GrahamF

I had a mysterious creaking on my old bike last year, after various investigations it turned out to be the seat post moving within the seat tube. A little grease on the seat tube stooped the noise. It's easy to assume it's a serious problem, but sometimes it's something simple and easy to fix.

Jane and I will come along and help with timekeeping.

I'm planning to be out on Sat. so can't be sure to be available on Sun. to navigate! Will see how I feel on Sat. night.

I'll be there so long as the forecast gets no worse!

I''ll not be out, family commitments.

Any one else fancy a tour of Arran? Should be a good day out.....

Hi Karen I'm interested, are you thinking of doing the circuit or the figure of eight? I've had an ambition to do an Arran circuit for a few years now....but that doesn't rule out the figure of eight!

I aim to be there.....

I fancy something more interesting than the shortest route, but don't want to be chasing the main bunch, so that leaves option 2, Ardentinny. I've not been on that route before so it would be good to try it if we have a bunch willing to give it a go.

I'll be starting from Kilmacolm and perhaps meet up with Paul C. and the bunch from Miller St. at the Pullman pub en route to the ferry. On the other side I see 3 options, depending on whose there and what demand there is for an intermediate route: 1. Loch Eck to the cafe - 18 miles. 2. A eastern route via Ardentinny - 24 miles 3. A western route via Loch Tarzan and the A886 - 30 miles The last one goes to the base of the C11 hill but I will NOT be doing that hill (I did it last year!).

I plan to be out, 0900 at Miller St. Can pick a route at the time based on who is there.

I've used a pulley system that hooks on the saddle and handlebars, works reasonably well if your handlebars are not to cluttered with computer, lights, bell, etc. it fits with a hook each side of the stem so as to keep the wheel straight. Has the advantage that it keeps the bike horizontal and accessible for maintenance. I have also used a single hook from a roof beam which goes through the front wheel and holds the bike in a near vertical position. This may be a bit more awkward to use, but is simple and takes up less floor space. I am currently using a wall mounted hook that holds a pedal, the bike then hangs off the wall by the pedal with both wheels resting on the wall. This has the benifit of not taking any floor space so I can have another bike underneath it. I got all the fittings from Lidl and/or Aldi, but only the hoist was sold specifically for bikes. What's best depends on how you want to use it and the space you have available.....

Good to read Campbell's post, I also cycled to the start for 08:00, and set off having in mind to keep with a bunch at least for the headwind section from the Erskine Bridge to Dumbarton. I held on to Campbell's group until about Balloch when the undulations on the A82 had me thinking about the approaching Glen Fruin and the hills beyond and I decided to save some energy for later. There was a vicious cross wind when coming down from Glen Fruin on the military road, but going up Long Long to Arochar it was behind me and could cruise along with minimal effort, By 11:50 I was in a cafe in Arochar in the company of about a dozen other cyclist enjoying a coffee and a caramel slice. From there it was over the Rest And Be Thankful and on into a headwind to Strachur. I'm not sure when the rain started, but by the time I went into the cafe in Strachur (13:40) I was soaked and the cafe floor was like an ice-rink as the rain dripped off the cyclists already there. The cafe was somewhat overrun with all the extra business and ran out of soup shortly after I arrived, but I just had coffee and cake before heading off on what turned out to be the toughest section of the course to Ardlamont. This must have been at the peak of the storm with strong headwind and driving rain as far as Otter Ferry, but after that the wind eased and there was even the occasional sun! I was at the Ardlamont checkpoint at 17:10 and looked forward to a tailwind back to Dunoon, but in the way of these things after the worst of the weather the wind seemed to both drop and veer to the north so it wasn't much help through Tighnabruaich or up to Loch Tarzan, though after that it was a fast and easy run down to catch the ferry. I got to Hunter's Quay just after the 19:30 ferry had left, so had a few minutes to wait for the 20:00 one, There ended up being 5 of us on the ferry, 3 of whom had only a minute or so to spare. From the ferry there was just a couple of miles to the finish point where refreshments were waiting for us. Overall it was a good run made more challenging be the weather, but it didn't rain all the time and sometimes it was a favourable wind! My GPS tells a different story from Campbell's as I recorded 143 miles and 11,832 ft, the mileage may be accounted for by different start and end points I don't think that can explain 1,700 ft difference in assent. Graham.

As someone who drives the Kilmacolm / Quarriers route regularly, I find Iain's route 'interesting', as Al says most of the route has a good surface after recent resurfacing on the B786, but the leg from the B786 to Quarriers has a very poor surface, is narrow and twisty with a number of blind bends. Both of the bridges over the Gryffe are single track and require a game of 'chicken' with any vehicle coming the other way! Whilst I sometimes use these routes whilst travelling in a steel safety cell, I avoid them on my bike and would not partake in a TT on this route. The Georgetown, is currently a poor surface, but is due to be resurfaced imminently so should improve.

Plan to be there, with Jane on our bicycle made for two!

Seems like a good machine for a cycling couple, another tandem in the club mean we could have tandem time trials! They're also great for touring (you always arrive together!)

A bunch of 8 headed off from Miller St. For this run. Fortunately not as eventful as the main bunch, all made it to the wind farm enjoying the sunshine. On the way home we split at Neilston with 3 taking the low road home through Barrhead, and the rest going over Glenifer Brae to Johnstone. A good run for early in the season.

Bad luck Chung, hoping it's not to serious and the bike is OK! Wishing you a speedy recovery. Jane & Graham.

Kenny, I think you will find The Junction shut on Sundays, the cafe at the loch will be open but may not have such big empire biscuits! http://www.cucinaminucci.co.uk/

Thanks to Iain for timekeeping, and to Alan and Billy for the start and encouragement. It was a good route, overall a better surface than I'm used to riding on, even a bit of sunshine. It's a pity there wasn't a bigger turnout.

Karen, A group of us did this run in September at an average speed of 14.5 mph, we could aim for a little faster this time, but it will depend on who comes along and how we all feel. You've already done longer runs this season so should be fine, I think we all enjoy an excuse to rest at the top of hills occasionally while folk catch up if need be. :-) Graham.

George, I'm planning on doing this, but expect you will be so far ahead that you won't notice! See you at Langbank at 10.

Following on from the Langbank Hilly TT on the Saturday, here's a run to the cafe at the Whitelee Windfarm on Eaglesham Moor. A 42 mile circuit from the Club Room, with a fair bit of climbing though there are flatter routes home if required! http://www.mapmyride...route-210281093 09:00 Miller St.

Len, I was was thinking of the cafe at the loch, The Junction cafe doesn't have much room to park bikes Alan, Yes that's the way I am thinking of going. Ian, Your description of the route seems to correspond with the MapMyRide route that Greig linked to in the main TT post.

Karen, I've done a couple on Georgetown Road (Inchinnan to Houston) in previous years, but not this one though I've been on all the roads that it uses! You went on some of it on the reliability run to Moscow, it does undulate but nothing to serious - and that means there are some downs where you can have a rest! To me it's about the fun of taking part, being restricted to a low gear won't make the ups any more difficult!