robster82

new toy
https://youtu.be/vLT9UQFOeA8   wind from the riders' right. unfortunately i did not get the snow or any Voeckler moments.   Suggest you set this up on a 50 inch tv  behind your turbo then spray ice cold water in your face for maximum immersive experience.

Well that was very sore. As we all saw it was pretty full on from about the Red Smiddy in a bunch of over 20. Bunch split a bit on the Cloch DrAg then a lot more on the Inverkip drag. I was with Alex and Alan in a group of 8 riding pretty hard into Largs. Stop longer than usual whilst we tried to figure where everyone was and who was doing what. Charlie arrived just as we were leaving after his puncture and very gamely decided to join the much depleted full route group. Leaving Largs the tempo was more of the same and by the time we got to W Kilbride Charlie had gone and I was sitting in. 8 left in group now and I sat at back to Kilwinning drag where the lights didn't just go out, they imploded. Big Alan still in group and giving it dokey. Granny ring home for me and in a bad state when I got back, too long without any long runs due to lurgy. Don't think I can remember being in Largs for 11.35

Punctured on hill up to inverkip0 then 3 up to Largs with Billy & James short stop then drpped on west Kilbride drag another puncture so went up hill at West Kilbride then headwind all way to lochwinnoch where I am now in castle Semple cafe as had 3rd puncture wife not answering phone and cafe do not sell strong spirits
Next week I am going to go in to the garden and beat myself with a stick as that would be more fun than this

The one you've all been waiting for, the highlight of the year, the day of days, the moment in time etc
 
Summer ferries start end of March, light SW winds the preferred weather,
 
Day 1 standby for DA = Sat 16th April
Day 2 = 23rd April
Day 3 = 7th May ( understand stalwart supporter Jan cannot make this, so hopefully another day, reality is we'll never get a day for everyone )
Day 4 = 21st May
 
If not done by then we'll review new dates after Lasufrida ( you tempted yet Jan )

Best present ever from J Esus in a moment of need

Thanks for the ride. Loads of snow lying at top of Brisbane but otherwise dry with light winds today. This was an unexpectedly good weather window between storms.
 
James made a strong bid for the mighty Hamock Award/Wheelers Fail of the Year. He punctured after the Fairlie Moor descent. When he took his rear tyre off we were impressed to see 5cm sections of bare cord bulging through the wafer thin ripped  rubber.
 
To descend the Moor road with that timebomb tyre took real courage. We have photo evidence as well as the testimony of a clinician, a respected lawyer and professor of psychology that James demonstrated the finest attributes of the Wheelers: parsimony bordering on insanity, complete disregard for danger and a single-minded dedication to just getting out on the bike at all costs. It will be hard to beat.
 
We stuck him on the back of the bunch and pointed him to Fairlie station to catch the next train back to Johnstone. Would love to hear if he cycled the last 4 miles to BoW.

Dad sitting this afternoon, so how better to pass some time......
 
1) Arranophobia ; a mildly psychotic condition whereby those affected can experience delusions, sleeplessness, cold sweats, tremors and in some cases a complete disconnect from reality. Early diagnosis symptoms include extreme training regimes on a bicycle, OCD with the letters DA and sustained harassment of members of the cycling community to attempt to conquer their Everest, twice. Cluster of cases reported in the West of Scotland, where it is known in local dialect as "pure bricking it"
 
2) Arranophobia ; film, epic period drama made in 2016 about a group of scratchers who rise higher than they ever thought possible and conquered their Everest, twice. Nominated for 2 Oscars.
 
 
DREAM IT, BELIEVE IT, ACHIEVE IT

Better to put you foot in the peDAl Robbie

So we have a quiz related to an island off ardrossan, if you can answer the below in under 75 secs then maybe you need to see the same therapist as me,
 
- initials of worlds best groupset
- truth or ____
- hold back the water
- a set of numbers
- derived from 'sewing' bee
- 24 hours
- black and white bear
- flower for chains
- description of produce such as milk, cheese, yoghurt
- digital radio
- fast dog
- Spring flower
- Italian police
- device to extract power from wall at lasufrida
 

Think everything should still be as above mate

Tough day but happy to report a wheelers 1 2 after myself and Scott managed to get off the front with a mile to go only to be joined by Ian and Ritchie, we managed to hold off the couriers for the sprint lol well done ian

Also interested but can't afford this month. cheers

What really happens ... 

Here's a few photos my wife took when we watched some of the "A" Race.
 
Well done to all for riding the course, it sure does look hard & technical!
 

Alan, also option to fly out Thursday and return Sunday, myself and James doing that one. Do it, it's good training for DA, if DA has not already been done by that point.
 
Nb : my new year resolution is to mention DA in every post in a different way until the job is done. Please forgive me, it's an obsession.
 

Lusia and Charlie safely back. They headed to the top of the Clune after the 2nd puncture stop but, seeing the snow, decided that discretion was the better part of valour and headed straight back down again and took the Old Greenock Road and the Gunpowder back to Bishopton.
 
Who said chivalry was dead, Lusia swapped wheels with Charlie to make sure he got back to Paisley and headed for home
 
Charlie made it home in time to get to Dooley's for purchase of new rubber
 
Tough morning. All I did was drive to Dunblane and back :-)

When we left Renfrew the bunch was 10 wheelers and jets! Were quickly joined by about 8 others. Puncture before Bishopton was quickly fixed. Heavy snow after Bishopton and was actually lying on the Westferry so we headed up clune in abandon mission mode. Second puncture near top and whilst fixing that one the snow eased a bit so we decided to rule 5 it. Lucia and Charlie headed back as Charlie's front tyre was looking very unreliable. Headed up spango and single lined it at a steady 24/25 mph to Largs. James, Andy G, me, Iain A and Robbie present in bunch, Jan and Alan had made a strategic decision to turn back at Greenock, someone was rude enough to suggest they brikked it
Jim and Lynsey joined us at Largs, James manly headed up Heely on his tod and Andy stayed in the single line train to his warm inviting house in W Kilbride. Thereafter it became a survival game with heavy snow after Ardrossan. Chapeau to Jim, Lynsey, Gregg, Scott, Richie, Robbie and Iain for making it to Barrhead. I was tail end Charlie (no pun intended m'lud) after Kilwinning drag due to lack of fitness.
 
One that will not be forgotten in a hurry.

After passing the third snow plough we really should of taken the hint!

Pure epic. In an Andy Hampsten Giro sort of way.
 
Report to follow, meantime I'll enjoy the view from high up on the rule 5 mountain.
 

Lol i'll hopefully be there to lower the tone bigman.

Just to remind you test next Monday be there about 1840 to get set up
 
For those who haven't done this it takes 60 minutes in total but the test part is only 20 minutes

Sounds like fun chaps. How were the views of Arran?

Tough old day, but fun none the less. Bad crack leaving Scott at Kilwinning though. Charlie and I met him and he was not amused...
 
Great run to Barrhead with Robbie taking more turns than any other in my view and taking the sprint. (Thougn him sitting up 10m short and me screaming at him to keep going probably helped!!!)
 
Super hot bath was just what I needed, although badly interrupted by massive cramping of legs resulting in flooded bathroom.

Cheers for today folks,tough second half of the ride, seeing stars at the moment!