GrahamF

Good turn out tonight 7 riders and good weather. Times are as follows
 
Emma     26.16
Gerard    24.41 PB & Pd
Alan T     24.32 PB & Pd
Ginty       23.36 PB & Pd
Iain C      23.21          Pd
Alan M    22.13 PB & Pd
Richard   21.53 PB & Pd
 
Well done to all the PBers 
£ 18.00 collected and given to Richard
 
Carol

Gorgeous day for a run to Troon! Bit chilly at the start but it warmed up later.
Bunch of 8: me, Renny, Len, Robert, Boyd, Graham, Paul L and 'TT' Thompson.
A good pace to Troon.
Sat outside the Blueberry enjoying the sunshine but a cold breeze off the sea.
A good brisk run back.
Boyd and Graham peeled off at Highfield for the track back and Len peeled off at MOD to head for Beith/Lochwinnoch
Rest of us headed up the rocky road and then a sprint ensued from Greenacres to the bottom of Bowfield - won by Paul L, me second, 'TT' third.
According to my Strava records, when we did the run in early July the average speed was 14.9 - this time it was 16.8!! 
Well done, guys!

Great company, great run, great weather.......😎

Excellent run out today. Good weather and good company in a bunch of 8.

Exciting night with 8 riders, Lots of PB's. Thanks to Dave and Billy for pushing and timekeeping. 
 
Well done to Richard on winning overall and Emma for winning the Ladies with a PB.
 
Carol 29:24
Emma 26:16 PB
Gerard 25:20 PB
Alan T 24:48
Mike 24:22
Iain McG 23:46 PB
Alan M 22:16 PB
Richard 22:07 PB
 
Everyone paid, so I have £24 to transfer to JWCC account. I am sure there are other categories but not sure of everyone's ages, if someone can assist? 
 
Thanks Paul

PARIS BREST PARIS 1200KM - 16th August 2015
 
The 18th running of the Paris Brest Paris randonneur start for me on Sunday 16th august at 17:45
 
1200 km between Paris and Brest in France to complete within 90 hours maximum. Start and arrival at saint-Quentin-en-yvelines – vélodrome national à montigny-le-bretonneux.
Organized every 4 years since 1931 by the audax club parisien. I will be among thousands of other riders from all over the world who want to participate in this mythical event in order to join the long list of successful randonneurs who have contributed to the legend of the Paris-Brest-Paris randonneur this will be my 3 ride as I completed it in 2003 in 78 hours & 2007 in 76 hours. I have only the ambition to complete it this time so will hope to finish on Thursday morning at 09:00.
 
If you wish to see how I am going, go to the website link below and my frame number is H217 & you should see how or not I am getting on. Let’s hope for average weather as my first was in the stifling heat & the second was on the wind & rain.
http://www.paris-brest-paris.org/index2.php?lang=en&cat=randonnee&page=suivi_participants
 
To get myself ready for this you have get a comfy bike for starters, then be able to cycle 745 miles in less than 90hr at this stage I have covered over 6000 mile since my first qualifying ride in 8th march with the longest single ride being 373miles, on the wind down now only 100 mile ride at the weekend. Let’s hope the Johnstone fly in Paris. See me? See happy?
Campbell

Well spotted Richard, I've not been keeping track of what I'm doing closely enough! 
Don't want to upset your training schedule, I'll amend this thread to be for the Frank Lauder.
 
Graham.

Was this not meant to be the Frank Lauder?

I will be there, in Kilmacolm at 0915.

Hope to be there

Nice one, if I can I will :-)

Hi Graham, I hope to be there

Just 2 riders on a bit of a dreich evening, but lots of enthusiasim and a break in the rain just long enough for the event.
 
The results were:
 
Richard    22:18  PB
Gerard     26:19  PB
 
Well done to both, thanks to Alan Michael for 'holding up', £6 collected for club funds.

Just 2 riders on a bit of a dreich evening, but lots of enthusiasim and a break in the rain just long enough for the event.
 
The results were:
 
Richard    22:18  PB
Gerard     26:19  PB
 
Well done to both, thanks to Alan Michael for 'holding up', £6 collected for club funds.

I intend to join you!

I plan to be out on Sunday, how about this route: https://www.strava.com/routes/2949064 
 
Bowfield, Fairlie Moor, Largs, Brisbane Glen. 55 miles, quite a few hills and coffee at the Bagel Basket.

9 of us made good time to Helensburgh where 6 had a cafe stop and then went up SInclair St.
Me Emma and Graham continued up to Glen Fruin with a cafe stop at Balloch. Saw the other group pedal by while we in the cafe.
A good run with the rain only starting for me when I was 3 miles from Lochwinnoch - good incentive to push hard for home!
76 miles at a decent pace.

Etape du Tour 2015
 
A few wheelers asked me to write a report on my experience in the Etape, so here it goes... sorry if you get bored but I'm sipping a beer in the sun with nothing better to do just now.
 
I was based in the small town of La Chambre about 8km from the start of the Etape. I went out for a quick spin the day before(nice and flat) an manage to drink two full bottles in less than an hour, it was going to be a very hot day.
 
The Start was fun 16,000 cyclist all in their Sunday best, I had manage to get there feeling fresh and  only managed to forget one thing “Sun block†I asked one of the Medics did he have any sun block, This sent him into fits of laughter and he had to call his co-worker over to repeat what I had just asked. The two of them had a real good laugh and took a  Selfie with me, good start  
 
The route consisted of 4 categorised Climbs(Tomorrows stage of the Tour De France) and only 25km of flat,  as going up is my least favourite thing to do on a bike my plan was to just finish. We had a quick run to the start of the first climb Col du Chaussy 15.4km avg 6.3% I felt good going up, it was difficult with so many people going a different paces but it calmed down after a while. The heat was going to be a big factor of the day but I made sure I was drinking enough. Over the top we had a major pile up and were delayed while a the injured were airlifted out. This meant all the groups behind caught us and there was basically 10,000 people in one long line on the Col Du Chaussy. There was a lot of talk about being caught by the sweeper bus and being pulled of the course and people started running down the verges, was a bit crazy as the drop off's were huge. Once we go moving it was a slow descent to La Chambre.
 
At La Chambre I stopped and met the wife and kids at the food stop, had some photos I and was looking forward to the 25km of flat. The pace was slow around here, not sure why(maybe the fact the biggest climb of the day was next) why but I decided to press on. There was a sprint competition but I was pretty much on my own so decided just to roll through, but as I got closer to the Start I decided to give it a go(as you do). By the time I got to the foot of the Col du Glandon I was burning up and stopped to fill up my bottles. 
 
The Col du Glandon is 22.4km avg 7% and to be honest I underestimated how hard it would be, this is were I started to noticed lots of people walking and lying in the shade. It was at this point I added another goal, not to walk! Some of these guys were Skinnies!(panicked me abit) The first 15km was tough but manageable(My pace was very slow) but the last 5km(10%+) I was in a difficulty, cramp and just overheating. Luckily there were lots of spectators who came out with hoses and buckets of ice water, its amazing what a bucket of ice water over your face can do to motivate you. The amount of people walking and lying on the verges was hard to fathom, to be honest my speed on the bike was not much faster than the walkers... but I was still on my bike. At the top I took a long stop rehydrated and had some food(mini pizzas)(figs)(cola)(waffles)(salt biscuits)(raisins)(chocolate bars) Iain Coutie would have been proud of me. 
 
Next a climb to Criox de Fer it was about 3-4km but a nice wind and gradients weren't bad, the descents was incredible! I have never experience anything like it closed roads, not many cyclists around and long sweeping turns, cambered hairpins, worth climbing any mountain. The next climb was the smallest The Col du Mollard, a lot of people said this was a real hard climb, I have not recollection of this climb at all... The start of heat exhaustion??? I do however remember the descent this was my favourite part of the day, some French guy went zooming past me and I tried to stay with him, he either knew the descent or he was crazy, either way I was alike a big kid hurtling to my doom! Good fun
 
The last climb of the day La Toussuire 18km avg 6.1% This was the worse bit of the day for me the heat had really taken it out of me, I had nothing in my legs, this was the first time I had genuinely thought about stopping, lots of people around me were! lots of people walking and lying in the shade, the heat (to me)was unbearable, I cycled into the grass ion the side to unclip and start walking, but cycled straight back out, it was very close. My saving grace for the last 10kms were the family's and spectators who came out, kids wanting high fives and old couples with hoses and buckets of water. I basically focus on the next group of people up the road, high fiving the kids and slowing down to get soaked in water an stopping at every water stop, this distracted me and soon I could see the top. The run into La Toussuire was worth the ride hundreds of people along the barriers for the last 2km shouting and cheering, I even gave a little sprint for the line and soon after I hugging the elderly woman(to her surprise) giving out the medals. I  found a spot in the Grass with a bowl of pasta and a glass of wine! Now only a 20km descent and 10km ride home.... ah well
 
Overall I really enjoyed this event, I was pitifully under prepared to climb so much, but the organisation and encourage during the ride was brilliant and kept me going. I felt my pace on the hills was really slow but anytime I tried to increase I was just start to melt, When I found out nearly 6,000 people didn't finish I didn't feel so bad. I know a lot of wheelers have done the Etape and many return, I for one will be back! Lighter? Faster? …. Older 
 
Results:  16,000 starters 9,877 Finishers My Position 8,009
 
10H 9'23â€
 
Challenge King of the Mountain 
 
2h 30'58† Place 8706 out of 9,877 
 
Average speed 7.71 KM/H
 
Challenge King of Sprint
 
0'15†Place 104 out of 9877 
 
Average speed 60 KM/H
 
 

Thanks Chung for volunteering to help with this, but unless we have any riders posting that they plan to compete before midday tomorrow (Tuesday), I suggest we assume there will be no riders and cancel the event.  
 
Graham.

2 riders on a nice night, well done Gerard and James on PBs 
 
Gerard - 31.57  PB
James - 34.34 PB

Myself, Simon Simpson and a guest from GMBC were up in Stonehaven this weekend for this event. Sunny on the drive up on Friday but drove into sea fog about 4 miles from Stonehaven. Visibility down to 100 m and the last we were to see of the sun till we were off the bikes. Camping overnight and ,on cue , the rain started 10 mins before our 6 am alarm. A couple of spoonfulls of porridge and off to sign on in the rain. Only 10 starters - should have thought better of it as Ronnie Chard was there but not riding. Getting soft after his Corsican trip !
Slow start but we were sure the guy with the PBP plate knew what he was doing - 400 is a long way. All other riders had packs, saddle bags , mud guards etc , we were on the usual set up. Rain got constantly heavier and by the time we reached the summit of Cairn O Mount everyone was getting cold ( I had 4 layers on). Organiser was waiting with his cold toddlers and welcome Mars bars and Snickers. Fairly subdued descent due to conditions but would still have taken a minute out of you Darryl !
Long stretch rising slowly along the Dee to Ballater where we upped the pace , to get some heat going and in anticipation of the cafe, and dropped the boys with the muddies. Rain at this point torrential. Into the first cafe where we proceeded to flood the place as water sluiced off of us. Simon pretty cold ( only 2 layers ! ) and talking about heading back. We agreed to ride on towards the Lecht and see if we were feeling any more optimistic. As we rode off Simons Garmin packed in. He was riding with a dyno hub and was attempting to use some adapter to charge it as we rode - probably not wise given the conditions. He told me later that the instructions said not to use it in the wet. Those of you who have been around enough to remember Simon will not be surprised by any of this.
With not even the thought of the kudos of posting a 400 on Strava to spur him on he was a broken man. We plodded on another 7/8 miles to the foot of the next climb and then made the call to head back. We were only about 90 km in and still about 110 to the turn in Inverness with no sign of any change in the weather.
Once the decision was made we made faster progress heading back into the headwind than we had on the way out. Another cafe stop was needed at the foot of Cairn O Mount before the last brisk run into a still fog bound Stonehaven. Oh, did I mention that the ford at the cafe had become unpassable since we rode through on the way out.
About 180 km all up, all except 5 mins in rain of varying degrees and in very poor visibility. I have been colder but not wetter. We will be back at some point though as the route looks like a good one. You are all welcome next time.

This wheeler managed to get a small cycling role in a video about taking a bottle of Islay whisky from the mainland back to Islay for the Whisky festival. To celebrate it's return, a few lads cycled round all eight Islay distilleries with cycling blogger Brian Palmer (of the washingmachinepost) before sampling a dram of the good stuff. I'm the one looking knackered on the red BMC, wishing I was on the Cervelo Di2 instead

 
Here's the video link, don't forget to turn up the sound. The music is by Skerryvore and it's a belter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Xx_SiGDEzo
 
 
 

Nine riders took part tonight in windier conditions than expected.
 
Fastest on the night was Richard with a 16.30 follwed by Alan and Gerard.
 
Gerard has gotten a Pb each week so far.
 
Times in the order people started were as follows:-
 
Dave - 20.48
Karen - 23.42
Carol - 20.33
Chris - 18.48
Gerard - 17.57(Pb)
Paul - 18.12
Tom - 18.32
Alan - 17.53
Richard - 16.30(Pb)
 
All riders paid. Chris x2.
 
Timekeeper - Mike Ferguson
Holder - Ian McGinty

Good day out for Johnstone, with Ian Couttie, Ian McGinty, Carol Cowan, Alan McBride and Hamish McLaren all picking up prizes in their groups, and with the hill climb still to come.
Conditions were cool and breezy with occasional passing showers. The wind was kind of behind or across us for the first 6 and a bit miles, then it was in our faces on the final couple of drags and into the town to the finish, and that was tough.
In spite of the weather, it's still a good event. Highly recommended.

I won a class, won as in first, as in fastest, as in, as in, glad I went good day out.
 
Iain