George

No luck Billy. You need to bin that chainset, methinks.
 
I was up at 4:30am for a drive to the start in Freuchie!
 
Have to say it really is a lovely course but certainly not conducive (to me) for a fast time. It's very rolling & there were some hard headwind stretches although I felt so good for the first 8 miles that I never noticed the headwind.
 
Of course it wouldn't be right if I didn't have a wee mishap-at 8 miles my aero super sleek water bottle bounced out of its cage & into my computer sensor which in turn jammed into my wheel. Thump Thump Thump-I had to stop & pull the sensor into place. The bottle was never seen again. From talking to Mike at the finish he had the same problem.
 
I had to rush off at the finish so don't know my exact time but I clocked a 2:12:58 on my Garmin so it'd likely be about that. My target was 2:10 so maybe I'd be in the ballpark on a faster course without bits falling off. I did the last 25 miles in 1:00:40 so finished strong despite the brutal headwind.

No luck Billy. You need to bin that chainset, methinks.
 
I was up at 4:30am for a drive to the start in Freuchie!
 
Have to say it really is a lovely course but certainly not conducive (to me) for a fast time. It's very rolling & there were some hard headwind stretches although I felt so good for the first 8 miles that I never noticed the headwind.
 
Of course it wouldn't be right if I didn't have a wee mishap-at 8 miles my aero super sleek water bottle bounced out of its cage & into my computer sensor which in turn jammed into my wheel. Thump Thump Thump-I had to stop & pull the sensor into place. The bottle was never seen again. From talking to Mike at the finish he had the same problem.
 
I had to rush off at the finish so don't know my exact time but I clocked a 2:12:58 on my Garmin so it'd likely be about that. My target was 2:10 so maybe I'd be in the ballpark on a faster course without bits falling off. I did the last 25 miles in 1:00:40 so finished strong despite the brutal headwind.

Legal Aid changes beginning to hurt !

Ok time for a long and rambling report to bore you all, you have been warned
 
Didnt start off great as i was away warming up (in sight of the start line so i could watch for riders lining up) however i didnt realise the race briefing and gridding had started elsewhere so i was late and almost missed the rollcall. Got a bit better after the start - first half of the race  i felt comfortable, some of the riding was chaotic because the bunch was big and the roads were wide followed by a couple of pinch points - particularly going into the pedestrianised section which then turned into a steep cobbled climb, which surprisingly i seemed to go up pretty well. There was a good atmosphere here as there were a crowd of Dutch tourists sitting having a beer at the top and cheering everyone on, Stirlings very own 'Dutch Corner'. About half way through the race there was a crash - going round a corner into a descent a rider lost control and went into a verge / wall and bounced back out with his bike flying across and taking someone else out - had to slam the brakes on, coming to a standstill along with half the field but fortunately avoided the deck. This however caused a split, 11 riders in front and drilling it because they had the gap. Knew i had to close the gap so went hard from here but no-one came with me about 2 laps to get back on but i was the only one that managed to do so and once back found the smaller group more relaxing and safe. Anyway onto the last lap, wanted to be towards the front for the final climb, so moved up just after the bell and found myself with 3 others off the front with a small gap, they eased off presumably wanting to save themselves for the sprint so i attacked. It only lasted about 90 seconds but it felt much longer! The winner caught me at the top of the final climb, then down onto the final straight for the sprint i tried to get on the guys wheel but nothing left and was going backwards at this point - after that another 2 riders caught me with about 5 metres to go. Which made for a hugely deflating crossing of the line. At least i managed to hold off the rest of the group - if the 3 that should have committed when we had the chance had caught me i'd have been wanting to jump off the castle wall
Anyway great event overall, Over 300 racing from under 8s to elites. I'm not sure of the results but from what i watched the Jets were doing good. I missed the elite womens race but hopefully you managed to get your gears working ok Emma!
 

Paris & PBP 2015 starts to slip away as the 600km ride approaches!
Tuesday morning 2nd June
Go to put my cycling glasses on and they brake in half at the bridge. I have a 600 this weekend what do I do.
Well I got to work and got the opticians to send up new frames and I will swap the lenses over. Also encase there no there in time repaired the other ones with glue and a pin, not pretty but they worked.
Thursday 4th June
I get to work and have been watching the weather for the weekend it was not good. The event is cancelled, goodbye Paris.
But
I get a late entry to a Pair of Kirtons 600 starting Poynton at 6.00am on Saturday 6th June just perfect.
Route
 
Saturday 6th June
Poynton – start 06.00hr
It’s cool with a strong westerly breeze. This part of the route is through houses & road junctions to Greenfield - 18 miles 1st control. Card stamped and the climb up to Saddleworth Moor at a height of 492m this is the high point on the ride and the only climb worth a mention. We wiz down and over rolling roads to Asken - 57 miles, food in a subway second breakfast of the day. The roads are flat to Brough we think we are in Belgium with the twists & turn on the flat roads, we even catch up on a local cycling club on their club run who we toe along for a couple of mile. Brough - 94 miles. Lamb burger, chips coffee coke for early lunch its midday.
The next section was hard as it was into the wind the ride over the Humber bridge was good what a view, Robert and I were cycling on sum of the roads we had ridden on in 2005 London Edinburgh London, we reached Gainsborough - 134 miles more food in Morison café to refill the legs. It had been a hard section and it took the next section for my legs to recover even thought it was with a tail wind to Wragby - 158 miles. The next section to Boston was flat we also had the wind partly on our back so we reach Boston - 189 miles at 9.30pm halfway. As you all know the wind drops at sunset normally we were hoping it would for us as we had 109 mile into it, well it did. Corby Glen - 218 miles was reached at 11.35pm this was a sleep stop if you wished but Robert and I decided to push on in the dark to make use of the wind dropping as it would be back at sunrise.
Sunday 7th June
 Donington - 257 miles reached as the sun is coming up, it’s cold as the sky was cloudless another subway breakfast. We set of and pass Donington racing track half way to Stone it get warm and all the night cloths are strip of and packed into the bag, its quit lump on this stretch. Stone - 301 miles. It’s warm in the sun on the way to Prees heath we end up on some of the roads that we road when we were doing the 24hr tt the last one I road was 2003 and the Johnstone wheelers CC won the veteran team for the most miles covered the last two miles to Prees heath was on a very busy road you had to have your wits about you on it, as you had been on the go for quite some time Prees Heath - 327 miles only 46 mile to go this passes quickly we also pass  Jodrell Bank on the way . Poynton - 373 miles is reached at 2.35 on Sunday afternoon in the sun. 32hr 35 minutes for the ride 6 hour of the bike 26 hours 35 minutes riding time and a lot of water and food but I will be going to Paris. See me? See happy?
Monday 8th June
BACK TO WORK
Campbell

Yip, he's a swinger

Nice night for a bit of pain.
 
Just to clarify: I was encouraging Charlie to improve his fitness by pushing himself.
 
The same with Paul but with less venom as he's fairly tolerable

Nice night for a bit of pain.
 
Just to clarify: I was encouraging Charlie to improve his fitness by pushing himself.
 
The same with Paul but with less venom as he's fairly tolerable

Thanks Paul for noticing tyre had gone down again after changing tube. Jumped on with Renfrew bunch for remainder of run. Liked Billy's encouraging remarks at Houston roundabout !

Enjoyed tonight, But I was also abused by George and have sold my bikes...

Six of us out tonight.Nice night in that not pouring with rain and not cold. Mr McTavish looking strong on his new steed. Need more out next week as George is now shouting at me to go thru. I nearly had a nose bleed.

None of the johnstone set the heather alight tonight but all you need to know is I beat Billy by ONE second.
 
I last saw him headed for Barshaw Park with a bottle of Blue Nun.
 
#4inarow

Hi Richie, welcome to the club.
 
We have rides for all abilities. Etc

They are very good but don't know what they would be like at speed....

Excellent. You've really excelled yourself.
 
I'm sure the win isn't far away.

Meant to mention George, having experienced the tactile perfection of your levers in our hotel room I just had to get more of it ...

Well done to the road race team. So refreshing to see the JWCC up there in the mix & gaining RR points.
 
Long may it continue!

DNS for me today.
 
Bit of a sore throat but TBH I just can't face any more riding in this weather. It feels like December even though it's June tomorrow.
 
In fact it was drier in December:(

Already back in bed after emailing the organiser.
 
Have a good one.

Just the 4 of us-Alan McB, Charlie, Robbie & I.
 
Fortunately big Alan had sore legs so took it easy on us-apart from an attack on the Georgetown that I closed down (yes, his legs really were that sore)

What about the following week on the Thursday 11th june, that way we are not disturbing the Tuesday GT event?

Thanks to Paul L for timekeeping on a cold windy night.
 
Maybe it's the weather so far this year but these events seem to be dying a death-4 riders is quite pitiful.
 
On a lighter note, I now have Billy's big head mounted above my fireplace:)

If meeting at 8am (which was posted) then I'd imagine it's the 09:30am ferry.
 
Early bird & all that.

That's fine will give George a chance to catch up

Alan, that's amazing but don't be hard on yourself as these guys have been racing for years & you are only going to get better.
 
Well done.