Ian Archibald

I’ll be there if I can find the care home. Is it at the lights at the junction we take on the Summer chain gang to Houston?

Iain C and Greg were tragically unfit but impressed they got round manfully with little complaint.

Charlie and McT were putting the power down for the 30 signs but suspect they had been tapering...

Nice ride. Cheers.

I'm resolved to getting out of bed before 9am in 2020. See you at the viaduct 9 30.

My legs are shredded. Charlie, Marc and Alan took turns at belting up each hill. Hardest of all was to watch the 94kg Macbride hulk disappearing up the road. 

Much too much testosterone flying about. Said to Iain we best stick to cycling with the girls. 

90km, 1200m climbing. Plan to keep HR 100 to 120bpm unless Charlie tells one of his finest funny stories. Best to keep to questions on crank lengths, bottom brackets and how come there are so many folks who can ride their bike on a Wednesday morning

Have woken up in the dark this morning. Scary. Thought I could join you for a bit this morning...

I think to spice it up next we should have to repeat every half hour until the Jets crumble and I beat Paul McD.

Great event. Thanks to the organisers.

Interesting NE wind forecast. Golden opportunity to combine some hill efforts with KoM attempts. Got the bike down to 7.0kg...

Lyle Hill Climb is the day before. Plan to make it (someone has to keep those pesky Jets in their place). 

Tour of the Trossachs on. For the TT’ers, forget the Georgetown and the Westferry. This TT is the TT to beat all TT’s. Bucket list material. Get entered. 

Matt Henon from GTR has asked me to publicise the Lyle Hill Race on Saturday 28 September:

https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/race-details/19509

The Lyle Hill overlooks Gourock. The Bunch pass it every time they cycle to Largs but I suspect they never take the pleasant detour to what is a wonderful view and a fantastic location.

I've just come back from the Stow triple hill race where the under 16's showed me a clean pair of heels. Hill racing is particularly suited to our lightweight juniors where restricted gearing is not a handicap. And I'd enjoy getting a stuffing from the Jets; as long as they come out on the winter Renfrew bunch and let me get my own back.

The hill takes 5mins and I suspect power climbers like Marc Kelly could press me all the way.  Then there are the hard men like Galeb and Charlie, and the softies like Richie and Billy. Be nice to see how we all measure up against each other.

Ian 

Sunset is 19 45. Bring lights to get home but even then I'd expect to get home by 19 45.

A narrow lane with a blind bend:JWCC hill climb route isn’t attractive / safe. Scottish hill race calendar is good this year too. Dukes Pass, Stow, Lyall, Gleniffer, Lomonds of Fife... I’ve entered them all!

These hills take 5 to 10 minutes to climb. Be good to have a practice on the Gleniffer Braes or a hill of that nature. Or how about a Bunch ride and race up 2 or 3 hills and let Strava assign the times. The weight weenies could give the sturdier types a start

Excellent event Gerard. Food was especially good. Thinking I might take that Jayne home with me next year. 

With 2 new roundabouts and fast cars approaching the Bishopton Rd from the M8 new slip road I’d argue the Erskine route is a no brainer. Erskine much better. Not interested in a weekly APR myself but would enjoy a hard training session and trying to keep groups to 12 or less.

The fast group wasn't fast but it was smoother and safer. When you see the big variation in speeds up the Clune it should be obvious that some riders need to sit in at times for the sake of the overall bunch speed. The main benefit I guess was the bunch size. Twelve was perfect - not too long soft pedaling on the wheels between efforts.

I'd be for keeping the split groups for a few weeks and see how it goes. I think it would encourage weaker riders to join this session and enjoy the fun!

There is a Couriers WhatsApp Saturday group that is winding me up. The change in the Thursday format has been posted up but it seems there are some people (John Craig and Garry Dunn) who want the ride to be a social ride operating at about 32kph (20mph for the old timers).

The joy for me in the chain gang is cooperating to go faster than you can on your own. In a low grade Cat 3/4 race the average speed for 2hrs+ of an un-cooperative bunch of cyclists is 38-40kph. If we can't cooperate and achieve 40kph for one hour we aren't cooperating! Gregg O Malley has won races on long solo breaks averaging this speed on his own. And no way should Gregg beat our determined chain gang who are working for each other.

Smooth and fast. When a chain gang is in full flow there is nothing finer! 45kph down the Westferry should be a breeze.

9 hours ago, Galeb said:

Unlucky puncture just before we got to the roundabout or could be one of those Ian tactics...I didnt check the road 😜

Based on our time last year of 16.06 it would have been close! You managed to get away with it this time using aero helmet, aero socks, aero shoe covers and skin suit! 

Look forward to the 2up Largs challenge 😀

Air density of 2.07kg:m3 is highest I’ve seen this year. Probably  30s slower than last years perfect conditions

PS I’ll check the Strava flybys. Were you up on us at half way?

54 minutes ago, thejanullrichdietplan said:

 

 

Thanks to John for timekeeping and the holders for pushing off. 

Tough night for me, went off way too hard and blew up going up to the roundabout getting dropped in the process. Recovered a bit but having to wait would have cost Ian a sub 16

Shame about Marcs puncture, will need to have a rematch next year! 

I fancy a 2up to Largs on our winter bikes. First really rainy Saturday of the winter when going hard is the only option. Last to Largs buys the coffees. These guys can’t do aero. Can they do mindless grunt? I’m fancying we can beat em. Just leave the pink shoes at home Iain. 

35 minutes ago, Galeb said:

Me and Marc will be riding. 

Iain and Ian you should consider road bikes for a proper challenge 

Iain desperately wants this trophy but he has been persuaded to risk all and sacrifice our superior aero knowledge and intellectual advantage. Road bikes it is! Road racing gear only. So if you wouldn't wear it in a road race you can't wear it tomorrow night. Iain will probably wear his Rapha gear and pink shoes but that's OK as long as he never turns up to a road race in them.

I think this is a psychological trap. The safe riders will do the slow group, the racers will do the fast group which leaves the dodgy riders in group 2. We looking to reduce our membership roll?

If anyone is running a book I'm good for a tenner Paul won't make it. He's going to need Galeb and Richie at least. 

Iain McT and I are planning to race. Last year Charlie couldn't make it so the authorities on the day decided to postpone the event until the following week. Iain was very distressed and he has only just got over it.

I’m up for joining a second bunch. Not as if the fast Bunch is fast! Don’t understand why there is so much testosterone flying about. Slow Bunch could have a rule no one gets dropped until the Georgetown...

Is Richard Montague eligible this year? He'd be a perfect man 2 now I'm a low 15 minute man.