robster82

Think I've got aids or something much worse. 😕 it'll have been 2 weeks since I've been on the bike so can't see it.

Chapeau lads all the best Robbie

Robster
 
Make sure you clean your bike, give it a wee kiss wrap it up carefully and say goodbye!! You won't be seeing it for a while!!!
 
All the best for the wadding!!

Definitely, could be my last ever time on a bike according to some! Doomsday just around the corner....

Last year's survey identified that we would like maps of the Bunch Rides to be avaialable on the website (and also linked to the Bunch) to help new members and those like me with no sense of direction to have a vague idea where the ride goes, the length and climbing profile.
 
I know from the main bunch we have some classic rides we repeat frequently (and not just the trips to the Bagel Basket) and presume its the same for the other Bunches.
 
Can I ask members that are recording their rides on their Garmin, etc to save the ride as a route and message this to me. It will take time, but eventually we'll have a great selection of great route maps on the web to link to bunch ride posts.
 
I hope this makes sense. If there are any techy issues please post and I'm sure some of the more computer literate members can advise (I'm thinking of Jan and Chung!).
 
Thanks for your help.

I have been encouraged to put this up by Chung and am not sure what's etiquette- so here goes.
 
GHK playing fields at Anniesland Cross to just before the pier in Dunoon. Starting at 2145 and finishing hopefully before 0700 (there's a reason for this which I will come onto later). Now I know you top guys are doing 100 for fun at the weekends, but maybe crank that up to 200 to make a more equal comparison and for the audax guys- maybe 350!!!
 
So my good friend Gordon from the Glasgow Nightingale (a very good junior cyclist in his day, which is code for.. this could be boring for him but he's coming along as my super domestique) chose the 109, why? we're members of a cycling club and wouldn't dream of doing less!!!!
 
So we set off at 2200 in the third group of 20ish riders by mistake as all the 109s were in the first group- but we didn't know. A total of 68 starting. Anniesland cross to Helensburgh with a stop in Helensburgh for those that wanted- we didn't stop.
 
Then we were joined by 4 guys who wanted to "take spells" which lasted 20 mins before I said to Gordon "let them go as 20mph at this stage going up the road by Faslane will only end in disaster for me", and so we did. Then we hit the loch long road in complete darkness, pedalling past a lone chap and onto Arrochar. A quick stop at Arrochar to allow the midges their supper and fill the bottles. (At this stage I started feeling sorry for the lone chap we passed on the loch side- so when he arrived at Arrochar we asked him to join us- I mean - come on- it's not a race!!)
 
So Bob sat in for the next haul, up the 'rest and be thankful' and despite dropping the speed to 5 mph before we got to the climb, he asked us to go on and thanked us for the company.  Now it was very, very dark. No noise and two cars passing us all the way from Arrochar to the top of the RABT. But wait,  what yonder be that commotion at the top of the Rest- A bloody disco no less- that's right, a disco- or a night club as you young people call it nowadays! So we pulled over to see what was 'gong down with the young crew'. Crispy cakes, coffee, tea and 'Insomnia' by Faithless being played at full pelt (now for you Neil Diamond lovers, Faithless are a hip and happening pop group). How cruel those organisers can be playing Insomnia at 0100 at night!!,  In saying that I did feel very sorry for the couple who had parked their campervan just up from the discos and until then were probably having a peaceful and relaxing evening.
 
So on we pushed to Strachur, all the way with not a sight of a car or another cyclist, although we did see some flashing lights over the other side of loch Fyne heading towards Inveraray!
 
Through Strachur and onto Kilfinnan,  narrowly missing the drunk walking in the middle of the road on his way home who wished us all the best, well,  we think that's what he said! 
 
The sportive splits at Strachur- those doing the 77 are held here until 0300 so that they are not in Dunoon until the coffee shop is open- they go straight up the Glen Branter/ Loch Eck road to Dunoon. The 89ers go along the Colintriave road - as I call it-  to then climb up and over to Loch Striven and we headed along the Otter Ferry road to meet up with the 89ers on the Colintriave road after going through Tighnabruiach.
 
I have done the Tighnabruiach to Starchur road before, but not the other way and I have to say that with no visual references, just smells (wild garlic, cows and lavender) and the little light you have from the front of your bike, this bit wears you down.
Met a few guys along this bit, some on their last legs or as we renamed them-'got excited and stared too quick', two that thought they were lost, but didn't want to join us - or as we called them- we started too quickly but are just kidding  that we are lost so that we can get a break and two from the earlier group of four we met who just so happened to be looking at a mechanical at the top of the wee climb out of Otter Ferry and breathing heavily or as well called them- 'should have done the 77'!
 
By the time we had a bottle fill up and yet another crispy cake at Kilfinnan the dawn chorus had just started.
 
On a serious note, this was a beautiful moment, peace, the low light on the hills, the gentle lapping of the loch wate,  the birds singing and...... BLOODY HELL WHERE THE **** DID THAT ROE DEER COME FROM AND WHY DOES IT WANT TO PUT IT'S HEAD INTO MY FRONT WHEEL!!!-  locked up, skidded to the side and managed to miss it on a fairly fast decent. A close one and a the lesson learnt?.- Roe deer are just as mad as Italian cycling fans on a stage of the Giro!!
 
 
So on to Tighnabruiach the site of many a classic shinty match and up the hill out of this lovely village- by now this hill is tough.
 
Onto the hill up to the descent down into Loch Striven and now feeling tired, not n the legs, but just sleep tired.
Dawn has fully broken and the front lights are off, no cars and just some nice pedalling until we get onto the last undulating climb up to Loch Tarsan. This was tough, but we knew that after this it is just rolly road all the way to Dunoon.
And so with a tail wind just after hunters quay helping us to the finish we roll along easily at 19 mph, tired, weary and covered in midges onto the salubrious electrical tape on the road which signified the finish line.
 
Post ride-  we enjoyed the free roll and sausage and then prepped for the next stage of this sportive- Oh yes and you thought it was finished?
 
At 0645 one of the boats that they normally use for booze cruises, came to pick up those that had paid for the return trip back up the Clyde to the Science Centre. Now,  I would have to say that I was very sceptical about this, but it was well worth it. Even if you wanted to just sleep, dance at the dance thingy on top deck with free cans of alcoholic beverages, sit down stairs chat and drink coffee or as I did stay up deck to see parts of the Clyde I had never seen before. We past the very large cruise ship at Greenock, all the stands for the speed boat racing,  the Waverley past us just at Renfrew on its way 'doon the water'- all lovely
 
We arrived at the Science Centre at 1000 just as the Glasgow mens 10k was starting which provoked all those warming up to come and see what the hell was going on. As we clambered off with our bikes, making throw away comments of, (needs to be done in a slightly RAF posh voice )"yes-just rode through the night to a disco thingy at the top of the Rest and decided to carry to for a bit. Venison at Kilfinnan, before scaling the hills of Cowal- just the 109 today, but back for more next week- enjoy your plod!"
 
And so the Dunoon Chase the Moon sportive was over- in summary- well worth it and well worth doing next year, a great experience shared with a great friend, well organised and plenty of provision at each stop. So whether your a 'pushing it to do 77' or a 'bring on the 109' it isn't a race, but good fun.
 
And finally- the flashing lights on the other side of the loch?? the two boys who we met earlier at Faslane, who didn't turn off at the big signs for Dunoon- needless to say.... they missed the Boat!
Alan
 

2 please

Those of you who read the comic will have come across features they do on clubs the length and breadth of the country.
 
I think ours has a story to tell so have been badgering/trolling the editor to do a feature on us.
 
He has got in touch & promised a visit to do a ride and a feature on us in the next 2-3 months.
 
I'll let you know the date once it's confirmed.

"we'll get them round the corner" (get round the corner noone there)
"it will be the lights at the bottom of the haylie" (get to the lights noone there )
"it will be across from the marina" (get across from the marina noone there)
"it will be the layby at the bay" (get to the layby no-one there)
"it will be the turn to west kilbride" (get to the turn noone there)
"it will be the top of the climb"
 
"i dont think they are waiting!"

I was 2nd on the Georgetown after Ian and Richard eased up and let me go past them, not sure they know where the finish line is lol

My stag do this weekend so may be posted missing for the next couple of weeks....

My stag do this weekend so may be posted missing for the next couple of weeks....

My stag do this weekend so may be posted missing for the next couple of weeks....

My stag do this weekend so may be posted missing for the next couple of weeks....

My stag do this weekend so may be posted missing for the next couple of weeks....

My stag do this weekend so may be posted missing for the next couple of weeks....

As above but maybe just as well for me , great run and great fun went up the first climb at a steady pace with Charlie and Paul really enjoyed the views after about an hour of climbing we got a fantastic decent , somewhere along that I got one hell of a front wheel wobble enough that I slackened my from break made the decents challenging anyway really thought we had plenty of time came over the wall and back to el gastor to be told that's it was a shock and that if we carried on there would be no signs so me and Couttie stoped and sat in the sun
We drank a couple of beers and watched the guys finish great event but better to come on Monday ended up in smurf town which was at the end of 2000 feet of climbing so to get back another 2000 feet of climbing with an absolute blast of a decent 5 plus miles no need for brakes.
Eventually found out that my front wheel carbon has de laminated making the rim very very weak so maybe just as well I am a quitter

Yet another excellent Jwcc adventure. on the Thursday myself Billy Iain Couttie Paul Leavy Paul McMillan & Mark oneil had a smashing ride through the Sierra Nieves national park. We ended up in the village of El Burro & had a smashing lunch. 61 km and 1181 m of climbing so a good test for Saturday.
On Friday Billy Paul & I decided that on basis we were going to find the race tough any way we should suffer together and a pact was set. Great decision as one of the hardest things about these events is the long time you are actually out there & in our case a bit longer than others. Billy & Paul are devoted to power meter and we cruised up the first climb to the dulcet tones of 220 watts Billy 240 Billy 280 Billy ease back. Down a tad. I joined in with 150 bmp 160 ease back. This tactic was employed all the way to the 133 km station. During this spell Couttie toyed with us. He started at rear joined us for a while got fed up with our metronome chat tootled ahead and then waited for us at top of climbs just to see our grimacing faces. We also had the pleasure of the company of Mark & Paul McMillan for a while but both these mountain goats soon left us to our own pain. However one of the biggest pleasures of this race for me was that after the first the longest and the hardest climb I was able a few kilometres later to join Paul McD Alex James and big Al at the front. This only came about as lead car restricted to a speed of 25 Kms so we were able to catch up on one of the very fast down sections. Their look of incredulity was a picture.Once we hit the next hill they were off and not to be seen till end.
Couttie got fed up with his own company and having waited for us at top of Montecurto joined us in to El Gastro. Now entering El Gastro is were it got a bit tough. I blame Paul Leavy cos he was our time man. Well to be more accurate was the only person to bother himself with the rules.We had slipped off the back of the protected peloton but Paul assured us that the sweeper van was hours behind us and all was well. However the marshals at El Gastro had other ideas and told us we could not continue. Paul was demanding to see Oscar the organiser Couttie turned off his garmin and Billy had the look of what the "f" is going on. Unfortunately and to our shame there was a language barrier and we wasted a lot of energy and time trying to explain that we were continuing. At that point a group of Spanish riders came through and said they were continuing so Paul & I carried on with them and then we both pushed on together. We were a bit low at this point as we had all being going well. We were not caught by other riders but did catch up with groups ahead and stayed ahead of the dreaded sweeper car. Like Couttie it was toying with us but we triumphed for as when we entered a military barracks about 20 km from end(which was part of the route for some reason I still do not understand )we were not court marshalled but met Oscar who told us he would wait for us at end and that we had completed the full race. With that good news Paul proceeded to bonk on the next hill but was saved by a kind Italian rider who gave him a gel( defo contained epo as within 5 mins he was flying)
With 1 km to go the dreaded sweeper car came up behind us. I would not let it pass and blocked the road. Paul was shouting that I would be disqualified but I didn't care as I was finishing before that car & we did. Paul & I got our finishing rock which fittingly was local granite used for headstones
Chapeau to all jwcc riders. Great job. Special thanks to Paul & Billy
For the record Strava says:-
203.3 km 09:38:07
A very friendly event with some magnificent vistas and hot.

Paul provided a good insight to the pain that we suffered (well done Paul).
 
LasufriDA is aptly named as there was certainly suffering out there on the roads in Spain to be had!!
 
Paul, Alan, Alex and I arrived on the Thursday after delays in getting there due to the French air strike. How in considerate can some people be when the JWCC are on tour!!. First lesson learned when I stripped down and re-built my bike with DI2, do not unplug the battery from the seat. (I followed the bike box video, which didn't have DI2). On Thursday after re-building my bike I had a problem with the connection, which was intermittent. After talking to Billy it doesn't plug in straight and you need a tool for this. Out on the Thursday test run at the end I got stuck in gear, in the big ring. Just hope I can get this fixed before Saturday on these hills!!
 
The boys had found a good bike shop in Ronda run by an ex Tour De France pro (Jesus) so on the Friday morning we cycled in to Ronda and Jesus came to the rescue and fixed it, best 10 euros spent and back in business. Charlie even put his bike in to get his chain cleaned. Don't think the bike maintenance classed helped him!!!
 
On the Friday Alan, Alex, Paul McD and I had a great cycle over to El Buro, I think that was the name and had lunch and enjoyed some climbing on the way back. The climb on the way back was about 12km long so it let us know what we were letting ourselves in for. It didn't really as it wasn't  as steep as the follow day was about to become.   After the cycle we chilled at the pool then went over to El Gastor and registered for the race.
 
The race organiser had organised a special trophy for JWCC for the largest ever club entry. Paul McD has this and was going to put it in the club rooms
 
On the day of the race it was an early start down for breakfast at 6.00 so we could leave at 6.20 to get to El Gastor, do a warm ready for the suffering ahead.
 
It was very cold at this time and I was still in fear /apprehensive of what was lying ahead of me. El Gastor is a beautiful Spanish village with narrow roads and white washed buildings. We got a group photo before the start and all lined up waiting pain and suffering to begin.
 
After we rolled off dropping down before the climb I was very cold. Could almost feel myself shake I was that cold. the race neutralised and bunched up, Alan, Paul, Alex and I sat together going into the 1st climb. My tactic was to pace the 1st climb, with 3 food stops and keep my heart rate under 140 on this climb. I let Alan and Paul get ahead on the first climb and got on tow with a local who knew the distance to the top. At the top Paul and Alan weren't far in front and after a great decent down the neutralising started again. We all bunched back up as a JWCC group before slowly stretching out.
 
Into the start of the 2nd climb I made a break and opened up a gap from Alan, Paul and Alex but we all regrouped at the 1st food stop 45miles in. Into the first timed climb Alan and I got away and I pushed this climb a bit harder still keeping my heart rate under 150. There was a Spaniard who was riding on my wheel with Alan who come to the front to do a turn. I thought he was wanting to race me so picked up the pace. Alan shouting to me to say he was only wanting to do a turn at the front, but we dropped him shortly after this. Alan and I got thought the top together and enjoyed a great decent before neutralised again. Then on to the next food stop at 74miles at the foot of Montecorto. Alan, Alex, Paul and stopped and I probably ate too much as shortly after the climb up Montecorto I went through I bad patch between 74 miles and 86miles.
 
At the end of the 133km loop Alan and I left El Gastor together but I still wasn't feeling good and dropped off, where Paul and a small group caught me so I got a tow and felt better after that. Shortly after that Paul was struggling so I towed Paul up the next climb and down to my last food stop at 92miles. Couldn't eat anything but re-filled the bottles and water over my head I felt better. Paul and I set off but Paul was still struggling and I pushed on. I seemed to get a 2nd wind and was climbing strongly again picking up riders along the way but still on my own.
 
Interesting on the how your mind works when your Garmin goes from decimal points before 100 miles to no decimal points and your still telling your self not far only 24miles of suffering left , just less than a marathon!! However, the course was (203km) and not 200km on my entry. What a bummer as it took 26.5 miles to get to the finish. As I came in to the finish I was greeted by Billy and Ian with a beer. . That was great guys, thanks.
 
What more can I say apart from the race being aptly named. This was fantastic, with stunning scenery, great roads, great climbs, good weather and good craic on my JWCC tour.
 
Overall time was 8hr 32min riding and 8hrs 55mins including stops. I will post some photos later

Cheers

Well lasufriDA was monumental. No surprise there
It was hot, it was well organised, it was hard, it was nearly as hot in Scotland this afternoon !
Utterly beautiful Spanish village woke up to bangin music at 0800 Saturday morning and hundreds of keen cyclists.
Rolled out downhill and apprehensive and actually got a bit cold in the first 5k. Lead cars moved on and the keen bunch started to rack up the pace. Only to be halted in their tracks after 10k by lead car and motorbikes keeping the lid on things. Hit the first climb and it was effectively neutralised for the first 7k of the 14k climb. Which was beyond beautiful in terms of views and general "I'm really glad to be alive". At halfway the lead car moved on the lads racked up the pace. Everyone then went up at own pace and over the top for a humidinger descent. About half way down descent I had to hit some serious brakes as the lead car had restricted the pace. And it was held to 16mph for about the next 15k which had a lot of chaps not to content. Boys will be boys and want to get stuck in !
Anyway the plus side was our entire JWCC regrouped before next big climb. On this climb I held tough with big Al and James before saying adios about 1/2 way up. Managed to rejoin with a group of about 10 a short time after the long and incredible descent which must have had about 30 hairpins and the most beautiful views imaginable.
Just after rejoining we hit a long drag which in Spanish terms means 6k of grovelling!
Then hit the Montecorto wall which was only 2k long but had about 300m of 25% in the middle of an otherwise steep climb anyway. Can't really do it justice, there is nothing comparable in bonny Ecosse. So Alan and James flew up and I topped out with LA Guns and we started to work with some others on the flat back to the start town to end the first loop of 133km. Just after the start town where you had to be formally registed to do the next 67km, I managed to catch James on the descent and we worked with some others for 20km or so to the next feed.
Things went significantly downhill for me at this point as I just could not eat as I had stomach issues. Bad move, as immediately after this feed I bid farewell to James and rode on to the next station where I was in a state of 'bonk'. After sitting in a bit of a state for a while LA guns joined me and we became compadres in distress !
Anyway after an incredible calory consumption, and I mean about 10 little cheese and ham sandwiches an energy bar, 2 cups of coke and half a melon just for me, we were both rejuvenated and rode the last 25 miles to the finish. Strava estimated I expended 7800 calories so I guess not to big a surprise if you miss a feed you bonk !
 
Summary. Utterly brilliant. Would not have missed it for the world. Heat really does get to you in the end. My time and LA guns time was 9h24m, my top speed 51.5 mph, average speeds somewhat lowered with the restricted zones was 15mph. Estimated liquid consumption would be 8 bottles plus at least 12 cups of coke and water. And tubs of water poured over us by very helpful people at feed stops. Alan then James finished in front of me and LA guns.
 
Can't wait to read other reports as myself and James left early doors this morning for flights home.
 
DA next

Cracking night tonight, a slightly tougher route than normal which i think worked quite well at least until i made the mistake of trying to stick to Robbies wheel going up the climb then blowing up before the top!
 
No gentlemens agreement to split the points - must be because all the gentlemen are off the Spain leaving the rogues behind
 

Enjoyed that. Well other than being the lead out man..on the sprint.

Team DA
 
Thanks for the card and your generosity. You really really didn't need to do that, but it is the kind of gesture that does not surprise me at all, coming, as it does, from a great bunch of guys. I am really touched and thankful
 
Best
Darryl

Don't even think about it Darryl, the team has it covered!
 
You concentrate on getting fit and back out on bike with us.