Sore wrists

I have been riding oversized bars on all my bikes for a while save for my winter parlee.  After Saturday I am convinced that it is the way forward with just that slightly larger contact area to alleviate numbness and pain, so I bought these.

Gone one step further with the wing top but at £15.00 delivered to your door you can't complain can you.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=39001

A race perhaps?

Looks like an interesting race...  Weather should be nice for those who don't like the heat too much.

http://www.challengecopenhagen.com/

An ode tae oor bunch (version 2)

In tribute to the 251st anniversary of the bard's death I wrote this.

Wan day, when roamin' Healy's braes

Did Diesel upon a bunch gaze

An' stop tae tak the time tae praise

An' dreams fulfil

Tae catch thy bunch doon yon hill

Tae lads an' lassies accept my veneration

An' gracious, heart felt admiration

Fur thy speed merits recognition

An aw men should sic inspiration

But while ma lungs loodly clang

Your speed wrapped nature in a sang

And oot across the fields I'd gang

Tae take in views

An whether woods or dale amang

Pay thee ma dues.

An' thru and aff they do continue

As the bunch straint each an'every sinew

The bold Ogg hangs an for his dear life

Driven on ba thines future wife

An then tha bonnie site of Kilmacolm

Wae wan and all knowing they are home

Wae that, the bunch relaxed

Shook hands and syne aboot yon great ride

An' aff in their cars did yon riders go

While thy was totally oot his heid

An' only dreamin ow his beid!

Wi riders gone

Yon winters chill was quick ta hit

Even tho am no tha fit

And so it was tae land oh merry

Yon duvet and pillow being thy ferry

Tae dream o' all ma heroes and wans fat belly!

Try not to laugh out loud.....

So I thought, riding tomorrow, quick check of the bike at lunch; great, looks ok,  but front tyre soft hmmm.  Yip slow puncture, so change the tube, treat myself, what the hell new tube and tyre.  Quick spin of the pedals and a roll of the wheels and I think, cranks feel stiff, jeez they are.  Off with the cranks, yip bottom bracket cups on the non-drive are goosed, change that. Just fitting the cranks again and the front tyre explodes in my ear! Of with the wheel, new tube times 2.  I am there I think, quick wash and lube, but for some reason I decide to just check the rear cassette, a bit wobbly, what the hell, wheel off and yup lockring ins't tight, then I think it's a 25, I should run a 27 tomorrow cause I AM FAT, so change that and then finally wash lube and spin the wheels, dam, battery has gone in the computer, new battery. Done! 46mins = burnt ciabatta that I put in the oven when I went out to change the tube.  The diet continues...

Something for your loved one or two at Valentines?

In a PDA (public display of affection) I am going to acquire one of these for my baby for Valentines and I think everyone should have one of these for their favourite ride.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?PartnerID=79&ModelID=12983

BonBon anyone?

Try this at home............

Two shots of expresso sitting on one shot of warmed condensed milk! What a kick :-)

Finally the boats arrive...

So, you know what they say big feet = big shoes, well I can confirm it's true.  It took a while but they arrived.  Ordered in August for the end of the summer, arrive in January via the States and then into Paisley before they flighted again for a brief sojourn to Bearsden in the back on Mr Ogg's car!

But why are they so special, well if you have a size 49 foot then a carbon soled shoe is very hard to come by and whilst sidi, the god of shoes makes shoes up to a 52, they don't do carbon soled ones.  I would have thought logic would have said, big feet, big blokes means heavy, requires stiff = carbon, but nope! Big = rubber in their book.

Enough, check out my new pimped out white shoes, they will at least increase the safety of the peloton on the Ferry as they hang at the back and catch the low sun.......  Now all I need is a white bike to go with the shoes....

 

G3R Calendar?

Anyone use/fancy one from our extensive photos...... Let me know by email by the end of the week.

Thx.

I had a rash....

Well not so much a rash, but a certain marking, not even a branding but there was a noticeable imprint on my derriere.  I was pleased with it, even took a certain comfort from it I must say.  It was letting me know I was back, in the saddle so to speak and thrice in one week. But it was perhaps my last push for pace that did it, I think they call it riding on the rivet! I was on the nose of the saddle head down into the wind, consoling myself that it was the girth of the panniers that were inhibiting my speed and not that belonging to me, but it felt good all the same.  No ice, a bit of sun, a cutting wind but it reminded me of the pleasure of pain and what the summer months ahead hold! Bring on the summer.

Wednesday Night MTB

It's a New Year and we have to set some ground rules and get the training back in order! Wednesday nights are riding nights, so in the winter we have occassionally been meeting at 6.15pm to ride for circa 90mins on the mtb's.  We meet at Drumclog at Mugdock and then the group leaves the car park at 6.15pm, if your late, you can try and find the bunch!  Just follow the lights.

Be self sufficient please so bring lights front and back if you can as the trails may be very icy so we may have to join some sections up by using the road, oh and bring spares etc.

See you this Wed.

It's been a week...........

It's been a week since my last post where I decided to ride a mountain bike over to Murshiel to get some prep in for Strathpuffer.  The snow conspired against me and they tracks were covered, so after much searching, scootering and carrying I retraced my steps and returned home with cold toes.  Endura mtb overshoes purchased to prevent that in the future.  Events have conspired against me this week and I withdrew from the Puffer yesterday and so in a loyal stance for team unity so did the rest - one for all and all that.  Thanks guys! 

Fingers crossed that normal service resumes on the blog.  Visit the cyclocross blog and vote for a longer season please!  We may be on it soon if we get the ok to host a race in Feb or March!

Adios.

Tomorrow, we ride MTB!

Chris King - Loving his work

If I was ever to encourage anyone to spend an extra £50 then I would do so on one of his headsets, 10 year guarantee and lovely kit.   Given his appreciation for colour he has adopted the G3R mantra and sent the following.......

He was also good enough to send a few hubs :-).

Even Cadburys have recognised the brand.........

We are taking over the world, next there will be a G3R race......

Ullrich looks as if he has been tampering with the green one before he sent the photo!

Class, you either have it or you don't!

As I said on my Tweet last night, it's not about what's between your legs that counts, it's what's in them! This comment was made by a young man, perhaps wise beyond his years that goes by the name of Art and it was just before a 4up team TT with big Stu, David and I.  It seemed to resonate with me as I always worry about what is between my legs and perhaps if I spent less time selecting the bike then it might actually go faster, assuming of course that I substituted it for training and not eating.  As it was Art didn't have a great bike between his legs nor did he have a lot in them as I think he was first off the back which meant that David had to finish :-), although he had raced and won the day before. 

Back to the bike, as I was pondering, does it matter what you ride? Well, if it’s a result your after then clearly not as Gordon proved last night.  He turned up on a 7 spd vintage Marin Bear Valley circa late 80's, no suspension, v brakes and original tyres. He was certainly no worse off for riding it and had more in his legs than me.  He wasn't dropped by Sian or David, so it would seem not to matter.

In my defence however I enjoy riding nice bikes and the thought and effort in design and choice of parts. I see it as much as a hobby as training, but then I am minded to divert more attention to training this year! In summary I have concluded to concur with the young man, it's all about the legs and not about the bike.  The bike helps, but the engine is the most important part!   

Experiment number 2!

Does this

+

=

Only time will tell...........