robster82

Mr A, think of all the negativity this forum filters out of  mainstream social media. If we could encourage more curmudgeons to vent on here it would be a positive for society.
Perhaps we could set up a venting column on the forum? I mean I just paid £3.20 for a latte in Central Station to get over the shock of paying £5.70 for a return from Paisley Canal. Venting about it on here saves my colleagues from listening to me drone on.
and don't get me started on the price of a pint.

Is their an algorithm for filtering out negativity? So depressed knowing people have such good excuses for not doing things. I’ll be along because I don’t have a life. No mates, no family, no job, no illnesses, no broken bikes, no sympathy. 

I am keen but need to rearrange a work thing first, if not this week then in a couple of weeks as next Thursday could be busy packing bike for Roubaix (just thought I'd mention that
 
 

Your coming down this year Mctavish I've spent the whole winter in the gym lifting polo mints, I'm a beast now!
Looking forward to it. 

Your coming down this year Mctavish I've spent the whole winter in the gym lifting polo mints, I'm a beast now!
Looking forward to it. 

Your coming down this year Mctavish I've spent the whole winter in the gym lifting polo mints, I'm a beast now!
Looking forward to it. 

Your coming down this year Mctavish I've spent the whole winter in the gym lifting polo mints, I'm a beast now!
Looking forward to it. 

Maybe maybe maybe

Great to see McTavish pick up a prize and, in his own subtle way,  raise our sponsors profile by wearing a tablecloth from Amaretto.
Was your kit in the wash? 

Fun night.  First was a 40 lap points, group of 4 of us had small gap and i won the 2nd sprint and continued riding thinking the others were going to do the same. They sat up though. Decided to push on and got about half a lap but then the bunch started chasing and it came back together a lap before the next sprint and i couldnt respond. Recovered a bit for the final one got a 4th in that i think and 4th overall. Next was scratch. Few attempts to get a break going but nothing stuck but still thinned the field. About midway through i somehow got dazzled (maybe a camera flash or looking at the light) and was seeing stars in my left eye...not good! However despite that should eally should have done better in the final sprint was 2nd wheel with 3 to go  to go but waited too long and ended up getting boxed in and not really able to sprint ended up 5th or 6th. Devil...felt comfortable but made a mistake when it was down to 6 riders, i thought it was 8 left and i was trying to work myself out of a box thinking there were a couple of riders still behind me. There wasnt! My worst result in the elimination all winter i think.
Anyway was an enjoyable season, 19 race evenings with 1 cancelled for snow.  Had intended to do less this year but it gets addictive and im a lost cause
 
 

Sorry cant help with the jersey.
For the race, probably 2 most important things which apply to bunch rides as well but even more so racing is to hold your line/be predictable and protect your front wheel. With it being an APR it is a bit different to a normal race and more like a chaingang. You'll be in a group of about 20 and it is to everyones advantage to co-operate and work together - but do this in a measured way. If you are feeling good dont sit on the front like Tony Martin and give everyone a free ride. Likewise if you are struggling a bit just sit on the back and try and recover.  Sitting at the back and missing a turn  isnt a good tactic to use if you are feeling comfortable though - your best chance for a result is your group managing to stay away not through saving something for the scratch making the catch.
 

It’ll be snowing. 
No point getting your hopes up.
Another day plunked in front of the telly, eating biscuits & lying to yourself that you’ll go turbo “in 10 minutes”
You won’t. Life is an empty husk full of broken promises & rash purchases from Wiggle.

Good luck Robbie!! 
 
Hope to be out tomorrow and meet you at bottom of bow field at 0945

Charlie, I can't make Sunday but I'll have my mobile on me just incase....wonder who will ring first? Pregnant wife or Charlie with broken bike....

Charlie, I can't make Sunday but I'll have my mobile on me just incase....wonder who will ring first? Pregnant wife or Charlie with broken bike....

Charlie, I can't make Sunday but I'll have my mobile on me just incase....wonder who will ring first? Pregnant wife or Charlie with broken bike....

Charlie, I can't make Sunday but I'll have my mobile on me just incase....wonder who will ring first? Pregnant wife or Charlie with broken bike....

Charlie, I can't make Sunday but I'll have my mobile on me just incase....wonder who will ring first? Pregnant wife or Charlie with broken bike....

Charlie, I can't make Sunday but I'll have my mobile on me just incase....wonder who will ring first? Pregnant wife or Charlie with broken bike....

Charlie, I can't make Sunday but I'll have my mobile on me just incase....wonder who will ring first? Pregnant wife or Charlie with broken bike....

Charlie, I can't make Sunday but I'll have my mobile on me just incase....wonder who will ring first? Pregnant wife or Charlie with broken bike....

Charlie, I can't make Sunday but I'll have my mobile on me just incase....wonder who will ring first? Pregnant wife or Charlie with broken bike....

Charlie, I can't make Sunday but I'll have my mobile on me just incase....wonder who will ring first? Pregnant wife or Charlie with broken bike....

But if a disaster today. Struggling from start but got in to it then got puncture on hill between Finlaystone & Kilmacolm. Changed tube but gas canister was a failure & my mini pump just fell to pieces. Thought ok as boys would pass me on second loop but seems I had gone a different route than them so walked back to Kilmacolm & got lift back from Robbie. On my way to Evans cycles now

Robbie told me he rode up and down 3 times and was still hypothermic by the time you got there.