Mark O

Sounds epic from all the various accounts. Chapeau one and all.

Got about 4 hours or so to kill. Need to be back for 1pm. Might join y'all for a bit. M

Billy you've made a public claim that I have prepared poorly or badly for an event. I take issue with this. You know little or nothing of what I have been doing over the last 6 months. Your claim of poor/bad preparation is unfounded as you have no facts to back it up. Had I wanted your views as to the quality of my preparation for the event I would have asked for it. I didn't. Please remove that claim from this thread and apologise. You have 24 hours to do so, after which I will contact Johnstone Wheelers committee to have it removed. For the record I did not ask for your opinion in this thread. You took it upon yourself to get involved in something that has nothing to do with you, unless you can offer a pair of clip on tri bars. However you did see fit to denigrate and criticise me without good reason. This I don't appreciate. I apologise for the formal response but not its content. You truly do fail recognise when to stay quiet or the subtle prompts to do so.

Billy, You just don't know when to shut up do you. Ok, you've hooked me and I've bitten. Competitor responding to the cycling coach's comment in relation to a 70.3 triathlon event. Firstly, its 56 miles not 50miles. Basic info as to bike leg distance is wrong - not a good start on your part. Secondly, my TT bike has not been road worthy therefore not available for me to train on over a sufficiently long period (read initial post) - my bad and I'll report for suitable punishment to whichever authority oversees these things. The real reason the bike has been off the road is financial - I didn't have the cash to sort it out earlier, but that's not important just reality. In an ideal world I'd have the best of equipment at my disposal but reality is I don't, and choices have to be made. If that is a lack of prep on my part then again my bad and apologies for being skint duly tendered. Had I had access to my TT bike for a longer period of time then I would have trained more using it, for all the reasons you correctly state. Unfortunately that option was not available to me and so I am where I am. Third, I'm not entering a 50 mile TT. I'm attempting a half ironman race. The bike stage is not ridden in isolation - it comes after an open water/sea swim and before a half marathon. Absolutely I'd approach a 'one off' 50 mile TT differently and might even defer to those, such as yourself, with greater knowledge and experience than me for advice, but that's not the subject matter in this case and context is everything. Fourth, the running is probably my weakest event (in spite of the undeniable poor preparation for this element that has been going on since December). Therefore I think I'd rather lose 10 minutes on the bike, by keeping something in the tank for the run, rather than 20 minutes+ on the run because my cycling ego got in the way for the sake of a good split. But you knew that already in telling me I've prepared poorly. Experience tells me that if I go too hard on the bike leg or ride in a position which would significantly compromise my running performance then a poorer overall outcome is likely - my rubbish preparation and training tells me that. It's called personal pacing and more than a little important over this distance - paraphrased from an experience elite triathlete advising about what mistakes to avoid over this distance. Fifth, and on a more general note, a qualified individual, in any field, would know not to publicly opine on something without gathering and considering the facts first. Perhaps as well as being skint, I'm carrying an injury prevents me riding in a full on tt position but a halfway house of tri bars on a road bike is doable - that does not mean a lack of prep on my part as you are oh so quick to conclude. Of course there is no way you could know that but perhaps should have considered it before commenting in a negative fashion. Finally, as to your comment - "it's not as if you are doing an ironman or something hard like" I think it's time for you to grow up and stop belittling other people's efforts, goals and achievements. Whether your comment is in jest or otherwise they are not smart, constructive, nor appreciated at this time, and not at all becoming of a sports coach. Perhaps on this occasion the qualified bike performance coach should have kept his counsel, as to whether or not sufficient prep has been done, to himself for once; rather than spout half baked and ill-informed views. I'm content with what training I've done over the last 6 months. I believe I could have done more due to a few weeks lost through illness and injury but apparently that is the norm for this sport. We'll see on the day if I have prepared sufficiently or not. What I will know for sure though is that I will have attempt a 70.3 and hopefully be able to say I've completed one.....and you? I accept that all this will probably fall on deaf ears but your comments p***ed me off, and they were not going unchallenged. You ARE a muppet at times and can't help yourself. I also accept you have the right to say whatever you want - in fact I stood up on your behalf, with the club's committee previously, to allow you to exercise that right. However I do wish you would sometimes engage your filter/brain before engaging your jaw.

Good luck for the weekend Tom. Let me know how you fare. Weather looks to be settled and warm. Cheers Paul, the course route is visible on the Edinburgh half ironman website. Billy, what do you know of my prep/training for this event? Nothing at all I'd suggest based on your ill informed comments above. Read your own strap line and reflect. Clearly your "wisdom" extends to 70.3 distance triathlons, as well as everything else you bump your gums about. If you are suggesting I should be able to ride and maintain just under 25mph average speed on 80%-85% effort for 2 and a bit hours on a 'not flat' course and then breeze a half marathon then you're suffering cranial disconnect between brain and mouth. I'd be coasting Paul McD's Double Arran challenge at that rate of knots and changing my name to Brownlee (2:01:39 bike split on a 70.3 tri, for world class, full time athlete and Olympic gold medalist). Seriously, I'd be ecstatic with a 25mph ave on a 25TT on the West Ferry, followed by oxygen and a beer. You truly are a muppet at times. Now go away. PS 56 mile course, just so you know.

The considered advice from experienced triathlete and team GB member is not to attempt something significantly different to one's normal practice on race day - that would just be stupid. Hence my comment I haven't ridden my tt bike sufficiently enough, and me seeking a clip on bar option. But thanks for the constructive, thoughtful and wise coaching comment nonetheless.

Gerard - Many thanks for your offer. I'll pm you later today. Al - It may be wrong but that particular train has departed the station. It's happening and all too soon. Got the fear on.

I'm looking to possibly borrow a set of clip on tri bars on the weekend of the 1st/2nd July. I did buy a pair recently but they don't fit the profile of the bars on my Sunday bike and are too big for the winter bike even with rubber shims. I probably need 31.5mm rather than the 35mm dia. extensions which I appear to have purchased.........I think!!! Not looking for anything amazing just something that will offer me a half way house option on a hilly(ish) tt course. Have ruled out using my tt bike because I haven't ridden it sufficiently enough and the position is a tad too uncomfortable for 90km Any assistance would be gratefully received. Cheers M

Je suis Mark O. Not to be mistaken for the slightly less fabulous but nonetheless remarkable Marko.

Nice to read that you're back out in the saddle Charlie......and not looking anything like 'the wee fat guy' mentioned above by the old fat and grumpy guy.

Guys, I'm not riding this event now - circumstances dictate that Saturday is now a write off. Enjoy. Hope the weather is good to you. M

I'm looking to borrow bog standard microscope this Friday and Saturday. Heather is doing some filming for a corporate video and is looking for specific props. Would be exceedingly grateful if anyone possess such an item and is prepared to give us the use of it. Thanks in advance M

The 30 sign at Stewarton has move considerably closer to Dunlop, but the sign is in situ. Not the same lead out downhill and thru the corners as before but probably still doable before you encounter the new roundabout serving the new housing estate. I reckon a duo or trio could give it a right dig on the rise out of Dunlop to form a break and probably hang on. I road this route on Tuesday during the week, the surface is notably poorer than I remembered it from last year. M

Not sure the practicalities of a bus transfer back to Milan the day after would work. To my mind you'll need the basics of an overnight stay - change of clothes, toiletries as a bare minimum. That'll mean either carrying this kit on the ride itself - probably a non starter idea, or arranging the transfer of some minimal kit. In my opinion if you are transferring any kit at all, you may as well transfer everything and not have to return to Milan, thus leaving at least a day in and around San Remo. I do like the idea of spending some time around the Lake Como area - never been there, but it looks good on the TV. I think we should be aiming at keeping the number of hotels and actual transfers of kit and bodies to the minimum, as this will 1. reduce the need to hunt down and secure additional accommodation to begin with, 2. remove the chaos and hassle of packing up and unpacking (including dismantling bikes potentially), and 3. means more time on the bikes. Not rubbishing any suggestions but merely flagging up things for consideration. Might be worth looking at options for a transfer into Milan in the morning of the event - bit like the buses to the start line at Paris-Roubaix. Say a mini bus for 12 plus trailer for bikes?? and using Paul L's suggestion of a bike box and kit transfer to San Remo by sportive package organisers. Perhaps we could sort out the Milan transfer with them in advance also.

Ditto the reasonably priced hotels approach and no hostels - it might be a bunch of blokes riding bikes and drinking beer but roughing it for the sake of roughing is a no thank you from me. Our Liege digs were a bit good and admittedly quite enjoyable but something along the lines of the Hotel du Soleil or the Duva will do fine. Both ticked all the boxes and I don't think they were overly pricey either. I can see big Alan's point of view, I don't think middles would choose to have their club mates priced out of a foreign trip (the elitist former golfers probably would as they have no shame), but at the same time I don't think I'm prepared to completely slum it for 5 days out of my thread bare annual leave entitlement. I propose, second and vote for the usual random, dis-organised and petulantly argued over compromise. Agree with Alex - numbers first, then consider hotel options with group discounts being sought, then transport and transfers. Can we get a new overseas/Italian adventure jersey. The Novo Colli jerseys still get commented on when worn M

I'd be up for the usual 5 day trip, if annual leave permits. Would probably prefer a few days in country to mess about on the bike before the event and fly home with shredded legs, rather than have days to kill after the event. Tend to find after the event any notion of pedalling anywhere has gone. I assume the plan would be to overnight in the San Remo area and arrange for bags etc., to be transported on from Milan by some means. Single courier service between hotels might need some thought. Logistically head scratch this one. 3 hours by train any one?!! I'm sure we'll work something out. Double hotel bookings also. A sportive package deal for MSR might be a thought, if they exist. Just my musings at the moment. Rob, the big route in one day I believe is Billy's intention - don't dare miss the ferry or you'll have to do it again!!

Andy ignore MacBagel he's rambling inanely again. I met him and the Bison on the track this morning and I'm sure he noticed how incredibly lean and fit I'm looking these days, and felt he so bad about life that he suffered a fatal humour bypass later in the day, resulting in chronic grumpyits. Apparently retirement has latent side effects. Added to which his beloved St Mirren will be playing third tier fitba next season. The severe condition causes irrational random verbiage. Sufferers are more to be pitied than scolded, as a former Govan riveter once said. The ticket guy has the same status as the man from Del Monte. He says YES!!! Personally, I think a beer at the Douglas is better than one on the ferry. Well done to all who broke their SA duck today. Good going lads. Chapeau to you all.

MSR - on bucket list so a likely yes from me.

Gents of the hive, As we will all be aware the Queen Bee (yes Charlie, that's you) is currently laid up with healing bones. As chief Drone I feel I should kick this ride off for this year, however, I am engaged in another venture for the time beeing and am unlikely to be riding this route as part of a bunch until July. I'm not sure if there would be any interest in revisiting this bunch ride this summer. If there is interest could one of the regulars post up. Depending on where I'm at or what the training plan says I should be doing I may tag onto the group at some point, or indeed pass yu going the other way For those not in the know the details are as follows The roll out is on a Tuesday evening at the lights at Morrisons at 18.00. The pace is briskish but maintaining a full bunch. The Route - Morrisons - track to Howwood exit, onwards to Howwood and up the Bowfield. Usual B roads past Greenacres and then right at the crossroads on the Gleniffer Breas road and down to Lugton. Lugton to Dunlop (unofficial 30). Dunlop to Stewarton (official 30 Sprint) NOTE - new roundabout has been created just outside Stewarton. The 30 sign may also have moved. Left at the crossroads in Stewarton taking Dodside Road over the hill back towards Mearns. Regroup at the white house on corner of Glanderston Road. While the pace is brisk, the climbs are done as a group and the group generally stays together, working as a unit. Last year the hammer did tend to go down pretty much from the first incline out of Stewarton. In my view that kind of negated the purpose of the bunch ride at that point, with bodies all over the road and weaker climbers effectively sitting up the moment they got dropped, rather than working marginally out of their comfort zone for the whole ascent. Of course suit yourselves but keeping it together until the last ramp to the reservoir was the original aim of the ride. Cheers M

Gents, I have a Saris Grande Fondo bike carrier for the borrowing thereof, if space is tight in cars going to the Fred. Simple to fit on to the car - no roof bars required and takes 2 bikes in some style. You might be able to marry this system up with roof bars and accommodate 4 (potentially 6) bikes on the one car. May need to off set the roof mounted carriers a little. I'm penciled in to ride at Drumlanrig with Heather (short course only), just for the hell of it. Hopefully catch up some of you then. Cheers M

Couldn't resist this - Miller St. - Bowfield - Lugton - Stewarton - Fenwick - Galston - Prestwick/Troon - Dundonald - Gatehead - Kilmaurs - Stewarton then usual route back to Johnstone Plenty of bale outs on route home. Easily 60 miles. Mix of climbs, rolling roads and flat. Miller St. - A77 (various routes) - Eaglesham (via moor) - Jackton and south of East Kilbride - Strathaven (nice choice of Cafes) - Galston - Moscow/Waterside - A77 - Clunch Road - top end of Sewing Bee route - Barrhead - Miller St. Again 60+. Easily doable in reverse with the climb out of Eaglesham a killer with tired legs. EK and Jackton roads reasonably traffic free. Miller St - Eastwood Toll (Barrhead option available) - A77 to Fenwick - Stewarton - Dunlop - Barrmill - Garnock Valley (choice of Kilbirnie Largs Road past the golf course or Swinlees Road) - Largs - West Kilbride - Dalry - B714 to Ardrossan - Kilwinning - then pick up the Bogs Bunch route to Barrhead/or pick up Barrmill circuit past the Bonds and take in the Bowfield. Lumpy route in either direction. 70miles+. Darryl and I rode this in prep for Liege. Plenty of Bale outs for tired legs or those under time pressure. Kenny Christie's Dalmally/Inverary dawn raid? Meet at north side of Bridge - A82 to Tarbet - Tyndrum - Dalmally - Inverary - Tarbet or Helensburgh - Bridge. Lumpy and requires a very early start to avoid lochside and Inverary to the Rest traffic. Right turn for Dunoon an option. Big day out 100+ and some vertical bits Finally...... Anything that takes in the Crow Road, Tak me Doon, Callander, Thornhill and Kippen in a single day That's July sorted for you all. . M

Been following this thread with a little interest. Seems to me it is getting complicated. Weighted points for winning/placing, based on distance are going to skew the outcomes to the point the league becomes meaningless. Place well in poorly supported 25s and then stand with a stop watch for the rest of the year could see you win the league, or have a higher league position than the keen rider who never places but turns out for every event. Surely that is counter to the aim of the thing - to increase participation in confined TTs. Paul and Billy's comments cover this pretty well without need for me to add anything. Also Jann's comment is quite telling. To work the points need to be simple - points for turning up to ride, with additional points for placing (whatever these might be - 1st thru 5th) is all that matters. Weighted points for turning out for the less well attended events (25s and west ferry 10s) could be considered, but these can't be such that they skew the final outcome. My suggestion is that get 1 point for the Georgetown, 2 points for a 10 and say 5? points for a 25. Placing points should be equally tight if any difference at all between events. The most consistent and fastest riders should be at the top of the league, not the guy/girl who does 2 x 25s and/or then stands with a stopwatch. Forget about points for timekeeping etc., or deductions if you don't. A simple rule if you don't do your bit then it gets noted on the league table for all to see. Assisting on events should be a condition of your membership/participation in the club. You shouldn't need rewarding for doing what is expected. As for PBs, these should appear as riders aim to gain points against their nearest rivals, thus putting in the necessary effort. Additional PB points are unnecessary. A final bonus award could be given to the rider with the most PBs over the season, but not for each PB. This skews the league against the developed rider who might be consistently fast all season but won't see PBs every week in comparison to a developing rider who may well see his/her times come down every week through natural development. This may read as a bit of a poo poo to Alan's suggestion, it's not. I think a league structure is a good idea. However the points allocation, as proposed, is too wide ranging, unbalanced and now complicated, as are the coverall rules. Riding a 25 should not be a tap in for a top league position, but missing a 25 should not diminish all your other efforts. Standing with a stop watch or on a corner is a nil point effort, not standing with a stopwatch (at least once) is shameful. Turning out should be rewarded but should also consider external factors - work/family/holidays etc. Just my thots M

Still in the process, Alan. The unit was bought new in July/Aug, still under warranty etc. Replacement or refund being sought. M

Thread titles of this nature should be banned from this forum as I find them offensive in the extreme. That aside, gotta be the best attempt at an alternative spelling of Haylie yet.

Conti 4 seasons for me Ginty. A little more expensive but worth it IMO. Easily two years out of a pair and good grip (important to some as sketchy as me in the corners). Had pair 32mm on my winter bike, renewed with same earlier this year. Tried and tested on the pave of northern France too so will deal with Glaswegian genus of road surfaces. M PS stick the cost on your business expenses or claim it back through your tax.