Royal Albert Cycling Club

admin

A bit later than usual, and by popular demand, this year's run will be held on Sunday, 7th June. All are most welcome to come along for this run in fantastic Borders countryside.

Riders from Johnstone Wheelers will again be joining us.

Free entry. Very Happy

Start - Blackwood Hall 9.30am

For new club members, from Larkhall
Proceed on B7078 to Blackwood
Proceed past church and school on left to small crossroads at corner shop
Turn left - Blackwood Hall is 100 yards up on the right

The route will take in Biggar, Broughton, Stobo, Meldons, Eddleston, then Peebles and the Hub cafe at Glentress - where lunch will be served (at your own expense).

One of the main objectives of this run has been to keep the group together for the whole distance. It's an exercise in pacing, stamina and looking after each other, as well as enjoying the scenery, ra banter and meeting the objective!

As usual, Morag said she will be laying on (free) soup and cakes afterwards - not to be missed! Laughing

If you are interested in coming along, please post.

Looking forward to seeing you on the day.

Dennis

stevenbrennan · Joined: 04 Feb 2008 Posts: 371 Location: Larkhall

I'm tempted to just turn up just for the free food at the end, however I'll be there for the 9.30 start.I'll say to everyone else at the club on Friday.

johncampbell · Joined: 24 Jan 2008 Posts: 651

Count me in dennis{the slab}

Derek Hamilton · Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 637 Location: Bargeddie

Sorry Dennis, I'm working that day - have a good one!

Darren · Joined: 17 Apr 2008 Posts: 27 Location: Hamilton

Would an EKRC member be welcome as a guest? I promise I'll take my turn at the front!! Very Happy

admin · Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 6:49 pm Post subject:

Darren, it would be great to see you and thanks very much for offering to ride at the front - for the duration of the run. Wink

admin · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 9:59 am Post subject:

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 8:07 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So far, there are about 16 in the bunch, from the Joansin, Royal Albert and the Dunbar area. Come on, let's make it a round 20, or even 30. If the EK guys can do it, we can do it! Cool

The 100 mile route has now been set in stone (with occasional bits of tarmac Rolling Eyes

) and has a new 12 mile start, otherwise it's virtually the same as last year. Sections of the roads are twisty-turny, uppy-downy, with numerous long, flattish stretches, and the only big hill comes at the 84 mile stage. It's not a big hill, really. Not normally...

There will be an optional cafe stop at Biggar on the way out; lunch will be served at the Hub cafe, Glentress, and there will be an obligatory cafe stop at Broughton on the way back. Another option (for those who want to spend more time in the cafe than on the road) is to miss the Meldons section, saving 10 miles, and meet up at the hub.

I was over much of the route yesterday (by car Sad

) and the scenery is absolutely stunning at this time of year.

So, if you are fit and really want to ride 100 miles, in scenery that equals in places the likes of France and Switzerland, and in user-friendly conditions, this is for you.

Hope you can come along. More details in the first post above.

Dennis

admin · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 10:02 am Post subject:

I forgot to mention - Aileen McGlyn, double gold medalist in Beijing, will be joining us on the tandem. Very Happy

Dennis

johncampbell · Joined: 24 Jan 2008 Posts: 651

dennis club meeting on friday to discuss the royal albert time trial being held on sunday 31st may at stirling will also try and get a few more troops together for the(7th june) 100mls sunday run as planned all the best john.

admin · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:05 pm Post subject:

An update for Sunday

17 confirmed names so far - still time for more. Cool

Dennis

Cipo · Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 70 Location: Larkhall

Dennis

There is a few of us comming along from EK if thats OK. Brian, Darren, Grahame and myself.

Hope you've ordered some sunshine.
_________________
Wilson Kane

admin · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:40 pm Post subject:

That's great, Wilson, and takes the bunch to 20.

Only 10 spaces left. Wink

Dennis

shortstop · Joined: 11 Apr 2008 Posts: 142

Hi Dennis

I will also be able to make it so see you there

Alan

admin · Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 4:58 pm Post subject:

It'll be good to have you along, Alan.

The weather is not going to be quite as hot as last week, but maybe that's a good thing in a way. I'm sure we will enjoy it, whatever the weather. Very Happy

We now have a bunch of 22 - 12 from JWCC, 4 from EKRC, 3 from RACC and 3 from the far east.

We will be leaving at 9.30am to travel east, but don't be alarmed when we set off in a westerly direction. It's all to do with techy stuff, like road surfaces and mileage. Rolling Eyes

Looking forward to seeing you all and having a great day out.

Dennis

admin · Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 9:15 am Post subject:

Riders were:

West - Chung, David, Craig, Lesley, Donald, Kenny, Aileen, Kevin, Campbell, John

Central - me, John C, Stephen, Alan, Darren, Brian, Grahame, Wilson

East - Dave

The bunch of 19 made its way from Blackwood to Glentress, via Lesmahagow, Coalburn, Sandilands, Carmichael, Tinto, Thankerton, Biggar, Skirling, Blyth Bridge, Meldons, Eddleston, Peebles, against a very cold north east wind. Helly Hansens, leg warmers and wind jackets were the order of the day. Two turned back at Biggar (family duties (John C, and bottom bracket problem, Alan), leaving 17 to complete the 100 miles (sorry, 99.2 according to Lesley - I always round up... ).

We hit some light rain as we passed Tinto, and the normal beauty of the borders countryside was somewhat dulled by the cloudy weather. By the time we reached the Hub at 56 miles, some of us were actually shivering, especially the two guys who forgot their jackets.

However, we were undaunted and, returning via Stobo, and following a cafe stop at Broughton at 70 miles, the sun came out and the whole tone of the day changed. Minds were set on the Wiston Big Hill at the 85 mile stage and those with legs 'were allowed' to go off and have a go, before regrouping at the top.

Two of the objectives of the run were to keep the bunch together the whole way, and to try to finish as fresh as we were at the start. I would say both were met, but some may not quite agree with the second one. Somehow, this 100 miles did not feel like 100 miles. (ok, it was only 99.2!)

Weather aside, this run was enjoyed by all and we all rode well together, taking turns at the front (including me ) and trying to ensure, with the usual fantastic banter, that the two main objectives were met.

Speaking as one of Aileen's pilots, one of the revelations for me was the way in which Kenny and Aileen rode this run. The first 25 miles in particular were very lumpy and they were up there all the way. Not even off the saddle! It's always hard work on a tendem keeping up with a bunch on short steep hills and rises, where the pace fluctuates, but this did not appear to be any problem. Even the Big Hill didn't phase them, and any thoughts I may have had about 'just staying with the tandem' quickly went out the window! Well done to Kenny, as he only started riding the tandem last week! Kenny, you've got the job!

1600 bike miles with no punctures was good and, apart from the bottom bracket problem and a couple of jumping chains, we had no techy problems either.

The lady running the third cafe stop says that she thoroughly enjoyed having this bunch of people for tea, soup and cakes!

Roll on next year...

Dennis