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DOUBLE AND SINGLE ARRAN


P McDonald
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Guys, what can I say. Its tragic. I can cycle round Arran between ferries but I cannot predict the weather. Billy can also cycle round Arran between ferries, something that has eluded some people in the legal busines, now that is even more tragic.

 

If you get over it Charlie there will be plenty Saturdays when I would be happy to a single looper

 

Ohyadancer!

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Been dry all morning and was thinking we could have done the majority to the ride in the dry. Felt suitably cheated. However, news that it's bouncing off the streets in downtown Brodick is pleasing.

 

Option 1 probably sensible as it gives us a bit of leeway. If we can actually do the 100 miles then that's a real good benchmark as to whether a double Arran is doable.

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Guys

 

Logistical balls up here. No way I'm going to make the ferry now. Well pee'd off as I was looking forward to this. Good luck.

 

M

 

Mark, is "logistical balls up" a euphomism for "I'm not telling" as you know you are a dead cert for the hammock award ?

 

 

 

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Guest EPCC

Or

It's feck this will be hard I need an excuse

Andy got the cant play today Billy got working sod it I will use I am too daft to think of a decent one, so will play the logistics card and hope nobody noticed

We all did you skinny wimp

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Aristotle McDonald once said 'the best achievements are those which are very hard and which may require a few attempts to get there'

 

Anyway me, Colin, Alan and Greg set off in pursuit of the double, a 101 miler which comprised 2 laps over the Ross. Bit of a severe opener up the drag from Brodick then the Ross within 10 miles. Over the top the entertainment started with first Greg locking a back wheel, then Colin running off into the grass then me locking a back wheel !

 

Greg then had an mechanical which delayed us a couple of minutes. Then we got real stuck in. Colin decided to break off over the String for the next ferry whilst the 3 of us blasted up the West coast at 29-30 mph with a nice tailwind. The final 10 miles of lap 1 were into a strong headwind so with much relief we completed lap one and stopped at our picnic stash for a couple of mins refuelling and bottle filling. Upon restarting Greg had an injury situation which was a blow as he was a powerhouse during lap 1.

 

Alan and I got horsed into it for a second lap. The Ross is sore the first time, the second time it was, well I'd rather not remember it. We got to the decision point at Machrie after 75 miles and with 26 miles left and 90 mins to do it. We decided to go for the 10 mile route back over the String due to being unsure if we could manage 17mph average for the next 90 mins given the state of our legs, the Lochranza climb and the roaring headwind finish.

 

Conclusion is definetly doable double. Second lap would need at least 4 or more evenly matched riders all on a good day.

 

Many thanks to the chaps for indulging my dream. I will do the double one day even if I have to pay some sherpa style domestiques ! Had the fun of descending the String and hitting 52.2 mph which is a tad short of the wind favourable 56mph I hit one time.

 

Cheers, until the next recruitment campaign

 

Ohyadancer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thanks to super domestiques Grag and Colin for setting us up for the second lap.

 

I was hoping Paul would crack first but in the end I suggested bailing out at the second string junction and Paul obliged (and climbed the string like a rat up a drainpipe.)

 

The arithmetic was tight and we really needed a couple more riders for the final headwind section.

 

Strava geekery here

 

http://app.strava.co...ities/151121840

 

We ripped up the west side, with Greg doing a Jensy, best section was Tormore to Imachar, 8.7k in 11.24mins = 45.9kph average Ohyadancer! we probably overcooked it a little!

 

Paul was already planning next attempt by the time we got off the ferry.

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Great effort Paul and others.

 

Simple answer to the logistical balls up was that I was my usual organised self that I had prepped everything last night, right down to cutting up and individually wrapping slices of fruit cake for my musset stash but had forgotten to put my shoes in my bag. Had a moment of expletive fill clarity on the wrong side of the Belle Craig roundabout and knew I couldn't go get them and still make the ferry. Does that qualify me for the Hammock award? We'll see.

 

No question of wimping out on this one fat boy, it involves climbing hills and putting in a bit of effort on them, rather than your usual Thursday evening Clune Brae creep. What's not to like..........or wimp out on? Soooooo looking forward to the Ayrshire Alps day out, just to see Henrietta at her nippy sweetie best............or are you really working that week end???????

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Enjoyed first time climbing over the ross however a slight back niggle which is had since last Wednesday decided to make its reappearance and was in a fair bit of discomfort when I tried to get out of the saddle so made the decision to head back over the string and hope better luck next time chapeau Allan and Paul for toughing it out up that climb a 2nd time

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