robster82

Thanks everyone for making Glynn and myself welcome. And Darryl, you were right about needing low gearing for the event.. on the last climb (think it was Fleet Moss) I needed to get off the bike for a breather.. unable to keep a 34x27 turning, even standing on the pedals!
There was a man and a woman sitting on top of the grassy embankment overlooking the road on the climb, encouraging me to keep going as I passed. I called out to them, "I imagine you've seen the full range of human suffering today". Their eyes twinkled briefly, before smiling politely in response.

I agree with the guys, this was a very well organised event, in a stunning part of the country on great roads... we stayed in a quaint wee village called Kettlewell in 4 different lodging all within about 100 yrds of each other and had a meal in the local hotel, food was great and for once we went easy on the pints, only 3 or 4 max .. as for the ride itself, no-one has exaggerated how tough this was, easily as tough as anything I've done before including the Fred and the Marmotte Pyrenees, it seemed that every single climb had sections in the high teens or low 20's plus a couple of 25 percents that seemed to go on for ages... as usual the company was great, so despite the pain it was a really enjoyable day in a masochistic kind of way.. Slept like a baby when I got home..
mcginty
 

Great stuff from Darryl, an epic Wheelers day out in some stunning scenery.  Very glad of my decision take each hill as steady as possible for such a long route with a couple of steep climbs.  I am a rubbish climber but based on how I fine feel today it has paid off.  Many thanks to everyone there, it was a memorable weekend.  When do start planning the next one...?

First of all, Thank you Darryl for suggesting/organising this Sportive & all the Wheelers & friends for another very memorable day indeed on the bike!
I wouldn't have thought about doing this if it wasn't for Darryl's idea, since all I do these days are flat & cobblily :-) ............. but I'm glad I did this even though as everyone have said - it's brutal  !
It's been a long time since I've done a "local sportive", probably have to go back to 2012 now, so it was a great reminder that there are still some brilliant events to be ridden without crossing the Channel.
It might not have the glitz & glamour of bigger, more internationally recognised foreign events, but what it lacks is made up for by the warm reception (everyone I met, locals/marshalls helpers etc all had a smile on their faces) friendly atmosphere ........ & less riders to elbow out the way at feed stations 
In my opinion, this was an extremely well organised event with some lovely scenery & some of the hardest climbs I've ever done 
I've lost count of the times 20/21% gradient reading shown on my Garmin & these were always at the end of some long constant 10,12, 14, 16% slopes. Every time I ask Darryl, how many more climbs, he just said "........... only 1 more"  ........ I know full well that it was not true ........ but somehow want it to be so!
What also pleasantly surprised me was the conditions of the roads we drove & rode on, it was actually quite good without too much pot holes or broken surfaces, that was very welcome indeed, especially the brilliant & long but fairly technical descents. Which was great because after everyone climbs, the long down hills would munch away the km's, bringing us closer back to the finish!
It goes without saying that I had a great time - thanks also to Gerard for pick-up & drop off & to my travel companions .............
P.S We were lucky with the weather, because I dare to think what it would be like if it was windy & wet 
Cheers

Thanks Gerard - that’s the JWCC bunch at the start of the ride - all looking relatively fresh. It was a different story at the end though!
There were 7 JWCC and two friends - Scott (just back from a weeks training in Majorca) and Glynn who was always going to be good on the hills given can’t have weighed more than 55kg - wet through.
The intention was to ride ‘as a group’ at a very conservative pace. This proved to be a very good decision. Group was intact when after 30 miles or so Linda peeled off to follow the 60 mile route - sterling effort Linda!
After that the fun and games began. I’m sure some of the others will want to add their own experience, but suffice to say that this is a very very hard ride indeed. In a word, brutal. It is every bit as hard as the Fred in my opinion.
Anyway, our policy of keeping the group intact and stopping at the feeds served us well. Everyone was in good spirits with no mechanicals or mishaps (we saw a few which served as a salutary reminder that the course can be dangerous, especially the downhills). 
I’d ridden quite a few of these roads before so I had an idea what to expect, but I kept that to myself to preserve morale , as each climb was as hard or harder than the next, with a few 25% sections thrown in for good measure.
We regrouped in Hawes for the last time and had a welcome coffee before tackling the very last climb - Fleet Moss. I hadn’t ridden this before, but Graham had, just the previous day (yes he cycled down!). He told us with a solemn look on his face that it was just as hard as anything we had already done. He wasn't lying.
Overall a great day out, which will no doubt gain epic status in our memories, once we forget about how hard it was.
It was a long day though, with the drive back to Glasgow. With hindsight, staying another night would have been good.
Thanks to all who participated - JWCC and friends. 
Cheers!
 
 
 

Perfect Gerard, see you all Saturday.

Iain
all runs start from club rooms. We have accommodated u lazy bishie/ Erskine people by allowing u to join our bunch at the bridge. So question is what time at clubrooms? I would have gone for normal 9.30 depart but if majority want earlier so be it. I will start run from Miller Street.

We should have taken some pics. A great night. The Clyde was looking epic and so was I! Got home, PB recorded, thinking this is the fittest I've ever been. Best open a bottle to celebrate.
Meantime Stuart with a 23 02, getting dropped on a Thursday chain gang is embarrassing. Us TT'ers have a reputation to keep. I do think he might be roasting us all very soon.

A good article... 
https://humancyclist.wordpress.com/2016/02/28/tribes-cycling/
"You need not look far for divisions within the cycling world. Thankfully most are petty, some tongue in cheek, a little just plain old fun. Yet we would all do well to remember that no one voice is louder than another, one truth no more just than another.
We are one and the same. Agree to disagree and remember to celebrate the differences between us as much as we treasure our commonalities."

KoM on the shortcut is the ultimate Pyrrhic victory. An achievement that just underlines that you were weak willed and couldnt hack the full route. When i sneak up it on the Renfrew Bunch i go at a pace where i make damn sure  i won't be embarrassing myself and appear on the top 10 leaderboard with the badge of shame of a cup alongside my name.
 

Surly you can’t qualify for points if you don’t do the full route, Charlie maybe slower than a pregnant snail but at least he didn’t take a short cut 
Jan do you need to check the CG rule book 

Was certainly an epic one, hope not to have a repeat anytime soon. Ligaments are still bad news. Hats of Colin for carrying on. If you were a horse I would probably have shot you. See you next week
 

Great day out. Found anti clockwise harder than clockwise. Probably says more about my weight and lack of fitness though.
Going up the Ross afterwards was supremely tough. Blew up at the bottom and started cramping half way up - it took me over 30 minutes for the climb at an average cadence of 38 rpm

Utterly brilliant day on Arran and 3 new members of the SA Hall of Fame. Fantastic, and many congrats to SA Rookies Sam McGrath, Colin Sales and Alan Hendry, who were joined by seasoned SA vets Jan McTavish, Mark Kelly, Andy Gumley and myself. So 7 started as a team and 7 finished as a team. Also took all the rankings from 2nd to 6th or something on the Strava segment.
This was a rarer anti clockwise assault due to the predicted wind, however there was near zero wind all day. Very smooth paceline with much encouragement in evidence. Lots of resurfaced roads helped and I reckon this could be a year for records. Still some pretty grisly bits mind you.
Weather was probably the best I have ever seen on Arran and I have been there a lot! Truly heaven on earth.
So now you have a taste guys, set your sights on the Grand Daddy of them all - the DA in August. As I may have said somewhere before, this is a monumental and life changing experience that you will regale your grandchildren with, you will have it engraved on your gravestone, you will forever remember the single biggest day of your life. You will feel immortal.
To round it all off me and Jan rode over the Ross to meet my two girls at the Velo café, then clung on to their wheels to get back for the 1.55pm ferry as we were both tank empty status. 86 miles and 2,000m of ascent made for a fantastic day out.

 
 
 
 

Nice one Robbie. Here’s a random GIF to celebrate 

Due to popular demand this thread has moved from 13th April to 20th April. For those of you unfamiliar with this ancient ritual we board the 0700 hours ferry to Brodick. Get off and ride round the island and get the next ferry back. This is the first 2019 edition with aspirations for the legendary Double Arran attempt later in the summer.
 
Don't be like me and miss the ferry despite living 4 miles away. 
 
Be like Darryl and pace according to the team on the climbs not according to how Many watts you can meat out on your pals
 
If the ferry master approves your boarding of the next ferry then you will enter Paul McD’s Hall of Fame! You can tell stories to your children and grandchildren at they sit at your feet in wonder for many years to come! 
 
Who's in?

I have a friend interested in coming, trying to get him to join

So much for club camaraderie. Was 1 minute late. Initially thought no one turned up but went round corner and saw big group in distance. Tried to catch u but head wind beat me so turned round and headed up back road to Bishopton but missed you. Met Alan Thomson on bishy hill. You nasty guys had already dropped him despite all your protestations of stick together to top of Bishy. We had s cracking 2 up to bridge of weir. Great tail wind on dual carriageway. Any way gloves are off and once I know who was in Bunch tonight no quarter will be given for rest of season
ps Archibald I I had a heart rate spike of 215 so my alarm would have been well ringing. Hope it was just the stress of trying to get to start after a hard days work

So much for Spring. Waterproofs and winter bike today. On plus side gore active top is very waterproof. 

Won’t be out the whole route , will be turning at some point to be home for 12 

So ‘tis the season for the clocks springing forward, lambs frolicking in the fields, bunnies preparing to hide their Easter eggs and ofcourse the new CalMac summer timetables! 
To celebrate spring once again returning Paul and I wondered what better way than a single Arran filled with 56 miles of 19.6mph joy. 
Who would like to partake?

Will try join you Charlie.

Some route ideas.... 1400m climbing over about 90km featuring three 5* secteurs
https://www.strava.com/routes/17635604
And the route without the 5* parts for those who are too soft
https://www.strava.com/routes/17635890
 

Just throwing this out there?? Local hills, all groups out. Paris Roubaix coverage starts at 11am on Eurosport so maybe an earlier start. Maybe the committee could contact our sponsor see about some food? Maybe some deal a drink and pasta for £10  Guaranteed Sun, Beer and big screen on the Patio or my name isnt Roger De Vlaeminck.
Route could be the 10 hardest hills in the area... ?? 
My pick would be Hazelwood Road(Hell)

Don't care where it goes. 
But I know where it needs to finish.