George

Thanks to Kenny for putting on a great event-pity you couldn't hold the wind off for a couple more hours
 
Thanks to everyone who gave up their time to marshal, push off, make & serve tea & provide some lovely grub.
 
Days like today & last week's road race show what a great wee club wee have.

Kenny last minute but I can manage now so put me down for marshalling
 
Colin

Recovering from a bit of flu so was touch and go for the race. However started ok and put in a few digs to see if the legs were ok. Realised that I wasn't quite getting the response from them that I normally do so realised it could be a bit tough. There were quite a few riders who I've not raced with this season and some strange tactics to say the least (there was a crash in the neutralised zone !)Probably the mash up with the lades a few of whom were elite was the reason for this. Spent quite a bit of time at the front but it was to cost me later or maybe the legs just weren't there today. The pace up the mini braes was fine and felt ok. However the bunch split on the ascent back towards Port of Mentieth and A group got away. A number of other riders caught me up and I decided to sit in with them and for a while the group worked well and got us withinm touching distance of the lead group. However it was at this juncture that some members of the group didn't seem to work and the pace dropped when a small increase may have seen us rejoin ! Anyhow some through and off and people telling me to slow it on the front when I could tell that the pace was dropping and the rest of the race was like a club run for all in the group. Didn't catch sight of Charlie again after our brief chat at the start but chapeau anyway. The course was definitely harder with the two climbs. good fun anyeay !

Well done Colin. I was at front for a while and even saw You lead the bunch I remembered from past years that when u turn left to thorn hill there is a crosswind and bunch can split so I moved up nearer the front. I noticed a group of 3 had broken away just before thorn hill and I was intent ion staying with bunch to top of climb as I knew it tailed off after that. I was still in bunch at top but instead of turning left as in previous years we went straight on ( road works. ) & there was considerably more climbing ahead . My heart rate hit 177 and then had system shut down. Other riders cruised past me and I was later joined by David Lang of Glasgow Wheelers. I gave the shorter lap a bye as I was well scunnered.
If I had checked the revised route I would have given this race a miss as the climbs are just too tough for fat boys
Now in my bed shivering so McPhee u better not have given me your flu.
Better get my training programme sorted for next year as I am running out of years or I thought I was till I spoke to Billy McMillan (who is 68)also cut his race short. He told me he just didn't have the legs today.
No excuses need to be more focused

Well done, Chung.
 
ASO will be looking to poach you!

Yes, pretty cool. You need to install Garmin connect, and activate Strava. From then on any starred segments on Strava show up on your rides. (sync your Garmin after selecting new segments in Strava)

6 riders on a blustery but mostly dry morning.
 
Karen 35.06 PB £2 paid
James McL 34.17, paid
Dave C. 32.30, paid
Graham, 32.31, paid
Gerard, 29.27 PB, paid
Iain McG. 26.45 PB, paid.
 
£17 transferred to the club account.
 
Well done to all the PBers, and congrats to Iain on another win in the series.

Jan, I reckon that duty would fall to me as it has been a mid life obsession. I will do this within a few days but would really appreciate any Hall of Famer's quotes or thoughts to include in the write up. Everyone has a book in them they say ! For example I would probably write up the time David T and I did a single in constant drizzle as a 2 up. The only way to describe it was Why oh Why did we we do it - there is no rational answer.
 

So the Arran Challenge done & I join the legends who have rode round the island without really seeing anything other than someone's back wheel.
 
Paul McD, McUlrich, Robbie & The Bairdinator worked like a well oiled sewing machine on a very windy day with Robbie keeping us moving over the early climbs. I struggled a bit here & had doubts I'd make it, I took my turn on the front to get a rest! but once we got to the fast tailwind sections I was able to contribute more.
 
Was touch & go for a bit as the pace dropped on the last hill &, maybe a bit self indulgently Alex & I forged on to ensure we made it while Jan & Paul waited to give Robbie, who was having a wee bad patch, a hand.
 
In the end all made it with time to spare with Alex & I recording the 2nd & 3rd best times by JWCC members-only beaten by Mr Archibald.
 
Lasagne & chips on the ferry was magic
 
Thanks for a great day guys

Sorry, same as Bruce.

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/scotland/article/20150824-Cloud-Howe--100-mile-TT-Championships-0
 
You're some man, Mike. Wind speeds of 20-plus mph; gusts at 30-plus - I think you deserved more than a paragraph in that write-up! 

People often mistake me for Bruce Willis....

Well done, Mike! Stirling effort indeed!

Watching European Football

Great day on the bike lads, Cheers to Paul for organising!
 
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
 
Anyone for hill repeats on the Clune Tomorrow......

Better than being his whipping boy I suppose

Unfortunately, like the organised company trip, a Fri-Mon would suit me best. Wife will be back at work and wee man will only be 11mths by then.

Crack on then.
 
I'm taking the dog out just now but will be back for 18:30hrs. I expect everything sorted by then.

Only joshing, Al.
 
In your absence the sportive will be known as "Gran Fondo Al Yulle Never Beat Me"
 
Just come.

Yip. Great day out, bathed in sunshine to the extent that I have tiger stripes on my baldy dome
 
Tough day for me: popped for the first time after about 50 miles then had another bad patch at the foot of Dukes Pass. Took a Stephen Roche-La Plagne 87 effort to reel in & pass Charlie Wegelius before the top.
 
Then spent the entire ride home hanging on for dear life as Alan & Iain churned into the headwind.
 
Thanks for the wheels, guys

Used to have a profile photo. It's gone? (Maybe been censored so I don't get naughty points just for being unappealing to the eye).

Only joshing, Al.
 
In your absence the sportive will be known as "Gran Fondo Al Yulle Never Beat Me"
 
Just come.

Guys topic for discussion at the night out in BOW? Sure we'll sort out the destination and logistics. Roll on 2016, cannot wait.....

Touche George - and you will finish one place higher !