Mark O

An appearance from the lesser spotted skinny a real possibility.

An appearance from the lesser spotted skinny a real possibility.

Confucous says "Chung is wise!".....that is all.

Confucous says "Chung is wise!".....that is all.

Ok, firstly thank you to all that had something useful to offer and took the time to do so. I have had another bash at this one and have eliminated the play in the HS hurrah........but now the front forks are very stiff to turn. Seems that in my unquestionable mechanical ignorance I’m still missing something. Any further constructive thoughts.
 
Chung - will give you a call in the morning.

No comment

Happy Birthday Darryl. As much as I'd love to join you I've too much on Saturday pm. and can only fit in a local route. 
 
Enjoy.
 
M

Charlie,
 
I'm afraid business has scuppered my return to the fold this week. Next week looking in doubt also. Tour de Islay anyone??

+1 Paul. Bunches always drop in summer because people are away. So long as all runs are stuck on the Bunch forum somewhere I think we are OK. I always post on the Bunch whenever going out on an unofficial bunch ride and do this right through the winter when we'll still easily get a dozen wheelers on a Saturday morning in January.
 
The big mix of abilities combined with differing domestic commitments results in a fanastical Venn diagram of potential combinations and I would not want to stop this but just accept that people will sometimes do their own thing.
 
There is no way any of us can keep up with (or police) every feed so I would ask that people keep the Bunch updated with their activities and don't change the big Sunday posts. If it is nice weather there will still be loads of people keen for a ride.
 
A special request to the more experienced or faster riders to please occasionally ride with the other Sunday groups. You will not suddenly lose fitness by riding a little slower for four hours and you might get to see the great countryside instead of Paul McDonald's rear wheel.
 
Post and ride indeed.

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

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. 

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. 

Seems I managed to delete this thread which is a talent in itself. Any way smashing ride yo Eglington Park 49 + miles for me. 😄😄🚴ðŸ»ðŸš´ðŸ». Cheers guys & hoping for more of same next week

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'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!!

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

Agree on minimising hotel changes/ travelling with associated hassle of packing bikes.
Paul Ls option sounds like the least hassle.

Flying to Milan and traveling to Lake Como seems abit of extra work as we need to get back to Milan.
 
I like the idea of flying into Milan getting to Hotel unpacking bike and gear for ride and getting Sportive guys to pick up my Bike box full of my stuff. Next day do ride and get to hotel in San Remo, 2-3 days around San remo cycling and eating/drinking, train/bus to airport from san remo when we decide to go home.
 
Again Just my idea but happy to go with majority
 
 
Cheers

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

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.

There is precedent in law regarding the Andy issue. The Supreme Court ruled a number of years ago that if the ticket dude would allow you on to the ferry then it counts. So well done Andy.

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

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

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