Colin McPhee

Chapeau Colin. In the later race I started in group 1 with Alan in group 2, there were 3 groups total. There were 2 mins between groups. Group 1 worked well for the first lap and into second lap with some bodies shed along the way. Early in the second lap we were caught by combo of 2nd and 3rd group who were pretty well flying. Anyway rode with them for about 6 or 7 miles to DAms climb at which point I got that horrible getting pumped out the back sensation. Teamed up with another dropee and rode to finish in our own wee 2 up.
 
I'll let Alan post up his own report but chatting to him afterwards I think he experienced that a singular moment of poor placing or indecision with the elites means you lose 20m and you just don't get it back unless your name is Fabian !
 
As Colin very importantly points out, it's more hard yards in the bag for DA.
 

Good race today Iain was right about the juniors . Unfortunately my group lost a number of riders early who dropped off leaving a smaller group to do the work so we couldn't catch the first group. The pace slowed a bit more on the 2nd lap I made some attempts on the front to try and raise it a bit. The group further imploded on the second time up the dams and was not working anymore so the catch was made with about 5 k to go: the final uphill sprint was as Jan had predicted but I managed to hold on and finished mid bunch. Good day for first race of the season and perfect trIaining for DA

Good race today Iain was right about the juniors . Unfortunately my group lost a number of riders early who dropped off leaving a smaller group to do the work so we couldn't catch the first group. The pace slowed a bit more on the 2nd lap I made some attempts on the front to try and raise it a bit. The group further imploded on the second time up the dams and was not working anymore so the catch was made with about 5 k to go: the final uphill sprint was as Jan had predicted but I managed to hold on and finished mid bunch. Good day for first race of the season and perfect trIaining for DA

Yeah good luck at the weekend.
 
For those in the first race then there are quite a few talented juniors (most of whom can sprint) in the scratch group so the best chance of getting in the points is to avoid being caught rather than saving a bit in reserve waiting for the catch then contesting the finale with them.  Although this is pretty much standard APR advice it's not like i have been able to offer any proper insight

I missed the deadline, emailed about reserve list but didnt hear back but now not able to ride now anyway
 
Would someone mind posting the groups that everyone is seeded in? And what is the gap between each group?  I might be able to tell you who has been going well this winter - who to watch for a sprint or who to not believe when they say they are on their limit and cant come through and do a spell! 

Enjoyed the wheelabout down to Largs (particularly knowing i was going back the Haylie so didnt have to worry about having anything left in the tank for later!)
 
After that some great views over the reservoirs to the hills. Then the 30 sign featured Charlie doing a 'Zabel' 
 

Well that was a sore one ! the bunch had dwindled to six by the time we got to the west kilbride drag. I was feeling ok at that point but should have sat in a bit more at ardrossan as the wind was getting up and I eventually got popped at the next drag at Burnhouse so sat up and solod it back to Barrhead.  Nowhere to hide in a small group of six and with taking regular spells it was always goin to be hard into the wind. Still managed to keep training on target. Good to see lots of wheelers out. Couldn't see Arran through the mist much to Pauls disappointment !

Fun double , at least it was dry

Monday forecast is good. So rest day Sunday and sprint the commute to work on Monday

Sorry for the upside diwn pictures. Alan and I practising for Rapha's next riund of adverts. I think we nailed it!

Well that was very sore. As we all saw it was pretty full on from about the Red Smiddy in a bunch of over 20. Bunch split a bit on the Cloch DrAg then a lot more on the Inverkip drag. I was with Alex and Alan in a group of 8 riding pretty hard into Largs. Stop longer than usual whilst we tried to figure where everyone was and who was doing what. Charlie arrived just as we were leaving after his puncture and very gamely decided to join the much depleted full route group. Leaving Largs the tempo was more of the same and by the time we got to W Kilbride Charlie had gone and I was sitting in. 8 left in group now and I sat at back to Kilwinning drag where the lights didn't just go out, they imploded. Big Alan still in group and giving it dokey. Granny ring home for me and in a bad state when I got back, too long without any long runs due to lurgy. Don't think I can remember being in Largs for 11.35

The Canyon Aeroad that Katusha are using this season looks great with the red and black paintjob.
 
 
As for good deals online - Paulscycles have Cannondale SuperSix Evo Hi Mod frames in their sale for £750...that is their pro level frameset and if you were to add ultegra and some nice wheels to that you would still have change from what the frameset alone normally costs (£2100 i think)

A perfect day for CX and about nothing else... A seemingly simple course degraded quickly leading to another mudfest. Only myself and Davie Borland this week. Davie had a great start and was in the top 5 for a few laps but as the course degraded into a swamp his tyre choice didn't cope well and he lost some places.
 
After the last couple of races of falling apart in the final two laps I tried to ride conservatively and keep on eye on my HR. it worked, I wasn't absolutely gubbed by the end but finished in my worse placing so far... so back to hammering it at the start and chuck the garmin in the back pocket.
 
A great muddy day on the bike, still a few races left if anyone would like to try it out!

Was going ok until the Kilwinning drag but lost contact just after the top when couldn't close the gap think the conditions played their part although it's s bit of a lame excuse still better than more turbo ! Rumour has it the rain might relent on Saturday 30th Aug 2023 at 2 pm (for 5 mins !)

Nice one, a DS as training for the DA

A few of us got some free SIS energy gels when Wiggins broke the hour record, here is a chance to get some more free gel
 
http://www.scienceinsport.com/sis-products/team-sky-free-gels/claim-your-gels/

Here's a few photos my wife took when we watched some of the "A" Race.
 
Well done to all for riding the course, it sure does look hard & technical!
 

Well done guys and also Alex looking good in the A race. Afraid I have to take this one on the chin as I only lasted about 20 mins then stopped due to gubbedness from yesterday. Aspirations exceeding reality. Cheered Alex for a couple of laps then got sweat chill and departed to warm car.
 
Technical question, anyone else using a mini v front brake? I have one that is quite bitey and I found myself on the deck quite a few times on slippy off cambers where others did not seem to be having same problem. Wondered if it was the bite of the brake versus the more progressive braking discs which many were using?

The second Rouken Glen Cyclocross Race looked to be fun, snow and ice! Myself, David Cathcart and Davie Borland were in the B race of 100 riders. Not sure what David Borland was in the B as he has had better results than alot of people in the A race! The 3 of us started well all up near the top at the first lap. The course was technical and slippy and got worse as the race went on. Lots of crashes, but soft landings... I had a good few collisions(as did the others) and damaged my front wheel but wasn't bad enough to stop. Davie B was looking really strong, I couldn't see David Cathcart after a few laps as he had a black jacket on. Davie B finished 11th place! Great result after the lurgy. I finished 34th(no excuses) and David Cathcart was 48th after 6 weeks of the bike with illness. Not a bad day for the wheelers... so far.
 
We met Alex Baird and Paul McDonald on their way to the start of the A race. The course was getting very slippy and alot more technical due to some compacted snow on the turns! but hopefully they have a good ride!
 
Link below to watch the pros in the world cup live today
 
Cheers 
 
Paul L
 

A moment of weakness broke me - After the puncture stop going down Clune i got an 'ice cream headache' and my fingers were so cold i couldnt pull the brakes properly so decided it would be wise to chuck it. We headed up Barrs Brae and the wall and by the top of that i was roasting again! 
 
Alan would have soldiered on had i not been there.

When we left Renfrew the bunch was 10 wheelers and jets! Were quickly joined by about 8 others. Puncture before Bishopton was quickly fixed. Heavy snow after Bishopton and was actually lying on the Westferry so we headed up clune in abandon mission mode. Second puncture near top and whilst fixing that one the snow eased a bit so we decided to rule 5 it. Lucia and Charlie headed back as Charlie's front tyre was looking very unreliable. Headed up spango and single lined it at a steady 24/25 mph to Largs. James, Andy G, me, Iain A and Robbie present in bunch, Jan and Alan had made a strategic decision to turn back at Greenock, someone was rude enough to suggest they brikked it
Jim and Lynsey joined us at Largs, James manly headed up Heely on his tod and Andy stayed in the single line train to his warm inviting house in W Kilbride. Thereafter it became a survival game with heavy snow after Ardrossan. Chapeau to Jim, Lynsey, Gregg, Scott, Richie, Robbie and Iain for making it to Barrhead. I was tail end Charlie (no pun intended m'lud) after Kilwinning drag due to lack of fitness.
 
One that will not be forgotten in a hurry.

I kept him busy buy asking him to tell me the intricate workings of his power meter, he couldn't resist sitting up and conversing 😃

Shame you missed it Paul just the sort of leg bender you like so much!
 
An afternoon of 2 halves - first up a keirin, last man when the derny pulled off , was feeling alright though...rider that was 3rd was struggling and let a gap grow, pulled up onto the blue and chucked it...then swung back down to the red as i was going through, had to stall and couldnt then close the gap. After this the A+B groups were combined due to low number in the A group, and a devil...my usual awful performance, i think im getting worse at them. Next was a scratch, decent pace with riders getting lapped but managed to finish in the front group for the sprint (i didnt have the legs to contest it though). Points, should have tried to bridge when a break of 3 went but didnt - just before they got their lap on everyone else i went through hard hoping someone would come with me but no-one did, stuck on my own for a bit then got pipped on the line to 2nd the next sprint. Hanging on after that. Final race was an unknown distance scratch, first time doing that for me which and it was fun - gambled on the race finishing and was off the front with Matti and another guy for a few laps, unfortunately the race continued beyond our time out front! Was too far back when the lap board went up with 2 to go.

Finally got round to rejoining after an "extended rest period" shall we say.
 
Anyway looking forward to increasing my fitness levels and catching up with some old faces (not literally obviously!!!) as well as meeting some new.
 
Richard Binnie

Mixed night in the Bs, during the warm up and first couple of races (scratch and devil) i struggled to get my legs going, just felt really tired. Half way through the third which was a points started feeling better so attacked after the 2nd last sprint, someone bridged and we worked together and stayed away to the end where i got 2nd in the sprint but not enough points accumulated other than that. Last up was a scratch and the field was a bit smaller as a few had head home attacked about half way through hoping someone would come with but they didnt so eased off then went again with about 3 to go, managed to hold on to the finish although must only have been about a couple of mm in it!