Sent you PM. Cheers, Davie

Have a set of Grey KEO cleats looking for a new home. The ones with 4.5 degree float. Got them with new pedals and tried them out once (15 miles) before realising that my creaking knees really do need the maximum float afforded by the RED variety. No pedal wear but a couple of scratches due to a short walk on gravel path. FREE!

Richie, Billy, My 1st race and a really good experience. My race startegy was to stay within a couple of bike lengths of Barrie or Ben for as long as possible and hung in till mid-way up the climb on the final lap ended up about 10ft off the back at the top - game over. It could have been a lonely 6 or 7 miles to the finish if I hadn't worked (well) with a chap from Hawick CC to the finish. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/104746277 As for race pace the Garmin data for me is above - the consequence of losing the benefit of the bunch is plain to see in the final splits. There are finer race stragetists then me who frequent these boards but as Billy says the issue of "pace" is of less importance than the changes in acceleration out of corners up drags etc (what finally done me in was an acceleration mid-way up the hill as I had been holding station to that point). It would be illogical for the guys in the front to bury themselves on the flat, innnocous sections if wee chubby chaps like me can just "sit-in" and take the tow. Positioning in the bunch is also of importance, Billy if I am not mistaken I was speaking to you shortly before you got dropped at the back of the bunch, I figured it was not a good place to be at that point so I moved to the front to anticipate the movement. Also re. your "plan" for a final lap "attack" D

Billy, Are you defo in the race on Sunday - I mis-read the start list when the reserves were awarded a start number as there was a caveat at the end which stated that only numbers up to 173 were guaranteed a start. I am in and been contacted by the organisers but reading the current message re. the reserves don't know if you are in yet. As for Saturday I will be out at some point but a lumpy 60 mile run to Largs is not what the Dr has ordered - a flat 20 miler will be enough for me. D

No. 4(?) - don't turn right when you should turn left.

Would suit if I could meet you at the end of the track (Glengarnock) at 09:20? Cheers, D

Just out.... http://www.scottishcyclocross.org.uk/20 ... eries.html