carol cowan

I should be okay for that
Alan

Hi everyone
 
Thought We could have a wee night at Amaretto, Bridge of Weir about 7ish for drinks  and some chat
so far myself, Sans, Jane and Karen going. Please post up if coming along.
 
 
Carol 

Just read the post...get well soon Darryl. Carol & Dave

Great wee run today under what turned out to be very good weather indeed!
 
8 met at the club room - Boyd, Chris, Carol & Dave, DavidC, Graham, Paul (LA_Guns) & myself setting off down the track to pick up Len at Lochwinnoch.
 
A wee mechanical disaster just before Lochwinnoch, in the form of Dave's puncture, while trying to get the back wheel off, he some how managed to snapped off the skewer handle even before the wheel came off, must have been Carol's secret EPO breakfast he had earlier with that strong fingers.
Luckily between us we managed to figure a way to sort the problem out & got going again. Be it minus some skewer handles to save a bit of weight for the rest of the days climbing
 
We made good time despite the puncture hiccup & got to Largs just before 11am where we past Iain Couttie going up the Haylie as we just came off it, apparently Charlie was heading to do the Fairlie which we just missed him, hope you guys had a good one too today!
Anyway, Paul was time constraint which meant he just carried on without the café stop at the BB, we of course didn't and enjoyed a lovely cuppa outside the sun .........ah bliss!
 
The second part of the route is a bit more challenging what with the Brisbane Glen & Whinhill to come. Chris went up the Haylie & back to Beith while the remaining lot made our up hill & down hill way back to Kilmarcolm then on the track again & home for everyone.
 
120km for me by the time I got home & a decent sun tan as a result of todays better than forecast weather, brilliant!
 
Thanks for the company today guys & gal, the wheels for most appreciated.
 
P.S Some lovely view down across the Clyde up the Whinhill ....... cannae beat it!
 
Cheers
 
Chung

Chung, me and Dave fancy going to Largs by your original flatter route on the way down.  Carol

Can do Weds 18th for marshalling. Dave.

Time Trial cancelled tonight due to high winds. Discussion took place at West Ferry car park with Alan T, Tom Hill, Billy, Richard, Ian Couttie and Paul L and in the interest of safety decided to cancel as bikes were proving difficult to control at the sea front.  Decided to have a consolation run on the Georgetown but when arrived at the start it was just as windy there. Nice sunny warm night though. Carol & Dave

Time Trial cancelled tonight due to high winds. Discussion took place at West Ferry car park with Alan T, Tom Hill, Billy, Richard, Ian Couttie and Paul L and in the interest of safety decided to cancel as bikes were proving difficult to control at the sea front.  Decided to have a consolation run on the Georgetown but when arrived at the start it was just as windy there. Nice sunny warm night though. Carol & Dave

Time Trial cancelled tonight due to high winds. Discussion took place at West Ferry car park with Alan T, Tom Hill, Billy, Richard, Ian Couttie and Paul L and in the interest of safety decided to cancel as bikes were proving difficult to control at the sea front.  Decided to have a consolation run on the Georgetown but when arrived at the start it was just as windy there. Nice sunny warm night though. Carol & Dave

I have put my down on the timetable sheet as timekeeper. Carol

I have put my down on the timetable sheet as timekeeper. Carol

Teamed up with the intermediates for a good part of this run. Thanks to Alan T for waiting  on some hills and organising the run. Me , Dave, Boyd and Alan Mac went straight on to Lochwinnoch for a coffee stop and home up the track after meeting Rita and her gang again.  Carol

Day 3 I am home with the bags, heavy rain overnight but front had mostly passed by the time the 4 intrepid riders set of for home, Graham and Paul planning complete ride home and Carol and Dave bailing out at Sanquar rail station. The wind was with them to begin with but likely to be head wind for last third or so. Gerard and Amanda and I enjoyed a more leisurely breakfast and I left them to enjoy their child free day.
 
I enjoyed myself but it was a shame about the classic Bank Holiday weather.
The hotel looked after us well and the Tour of Britain is passing its doors soon. Sam was happy to secure the cycles in the boiler house and served very hearty cooked breakfasts. The hotel is an old building with a few idiosyncrasies but not Fawlty Towers. Real Ale pub opposite for keeping Paul C happy and good fare for dinner in ours. If you know anyone considering the Southern Upland Way Sam is happy to ferry folk as well.
 
Photos to follow!

Day two of our little jaunt was always intended to be easy going, very much a rest day for the more hardcore cycle back home sorts. We left mid morning into the lifting mist along the road to Castle Douglas. It was an undulating road into a light headwind, going down past Loch Ken. Usual mix of road surfaces, often changing from that sapping rumbling stuff to short teasing bits of flawless, smooth tarmac. We nearly all arrived together at Threave for lunch, the final dash up the driveway was short surprisingly steep.
 
Warmed and partially dried out after lunch, Graham and Jane chose to return by the same route, leaving Carol, David, Paul and myself to go back via Laurieston on the opposite side of Loch Ken. With the wind on our backs and the road starting to dry out it was a well paced blast back. Despite Carol's claims of innocence the sprint for the thirty had been accepted and I went for it the only way I know how, too early and too fast. David drew level with me on the finish and produced a photo finish. A good little route in different countryside for our mini bunch.

A bit late in leaving for meeting Graham at the clubrooms so not the best start, but it was to say goodbye to my kids so quite understandable. We met up and got underway quickly as we had to meet Paul at the top of Bowfield, we actually meet him halfway down as he was getting cold waiting. Steady pace down to Lugton, Dunlop and Stewarton where we were met bit the hailstones. It did not last and we made it to Kilmaurs for our first stop while the hail came down again.
 
Refuelled and recaffeinated we pushed on into the sapping headwind towards Tarbolton and Annbank en route to Rozelle tearooms in Ayr. Thanks to precision planning from Graham and steady navigation from Paul then no sooner had we sat down Carol and David arrived to join us for lunch.
 
Afterwards our route took us down the A731, now with the wind behind us. A brief stop in Patna to say hello to Jane making her way by car and we continued at a good pace with a couple of downhill sprints until Carsphairn. There our support wagon had stopped and the most carefully laid out feed station was ready to welcome us with hot drinks cake and sunshine.
 
Thereafter we headed on for the last short section to our hotel, becoming a little bit strung out with Paul winning the sprint for the 30 into St. John's Town of Dalry. Finishing the day with drinks and dinner in first rate company our thoughts are of tomorrow and the weather forecast.

Four of us set off today Paul C, Chris, Carol, Dave and were joined briefly by Iain 67, who slept in for the main bunch.Quite a hilly route, and into a strong headwind when heading West although helped up the Clune. Coffee stop at Tapa in Kilmacolm and then Chris headed off after his first "bunch" ride if four is a bunch, but he learned the basics and did well. Carried on up Phils Folly and Paul cut off for more hills at Howwood. We  went straight on to Castle Semple and met Rita & John in the cafe and had a chat about her starring roll in the JWCC video !. Track home for 45miles. Dave & Carol

Four of us set off today Paul C, Chris, Carol, Dave and were joined briefly by Iain 67, who slept in for the main bunch.Quite a hilly route, and into a strong headwind when heading West although helped up the Clune. Coffee stop at Tapa in Kilmacolm and then Chris headed off after his first "bunch" ride if four is a bunch, but he learned the basics and did well. Carried on up Phils Folly and Paul cut off for more hills at Howwood. We  went straight on to Castle Semple and met Rita & John in the cafe and had a chat about her starring roll in the JWCC video !. Track home for 45miles. Dave & Carol

I am happy to take a turn of time keeping so can be the second timekeeper if required.
 
Carol

Hi, I have some artistic ambitions involving chain rings, cassettes, chains, old inner tubes and ANY other bike parts which are no longer required by their current owner and can be recycled into new objects.
 

 
Please PM me, happy to collect, I am aiming high but starting small!
Thanks
 
Jane

Thanks Iain C & Ian A for time keeping and shoving off hard going on the way out.
 
Carol

Hoping to be there too as weather to be ok I think.
 
Carol

Fantastic run today think a was out ma depth in more than one occasion if thats me meant to be easing masel back in way the fast group, am no religous but had vist fae jesus at rest as am sure a died and was brought back lol, just thanks to paul and res o the guys for sheltering us most o the way hope to be fit enough nxt week to take turn at frnt saying all that was 121mls for me over 8200 cal ma wife said a looked like skelenton when came in great day out with beautiful scenery only on decent mind, good to be back out again with good company ðŸ‘

By way of contrast the other bunch had a straightforward time, meeting at the bottom of the Clune before sailing on the 0900h ferry with the Cowans, taking our group up to eight ( Carol, David, Paul, Eric, Andrew, Alan, Graham and myself.  We quickly made it past Loch Tarsan on the B836 and then up that climb to regroup.  A steady pace up the A886 on a climb that just never seems to end, before the grin inducing, adrenaline shot of life reaffirmation that is the descent towards Strachur.  Andrews suggestion that we do a chain gang along the side of Loch Eck then kept us going a fair pace and then on to Sheilas Diner.  Jane met us at the diner and we waited and waited for the others and then gave up waiting, went for the ferry (minus Jane and Graham).  After the ferry there was the usual undoing of the morning meetups as we retraced our steps to home and an end to our playtime.

Thanks to the presenters, food bringers and Paul for organising a fun night of chat and booze. The taxi driver (of 30years) who picked us up stated he had never been that far down Miller St before !! 
Dave

Seven set off this morning, Bill, Anthony, Boyd, Graham, Ken (flying visit) Dave & Carol. Extended advertised route to Kilmaurs and cafe stop at Rendezvous cafe which is most accommodating for cyclists. Good quick and friendly service and offer to fill water bottles on departure. Bill had a rare puncture before Kilmaurs. Last one was just after the war. Left cafe refreshed and took farm roads to Auchentiber, Barmill and back down Bowfield hill. Good run in good company and dry weather. Dave