Galeb

Solo Double Arran attempt today - defeated. - Again 3mins down to start with...cant seem to be able to get out of ferry earlier than 8.07/06 these days (then plus 1min or so to put the bag of food on its spot). Its a bit of a damper to start like that... - Weather cold in the morning then it would be short sleeve second lap. Decided to go for long sleeve underlayer and keep it on...bought extra water to drink at pit stop as knew I will be sweating more second lap. - Anti-clockwise today with mainly northerly winds. First time doing it this way...on first lap went up the string road by mistake so lost another 3-4mins! - Bad start...nevertheless marched on thinking I should give it a go anyway. First lap done, I go to find that my food bag has disappeared! I look down the road and its on the side of the pavement 100m away. Turned out a hungry thief has been through it!! Took my bananas, jelly babies, flapjacks, energy bar, some nuts and most importantly my spare store bought bottle of water and gels! Only left me with my bike rack water bottles and pork pies! Thought at least I have my two bottles of water, took them and the pies and just marched on again. Buy now I was 9-10mins down. - 30 miles before finish I knew I wasn't going to make it - was feeling dehydrated, half a bottle left, but thought I might as well finish what I came here to do (and decided not to take the Ross road shortcut). Finished around 12mins down...missed it this time!...Still not sure though if all the mishaps didn't happen, would have I been able to make it...? By the way 56+50 strava link here: https://www.strava.com/activities/2505466988

Will try to catch you at clubrooms if I can finish a bit early today. If I'm not there don't wait.

Can anyone perhaps help me with truing my rear wheel? This morning managed to drop my bike on the drive side, looked at rear mech hanger and looked okay, so started riding until the chain jumped between cassette and spokes resulting in untrue rear wheel. The wheel is still operational but needs truing. I have spoken to a few bike shops to see if they can repair it on the spot (obviously at any time that suits them) as I need the bike to ride back home, but have had no luck. If anyone can help that would be much appreciated.

Thanks all. A solo double...maybe...just maybe... Alan, I tired using that tool but my Garmin edge 705 doesn't do FIT format files I have the ride in TCX format. So I tired converting TCX to FIT and then using that tool but that didn't work. Never had this happen before so not sure what went wrong?

For some reason strava is not allowing me to upload my activity due to some time error. It seems there is a glitch in the elapsed time...garmin connect is showing it as 244hrs instead of 9hrs. Has anyone come across this? Garmin connect activity: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3795709206?share_unique_id=2

What could have been a solo double... Settled with the solo 56+50 and what a day! The highlights: - Almost missed the outgoing ferry - made it just in time. Didn't take into account the weight of the 4 bottles of water and the 4000 kcal of food! - Ferry full of cars meant I was out of the ferry at 0806 and a bit and by the time I found a spot for the bag of food I was around 3 mins down to start with! - Very variable wind conditions today that didn't help. At times there was Northerly winds - I might have been better doing it anti-clockwise? - First lap done with 5mins behind schedule (plan was to finish fist lap at 1050)...ferry was right there and was contemplating chunking it. Refuelled with supplies and I was 10mins behind schedule by then. A quick clac and I estimated that I would just miss the ferry if I went for the double and so opted for plan B via Ross road. - Oh Ross road! the grind up that thing (with 39x25 was not easy) and then the technical decent didn't save me much time. I did make up 7 mins but I was still 3mins down on schedule. - I lost another 2 mins (making it 5min in total) - some of it due to paying for the effort on the Ross and some on getting a cramp up Lochranza and peddling with one leg while trying to shake the other out of the cramp! - Top of Lochranza climb took a Gel and buried myself to reach just in time around 1351 for the 1355 ferry! Don't think I want to see Arran for a while now...

Weather looking good for another Arran. Anyone up for a double or 56+50 or 50+50 or just 1 lap support? Plan is to cycle to Ardrossan to catch the 7am ferry (leaving BoW at 5.20am) do two laps and catch the 13.55 ferry back (or 15.15 if we miss that one). Then either cycle or train back home. Let me know if you are interested otherwise I don't mind another solo attempt .

Solo single Arran Done! Ended up with approx 2hrs 43mins (based on flyby). Shame garmin was glitching - could have made it in the top ten of the Arran segment. Talking about glitching - there are some nice new tarmac in sections but there are a whole other with rough surface. Bouncing everywhere didn't help with garmin GPS - lost signals a few times and had to restart it (I also lost it's memory card cover!). That kind of messed up my pace monitoring (that I based from previous runs) as I had time against every 10miles along the way so I know how I'm doing with pace. So my cumulative miles are probably 3 or so miles less. But luckily I had plan B - I looked up visual markers on google street view at every 10miles in case that happened, so I knew roughly where I was with pace. Anyway apart from that all went to plan and I was ahead of schedule by a few mins arriving back at Brodick at around 10:45am!

Thanks all. Made the outward ferry at least, now just need to make the return ferry! On to the pain zone...

Don't think it will be an Express after tomorrow's effort at Arran!

Obviously I have been talking to the master of Arran...Paul. Planning on solo single Arran this Saterday. Catching 7.00 ferry and returning 11.05. Will also cycle to Ardrossan and back. So probably will end up being 100 mile ride...Its going to be a tough weekend with another big ride on Sunday as well! So clockwise or anticlockwise if the wind is coming from south east?

Will be there to make sure Charlie has a good workout.

I'm up for this. So Non stop 2 up for 120 miles? Haven't been on that side with a bike before so will be good to tag along for the tour.

Beautiful weather for a nice fathers day solo ride round the coast.

Regarding rotation direction, I don't think we should be changing it during ride. It does help a little with hiding from the wind but not worth it on a training ride...its all a bit of fun and a bit more wind resistance makes for a harder session...no pain no gain.

That's a shame

Or we could just neutralise it until the goergetown sprint? Think we just need to slow down at any junction or roundabout. Also size of group doesn't help.

If you would like something punchier and shorter than the fast/long bunch ride then this is it . Non-stop 45 miles or so. Route around the coast, depending on who turns up maybe via old largs road. Departing 9.00am from BoW lights (the ones closer to Kilmacolm). Post if you would like to join.

Don't worry Charlie it will be fun!

should be there

Charlie forgot his fast legs and Marc left his in the cabin hot tub. After 10 or so miles I was on my own...head down and make the most of it. Finished with a nice avgerage speed (21 mph)...a good workout. Charlie you had the right mind set, a few chain gangs and you will be fine for next time

See you both tomorrow

Nice. Make sure you bring your fast legs and a bike that will stay together

If you would like something punchier and shorter than the fast/long bunch ride then this is it Non-stop 45 miles or so. Route around the coast, depending on who turns up maybe via old largs road. Departing 9.00am from BoW lights (the ones closer to Kilmacolm). Post if you would like to join

Cant make this anymore...its not raining and family stuff.