DavieB

Yip ...

Colin, Would agree regards Contador - he is poetry in motion on a bike and I also think he is a class apart. He has also been good for cycling as his season does not solely revolve around 3 weeks in France. He rides throughout the season and most often races to win - this alone is a breath of fresh air from the Lance era. I recall reading that Clenbutorol is not neccesarily performance enhancing in the sense of EPO but can be used to lose weight / "cut" muscle during training periods, so if he has been a silly boy then it may be for slightly different reasons than the "standard" concept of doping. My disclaimer if the above is indeed tosh, is that most, if not all, that reaches us via the media and particularly the internet is a mix of supposition, PR and propaganda. The facts of the case are not known to me but alas I fear the worst in a couple of weeks time. D

Maybes aye ....maybes no! Paul - is your avatar from official etape photographs if so where do you find them, not apparant via the website? Davie

A horrendous can of worms and that's just this thread. I think the problem for Armstrong is that there is a huge difference between pro's past and present offering stock BS to a cycling journalist and testifying in relation to a US federal investigation where there are serious consequences for being somewhat economical with the truth. As an aside there are those who did come clean - and more importantly name names (spit in the soup) - Kimmage, Simeoni amongst them and look how the great man treated them. As for Millar really respect him as a class rider and intelligent bloke, a great advert for cycling in general..... however there is a (perhaps cycnical) school of thought which suggest he has made a great career out of being cyclings self appointed "Mr Clean" much as the the self annonited Saints, otherwise known as Messers Bozo and Geldof made out of "ending" world poverty. Remember Millar never hacked up anything into the broth and always toed the Armstrong party line. As for Contador anybody else think he is trying to trounce the opposition at the Giro at every available opportunity to: (a) Prove a point; ( Influence a pending decision; © Set up his defence/protestations of innocence - "I've just shown what I can do clean" Sad to say but this is not going to go away.........

I was planning on coming along too - I think the current success rate of getting this going since it was 1st planned is 25% So not too good. The other option worth considering if APR is not going to happen is for a like minded group to do some structured pace training on a "flattish" circuit which avoids the stop, starts and fracturing of the group which ineviatably occurs during the hilly run. Some of you may remember the pace line / through and off etc. training sesh at the Barmill circuit expertly taken by Paul McD earlier this year, more of the same would suit me. Anybody else have any ideas.

Looks like fun....will try and combine this with a wee camping trip in the borders. Davie

Excellent day though I did encounter a period in Al's warp in the space-time contiuum when I was going so slow even a "toiling" Billy Mac passed me. The time warp also affected my vision as it appeared to my eyes as though he was indulging in a spot of good old fashioned wheel sucking at the time. After Al crossed the line the normal laws of physics resumed as when I turned the corner into the last lumpy 5 miles I spied a yellow and blue shape which was a mere speck in the distance. Due to the differences in relative speeds it soon became clear that this was indeed a (now) very definately toiling Billy Mac. Ever polite I slowed up for about 9 seconds to shout encouragement as I rode past and agreed to meet him over the finish line, it was only later that I found out the consequences of my friendly gesture. Davie

I'm going up with Campbell so no space in car. Plan to pick Campbell up about 10:30 and get to arrive early enough for a wee spin. D

Alan / all, Don't mean to hijack the post but there is some interest in trying to get a regular Thursday night APR going around the Peesweep circuit it has not been an unqualified success so far but on the one occasion I have managed to partake really enjoyed it. Something a bit different and more of a sustained effort with no re-grouping or big fractures in the groups. A request for a show of hands for this coming Thursday is posted in the Confined Events section. Not wishing to speak on behalf of other members but suspect that quite a few of the regular Thursday night hilly run club were up for continuing with the APR if we could get enough people going along. Just saying like..... Davie.

Good be good to get a couple of groups out this Thursday....who is interested?? Davie

Excellent stuff David ....obviously thinking with the head and the legs. Here's to many more two armed celebrations. Davie

Here goes nothing with some notable mentions from a real rogues gallery. I am assuming the points are for the "declared" winner at the end of the tour as I am sure other external parties will soon be having their say.............. TTT: HTC, Garmin-Cervelo, Sky GC: Contador (see above), Nibali, Scarponi; Team: Lampre Mountains: Sella (if it's too good to be true it generally is), Garzelli, Scarponi Points: Pettachi (nuff said), Farrar, Hunter

Make mine a double expresso! Should be out for this to get the legs moving again after a wee break. If you are avoiding the track both there and back would suggest back road from Kilbirnie to LochW rather than main. Any chance of making it a 09:00 start?

Not 100% but hoping I will be able to make it, like Ben have no idea where circuit starts so can someone post some details as I am unlikely to be going via club rooms. Also no expert on this but unless the numbers are boosted a bit APR looks unlikely so fall back position may be one group doing a bit of pace work - pace line, through and off etc - I'll obviously be at the back D

Great run today with the bonus of not wheezing like a 60 a day man on the climbs. Back in time to see the last 40K's of LBL as well - do Sunday's get much better! Mark - cheers for lunch, remind me as next time it is my shout. D

LBL, 1. Gilbert; 2. A Shleck; 3. S Sanchez

I'm a maybe......

"Anyone who doesn't include Gilbert in their list is a mentalist" What exactly are you trying to say about Billy? Also 2 out of the top 3 in Fleche in the correct order and only 4, yes thats FOUR, measly points. Stewards enquiry.

1. Rodriguez; 2. Sammy Sanchez 3. Contador

Teams for Fleche.... http://www.letour.fr/2011/FWH/RIDERS/us/engages.html Reckon it will be a day for a Spanish celebration but still to make final decision.

I would be up for this on Thursday nights ....will follow posts to see about other interest. D

Darryl came up trumps with this one....fantastic run and legs were feeling the burn at the end ....need to do this one again. D

Mark, Make it 8:25 at usual place - think I have misplaced your number so please text / phone in the morning if plans change. Cheers, D

Only joking Rich....you out at the weekend?

Darryl, Heard about this run but never ridden it......gets my vote. D