Mark O

Nearly new wheelset for sale Handbuilt rim brake wheelset on Aera Rd30 alloy rims with Hope RS4 hubs and Shimano free hub. Can be used with tubes or tubeless (values supplied). Have seen approximately 2 month’s limited use last summer. Wholesale change over to disc brakes and thru-axles sees these wheels now surplus to requirement. Would be ideal for winter bike or commuter bike. Wheelset retailed at £600 at time of purchase (Spring 2022). Heavily discounted to me by bike builder due to delayed bike delivery as a gesture of goodwill - (long story). I’m therefore open to reasonable offers for this wheelset. pm me if interested Mark O

Guys, Good to catch up with some old faces and meet some new Johnstone members. Been a good few years since I’ve been in a bunch, never mind the Sinclair Sreet reliability. Enjoyed the day, thanks for the company chaps. Hope everyone got home safe. Darryl, if a Don Smith is being run, let me know and I see if I can’t get a few bodies to come along. Cheers Mark O

I’ve signed up to revisit LBL next year. I have digs in the nice posh hotel that was used before and will be taking my car over on the ferry. barring disasters and other unforeseen circumstances I have one space in the car and bike rack available for anyone either going over to ride or spectate. If riding I am doing the full course. i’m not looking to share costs as I’m going anyway. Perhaps split petrol at most and you pick up any additional ferry costs and your food. If interested pm me Mark

Cheers Billy, I’ll give him a call. Funnily enough I was at Al’s workshop a couple of weeks ago.

Does anyone know of or can recommend a mechanic in Glasgow or the surrounding area who can service Chris King hubs? Mine probably now require a bedding in tweak. My usual go Southside guru doesn't have the necessary tools for the job. Constructive input welcome. Thanks M

It happened. 😁

Thread update - New bike (well sort of - still waiting for personalised, bespoke frame) has eventually arrived. Was/is very much worth the wait. 😁

Pair of Specialized Comp Road shoes for sale. White & platinum. Size 8. Worn for just 5 outings during the la Sufrida trip a few years back and have been languishing in their original box ever since. These are effectively brand new, in their box with the manuals etc. No cleats. Cost €168 new (price on the box) looking for £80 or any sensible offer.

New potential members transferring from the Club de Velo Scone Appreciation Society - highly doubtful. The range of abilities is wide and we collectively acknowledge that and ride accordingly. Nothing to prove to anyone in the group. Sunday was a fine example. Coast ride, 65 miles but at John’s pace due to his limitation - near loss of a leg in a bike meets car event. Slower than I wanted or planned but there you go, sometimes you just have to accept it. I think what Gerard is trying to say is the current format does not appear to be working, hence low turn out. Therefore the club needs to try new things to see if they work before unquestioningly staying with what presently isn’t delivering, and asking members to try something new and evolve. Iain, the Langbank mechanical was dastardly sabotage of the lowest order. And officially it wasn’t an attack….. I was getting cold 🤣 Ended up getting a whole lot colder due to a sheared rear mech.

Ah the glory of making your bunch mates hurt, dropping people and ripping bunches to bits on a reliability ride of all things. Geezo it’s a club run not a race. If that’s the mindset, you’d all be better going out solo or in pairs and dispense with the idea of a bunch altogether. Perhaps that’s the elephant in the room. Make the catch, sit the hell up, look around speak to the rider next to you and just enjoy the last few miles back to Miller Street. If it screws with your detailed training plan, one has a decision to make. So glad I now ride with guys who have a bit of respect for each other and leave their egos at home. Helps to reduce the heaviness too 🤪

Nice one. We’ll done every one.

I was saddened to read Darryl’s post, above, and learn of Davie B’s passing. Davie was a wheeler at heart. The man who went to Italy with blue tinged legs and came home with blue tinged legs. Many a time he would appear out of the murk on a Sunday morning, to meet me on the track at Kilbirnie, with his grimace on and greet me with a ‘Morning - shite weather’ and barely miss a pedal stroke. We also limped home down the track to the Garnock Valley numerous times, sucking each others wheels to save what little was left in the tank after a long day in the saddle. The best of times. Davie was the most modest down to earth bloke, who loved to get off the main drag and head for the rural lanes and tracks. The more rutted and mankier the better. He had a pragmatic almost bleak outlook on life but was a dependable, generous individual with a wry sense of humour. Never particularly vociferous, yet spoke his mind when the occasion arose. I don’t know if Davie’s passing, and indeed his life, has been marked on the Club’s Facebook page (I don’t do Facebook), but it seems remiss that there is nothing on the the Bunch to pay tribute to the man. If this thread is it then this is my contribution. Davie B your were and always will be a Joansin Wheeler. You sadly ran out of farm tracks way too soon. You’ll be missed. Mark O

Have ordered a new bike, with a delivery date now of March ‘22. Have heard stories, from very reliable sources in the cycling world, of lead times now into 2023 for parts. Anyone else having issues getting kit? Not having a gripe, the new bike will be worth it, just interested in what people are experiencing in the LBS and on the internet.

Billy missed the important bit about the neo…….you get to freewheel on the descents. That said anything off tarmac feels like riding through treacle. Watts up speed through the floor.

Ginty, I did a good bit of reading on the matter of direct drives, particularly tacx offerings. The flux did get a reasonable write up. However, the neo T2 generally is considered top of the shop time after time in reviews by users. I did a couple of comparison shop based tests on the kickr. Got to say it’s marginal but I am more than content with the neo T2. It has been a ‘joy’ to use. No issues whatsoever. Like most things cycling there will be divided opinions but I can recommend the T2. A definitely expensive but if you can stretch the budget and find one then it’s worth the extra IMO. If you want to try before you buy you’re welcome to drop in.

New tarmac from the A77 junction to the start of the climb and again on the descent to Eaglesham. Drop down Eglinton Street will still rattle your fillings loose.

It’s been more than a while since I last ride out with the Joansin. So many new faces! Good to catch up with Darryl, Alan and Ian in the bunch and say hello to Chung, Carol and Mul. Can’t say I’ll be a regular but will aim to get out once an a while. Thanks for the company guys. Enjoyed the miles with you all this morning. Mark O

Cheers Iain. They’re all unbelievably busy. A few potential options on the table at present. Rejigged the project sequencing too. Not ideal but needs must. A kitchen refurb of the size we’re doing waits for no man.

Cheers Kenny. Have secured a couple of potential candidates - awaiting quotes and timings. M

Does anyone know a good quality plasterer for a short notice job. I’ve been left in a real bind by a plasterer who said he’d do the job but then reneged. The job is a sizeable one. 50sqm room with floor to ceiling height of 2800mm. A couple of bottles of red to whoever gives me a winning lead. cheers Mark

Must have been one of the sunniest April evenings EVER! I see I was still rocking the winter bike at that time of the year......and doesn't my bum look big in the twilight 🤣

Davie B, Kind of stuck for words as to how to respond to your news - a genuine shock. As many others have already intimated, so sorry to learn of your diagnosis. Incredibly brave and humble of you to share so publicly. Speaks to your true character, my friend. Reading through the comments posted above, many make mention of the overseas trips and far ranging audaxing adventures we’ve collectively shared together. My mind goes back to you shepherding me home, back down the track to the civilisation that is the Garnock Valley, after a Sunday thrashing in my early days with the Wheelers. Your backside never looked so good!! Sorry I don’t have a photo of that!!! Stay strong and positive as you embark on your treatment, Davie. I wish you all the very best going forward. Mark O

All the very best to you and the family, Darryl. Hopefully we can catch up at some point on the road in 2021.

Wasn’t a bad one Darryl. Got a soaking in the first half hour, after that blustery but dry. Bowfield was pleasant enough. Just the 3 of us but a 50 miles done. A cracking tail wind all the way from Fenwick to Mearns. And for the discerning cafe stop gurus, the deli in Fenwick was doing exceedingly excellent cake today. What’s not to like. All good. M

No worries Darryl. We’re keeping it very rural at present. Will wave if we spy you. Stay safe you lot. M