Iain67

That was a strangely enjoyable run. Having slept late, with an expectation of a dull turbo session, I took advantage of a less wet spell and headed off to Largs via Kilbirnie, Dalry, West Kilbride, hoping to catch the bunch there. I didn’t, so headed round the coast, and over the Clune. The weather was odd. Wet, but not soaking, and way too warm for a waterproof.
Now just sitting enjoying a well earned refreshment before heading home to clean my bike.

It does seem to be following a familiar pattern of cracking week, not so cracking weekend.

Phew! Main bunch for me then

Lovely run into Aberfoyle with a Bunch of 7, then Alex & I headed round Katrine as it was rude not to, given the scorching weather 🙂
Managed to visit 2 cafes that I've never been in before, the first being the "Go Ape" Adventure centre half way up the Duke's & the Wee Blether next to Loch Ard just before Aberfolye, both top recommendation from Alex ........ unfortunately for him though, not a Samsung mobile phone charger was to be found in each of these cafes (all i-Phone users) since Alex had forgotten to charge his phone for Strava before he came out 🙂 ......... he was convinced that everyone was out to piss him off  🙂
Anyway, it was a very long enjoyable day on the saddle & thanks to the Bunch earlier on & Alex for great company all day .......thankfully, I think his phone survived to record all his ride on Strava ........ otherwise it did not happen!
196km for me in the end, not quite the 200 I was hoping for, but I just ran out of road  
 
P.S - Alan, lovely retro restoration & build on your Gazelle .......... especially the SWITCH to Campagnolo! 
You seem to be a changed man since your retirement, one is never too late to walk down the righteous path of Cycling Component Enlightenment 🙂 ......... keep walking my brother!
 
Cheers
Chung

Yes it was us. Poor guy was lying on the pavement 

What a lovely day for The 3 Ferries! Thanks so much David - a great route,  on a perfect day! Stunning views and lovely company. Mary. 

Being the only one of my friends off on Glasgow fair, and with some family going to Islay for the week, I decided to cycle over Arran on Sunday and stay a night, then ferry hop home today via Dunoon.
A glorious cycle over yeaterday, sun splitting the sky.
Today I went to the Port Ellen ferry terminal at 12.15 for the 12.45 boat. At 12.35 with no boat arriving and a very quiet port, something wasn’t right, in to the ferry office and the 12.45 is cancelled. Panic on.
No option but to ride 20 miles to Port Askaig for the 3.30 ferry, giving no chance of making the other ferries to get home and then having to cycle the long way round from Kennacraig until i could get mum to drive and meet me somwhere.
The upside is that in the panic of trying to get to the other ferry, I got a few top 10s🏆
Luckily ive found someone from Balloch who can take me part of the way.
Check the Calmac site folks!
Arse.

Good run out today.
The bunch got a bit fractured after Aberfoyle, with Chung and Alex carrying on round Loch Katrine, while the rest of us wimped out after climbing Dukes Pass, then re-traced our route back home. The road back to Alexandria from Croftamie was a bit busy with cars, so we hit the cycle track back to the bridge, as we reckoned  - rightly so, as it turned out - that the A82 would be very busy. We met up with Tommy (who had been at the Helensburgh sportive) at Bowling, and had a good run back to Bishopton.

Solo double attempt 2...missed her again. 
With north westerly winds, went for the anti-clockwise again (not my favourite). First lap went well...second lap after Lochranza lost the pace...I dont know why just couldn't get going again after the downhill section. A gel and a snack 15-20mins later I was back on again. But by that time lost probably 3mins or so on top of the usual 3mins at the start. Finished second lap around 8 mins down.
Ah well...may be one day. Probably need another month of the volume and intensity that I have been doing for the last 4 weeks. But play time is over now. Next week back to the usual 

Hi John, not sure yet, there's always the Crow which you "enjoyed" so much on your first ascent last year :-) ........ seriously though, we can decide on the day!
We'll be heading up the Pipe Track on the way out via Cycle Route 7 to Croftamie, so will see if we return the same way!
Looking forward to it, chaps!
Cheers

yes for me mate 
 

Outstanding run today. Just right for a proper shakedown of my shiny newly renovated Gazelle, which I have to say behaved impeccably, apart from going upwards, which may be more to do with the engine than the frame.

good luck pal

Seeing how the chain is so well lubricated ........ & the hairy guns ....... I’m guessing it’s not Charlie?  ......... but then again he is so full of surprises 

Name the offender. ( Participants in recent Dunoon ride not allowed to enter).
I initially thought this was a smeary chainring mark worthy only of a quick slagging but on closer inspection I realise it's Individual chain links and you can almost make out the maker's name. Fantastic work by a club stalwart

Morning traffic light mishap 

Solo single Arran Done!
Ended up with approx 2hrs 43mins (based on flyby). Shame garmin was glitching - could have made it in the top ten of the Arran segment. Talking about glitching - there are some nice new tarmac in sections but there are a whole other with rough surface. Bouncing everywhere didn't help with garmin GPS - lost signals a few times and had to restart it (I also lost it's memory card cover!). That kind of messed up my pace monitoring (that I based from previous runs) as I had time against every 10miles along the way so I know how I'm doing with pace. So my cumulative miles are probably 3 or so miles less. But luckily I had plan B - I looked up visual markers on google street view at every 10miles in case that happened, so I knew roughly where I was with pace.
Anyway apart from that all went to plan and I was ahead of schedule by a few mins arriving back at Brodick at around 10:45am! 

Was running a bit late this morning (surprise surprise) due to a dodgy stomach, but I got to the clubrooms at 8.02 to find Charlie & Galeb and no one else so was a but unsure how the day would go (expected a smashfest lol!!) but was pleased to see the number of bodies waiting at the bridge which means a good shared workload and a well disciplined bunch.  We scooped up/met Michael at Arrochar so had ten riders out on this run.  What a throroughly enjoyable ride through the military road to the Rest, with a short cafe stop at the van at the top.  We headed through Hells Glen (my first time doing that section - was awesome with amazing views over Loch Fyne to Inverary.)  A brief stop in Strachur to refuel and then it was the long stretch to the ferry.  Not much waiting around for it thankfully we timed it quite well!  Headwind home but still great weather and a great day on the bike.  Cheers guys!!
Some cracking photos taken, I really like this one (taken by Charlie)...

 

Great day out guys, good pace and cracking conditions. sorry I missed the refreshments in Amaretto 

There were indeed beers at amaretto's, where we met messrs. Leavy and Lymburn, and Pammie and Rochelle turned up too.
Superb run out today, great weather, glorious vistas, and some epic descents. There were some climbs too, but the less said about them, the better.

excellent ride in warm sun. Ten of the Joansin finest in glorious Argyll scenery. Helensburgh/Rest/Hell's Glen/Sandbank.
Alex enjoyed himself so much he turned right after disembarking to head for Largs. The normals turned left and as I peeled off for home there were rumours of beers later in Amaretto in afternoon sunshine.
I suspect some are still there on their third by now.
 

Following the tumble in Calpe, 12 days on my side wasn’t getting any better so a visit to A&E on Friday just to be safe.  As I’d guessed they suspect fractured ribs; so happy no more serious than than that.  
Nothing I can do about it but another week of painkillers and R&R, fingers crossed will be able to join you next week.  Enjoy the great ride.

Yeah Alex see you 8am clubrooms, Iain see you 8:30 (or 8:32!) At bridge