Galeb

The myth of the Arran challenge grows ! Destiny plays its hand again.
ToDAy did not quite go to plan but that is what makes the challenge the challenge. Set off fine and DAndy and rolled through first 10 miles at a good pace. Then the shenanigans started. Michael got an impact puncture, turned out sidewall ripped. Repaired it and set off in the knowledge that if Michael punctured again, as was likely, then we other two would continue. In the course of this repair I somehow knackered the zip on my jacket and so could not close it at all. Galeb mADe and excellent improvised suggestion and I tied the knackered tube round my midriff like a dressing gown to try and get some chest coverage from my jacket. So we set off with Michael on front planning to bury himself until the tube inevitably poked out through the hole and punctured. He duly punctured again about 2 miles on and Galeb and I continued. I had some discomfort from the tied tube and cold chest but not compared to the discomfort of trying to hold Galebs wheel. So I shouted to Galeb to continue and turned back to see if Michael ok with second puncture. I met up with Michael and we returned to Brodick for tea and scones.  Then headed up the east coast to hopefully meet Galeb and assist him at the end. As we rode out of Brodick we saw that the road to Lochranza was closed and had a diversion ! We continued on thinking Galeb might have ignored the diversion and rode around whatever works were taking place. When we did not see him we rode back to ferry. Unbelievably Michael punctured again within 500m of ferry so walked the last bit. Guy at ferry said a cyclist had gone on boat so we thought maybe Galeb went over the String when he saw diversion signs somewhere on other side of island. However he was not on boat it was another guy.
Have spoke to Galeb and he did indeed continue past the diversion signs and missed the ferry by minutes riding round the bay as the ferry floated off the pier. A fine effort indeed. And of course that means a 3 hour wait during the winter timetable for next ferry.
Michael now very motivated to do this challenge. Me too. Now that Galeb has scoped it out I'm sure he will crack it if he wants to, had he carried on at the puncture incident he woukd have made it.

 
 
 
 

James, Glen, John, Davie and me set off from the clubrooms at 9.45 ish. We decided to do a shorter alternative route because of the conditions. Just shy of 40 miles with only one brief snow shower. Good to get out. Until next week.

Good ride today with Robbie, Paul and Cedric from JWCC. Didnt feel the best last night with what felt like a start of a cold. So decided to join the bunch to Largs and then back via Haylie . Once we got through & off going with the adrenaline kicking in I was feeling ok and did my turns. It was hard going with a couple of strong guys pulling through. 5 or so miles before Largs I was still feeling good so thought I would better empty the tank since I'm cutting it short...so on the front head down I cracked on sharing some good VO2 max turns. It was hard but good fun and before I knew it we were at Largs with my legs feeling like jelly. Said farewell to the guys and off I went soft pedalling back. 
Thanks for the workout, it was worth it after all...on to next week 

I can confirm Galeb was motor pacing up the coast, the chew marks on my stem are evidence ! Alan MacLean also joined us for a while to make it 5 from JWCC in a bunch of 8. David Griffiths, Ross Clark and Sarah Walker,  all strong riders made for a right good grind. I left my house in rain, realised I had a soft tyre within a mile, returned home to fix it. By time I left again it had stopped raining so that was a good omen. Only issue was I mADe quite an effort to get to Bishy Hill to catch the bunch and paid for it later. Jim and Lynsey joined in Largs to ADd firepower. Coke and Mars bars helped rejuvenate the spirits which was just as well as some heavy rain at Ardrossan.
The HC drag at Kilwinning claimed its usual quota of victims. I reckon I got pumped within about 2 inches of where I got pumped last week. Robbie and I then hAD a pretty pleasant ride back via ADmiralty circuit.
 
 
 
 
 

Can't join tomorrow, I have got kids duty this weekend  

A tale of 2 half's today. Decent wee bunch to Largs, steady pace n a tailwind, Darryl had more sense and stopped for coffee he looked very happy as we passed the BB.
Pretty brutal all the way home, bunch down to 6, head wind freezing and hosing it down, spent the next 2 hours dreaming of the track! 

It was pretty grim solo up the Haylie . Frozen hands and lashing rain. Couldn't have done the full route today, and I'm glad I didn't attempt it. Thought it was great till Largs though.

Winter Solo Single 
Where do I begin.
Last night I was visualising my moment of glory on the Hall of fame.
Arrived on Arran this morning with nothing but positive vibes, winter bike metal frame full muddies rear light but chose to ditch the front to go for the title. Set off on a steady pace and feeling good, weather was meant to be sunny but still foggy.
Half way round, 5 minutes behind the summer pace, first negative thought creeps in but crack on.
36 miles, 2 hours dead, means 20 miles in 45ish minutes, games a bogey but again I'll crack on. 
Got to the top of Lochranza climb with 30 minutes until the ferry leaves, bottle empty and a wee packet of wiggle haribo, I can make it, I've lost my minerals!
Rode as hard as I could, really really  struggling by this point, missed the boat by 5 minutes.
I'm writing this still on Arran, next boat is 2hrs 40 minutes later, ouch!
On the plus side I don't think I'll have a harder training ride this winter, rode in  Z4 for 1hr 2min and Z5 for 1 hr 52min!
Anyone who completes the Winter Solo is a strong man!
Cheers

Very well done indeed Galeb. The run back from W Kilbride into the NE wind was a leg breaker for everyone. WSA will happen soon. Next Saturday Jan and I are at track meet but if the weather is suitable the WSA might just take precedence    
 
 

Knackered after today...worked quite hard at the beginning to try and catch the bunch after the late departure this morning. After Port Glasgow I have given up the hope of catching up, but I was going well and thought why not continue and make a good workout of it (with WSA in mind ) . So I pushed on and by the time I got to Largs I was spent and was hoping the bunch was not there and to roll softly back home...but as approaching Largs bogs unfortunately spotted them. Paul convinced me to join and off we went after I had my banana. My legs were shot so I just hung at the back. As we passed through Kilbirnie I was starving and done so just dropped off and stopped for a quick refuel and rolled back home. Thought I was going to crash when I got home but kids wanted out so took them to park...couch time now 

Hopefully next week. Chapeau Galeb. I remember that feeling well!

Knackered after today...worked quite hard at the beginning to try and catch the bunch after the late departure this morning. After Port Glasgow I have given up the hope of catching up, but I was going well and thought why not continue and make a good workout of it (with WSA in mind ) . So I pushed on and by the time I got to Largs I was spent and was hoping the bunch was not there and to roll softly back home...but as approaching Largs bogs unfortunately spotted them. Paul convinced me to join and off we went after I had my banana. My legs were shot so I just hung at the back. As we passed through Kilbirnie I was starving and done so just dropped off and stopped for a quick refuel and rolled back home. Thought I was going to crash when I got home but kids wanted out so took them to park...couch time now 

Knackered after today...worked quite hard at the beginning to try and catch the bunch after the late departure this morning. After Port Glasgow I have given up the hope of catching up, but I was going well and thought why not continue and make a good workout of it (with WSA in mind ) . So I pushed on and by the time I got to Largs I was spent and was hoping the bunch was not there and to roll softly back home...but as approaching Largs bogs unfortunately spotted them. Paul convinced me to join and off we went after I had my banana. My legs were shot so I just hung at the back. As we passed through Kilbirnie I was starving and done so just dropped off and stopped for a quick refuel and rolled back home. Thought I was going to crash when I got home but kids wanted out so took them to park...couch time now 

Excellent DAy for a winter run. Unusually only me from JWCC in the 8 up group which fairly chuntered from red smiddy to Largs. En route we collected Jan and Jesse at Inverkip then Galeb caught up with us in Largs. AnDy G should have been with group but succumbed to shameful bike maintenance and did a solo in the wee ring.
 Group only went to W Kilbride after general consensus that the gubbedness rating was too high, wind too strong and temp too low! 
Spectacular view of Arran as we went round the Cloch - truly inspirational. Maybe we should ride round it one DAy.
 

Its been done in both directions Galeb. It depends on wind on the day. Meantime, here is the current Hall of Fame which you will no doubt join soon

2.5 hrs and not A Drop of rain. Splendid wee hilly loop with Galeb and Colin. Chapeau. Charlie, was it alcohol induced lurgy ?

Looks like one of those will be in order 

Good run today.  Charlie. Eric and I refuelled at the BB before a steady wheelabout to LW, up Jonshill and home. On a nice day and with a favourable wind I hope to extend the distance a bit.
 
 
 

Nae luck Marc, heard you hAD a puncture. Fine performance from the many JWCC getting stuck in toDAy. Chapeau DArryl, Eric, Charlie, Alan and regular Jan.
In case anyone is wondering what happens after Largs, well there was 4 of us as Fraser and Jesse were not feeling so good so they and Jan went up the Healy brae. Went to Ardrossan then back via Dalry and Kilbirnie. Average speed was 1.3kph higher but my normalised power was less as I was tanked by Ardrossan drag and took up a hanging on role at the back.
Just getting it out there early but with forecast very poor for Fri and  Sat, going to propose same again for Sunday.
 

That was a good ride today to burn off all the Christmas calories 

That was a good ride today to burn off all the Christmas calories 

Thanks a million for the warning Darryl, thanks to that the group was fine. Glad you are ok. It was a real shocker that the road there could have black ice, its a main road after all. Anyway we rode on and checked back a few times, no sign of anyone along the Westferry so we carried on. Then James appeared beside us in Gourock, a very impressive solo ride indeed. We went up the Haylie and enjoyed the brilliant run down to Kilbirnie. And I got a tow to my road end
 
 
 
 
 

I managed a solo ride to largs and back via haylie. It was windy and grim at some points but a good workout nonetheless 

Well done Galeb. I remember going to the swimming with my kids after the bogs bunch, cant imagine doing that now. I used to lie in the small pool as it was warmer ! Well done for fessing up Jan coz you were a wimp ( I know I'm really going to regret posting that )

Thanks for the enjoyable ride guys...good first outing