Colin McPhee

Good night cheers

Nice night for it and good turnout too.
 
I had a gopro camera on the bike but i accidentally turned it off at the top of Clune so missed everything after that and before then most of the footage is into the sun so not the best quality. Conveniently this means my poor excuse for a late breakaway on the Georgetown was missed!
 
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ioI9aSDhEE

Have a good one guys will watch for you on the telly !

First time out with the bogs in 20 years for me.
 
Feared the worst when one of the guys uttered "lock & load" as we pulled away.
 
For me, as always, it's the fast starts that I struggle with & we indeed took off like a 10 bob rocket.
 
Did a couple of turns on way to smiddy but made the mistake of sitting behind John Craig. He's a beast & struggled to get past him.
 
Had to do a flat out sprint to get over bishy hill but after that I was comfortable.
 
Granted, I didn't do a stroke of work & took the shortcut but that was what many who were still in the group did.
 
Had a wee go at pipping Colin in the sprint and he has now joined that illustrious group of sprinting greats to have distanced me with galling ease.
 
Will try to have a go again on Thursday.
 
One final thought- when I did this ride 20 years ago, not once did I finish with the group.
 
Brian Smith, Drew Wilson, Billy Gibb, Malcy Little, James Millar all rode then.
 
Doubt if there was a single first category out tonight.

Sorry to hear that, Martin. Heal up quickly, Lewis, and look forward to shopping for your new frame.

Tough night in the Bs but an improvement on last week - got some points in the points race (2nd and 4th) but then suffered for those effort and eventually the elastic snapped and i was off the back and just hanging on hoping not to get lapped. Last scratch was alright was in a breakaway of 3 that then became 2 that stayed out for a few laps, eventually caught then too far back to do anything in the sprint (not that i had a sprint left in me). End result was the same as last week did not get any podiums but at least this week it felt like i was racing rather than hanging on so much more enjoyable!
 
The Cs looked fast tonight, thought you were a bit unlucky to lose the wheel in front just before the pace picked up making it difficult to get back on again. If you'd been mid bunch then you'd have been alright i think - you were doing well for the first half of the race.

As soon as the flag came in on the climb up from the bridge the pace ramped up to sizzling I think the ave speed for first five miles was bout 25 mph and it wasn't flat. Poor position going into thankerton had me measuring my effort carefully so as to prepare for what was to come but unfortunately found it impossible to move up on this narrow stretch. On the wooded climb out of thankerton my legs said no thanks and that was me however joined up with Andy a little further on and we two upped the rest of the course. Must remember the climb begins before the climb next time and need to be positioned on any narrow winding sections of road where the bunch gets strung out. Chapeau Paul for sticking it out. A tough start to the season but things can only get better

Guys/Girls
 
We are nearly there regards the new club kit. I hope to have the Club Store open next week. Instructons as to how you use the club store will be posted up. However, I'd like to raise a couple of point before the store opens to highlight some essential issues you all should be aware of.
 
1. You are ordering as a private individual via the club store. The club has no responsibility in regards to what you order (other than the range of garments currently available and final distribution of your individual order). You are responsible for ensuring you choose the correct size and range that you want. You are responsible for the on line payment for your order.
 
2. To ensure an early April delivery of our first order, I intend opening the club store for an initial 72 hours. I can and will open the club store again later in the year as and when demand dictates and can be justified. Notice of the Club Store opening will be flagged up.
 
3. This is very important so please read carefully. There is a minimum of 5 items per garment on this initial order. If the minimum order number is not reached then the item will not be manufactured. This extends across the 3 quality ranges (Continental, Ascent and Summit) and applies to the first time a particular item is ordered. For example should across the club 6 short sleeve ascent jerseys be ordered then that item will be delivered. In contrast if only 3 summit jerseys are ordered then that item will not be available. Re orders of items are not subject to this minimum threshold. I hope that our account manager will keep me in the loop as to the quantities being ordered and where there might be short falls. I will of course realy this back as promptly as I can.
 
It may be sensible to speak to your fellow members regards what items you fancy and what they fancy and try to ensure the minimum order numbers can be achieved.
 
4. We can add additional and new items such as full winter jackets, caps, socks, thermal bibs etc., to the club store as we go forward. New designs will incur design charges. The exact details and amount of such design charges can be confirmed in due course.
 
More regards the club store when I have it. I will post up an idiot's guide on how to use it and passwords, so keep an eye on this thread.
 
I called in at Cafe Siempre today to check the various quality and sizes in order to provide some general advice and my views on the kit.
 
For reference, I'm 5'9" ish and weigh somewhere between 10 and a half - 11 stone. I tried on the small and medium size jerseys - no point looking at the large jerseys as they just drown me.The small jersey was a perfect race fit for me and I'd recommend that for any of our leaner racers especially if you prefer a neat fit on the arms. If you're of a similar height and between 11-12 stone, the medium would be a good fit. Anyone nearing 6 foot then medium might be overly neat.
 
I also tried the long sleeve top, the medium was the best fit, allowing for some layering - base layer and summer top. The sleeves were a tad long for me but it might just be the case I have shorter than normal arms. I tried on a small long sleeve jersey which I couldn't zip up - turns out it was a female cut, not that you could tell. The best fit in terms of gillets, again allowing for layering, was the small. The medium just felt too flappy for my taste and frame, but then again I am pretty skinny. Regards bib shorts, the medium were perfect. Snug, well shaped and the bib straps were correctly sized for my height. That said the shorts I tried on were from the premium Summit range.
 
On the question of quality and which range to choose from, generally all the garments are good and fit very well in comparison to the existing club kit and off the peg kit I have. I would however recommend the Ascent range as the best value for money, and the range which most in the club should seriously consider ordering. The continental range is basic and really aimed at new riders. If you spend a fair bit of time in your kit, commuting, training or racing then the Summit range might serve you better, it is expensive but I think it is excellent. This is the range that I would personally go for, if that is any guide.
 
My apologies for this being a very male-centric review. I would recommend that if you are in any doubt as to what your sizing is go into Siempre and try some kit on.
 
Cheers
 
Mark

Guys
On a serious note the lack of bunch riding skills was evident today especially into the wind on the Westferry the pace carried from 20 to 15.5 mph all that does is increase the chance of crashes as frequently I had to apply my brakes to stop running into other riders
Some may say so what but it was a reliability ride and we all should be able to ride in a bunch but maybe some development is required
Simple fixes
1 ride close to the rider next to you not 3 foot apart
2 frequent changes makes riding into the wind easier
3 When changing outside rider inform inside rider that your moving across inside rider ease off a bit outside rider do not accelerate just stay at same pace and move over when the space becomes available
Simple maybe we could try it

Thanks to Mark and Jane for organising last night and having 5 good designs to vote on.
 
R

THIS IS IT
Saturday 10th May 7am at Ardrossan. Start planning your marginal gains for Project Double A.
See your physio, chiro, life coach, dietician, whatever it takes, but most of all see your psychiatrist (Andy, you available ?)

 
 
 

Stuck this on facebook tonight and it looks like there might be some honners from other clubs.
Might end up with a mini peleton barrelling round Arran !
BRING IT ON

I'll practice getting on and off ferries for the double whammy

I'll practice getting on and off ferries for the double whammy

Hi
Has BC sent the race licences out to the club sec?
Can they bring them to committee meeting on Tuesday as those who race on the track need them

Just to mention bogs run from Jan 4th is as per black book tradition, to Kilwinning with habble up the Barrhead road. Couriers et al are up for it.
 
 

Definitely felt having missed last two weeks of track but enjoyable none the less no results as such but learning about position on the track and tactics. Felt comfortable in first two races legs do e in a bit by the third and couldn't get back in the line after swinging up so another lesson learned Good to see Greg out first time is hard

Tom Hill. Former cyclist and pathfinder. Nice chap, but haven't seen him for years. Last I heard of him was a report of a rare sighting of him meandering aimlessly in the lanes of Flanders.

Races a little bit longer tonight and some big names in the As (and Bs too) so those races in particular looked very fast.
 
The Cs started off with a 15 lap scratch and it was pretty shambolic at times - most riders are alright but there were 2 or 3 who you didnt want to be around. First time ive been in a race where a rider got an official warning for doing something daft. Was a bit far back when the sprint started so felt a bit like the race passed me by. 2nd scratch was 20 laps, didnt do any work - there were a couple of breakaway attempts and others chased them down, made a move with about 3 to go and found myself just behind the front but also high on the banking. Pretty much the ideal place so managed to go and then get a bit of a gap and the win. First one ive had in months! Last was 25 lap points, the aim was to go for the 2nd sprint and then go on from there but didnt have any speed left so ended up just trying to hang onto the group.

As I was a bit pressed for time peeled off with Darryl to do a shorter (dry) loop made it home without getting as much as a speck of rain so result. Chapeau to those who did the full loop to Troon

Glad you got home eventually George!
It was indeed a tale of woe
We got a decent amount of rain on the way to Troon but sunshine on the way back.
Good run....maybe not so much for John but we all made it in the end

Just a heads up that we will be running a race in either June or September
It's expected that there will be 15 races in the series and again clubs that run races riders will get entry
So to run the race we need lot of volunteers so early bump
Note those who want to race in it can provided we get enough volunteers

Yes but I let Billy know and he has been very good about reorganising a date and I wanted to echo your appreciation for him.

Well done to all organisers last night great way to mark the end of the season. Hamoc firmly installed on my mantelpiece !

Well guys
 
Not my best of days, the bug was still there, the hill climb was ok, but after that my heart rate would not rise and there fore my speed seemd to suffer.
it was an unususal distance to ride 28.5 miles, at half way it was dificult to decide how hard to push.Darrls storey of crashing and tube feeding was at the back of my head on the decent.
All said and done I am back in one piece. Time was 1hour 24 min(not good) place 47th out of 67.
Billy you have yor work cut out to make me a winning machine!
 
2.5 ciders couttie