robster82

All we need to do now is source a coach and we'll be sorted. 
If i can assist Charlie with anything just let me know. 

Great to be back out with the bunch today, think I seen Charlie going through once or twice...

Great to be back out with the bunch today, think I seen Charlie going through once or twice...

Great to be back out with the bunch today, think I seen Charlie going through once or twice...

Thanks to all for bike box suggestions . At AGM last night the majority view was that purchasing bike boxes was not the best use of club funds therefore that plan is back on the shelf. However it has been agreeed that we carry out a costing for installing broadband at club rooms and a costing for fixing existing tacx  flow turbos & purchasing turbos equipped for power. I will open a thread for this. Also looking  for volunteers for maintenance of our bike equipment and to introduce more bike maintenance workshops. A number of members have shown an interest in this and again can be discussed on thread and hopefully we will get some working groups in place to take these ideas forward

Unfortunately not going to make it again!
Anyone want to buy a Ridley Noah Fast size small?

Is the road 2 largs closed for weekend?

Blueberry cafe Troon. Bit gutted missed breakfast poached eggs by 8 mins. Coffee good though

Is the road 2 largs closed for weekend?

Is the road 2 largs closed for weekend?

Is the road 2 largs closed for weekend?

Is the road 2 largs closed for weekend?

Darryl, I use the forerunner 220 and would recommend. Uploads wirelessly, reliable, connects with HR chest strap, distance, average speed and all the usual malarkey. Only negative is it takes a few minutes for gps to connect, best to stay reasonbly still while it does. Yaldy

Charlie no mates at The Bagel Basket. 

Yip, great run on a fantastic October day. Thanks guys, I was truly at the end of my rope in the last 10k. Saw the Kilkreggan bunch at Houston and they looked very tidy.
Cedric had a 'significant' mechanical between Kilbirnie and Lochwinnoch. His fixie chain wrapped round the rear hub shell, jammed his back wheel and he had a long skid, which shredded through his new tyre. Anyway, went back to get him, repaired to mine for toast and scrambled egg before even looking at his bike as we both knackered. Eventually we went out and got him sorted with a tyre to get him home but he headed back on train to Glasgow Central as the chain looked like it could fail after its exertions. He made it ok.
Loch Thom was pretty special in the Autumn light but not a patch on the utterly stunning view of Arran from West Kilbride with its sunny peaks and shadowy glens. The winter timetable starts in 2 weeks so it game on for the WSA. Just saying like.


 

Oh! That's brilliant Martin, pass on my well done to them please.

Jamie (heid doon) and Keir. 

Robbie dispatching your main rivals for a warm up is simply genius.  

I’m not sure what the focus of this piece is or who it is aimed at.  Maybe it’s to inspire other women to take on similar challenges.  Maybe it’s just me saying ‘hello’ again and to let you know that I’m looking forward to getting back out with the bunch.  Whatever the reason is, someone suggested that writing a race report would be a good idea.  The only problem is, nothing I did this year was a ‘race’.  I’m not getting bogged down in stats and intricate details.  I am a girl who likes a challenge and I set myself a couple of challenges this summer.  They went something like this.
 August 2018 - Marmotte Pyrenees
160km, 5600 metres ascent
Ramsay and I had already decided to spend this summer in the Pyrenees.  We completed the Marmotte sportive in the Alps last year and loved it.  I knew that they did a similar event out of Argeles Gazost and by chance, it fell within the weeks that we were planning to be there.  The decision was made and we were signed up.  Unfortunately for Ramsay, his knee went again in June and he knew that he would not be ready to ride again for months.
We knew that a bunch of Wheelers were out riding too and Ramsay really enjoyed supporting everyone on the day (tonnes more photos of the boys on the Tourmalet than me, which is not a bad thing)!  It may sound selfish, but I knew that in order to make it to the finish at the top of Luz Ardiden, I just had to do my own thing and plod away at my own pace.  I love alpine climbs.  I love the challenge and the sense of accomplishment when you get to the top of those infamous Cols.  The scenery is spectacular and the baguettes with camembert at the pit stops are perfect!  I don’t know whether being a women helps.  I had so many shouts of “allez allez femme” which was brilliant.  Having spoken to some of the boys at the BBQ and confessed our body weights, being a women of a smaller stature, certainly helps when you are climbing an average gradient of 10% for several hours!  Yes, it was tough.  Yes, there were times when I asked myself why I was doing this.  It certainly felt harder than the Alps last year, but finishing was never in doubt.  After a hot shower and a good night’s sleep, the legs had recovered and I enjoyed ticking off so many more of those famous climbs during our time in the Pyrenees.
I can honestly say that one of the highlights was meeting up with the guys the following night for a BBQ.  Great food, lots of wine, even more beer and brilliant banter.  It reminded both Ramsay and I why we joined the club in the first place.  Thank you!
 
September 2018 – Around the World in a Day
245 miles from Machrihanish to Aberdeen, ~ 3500 metres ascent
 Then came the second challenge of the summer.  In 2017, Mark Beaumont set off to cycle around the world in 80 days.  He achieved this by riding an average of 240 miles per day.  The concept for this challenge was to have one rider to represent each day (80 riders in total) and us all to cycle 240 miles.  Hence, ‘Around the World in a Day’!  The day was planned exactly as Mark had ridden around the world.  Four times four hour sections of riding (approx. 60 miles per section) with a 30 minute stop in between (Furnace, Lochearnhead and Forfar).  The route started in Machrihanish and headed north through Ardishaig, before heading north east to Inverary and Dalmally.  We then turned east across the country to Forfar with the final stretch up the north east coast through Stonehaven to Aberdeen.
was one of ten female riders to start and one of eight to finish.  I had ridden 184 miles as a reccie earlier in the summer and only hoped that my weeks in the Pyrenees helped with final preparations and the final miles.  It was a typical Scottish day.....started cold, dark, wet and windy.  The sun came out briefly in the afternoon before it got cold, dark, wet and windy again.  My strategy was to keep a high cadence during the day and shelter within the bunch as much as possible.  I managed a few turns at the front and myself and a couple of the girls led the group for a few minutes when the boys stopped for a pee. Oh how we laughed!!  For the majority however, the boys looked out for us and made sure we were safely tucked in as much as possible.
The last 30 miles were probably the hardest miles I have ever ridden.  It was a rollercoaster of highs and lows and all I wanted was to be warm and horizontal!  I stepped off the bike in Aberdeen and was shaking with cold and exhaustion.  I thought I was either going to be sick or faint or both.  I admit, I cried when Ramsay came to give me a cuddle and it took me some time to reach the “that was an amazing experience” feeling.    But again, after two hot showers and a good night’s sleep, I woke up feeling ok and began to appreciate what had happened the day before. 
I guess that’s how I get through any of these challenges.  I know that even when it feels brutal and you hurt all over, it doesn’t last.  You will recover and you will get back on the bike again......quickly.  I don’t consider myself a powerful rider or a fast rider.  I don’t glide up the ascents.   I bob about in the saddle and do everything you shouldn’t!  I am a steady rider who is happy to tap away at the miles at my own pace.  In saying that, I didn’t just walk in to these events having done nothing.  I put the effort, the hours and the miles in this year.  If I’m honest, I did very little other than cycle and work for most of the summer!
It’s been a while, but I will be back out with the bunch again soon, enjoying the Sunday runs around Renfrewshire and beyond.  I’m looking forward to not just the training (must work on that power output over the winter), but for the banter and the camaraderie.  Hope to see you all soon.   
 

Chung, I had their numbers mate! The young team are my main competition these days. 

Chung, I had their numbers mate! The young team are my main competition these days. 

Chung, I had their numbers mate! The young team are my main competition these days. 

I'm hoping to be passing clubrooms around 0930 heading down track to Bagel via Kilbirnie if this suits anyone? 
Robbie

At last Committee meeting it was proposed that Club should purchase bike boxes for benefit of members. Will be hired out for a modest Sum ( just enough for u to look after box). Need suggestions on what box to buy as saw many boxes at marmotte and not sure what best. Suggestions welcome

Hi
Some of the local climbs have been totally bossed by Quick Step etc on Strava. I am looking at The Full Carruthmuir aka. Phil's Folly and I've seen others.
can I suggest that during the winter gales (we'll need storm force tailwinds ) we make club efforts to get one of these back.
I would like to imagine Wout van Aert or GVA receiving the "Uh oh, Galeb/Paul/Ian has just taken your KOM etc..." message. (I would also like to think they might just pop back to regain their Kom). Perhaps they weren't really trying but I think they were.
I will volunteer to lead out for, oooh, first 20 seconds.
Anyone got a list of likely segments?
Alan