robster82

Davie
As long as you guarantee that 1 can use 25mm tyres and 2 my bike won't be covered in Merd and 3 will not have to carry my bike anywhere
 
Fill your boots

A climb this week
 
Barrs Brae
 
https://www.strava.com/segments/1580488

Evening all.
 
Well, here's the report from one of the 'also rans'
 
I had been keen for Roubaix this year until Geo talked me into the Marmotte.
 
"11 months to go" I thought....what could go wrong!
 
A combination of work and a 2yr old meant I didn't get as many miles in as I would've liked...I had ridden a couple of 75 milers in the previous couple of months but my last century was at Flanders last April.... but before I knew it, we were flying out to Geneva!
 
As George said, a bit of delay getting to the Alpe but a nice wee ride down the Alpe on Sat, along to Allemont and then a climb up to Villard Reculas and into Huez village. It did made me think about the day to come!
 
The descent to the start wasn't as bad as I feared and we were soon off and blasting through the valley. I was with my friend from Dumfries and we were staying together as he has been on the bike less than me.
Up and over the looooonnnnnnggg drag of the Glandon into the cold and mist. Not much hanging about before the neutralised descent.
Neutralised because it's dangerous.....it also didn't help that visibility must've been down to 50ft! Interesting!!
 
I had lost sight of my mate and found myself on a wee train along the valley. Hanging on a bit as I didn't fancy being stuck on my own into the headwind.
We collected Greg, who was doing exactly that, just before the feed stop and we were joined by my mate before tackling the Telegraphe.
The Telegraphe itself isn't too bad a climb but then we were onto the Galibier. At this point my mate said he was chucking it and as Greg and I spoke to Ramsay and Elaine....who had caught us for about an hour!!...I lost of sight of him and we eventually thought he must've turned round.
 
The Galibier was ok to start with but the last 8 or 9km is a pretty hard slog. Think it was about 4 or 5mph all the way up!
 
To surprise and delight, my mate was at the feed station at the top! It was blowing a gale so we headed off down the descent which wasn't too nice in the wind.
The Galibier soon turned into the Col du Lautaret and it's fast, majestic sweeping bends that went on for km after km.
Good for the morale and the sun had came out by now!
We realised we weren't as far ahead of schedule as we had imagined so it was a race on to make the time cut off of 6.15pm at the foot of the Alpe.
We dug in and made it with 10 mins to spare. We had dug in because we had decided we weren't going to ride the Alpe after all.
 
Then we decided that that would be daft......so off we went!
 
It was in the 20's by now so off came as many clothes as was decent and we agreed it was every man for himself so I continued on my 4mph slog upwards and got closer and closer....seeing a lot of folk looking in a worse state than yourself is a strange morale boost!!
 
I eventually got to hairpin 1 and had some new found energy so had a good run in to the finish line.
 
Total time from start to finish was 12hrs and 20 mins so a long day in the saddle.
I was delighted to have finished because I had my doubts. It was a tough mental battle at times.
 
I was less than delighted to be told that they didn't have any medals left!!!
I'll see how the organisers reply to my e-mail!
 
What Ramsay didn't tell you was that he still managed to climb the Alpe in 1hr 10 after everything that came before!! Chapeau
 
As the others have said about the Fred, not sure if I'd do it again but glad to have ticked it off!
 
Thanks for reading....and goodnight

Elaine & I also did this with a group from her work.

Briefly met Grieg, George, Billy, Richie and other for a beer on the Saturday night.

Had a cracking day after a shaky start (literally!). I rode down to the start from Alpe D'Huez and twice had almost uncontrollable speed wobbles at 35mph+. Very frightening, but sorted at the bottom to start almost last and behind the following vehicles!

After starting at the back, we rode steadily and passed people all day, which was nice. The sun came out on the decent from the Galibier and made the Alpe D'Huez climb almost hot. Finished in time for a beer and pasta.

Longest ever ride for Elaine and most climbing in a day for both of us.
 
Happy days!      

Thanks all. For anyone who wants to do any of the 4 official challenges I would be more than happy to help. Experience is truly the best teacher and I have to say that any of these challenges now hold much less trepidation for me. In particular there are quite a few who could do the mythical DA as long as it is sensibly paced, and of course more who could do the SA as long as one dosn't blow a gasket in first 20 miles, bottom line is you can do the DA more effectively by riding within yourself for the first 5 hours then it's just disengage brain time!
 
For those with a particular interest in data ie data geeks my time today was approx 7% slower than my fastest time set with a group of 5. That in itself is quite interesting I thought the gap would be a bigger. Of course it is faster in a group but not as much as you would think. Regrouping after the many sharp bends, short waits at hilltops as not everyone climbs at exact same pace, occasional easing on flat to keep group together etc obviously has an impact. On your own there is none of this but I have to admit getting a bit demoralised today riding up the west coast in particular when I was only doing about 24-25mph when I have so many clear memories of doing 28-29mph on this section. The only thing that kept me going was the thought that I did not have the tailwind we normally have so it would be slower, and that it might mean a slightly easier run in down the east coast. Also just a personal thing but I love the camaraderie of a team doing it.
 
DA forever. August 2017 next mark on the totem pole.
 

Tremendous Paul!

There's live tracking, guys, so when the going gets tough, just mind that Big Brother is watching. 
 
All the best! Have a great time. 

Good time for that course especially with that wind and your usual poor preparation.
 
Equally impressed by your false modesty. 😉

Cracking day all round, good run and new grandson to top it off. Legs busted doing a TT on the way back, hard slog into that wind on my own but worth it to get to see the wee man tonight. Will go to bed a happy and tired Papa.....

It sounds good !
Don't worry Chung, it works also for me

Cheers for info Paul, gonna try make this.

Toughest chaingang of the year...was like a knife fight up the Stewarton drag, Marc with a machete, Robbie with a Rambo knife and me with a blunt pen knife!
 
Intermediate to Dunlop 30 Marc 1st with Alex 2nd
Stewarton drag KOM, Me, 1st, Marc 2nd and Richie 3rd
Finish up the final climb Robbie 1st, Marc 2nd and Richie 3rd
 

All
 
Don't think it's going to happen this SaturDAy as sort of 2 for single maybe 2 for double but weather will be an issue, wind in particular with 18-20mph westerly. Looks like maybe August same as last year once everyone has holidays over and at peak of form ( of course you were training on holiday not eating and drinking ! )
 
DA17 will happen so keep the faith. Jan and Robbie - my offer of domestique stands indefinetly but my physical ability may not !
 

I got points on a climb , I got points on a climb , I got points on a climb
 
Those who'd didn't beat me hang your head in shame

What a day that was yesterday, would highly recommend it!
 
We had everything, great long miles on mostly fantastic roads, lochs and hills galore, a bit of rain up at Loch Katrine but finished in sunshine, coo's goats and midges, tremendous scran all day, cakes soup and sandwiches lasagne curry more cakes with plenty of coffee, and Paul even got his wee book stamped!
 
Nice to have Mr Audax 'Campbell' with us for sections but a shame about Chung and big Al.
 
Massive cheers to the organiser Graham and his family for putting on such a great spread at his home.

What a day that was yesterday, would highly recommend it!
 
We had everything, great long miles on mostly fantastic roads, lochs and hills galore, a bit of rain up at Loch Katrine but finished in sunshine, coo's goats and midges, tremendous scran all day, cakes soup and sandwiches lasagne curry more cakes with plenty of coffee, and Paul even got his wee book stamped!
 
Nice to have Mr Audax 'Campbell' with us for sections but a shame about Chung and big Al.
 
Massive cheers to the organiser Graham and his family for putting on such a great spread at his home.

I handed your Brevet card in... I did write DNF on it, Were you even there yesterday? hahah only kidding it was a great day out 😉 Cheers Prof

What a day that was yesterday, would highly recommend it!
 
We had everything, great long miles on mostly fantastic roads, lochs and hills galore, a bit of rain up at Loch Katrine but finished in sunshine, coo's goats and midges, tremendous scran all day, cakes soup and sandwiches lasagne curry more cakes with plenty of coffee, and Paul even got his wee book stamped!
 
Nice to have Mr Audax 'Campbell' with us for sections but a shame about Chung and big Al.
 
Massive cheers to the organiser Graham and his family for putting on such a great spread at his home.

What a day that was yesterday, would highly recommend it!
 
We had everything, great long miles on mostly fantastic roads, lochs and hills galore, a bit of rain up at Loch Katrine but finished in sunshine, coo's goats and midges, tremendous scran all day, cakes soup and sandwiches lasagne curry more cakes with plenty of coffee, and Paul even got his wee book stamped!
 
Nice to have Mr Audax 'Campbell' with us for sections but a shame about Chung and big Al.
 
Massive cheers to the organiser Graham and his family for putting on such a great spread at his home.

Folk's, are we planning on stopping at the Inversnaid food stop? Just so I can reply to the organiser. Cheers

"Monkey house all the way up" Segment is pretty clear, get yer fat arses out and do it again!

Who is this 'Robert' Hughes?

"Monkey house all the way up" Segment is pretty clear, get yer fat arses out and do it again!

I'm in!
 
Whats the story? Just a good day out on the bike! A bit of NC500 training.

Graham currently in lead must be all the years I have spent telling him to read the instructions!