Alan Michael

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 :-)

Yeah, well done Marco. Just goes to show that even the main bunch can be sociable ! Best bit of the day ? - letting Billy think we were going to wait at the top of the climb !

You out on the town big man?

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.

truly gubbed. I got home and was asked is arran beautiful and did you get a nice day for it, well I couldn't answer as my head was down the whole way, the only reason I knew the sun was shinning is because I was tormented by the shadows on the tarmac of the vultures circling above, Paul says they were seagulls but im not so sure. 100 miles for me 6 shy of the other 3 guys who are seriously tough. Well done. .

truly gubbed. I got home and was asked is arran beautiful and did you get a nice day for it, well I couldn't answer as my head was down the whole way, the only reason I knew the sun was shinning is because I was tormented by the shadows on the tarmac of the vultures circling above, Paul says they were seagulls but im not so sure. 100 miles for me 6 shy of the other 3 guys who are seriously tough. Well done. .

Route below for Nove Colli Ayrshire - or that might be Dieci Colli as it registers 10 climbs. 5 climbs then café stop in Girvan. Then another 5 climbs. Maybe 30th August? You know you want to.
 
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/465307842

Cheers Alan and thanks to jann and kenny for organising, I now have an aero helmet thanks to iain so hopefully a few more secs next week lol