Richie Cross

It happened. 😁

Club run 70s style back road to Port Glasgow from Gunpowder climb
Kenny MacD , Paul Mcgrath , Dave Smith , Ian Neilson  with international rider Drew Brunton giving a masterclass in puncture repair, 

Here is a few photos to show some of the extra “details” I treated to my frame before building it …… all good prep. work to help prevent further issues down the line …… given that this frame should have a “hard” life when it gets used 🙂
Ordered some “marine” grade torx bolts to “plug” all the threaded bosses around the frame for mudguards & panniers etc. since these won’t get use (for now anyway)
“Chasing & Facing” the bottom bracket thread & shell for a clean & “perfect” fit for the BB cups ….. it’s got to be done 🙂

A few more detail shots 🙂
Just look at the mahoosive cassette at the back 9-42t ........ jesus I hear you scream ...... 40t at the front, that's a much lower gear ratio than even my road 29-34 set up

Finally, finished just in time for Xmas 🙂
Hope you dig it ....... tubeless & hydraulic disc ....... 24 degree "flare" handle bars too ...... so gravel 🙂
By the way, Merry Xmas everyone! 
 

Hello fellow Wheelers,
  How’s youse all doing! It’s been a while since I made a new build, so I thought it’s about time I make another one just before Xmas 🙂   So far in my life, there’s THREE things I thought I would never do but end up doing it anyway 🙂 1st one was smoking, I hater people who smoked when I was young but ended up taking it up for a number of years, but thankfully I gave it up as soon as we were expecting our child ….. that was more than 20 years ago 🙂   The 2nd thing was drinking alcohol, I don’t “hate” a drink, just never really felt it was for me or the need to, but again I took it up later (be it not excessively) in the form of a few whiskey 🙂   Then there’s “gravel riding”, I mean, what’s all that about? A road bike with mountain bike features? Come on, pick a discipline & stick with it for god sake 🙂 Who needs tubeless & disc brakes on a road bike …….   ……. Well, I have just bought myself one & looking forward to trying it out after a bunch of Wheelers have been going out “gravelling” & it looks so much fun with brilliant scenery and all …. even on not so favourable weathers for road cycling 🙂   Also, I have to admit it as one  of the main reason why I want to try it out was because my favourite cycling brand - Campagnolo have brought out a new “gravel” specific groupset call the Ekar ……. 1-by too ….. got to try it 🙂    So, here’s a few snaps of my new frame set with the groupsets sitting on my work bench ready for some wrenching 🙂   The frame set is a Cinelli Zydeco aluminium with Columbus full carbon fork ….. not the lightest but relatively “cheap” compare to the groupset 🙂   Hope youse like it & I’ll get more pictures when it’s finished!   I’m coming soon “The Wheeler gravel boys” 🙂   Cheers   Chung

14 riders entered the event on a cool, blustery morning. Results as follows.
Andy Ross 00:02:34   Colin Edgar 00:02:25   Diane Gray 00:02:48   Chris Marsh 00:01:54   Ritchie Provan 00:01:53   Rob Gunson 00:01:34    2 James Ross (J) 00:01:53   Murray Gray (J) 00:01:56   Evan Marsh (J) 00:01:58   Fraser Anderson (J) 00:02:18   Ruari Mulholland (J) 00:02:18   Sam Edgar (J) 00:01:43   3 Jamie Thomson (J) 00:01:27    1 Jann Lapsley (Ebike) 00:01:45    
Congratulations to Jamie on retaining his title from last year, and to Jann as the first ebike entry to take part. Maybe next year, we can have a few more ebikes taking part.
Well done to all the riders, this really is a brutal little climb.
Big thanks also to our Marshalls and timekeepers on the day, and to the support.

Hi All,
Should have posted this earlier, but hope it’s not too late!
As the title suggest - First ever edition of Women Elite Paris-Roubaix race on TODAY!
Yaaaaaaaas!
Should be a cracking race!
Check it out!
Cheers
Chung

Fabulous run again today with a perfect cafe stop for us all 🙂
A rather cold start to the morning but it soon warmed up as we toured around the roads of Renfrewshire & beyond!
We even manage to bump into an ex-Wheeler - Tony "the farm watch specialist" Carrigan, who rode with us for a wee bit from the Bowfield, looking well & as usual exploring the back roads ...... I think he would have approve todays route indeed! 🙂
Unlike last Sunday, no mechanical or puncture to speak of on todays ride   ..... so rather boring on that front 🙂
Thanks again to David for the route .... & everyone for the wheel/company this morning ......
I think there was talk of Arran next Sunday ...... I can already picture Paul McDonald's big grin if/when he hears this 🙂
P.S Great photos by the way folks 🙂
Cheers
Chung

Thought it worth mentioning another astoundingly brilliant day on Arran where 5 of the 7 riders were JWCC members (although one missed the memo to wear the jersey😀)
3 new inductees to the Hall of Fame were Sean Delaney, John McGivern and Mark Cushley who are all regular Saturday bunchers, repeaters in the Hall of Fame were David Archibald, Richie Provan, Garry Dunn and myself so chapeau to all,
5 of our number finished a bit ahead and took the Island Loop KOM by a chunky margin on a near perfect day with virtually no wind. The weather was so brilliant it was a shame all we could really view was a 700x25 GP5000 and a rear hub !!
The legend grows and I see another double taking shape in my crystal ball. Get training hard because you know you want to,
Forza Arran Forever !
 
 
 
 
 

Ahh that was myself and my Uncle (a dirty LRCC rider) 

Received this message to our FB account this evening. Well done to the two "incredibly lovely, considerate and polite" riders, whoever you are.
Warm glow all round. 
 
 
 

Davie you never needed an excuse to buy an E-Bike, you might have been able to keep up with me
I've sent you an email and more photos, We have had some great times! i'm sure we can squeeze a few more in!
Stay strong
Paul

Davie,
So sorry to hear this news.
I have many fond memories of rides, trips and events with you and others in the club, and I am sure I have plenty of photos to go with many of them.  Top of the Kapelmuur is attached and I will look out a few photos and send them over.
Unfortunately I don’t have any photos of you leaving our BBQ with Mark O’Neil a few years back….via the bush at the side of the garden and the hedge at the end.  However, I’ll never forget it as it always brings a smile to my face.
I hope you get onto the treatment soon and that you can get out on your gravel e-bike.  Sorry it's been so long since we rode together, but if you are looking for some company around some local lanes, then I’d be more than happy to join you.
Best wishes and thank you for posting.
Ramsay

HI all, swithered over posting this at fear of being a bit ostentatious but lately find being open and honest having a cathartic effect and don't want to just disappear into the ether. I won't be rejoining or out on club runs anymore as I have been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Still to start chemo but the future does not look too bright in terms of time left and quality of life and just really hoping for a year covid free in the camper van and have just ordered gravel e-bike so trying to meet it head on.
Bit ironic to be hit with this as just really got mentally over having cancer when I was 8 following some counselling early this year - this kind of explains my somewhat distant nature and always being on the periphery of things. As George said recently if you need help get help just talking about things can really help.
Anyways enjoy life, free yourself from power meters and just ride your bikes.
A final request I have found looking at photos of happier times helps so if anybody has any photos of trips which feature me I would be grateful if you could send to [email protected] as I would like to create some photo books for when I am no longer around.

3 out today and rain come on as we stood, majestically, outside the club rooms. We sacked the leg bender in favour of track to kilbirnie then over to Largs. It hasn’t changed much since last week. Sodden & frozen by time we got there so agreed it’d be a wizard idea to go home the way we came. Home, drookit and straight into my monthly bath. 
Not many folks turning up for club rides, despite my selfless and Herculean efforts to keep the club alive. Is there anywhere anyone fancies going? 

the suspense …...

This popped up in my iphone memories today from a ride over the rest and be thankful 3 years ago - thought a few of you may like to see.

Gone but not forgotten!
 

Geo,
my tv in my garage is only 22/24 inch or something but it was under £100.  Saved money there and splashed out on a 4K Apple TV box. Connects via HDMI to the tv and everything is better compared to when I used my phone with the lightening connector.

Hi. 
It can be a nightmare. I’ve only ever tried Cat D races that have something like a 2.4wkg max....you can be doing 4.5 to try and keep up! 
Yes, a good few folk might then be DQ’d but it can be hard to ‘enjoy’ the race when it starts like that.

Hi. 
It can be a nightmare. I’ve only ever tried Cat D races that have something like a 2.4wkg max....you can be doing 4.5 to try and keep up! 
Yes, a good few folk might then be DQ’d but it can be hard to ‘enjoy’ the race when it starts like that.

I was stuck at the start and had to shut down my ATV then restart it. 
I was then fiddling about with tv cables as I thought something was wrong and didn’t know there was a 1989 theme going on! 😄😄
Thought I could make up time so I then imploded on Box Hill! Couldn’t face going up it a second time!

60 minute group ride, sticky draft on so no-one will be dropped
Remember to follow Johnstone Wheelers on the companion app if you want an invite
Before the event is due to start make sure you have opened up the game and can see your avatar and bike - you can ride about on any course or just sit waiting. When it is 5 minutes to the start of the meetup a dialogue box will appear on the bottom left of the screen  - select that and it will take you to the start of the group ride.
 

Hi people,
the title of my post might have set alarm bells ringing. Sorry for that.
So.... I’ve not been well for the past 3-4 years. Up & down. Making bad choices then punishing myself for it. Caught in a loop. Eventually went to get help.
Basically l, I had a really bad experience when I was young that I hidaway from.Denied it happened. Beat myself up for it. 
Eventually, I sought help. I was referred to a councillor and a CBT therapist. I won’t lie, having to discuss my issues and experiences was brutal. 
Why am I telling you this? Because if I hadn’t I probably wouldn’t be here.
Things got so bad that, what I thought was my salvation, “cycling” became toxic. Watching my weight, training, trying to keep up &, as life unravelled, being dropped was very crushing. I saw cycling as being my validation but it became a pressure & a stressor.
Thanks to mental health professionals & some very good friends in the club who have given me council, I’m on the mend. Thanks, guys.
I’m still cycling but for now I’m just going out when I feel like it. I’m also eating like a horse with no qualms or worries about “racing weight” I never raced much anyway!
Why am I posting this? We live in a society that is so driven by aspiration and the need to “get on” and compete. I’ve come to the conclusion that after my experiences I’m just lucky to be here. I’m quite proud to be alive.
So my message is- if you are struggling, don’t be ashamed to seek help and if you think a friend is struggling don’t shy away from asking if they are ok.
you just might savesomeone’s life. 
If you are struggling and looking for help, message me. I might not have the answers but I can signpost you to people who can help you.
It’s ok not to be ok!

What a weekend with the Joansin family. Could not have asked for better company, weather, digs, food or cycling. 
Looking forward to reliving it all when Chung gives us his full account of the weekend and others sharing their pics and stories.  Thanks to all for making it such a memorable event. Same time next year, I hope. 
PS yes I'm biaised, but Jets were the best drilled bunch in Flanders.