PaulL

42 ring was the most favoured as it was easy to aquire   and I recall winning using a variety of cogs from 17 - 21 depending on weather conditions.
When it was run in conjunction with Regent I know Steven McGinty won using fixed regularly and quite a small gear on one occassion 42 x 23 . Most top club riders went sub 1:40 to win trophy with Pat Boyle , Ian Neilson,John Fitzpatrick, Rick Stephen and myself going sub 1:30 on a few occassions plus Steven McGinty sub 1:30 on a few occassions and equalling record of 1:26 at that point .The record of 1:26 at that time was held by Jim Speirs a long time member of the club and he was presented with the old trophy when it was replaced as it was full . In past fixed was the choice for all hill climbs open , nat champs etc , and still is used regularly in British champs. The winner of Scottish champs at Lyle Hill in Greenock was DQd for not having brakes on his bike a few years ago. One inspired club rider took his seat pillar/saddle off to lighten his bike , he fell off at the first corner LOL
On another occassion my brother punctured twice and won the junior with his 3rd. attempt up the climb. I broke my chain 3/4 of way up and  got a rerun on mechanical grounds also  to win on second attempt. Worst conditions I ever experienced were howling gale blowing downhill along with torrential rain which meant rivers running down hill  and best was howling gale blowing you up hill when everyone did PBs

Really enjoyed yesterday, great buzz being off the front even though it was probably a bit daft can't wait for next summer unlucky to Richard with a blow out and well done to everyone involved, absolutely fantastic day :-)

4 of us boarded the 7am ferry on a glorious morning with a mission in mind. Greg O, Andy Mullen, Alan McBride and me. We a light northerly we headed into the headwind towards Lochranza after stashing some spare bottles and food at roadside. We established an excellent and smooth paceline on the run up to the first climb. If there was one thing that got the result then it was the measured approach to the pace, each person was working for 30-40 secs at about 10% below threshold. The critical word is 'below''.
The challenge was 2x50 mile loops to be completed in 5.5 hrs. The loop route went over the Ross road cutting out 6 miles from the full loop as 2 x 56 did not seem feasible. Incredibly the chief organiser and navigator managed to miss the turn off for the Ross on the first circuit, I can only put it down to sun, excitement, focus etc. But what a faux pas. So we did the full bhoona which added 6 miles of twist up and down roads, and then stopped for 5 mins to fill bottles and pockets. Whilst we were pacing ourselves for 2 loops that was actually the fastest single loop I have done at 20.4mph.
We set off on the second loop and as the miles passed I was frantically recalculating the maths to see if it would be possible to do the 50 mile loop on lap 2 as I really had to get the 1350 ferry to attend a silver wedding do. When we got to the final decision point after 90 miles it was either go for it with 18 miles and the Ross or head over the String for a 10 mile return to Brodick. At this point Alan who had contributed an equal share to everyone decided to head up the String to ensure getting the ferry. And chapeau to him, this guy has come a very long way in cycling terms in the past 4 months. Anyway the 3 of us headed for the Ross with the result very much in the balance. We did not miss the turn this time but when we turned on the slightly rising 5 mile approach road 'O my God'. It was horrible. Rough road and head crosswind after 90 miles made for a grim grovel. Then we had to climb the Ross. Not going to talk about that, to unpleasant a memory. We got to Lamlash with 10 mins to get over hill back to ferry and made it with last effort. 107 miles v the challenge distance of 100 miles - in hindsight with the team today the standard challenge would have been too easy
 
How hard was it? Similar to Nove Colli where I had 2 short stops in 130 miles. Not really comparable to flanders where we had quite a few stops.
 
What next? ( but not for a long time until the memory of the Ross fades )
 
The triple is doable on a 3x50 loop basis. The grande double delux, 2 x 56 might just be possible but I think it would require 10 very evenly matched riders.

Option 3 was more attractive for me this weekend, it involved impromptu red wine consumption. Later start and a swift solo down to Largs up the Haylie and back to Carmunnock. 77 on the clock in just over 4 hours.

Cracking weather for it heres a video of the stretch along the Georgetown
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LctQAszppKM

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Really enjoyed it Mark, although my lungs were bursting. I will be back for more for sure. Cheers for all the advice!

Saw a shiney new wheelers top up in pitlochry today at a feed station, was going to fast to stop

I did the Kinross Sportive today 90 miles and 6,500 ft of climbing, am well into the recovery beers and the legs refuse to go out tomorrow. Have a great run.

Don't forget the whisk(e)y Paul :-)
 
 
for those on facebook, a vid of the PR main bunch on the Arenberg. 30s of it.
 
https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=684081608300114&set=vb.100000948427641&type=2&theater&notif_t=like

First time away with Wheelers, Had a brilliant time! what a club. Thanks for all the advice, encouragement and support(beer).
 
Cheers Paul
 
What a finish!
 
http://prod.chronorace.be/PRC/VideoMP4.aspx?eventId=243129508691979&master=PRC2014&n=2465&location=timesplit4_2&hash=nRJ5TyyLjNldFI_-LHHabQJm9VA

First time away with Wheelers, Had a brilliant time! what a club. Thanks for all the advice, encouragement and support(beer).
 
Cheers Paul
 
What a finish!
 
http://prod.chronorace.be/PRC/VideoMP4.aspx?eventId=243129508691979&master=PRC2014&n=2465&location=timesplit4_2&hash=nRJ5TyyLjNldFI_-LHHabQJm9VA

First time away with Wheelers, Had a brilliant time! what a club. Thanks for all the advice, encouragement and support(beer).
 
Cheers Paul
 
What a finish!
 
http://prod.chronorace.be/PRC/VideoMP4.aspx?eventId=243129508691979&master=PRC2014&n=2465&location=timesplit4_2&hash=nRJ5TyyLjNldFI_-LHHabQJm9VA

First time away with Wheelers, Had a brilliant time! what a club. Thanks for all the advice, encouragement and support(beer).
 
Cheers Paul
 
What a finish!
 
http://prod.chronorace.be/PRC/VideoMP4.aspx?eventId=243129508691979&master=PRC2014&n=2465&location=timesplit4_2&hash=nRJ5TyyLjNldFI_-LHHabQJm9VA

Big Thanks to Allan and Martin for fixing my BB this week and thanks to their friends in Qbikes for sorting out the bearings last minute.
 
Really appreciated!
 
Cheers Thompsons
 
Paul

I'm heading in later Mark, will pick one up for you.
 
Paul

Train up from Largs and back down and jump on the ferry. Very doable :-)

if I get my BB fixed in time I will buy one

Cheers Chung will check them out, Will be in shop tomorrow Jannza will ask then

Just checked this. Ian, I'm dropping kids off at rugby & hockey. Back in Langbank by 9:30am
If it suits let me know.

Final (slightly anticlimactic stage) to London!
 
http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/supermonkey76/1/1375882836/tpod.html