RyanF

Alright Robbie, I'm off the morra. What time you thinking?

Davey calm your jets!!! we only have one night, do you think you are still in France?

Hi All,
 
Despite many obstacles put in front of me in organising this race, it finally got going today & luckily everything went just the way we wanted it - even the weather :-)
 
A lot of people I would like to thank on behalf of the club, for todays race, without them all, the race could not happen:
 
The Sign-on / Catering team
Sandra / Mary / Jane
 
The Marshals
Wheelers:
Alan McBride (who I can see was itching to ride) :-/
Andrew Dunn
Bill Thomson
Chris Austin (Wiggowanabe)
David Cathcart
Eric
Greg Balden
KarenG
Morna
 
Paisley Velo:
Graeme Barr
John Downes
 
Glasgow Couriers:
Ritchie Proven
John
 
Mother & Grandmother of rider Danny Hedley
Rachel
Grandma
 
First Aider
Paul Leavy
Service
Willy Cosh (Q Bikes)
 
Convoy Drivers
Iain McGinty
Iain McTarvis
Iain Cowden
Paul McMillan
Alan Thomson
Stevie McFarlane (Paisley Velo)
 
Thanks to everyone's effort, today event went very smoothly apart from the crash in the final lap which brought a few riders down. Unfortunetly, a rider from Glasgow Green CC - David Anderson had to be taken to hospital for a suspected dislocated shoulder or broken collarbone, so hope he recovers soon!
 
It was a massive gallop to the finish with a big bunch sprint after 6 laps, very close indeed & the honours went to:
1st Overall - Zak Loney
2nd - Gavin Shirley
3rd - Andrew Hale (who was leading with literally 10 meters to go )
 
1st Juniors - Stuart Paterson
2nd - Euen Sutherland
3rd - Danny Hedley
 
A very good placing for our friend from the Couriers - Gregg O'Malley in 6th overall.
Interestingly, a 4th Cat placed 17th, but he was well in the main lead bunch along with the usual Cat 2's.
 
It's encouraging to see we had help from a number of the local clubs members who stepped in to help, because without them, it would have been difficult to put the race on. I cannot stress that enough!
In future, we should do the same & repay these favours if the situation arises!
 
Also, big thanks to Willy & Stevie of Q Bikes for supporting the race with goody bags & car. Much appreciated!
 
I hope I haven't left any body out & thank you all again!
 
Cheers
 
Chung
On behalf of the JWCC

+1 greg's return with the famous gas-pipe ribble standing out amongst the carbon princesses. still leading out at the end.

All I am going to say is that McDonald McTavish McPhee & Finn are off my Xmas card list.U Iclearly knew I was up for the Georgetown points. Disappointed

There was me going to give you a leadout this week Charlie, honest! I'm sure you'll remind me next week
 
You missed the fun in the run in - all the way along it was just series of attacks and counter attacks then counter counter attacks. Colin, Paul and Ryan for the KOM, Paul and me for the intermediate then Colin took the honours in the final sprint with Paul and myself going to a photo finish which im called a draw!
 

I managed to get the full way around for first time without using the shortcut. Had a few spells at the front but the one on the George Town Road had me seeing stars!

Well that was my best Renfra bunch run till got pinch flat 3/4 way along Westferry cruised up Bishopton Alps and felt very comfy with pace and was actually enjoying what can only be described as a glorious evening for cycling. Took my frustration out on Heggies climb and Horsewood rd climb with pbs. Will be out next Tuesday hopefully to end of Georgetown rd

Nae luck Charlie, always next week. And well done Ryan, showing some strong form tonight.
A very large bunch making the most of the late summer sun tonight.
 

Just like to say WOW! in respect of Katie's performances on the track in Rio. Gold medalist and WR holder (OR too???) Totally deserved her selection.
 
A credit to you Ian, and the rest of the Archibald clan - she's done you proud. Long may we continue to enjoy watching Katie shine at this rarefied level of elite competition. 

With the favourable weather forecast today - 10 souls came out to play on a dry & no-wind kind of day, an almost forgotten experience considering the recent Sunday's :-/
 
Alan T, Charlie F, David C, Gerard, Iain Couttie, Iain Mctarvish, John, PaulL, Ryan & myself made up the bunch to tackle the route we had planned. Good work done by all with some fast down hill bits, it wasn't long before we hit the Crow.
Having not turned a pedal myself for a while & just binge eating for 3 weeks while on my holiday took its toll on me. I think I got a PW (personal worst) up the Crow as I cramped up half way over it.
Unlike me, Big David C got a PB up it with the help in no small part on his shiny (......well, lovely matt) new Canyon :-) gorgeous machine by the way!
 
Anyway, a cafe feast in Lennoxtown was enjoyed by all, the place was busy with cyclist as always, but this time we outnumbered "normal customers" :-)
 
A quick blast back to Hardgate through Strathblane & I left the party to plod home solo on the Northside. Hope everyone got home ok!
 
It was nice to meet Charlie, a new member & he did really well throughout despite his first outing with the Wheelers!
It's been a while since I've been out on a club run were a father & son was present - Charlie is Ryan's dad by the way :-)
Hope to see more of youse in the future!
 
Thanks to everyone as always for the wheels & company today, it was great fun!
 
135km for me when I got home totally knackered - it feels great to be back on the bike with some decent km again.
 
Cheers
 
Chung

Cheers guys tough wee run this am.

Was good, not being able to see at times due to rain made it "interesting".

Renfrewshire 1/2 Ironman championships!! ðŸŠðŸ»ðŸš´ðŸ»ðŸƒðŸ¼ 5 hours 17 mins!
 
Today as the sole entrant in this totally made up event I successful won by miles and set a new course record!
 
Total time - 5 hours 17 mins!
 
Swim 1.2 miles 32 mins 45 secs
https://www.strava.com/activities/665473077
 
Transition 4 minutes
 
Cycle 56 miles 2:49:47 avg speed 19.8 mph
https://www.strava.com/activities/665471351
 
Transition 3 mins
 
Run 13.1 miles (1/2 marathon) 1:44:49 avg pace 8:01 per mile
https://www.strava.com/activities/665461801
 
I'm away for a pizza and a sleep!

So DA is done. Sigh of relief, you don't have to read all my DA punctuation mince any more. Until we do it again.
 
Alan McB and me were the lucky ones who achieved immortality but it was most certainly the result of tremendous teamwork, the likes of which only happens on very special days. I was a particularly lucky recipient of the teamwork, as was Alan but he just did not need it as much as I did !
 
So me, Alan, Jan and Andy did a brilliantly smooth first lap. Very even workload and very smooth changes. Alan was doing longer pulls but very importantly not faster just longer. Thanks to my gals who planked our stash to save us a few seconds. Iain Carvill also joined us on ferry to do a single on his own.
 
First lap was a fast one with the excellent teamwork and perfect conditions. Just as well as Alan had a front wheel puncture which we changed toot sweet as we were not for losing his horsepower.
 
End of lap 1 we were getting into the stash and just about ready to leave when Robbie came floating up to the bench. This was the first Angel I saw today. His fresh legs were very welcome and even though we were pretty gubbed by this point, I have to say he was flying. And I guess that was after a nightshift which was likely the reason he did not make 7am ferry.
 
So in the early part of the second lap Jan was over extending so shouted us to go on. He then did the ultimate team duty, more of which later. About 15 miles into second lap Andy had a bad spell and tailed off, but it was temporary, more later. Myself Robbie and Alan then horsed it up the east coast, well Robbie and Alan did and I dabbled with the notion of spells.
 
Turned round into the long climb at Lochranza into headwind and Robbie, somewhat understandably after doing a power of work on the second lap, tailed off a bit. Alan cantered up the climb with the bit between his teeth and soloed on for the last 12 miles to achieve immortality. I plugged my way up then then down the descent and was going up the rise before the last 8 miles or so which by this time was a strong headwind and honestly I was at point of stopping and getting a bus. I was cooked in every way. Then I saw another angel, Jan had rode round in reverse and proceeded to drag me in a state of delirium for the last 8 miles and give me jellies and generally ride at the only pace I could manage. Made it back to ferry and thought to myself if I was to stop cycling tomorrow then I would be happy with my cycling life. Relief beyond words to stop the pain.
 
Robbie then rode in and caught the ferry to complete a very impressive single as he spent a lot more than 1/2 the lap on the front, and we had to ask him to scale it back a lot of times.
 
Meantime Andy had rallied and also rode the full double, which means he rode about 40 miles on his tod. What a trooper. He rode into Brodick as the ferry was floating out !
 
Speaking for myself, there is no way I could have done that without every one of the guys contributions today. Thank you all immensely for making a dream come true.
 
Need to spend some time now thinking up a new challenge
 

What a great trip with Ian Mcginty, Iain Carvill, Alan McBride, Mark(Iain's Pal) and David C weather was miserable but the company was most excellent. Everyone got over the Mighty Bealach Na Ba... a few different routes taken but we all ended up in The Applecross Inn for some beverages and late night shenanigans. When can we go back!
 
Not sure what time I got up the Climb in, but Alan was seen to ride up the lower slopes like Demon... looking forward to seeing his time!

Great watch Ian. You looked like you were on a HonDA.
Don't think it's allowed but would be quite something to see a league race on the GoPro!

I won't be making it. I'll just be back from hols, Couriers RR, and a new dog to contend with. Think I'll spend Sunday ambling along the cycle track, headphones in, with an extending dog lead. Surely that couldn't annoy anyone!
 
Appreciate late notice, so if space not filled I'll cover accommodation.
 
Nothing to do with Jesus single sleeping bag offer (how did I miss that post!) or Paul's atmospheric conditioning.
 
Honest.

The glory of winning the sprint to Houston, overshadowed by the shame of being beat by me for the KOM points!
 
(of course you would have been way out in front had you not gone round the roundabout but the spreadsheet doesnt mention that )
 
Overall a good night.  Still faster than the Renfrew bunch for the west ferry tonight, the steady paceline must be more efficient than going through and off without the big surges.
 
 
Last week and this weeks results

Last year's survey identified that we would like maps of the Bunch Rides to be avaialable on the website (and also linked to the Bunch) to help new members and those like me with no sense of direction to have a vague idea where the ride goes, the length and climbing profile.
 
I know from the main bunch we have some classic rides we repeat frequently (and not just the trips to the Bagel Basket) and presume its the same for the other Bunches.
 
Can I ask members that are recording their rides on their Garmin, etc to save the ride as a route and message this to me. It will take time, but eventually we'll have a great selection of great route maps on the web to link to bunch ride posts.
 
I hope this makes sense. If there are any techy issues please post and I'm sure some of the more computer literate members can advise (I'm thinking of Jan and Chung!).
 
Thanks for your help.

returning from work. Thought I would at least get a tow to Bishy Hill before heading home. Lasted til Inchinnan.
 
No wonder the pro's don't use mudguards, racks and panniers.

I have been encouraged to put this up by Chung and am not sure what's etiquette- so here goes.
 
GHK playing fields at Anniesland Cross to just before the pier in Dunoon. Starting at 2145 and finishing hopefully before 0700 (there's a reason for this which I will come onto later). Now I know you top guys are doing 100 for fun at the weekends, but maybe crank that up to 200 to make a more equal comparison and for the audax guys- maybe 350!!!
 
So my good friend Gordon from the Glasgow Nightingale (a very good junior cyclist in his day, which is code for.. this could be boring for him but he's coming along as my super domestique) chose the 109, why? we're members of a cycling club and wouldn't dream of doing less!!!!
 
So we set off at 2200 in the third group of 20ish riders by mistake as all the 109s were in the first group- but we didn't know. A total of 68 starting. Anniesland cross to Helensburgh with a stop in Helensburgh for those that wanted- we didn't stop.
 
Then we were joined by 4 guys who wanted to "take spells" which lasted 20 mins before I said to Gordon "let them go as 20mph at this stage going up the road by Faslane will only end in disaster for me", and so we did. Then we hit the loch long road in complete darkness, pedalling past a lone chap and onto Arrochar. A quick stop at Arrochar to allow the midges their supper and fill the bottles. (At this stage I started feeling sorry for the lone chap we passed on the loch side- so when he arrived at Arrochar we asked him to join us- I mean - come on- it's not a race!!)
 
So Bob sat in for the next haul, up the 'rest and be thankful' and despite dropping the speed to 5 mph before we got to the climb, he asked us to go on and thanked us for the company.  Now it was very, very dark. No noise and two cars passing us all the way from Arrochar to the top of the RABT. But wait,  what yonder be that commotion at the top of the Rest- A bloody disco no less- that's right, a disco- or a night club as you young people call it nowadays! So we pulled over to see what was 'gong down with the young crew'. Crispy cakes, coffee, tea and 'Insomnia' by Faithless being played at full pelt (now for you Neil Diamond lovers, Faithless are a hip and happening pop group). How cruel those organisers can be playing Insomnia at 0100 at night!!,  In saying that I did feel very sorry for the couple who had parked their campervan just up from the discos and until then were probably having a peaceful and relaxing evening.
 
So on we pushed to Strachur, all the way with not a sight of a car or another cyclist, although we did see some flashing lights over the other side of loch Fyne heading towards Inveraray!
 
Through Strachur and onto Kilfinnan,  narrowly missing the drunk walking in the middle of the road on his way home who wished us all the best, well,  we think that's what he said! 
 
The sportive splits at Strachur- those doing the 77 are held here until 0300 so that they are not in Dunoon until the coffee shop is open- they go straight up the Glen Branter/ Loch Eck road to Dunoon. The 89ers go along the Colintriave road - as I call it-  to then climb up and over to Loch Striven and we headed along the Otter Ferry road to meet up with the 89ers on the Colintriave road after going through Tighnabruiach.
 
I have done the Tighnabruiach to Starchur road before, but not the other way and I have to say that with no visual references, just smells (wild garlic, cows and lavender) and the little light you have from the front of your bike, this bit wears you down.
Met a few guys along this bit, some on their last legs or as we renamed them-'got excited and stared too quick', two that thought they were lost, but didn't want to join us - or as we called them- we started too quickly but are just kidding  that we are lost so that we can get a break and two from the earlier group of four we met who just so happened to be looking at a mechanical at the top of the wee climb out of Otter Ferry and breathing heavily or as well called them- 'should have done the 77'!
 
By the time we had a bottle fill up and yet another crispy cake at Kilfinnan the dawn chorus had just started.
 
On a serious note, this was a beautiful moment, peace, the low light on the hills, the gentle lapping of the loch wate,  the birds singing and...... BLOODY HELL WHERE THE **** DID THAT ROE DEER COME FROM AND WHY DOES IT WANT TO PUT IT'S HEAD INTO MY FRONT WHEEL!!!-  locked up, skidded to the side and managed to miss it on a fairly fast decent. A close one and a the lesson learnt?.- Roe deer are just as mad as Italian cycling fans on a stage of the Giro!!
 
 
So on to Tighnabruiach the site of many a classic shinty match and up the hill out of this lovely village- by now this hill is tough.
 
Onto the hill up to the descent down into Loch Striven and now feeling tired, not n the legs, but just sleep tired.
Dawn has fully broken and the front lights are off, no cars and just some nice pedalling until we get onto the last undulating climb up to Loch Tarsan. This was tough, but we knew that after this it is just rolly road all the way to Dunoon.
And so with a tail wind just after hunters quay helping us to the finish we roll along easily at 19 mph, tired, weary and covered in midges onto the salubrious electrical tape on the road which signified the finish line.
 
Post ride-  we enjoyed the free roll and sausage and then prepped for the next stage of this sportive- Oh yes and you thought it was finished?
 
At 0645 one of the boats that they normally use for booze cruises, came to pick up those that had paid for the return trip back up the Clyde to the Science Centre. Now,  I would have to say that I was very sceptical about this, but it was well worth it. Even if you wanted to just sleep, dance at the dance thingy on top deck with free cans of alcoholic beverages, sit down stairs chat and drink coffee or as I did stay up deck to see parts of the Clyde I had never seen before. We past the very large cruise ship at Greenock, all the stands for the speed boat racing,  the Waverley past us just at Renfrew on its way 'doon the water'- all lovely
 
We arrived at the Science Centre at 1000 just as the Glasgow mens 10k was starting which provoked all those warming up to come and see what the hell was going on. As we clambered off with our bikes, making throw away comments of, (needs to be done in a slightly RAF posh voice )"yes-just rode through the night to a disco thingy at the top of the Rest and decided to carry to for a bit. Venison at Kilfinnan, before scaling the hills of Cowal- just the 109 today, but back for more next week- enjoy your plod!"
 
And so the Dunoon Chase the Moon sportive was over- in summary- well worth it and well worth doing next year, a great experience shared with a great friend, well organised and plenty of provision at each stop. So whether your a 'pushing it to do 77' or a 'bring on the 109' it isn't a race, but good fun.
 
And finally- the flashing lights on the other side of the loch?? the two boys who we met earlier at Faslane, who didn't turn off at the big signs for Dunoon- needless to say.... they missed the Boat!
Alan
 

I'm assuming being Father's Day today, most of us got the permission to do what we want - ride me bike :-) hence the fair size turn out at the Bridge this morning.
 
I counted 10 to begin with:
Andrew, Campbell, David C, Eric, Paul C, Ritchie, Ryan, Tom, myself & Murray (Ryan's mate), then with Darren (Ritchie's colleague from work) joining us in Strathblane making a total of 11 bodies for today's run.
 
It was a ride of 2 halfs - the forecast was for light rain pretty much everywhere, but we seem to have been blessed with fairly dry weather up till when we got to Drymen were upon the heavens opened & it was wet from then on.
 
The Crow was un-usually quiet given the fact it was part of todays Trossachs Ton route, however we did encounter a fair number of riders along the valley before & after the Crow, no wheels for us to follow I'm afraid, they were going the opposite direction anyway. Crow road done & Paul left us to head to Killearn instead as he was struggling for time, which left the remaining 10 for a quick blast towards Aberfoyle. A quick decision was made to have a café stop at Drymen after the PipeTrack, instead of one in Aberfoyle. Not a good move as the usual place we frequent - The Pottery was closed (shut down or moved) so an alternative café was fold after Murray controversial suggested that we should head to the local village pub :-)
The wee café we found on the main street was a bit overwhelmed by 10 hungry cyclist demanding food & drinks all at once, but they cope well & it was much appreciated by all.
 
The latter part of the ride after the café stop was wet & but at least on some quiet roads until we got back to Bonhill, where the sound of the passing cars on wet road are deafening
 
As the norm for me, stayed on the Northside of the river to head home solo & bid fairwell to my fellow Wheelers at the Bridge. Hope everyone got home fine to be showered by lovely Father's day presents :-)
 
Thanks again for the wheels & great company today to make what was a wet day in the end into a fab Fathers Day ride for me at least, hope you guys enjoyed it too!
 
155km by the time I got home & 20lb heavier due to the water all my gear have absorbed :-)
 
Cheers & lets hope next Sunday is dryer
 
Chung

See you at 9.05+- (very specific i like it)

Not sure if ive missed anyone out, if i have can edit it later.
 
Week 10 and we've had 22 different riders out at one point or another so far, thats pretty good going.
 

 
Looks like we were faster than the Renfew bunch along West Ferry, Kilmacolm to Bridge of Weir and Georgetown road tonight