Roberto

The Smuggler sportive was the toughest one I've ever ridden, and I've ridden a few.
Around 700 participants took part in outrageous weather and extremely tough conditions.
Long steep climbs especially the Beara short climb (segment) and the Exmoor moors to deal with.
I finished the 50+mls in 4hrs 8mins at an average speed of 12.9mph, no results sheet but I'm satisfied with my ride.

"First" in the medium old group actually

Really lovely day out and an ideal route for a TT, I will definitely enter next year and can recommend to everyone else.

Darryl, doubt I'll get the 5 days but when you thinking of hitting apple cross? sure there may be some who would be up for meeting on that day?

Just bumping this. Anyone welcome to join in for part or all of the route.

A wee 'bump' for this message.
 
Our JWCC Official Strava page is where it's at!  Follow your club to link above, most of the relevant activity by members​ is now being recorded here.
 
For anyone who missed the original message see above and remember to cancel/leave​ the old site, there remains some 75 'members' of the unofficial site and it would be good to confine this one to history.
 
with thanks.

I've entered the Willie Rafferty (as a full-dress-rehearsal training exercise) and I'm in the midst of transport negotiations for the Royal Albert 10 on the 25th of June.
 
There's also a midweek Westferry 10 in July that Wheelers might want to enter. It's on the CTT site for Wednesday the 12th. Inverclyde Velo are organising.

Wheelers on Film 3.33 mins.... looking smooth

Well done to all 

Zip Down & Zip Up https://www.strava.com/segments/5003810
 
Near Quarriers and heads towards the cyclepath.

Good ride to day Billy, I'm never disappointed, usually just surprised I managed to get up so early, eat breakfast, get to race and ride. I left some of my breakfast and sports drink mix on the A78 (first time for everything) which means i must have been trying. Haven't seen official times but I was around 24 minutes which means i'm getting slower

Posting early for this as it is a full day out.
 
0830 club rooms for 1000 ferry to Dunnon. Early lunch at Portavadie. 1245 ferry to Tarbert. Ride to Campbeltown down east Kintyre for 1700 ferry to Ardrossan. Arr Ardrossan 1935. Option for train, pick up or ride home in near midsummer light.
 
Most will know the route as far as Tighnabruaich. The ride down east Kintyre is lumpy with a few steep ramps and stunning view over Kilbrannan sound to the west coast of Arran. Keep your eyes peeled and you will probably see PMcD over there !
 
A full day out but plenty of time for this so no need to pace needn't be high - all welcome.
 
Johnstone - Gourock. 20. Miles
 
Dunnon - Portavadie. 30
 
Tarbert. - Campbeltown 40
 
Ardrossan - Johnstone. 20

Short and flat this week which will hopefully encourage a few more to have a shot
 
Old BOW Road at Mound
https://www.strava.com/segments/7310016

Great run today with all kinds of weather thrown at us over in Cowal. Sun, rain,winds and steep climbs.
Four of us made the ferry crossing. Alan Fox, Elaine, me and newbie Alan who done really well on his first run out with a club.
After Gendaruel decent decided to chance going into the Strachur cafe as it was nearly empty. Must be new owners here as they were surprisingly cycle friendly.
After ferry crossing made our way up whin brae and Kilmacolm Road to Gateside Rd where Elaine met up with Ramsay to return to Beith for another 100 miles on the
clock.
Thanks to Alan Fox for providing most of the work at the front.
 
Dave

Sorry Billy
 
I'm driving at the Junior Tour of the Kingdom on Fife

A cool day with a big easterly wind meant fast times out and a torturous slog back. Clocked a disappointing 25:05, but power output is up again, so that's a positive.

Number 47 fir me.

Loved it! Echo everyone's comments. Brilliant scenery in lovely weather. Amazing route and excellent organisation throughout. Best food stops ever! Even local school kids were out at junctions offering jelly babies, water and suntan lotion. The whole area seems to have embraced this one.
 
Mega tough final two climbs after 90 miles in your legs. In France or Italy there would be a nice tunnel to go through rather than nonsensical gradients. The final 100-110 mile section was lovely.
 
Great bunch from JWCC sticking together for the day.
 
Some really inspirational pre-ride preparation from Paul L and David C. (I wouldn't be surprised if Dave Brailsford is in contact soon.)
 
But never, ever again!

Well done to all 

We couldn't have asked for a better day for the Fred. As we rolled out at 7.30 it was quite nippy, but it would warm up throughout the day. I'll leave it for others to add their thoughts but a couple of things that stand out for me are that we managed to ride the event together as a club, which made a very hard day seem slightly less so. Everyone was on good form and survived what is acknowledged to be the toughest UK sportive.
The climbs before 90 miles soften you up for the main event of Hardknott and Wrynose. Bloody hard, barely rideable steep steep roads.
Had to walk a bit on Hardknott but was ok apart from that.
 
Thanks to all who took part and were part of an epic day out.
 
cheers

Well, what can I say that hasn't already been said.... brilliant for the first 90miles, absolutely brutal for the next 10 and then a very fast last 10 relatively flat and with a tailwind..
 
We couldn't have hoped for better conditions, a few of the earlier climbs were pretty serious, but very doable, and in no way prepared us for Hardknott and Wrynose... I just can't imagine what they were thinking when they decided to put a tarmac road over these slopes all those years ago, never seen anything like it, I would definitely be very wary even taking the car over..
 
I too had to walk a couple of bits on Hardknott, but managed to find a false flat to get back on both times, and managed up Wrynose, but only just.. the worst thing were the descents of these 2 climbs, totally freaky, 30% gradients with a switchback every 15 or 20 metres, not much fun at all...
 
The organisation is the best I've ever seen, everything went off to a tee, and the spectators and helpers along the way were brilliant..
..
All in all a great experience to share with a great bunch of JWWC mates, that will live long in the memory....
 
Would I do it again..... too early to decide, my body is saying no, my mind is saying ask me in a few weeks...

Great day out with the bunch with a nice pace early on keeping together and re-grouping after the climbs.   Brutal climbs at the end made harder with people all over the place and not getting a straight line.
 
Suffering today with my ribs and back..... plenty pain killers and still feeling it !!
 
Attached the only photo at the 1st feed stop: Ginty, me, Alex, Darrel, Robbie
 
Till next time..
 
 

Drumlanrig sportive result.
Fastest V60 in medium distance 57 miles in 3hr 36mins.
I'm happy with that

Interesting day at Drumlanrig today. Weather was changeable to say the least. Mega rough sufaces at times with challenging fast descents.
Some tough steep climbs. Scarily large potholes too.
Overall , a brilliant event with well positioned and visible route markings. ( FAO Darryl !! )
 
Personally, it took me at least 10 miles to warm up but after that I pushed on and enjoyed the event to finish with my strava time of 3hrs 38mins for the medium distance of 57 miles.
 
Great to meet up with JWCC team mates today.

86 miles solo effort headwind around 80% of it, total hardcore eh. Won't be doing it next year if same route; some of these single-track roads were mind-numbingly tedious imo.
 
Highlights? Moniaive (how pretty is this wee place?!) Moniaive reprise, zero punctures for a change, and the Domane going like a dream!
 
Lowlight: missing out on some teamwork. I would've aimed for the 08:30 start of the other lads if I'd known there was some super-coordinated team planning going on. Disappointing...