G3R Wednesday rides - the rules

The concept of the group ride has always been 'pedal until you pop.' you work through and off until you get spat out the back. One by one people drift off the back letting the front group work through and off without sandbaggers distrubting the rotation of the group. The dropped riders inevitably regroup and work through and off in their own group.

Everybody gets a hard workout, nobody gets in the way.

There is no honour in wheelsucking.

Please play by the rules or the front group may decide not to wait at the top of the hill.

Warning - Dehydration can cause serious damage

Some of you may recall that a few Saturdays ago the sun shone and it was slightly humid. Stuart didn't join our bunch but gave is a 1 min start and tried to chase us down for the rest of the day.  Lulling him into a false sense of security we stopped at the "Courtyard in Fintry" for a coffee and thus he was in our wheels again, although he didn't have time to stop for the coffee.  He had been dragging his carcass over the Crow.  Alas his enthusiasm got the better of him as he drove himself harder until he passed us on the Drymen Cottage climb.  Recuperating at home he ignored the cardinal rule of replacing fluid and by Tuesday was on a drip and hence he missed the Wed ride.  Now back with us and supposedly healthy he has posted this.  It just goes to prove that the hallucinogenic effects of dehydration are obviously long lasting.

Dear All,

Thanks for your company last night - I'd imagine that will be me bowing out for the rest of the season, with the possible exception of one last Saturday "century" ride in the autumn.  I'm sure after my performance last night you'll all be remembering me fondly. 

It was nice (and indeed gratifying) that there was unanimous consensus at the end of the ride that I was totally awesome. 

I know the bunch won't be the same without my leadership in future weeks but I urge you not to be too downbeat and still to go out and try and enjoy your riding.  I appreciate that it will be difficult and, rest assured, I won't think badly of you if there is the odd tear shed on the road out to Bishopton as a result of my absence.  I implore you, however, to put aside any overwhelming sentimentality as you approach the Westferry and remember that just as I was happiest when off the front of the bunch that you each should strive to work your hardest and make every moment count. 

Although most of my Westferry efforts were in a solo breakaway this season you should not feel embarassed if you find yourself in a breakaway with a compatriot.  If such a situation occurs you should follow my example and give them encouragement to surpass their own limited expectations and to work with you in honest endeavour.  In cycling terms, if I have been fortunate enough to see further and stand taller than any of you then it is purely because I, like my intellectual peer Newton, have stood on the shoulders of giants.  

With fond and affectionate regards, ever your humble and modest servant,

Stuart Reid

G3R Cyclocross Race 28th November Bellahouston Park

Ladies & Gents, if you would be so good as to block out your diary for the day on the 28th of November I would be most grateful.  You will either be required to race or help if that is ok.

I will let you know closer to the time but we have been signed off by Glasgow City Council and Scottish Cyclocross, all we need now if to join Scottish Cycling :-).

Should I be worried when on a Saturday ride........

• I ask someone to come through and he says no, he is admiring my legs!
• We wait 30mins for a female rider who wanted to ride early and she still doesn't turn up.
• We are riding two abreast and a rider decides to ride three abreast by coming up the inside!
• Or when someone pulls to the front of the peleton and decides to unclip and perform his stretches on the bike!
• What about when a rider asks which way round their wheel (rear) should go?
• Even when I pass The Heid going up hill?
• Or even when we undertake a Saturday ride with no planned coffee stops

Nearly all true!

An open letter to Graham Leitch on the occasion of his inaugural Ironman race

Dear Graham 

First of all, congratulations! Deciding to enter your very first proper triathlon is a big step, and you should be proud of yourself. You’re about to discover a whole new world of intense competition and camaraderie.  And while — as you’ll soon find out — racing can be hard, I think you’ll also find out that it can be very rewarding, just so long as you don’t overreach and keep your goals at a personal level. For example, when lots and lots of people pass you, don’t think “Oh no! These people are beating me!” Instead, think, “These people are not competing against me; they are competing with me. My objective is simply to finish this race in under twelve hours, or thirteen if it comes to that.”

You’ll be amazed how much better you feel!

But I don’t want to spend this whole letter giving you a pep-talk, Graham. No. I’m writing this letter to give you practical, useful advice you can use on your race right now.

At the Starting Line

Since you’re not used to big races — and especially since you’ve never raced without pool ropes— you’re going to be a little bit overwhelmed at the starting line. There is a huge crowd there, and you may feel intimidated. But don’t worry; you’ll be fine. Just follow these tips:

• Start from the appropriate place in line. Assess yourself honestly — do you belong at the front of the line where everyone’s going to be jockeying for position, or would it be more prudent to place yourself further back, where there’s more of a ride-and-let-ride mentality?
• Don’t surge forward off the line. It’s an easy water start. Don’t go attacking right off the line. You might punch someone and make that person very, very angry. And don’t wear an iPod at the starting line either you may electrocute yourself.
• Careful of the Cannon. They usually like to start the race off by firing a cannon. If it catches you unawares, you would not be the first person to shit yourself before the race even starts, that comes later in the race.

Long Distance

This isn’t a sprint race, Graham and it will take a while. You may get bored so. So pay attention! Stay loose. And don’t, for crying out loud, go crosschaining your bike.  (Crosschaining is when you have both your front and rear cogs in the largest gears, or when you have both in the smallest gears. And it’s not a good idea.)

Passing Etiquette

Next, you need to be aware that from time to time, people will certainly want to pass you. I know you might not be used to this.  With more than a thousand people on the course, this may happen more often than you might expect! 

When those people want to get by, they will generally yell “On your left!” or “On your right!”

Graham, I cannot overstress the importance of what those riders mean.

When someone says, “On your left!” that does not mean you should move left. No, it does not. It means the person wants to go by on your left side.  Please try to remember that, Graham.

And, by the way, in the interest of good sportsmanship, you should let people by when they want to go by. Remember: you’re not racing against these people. You’re just racing against the clock. It’s just that a whole bunch of other people are there at the same time, also racing the clock.

Endurance Racing Tips

Graham, I have to admit that I’m a little bit surprised that you chose Challenge Barcelona as your first-ever Ironman distance race. Did you realize that a lot of people take close to — or even more than — twelve hours to finish this?

This is not just one of those 45-minute rides you’re used to doing on the road, Graham! Here are a few tips to make the day go by a little more swiftly:

• Use some chamois lube. I recommend Dave Zabriskie’s Nuts. (In fact, I believe almost everyone likes Dave Zabriskie’s Nuts.) You’ll find that your ass — no doubt not used to the punishment of long hours in the saddle can bring — will be glad you did.
• Use a Camelbak: You want to stay hydrated, and you may not be proficient at grabbing a bottle while riding a bike. Also, a Camelbak can be very helpful if you’re going to be out between aid stations for a very long time, which may be the case: in one case there is 20 miles before you get to an aid station!
• Don’t get discouraged. Sometime during this race you’re going to get tired, and people are going to start passing you, left and right. Don’t let this get you down! Just remember, you’re in this for the long haul. Try singing yourself a merry tune to lift your spirits.
• Carry Wet wipes. At some point you are going to have to go in a public place.  Remember that Graham.  Don't be embarrassed.  Be prepared, have something to wipe with otherwise you will chaff.

Graham, I think this is going to be a tough race for you, but totally worth it. Just remember: you’re better than you think you are, and you can do more than you think you can.  Free your mind and your ass will follow.

Kind Regards,

Jens

Summer comes and summer goes

It felt like the end of summer last night, a strong wind, a touch of darkness and some form clearly coming to the bunch is as clear an indication as the turning of the leaves and the changing of the clocks that we are approaching the twilight of summer.

A bunch of 11 departed the race HQ at 6.00pm and rode steadily out to Bishopton, a few guests attended with Kelly and her dad being the most welcome.

Pozatto was basking in the glory of his recent victory and was faking a taper week as he excused himself from long spells on the front.  The baby faced assassin Voeckler had returned from his various sojourns whilst Menchov was in hospital getting a transfusion from his last ride in the mountains at the weekend.  We wish you well tall one.

And thus the starting line was breached by the wide load known as Voigts. A moderately paced attack was made on the ramp and Lance and Schleck dragged the bunch across into a ferocious head wind that was clearly causing the peleton serious problems.  The bunch soon became 10. The wind played with is and this resulted in a number of small attacks although the bunch failed to shake out until the final run in with one or two falling off the back.  The Clune saw the undernourished climb into the sunset leaving the Rouleurs to climb with honour through their mask of pain and sweat; a never ending battle against gravity waged in watts and sweat.

The feed station saw the bunch reunited and then in an effort to recapture his youth Queally attacked on the run in to Kilmacolm.  A brave attack if not somewhat silly given the obvious advantage a couple of the Rouleurs had in that gravity was no longer an enemy and thus they were at the front of the peleton.   His bid for glory was short lived as Hushovd hit the front and drove us on towards Bridge of Weir.  A sharp left up the climb saw Pooley ahead to cheer us on and then the attacks started once again.  With wind assistance it was clear that Hushovd and young Schleck were the strongest riders on the night with them sharing the front of the bunch to drag us to the end of the George.

A wheel sucker won the penultimate sprint and Lance was judged to have edged Hushovd for the final one with Voeckler being disqualified for just being Voeckler!

Dunoon is calling on Saturday and Lance is organising.

Ayr Triathlon

In his first ever tri victory Gordon took the tape in 1hr 5 mins and 46 secs at the Ayr Open Water Triathlon on Saturday.  Provisional results can be viewed on the forum at http://www.ayrodynamic.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=420&sid=0b90eb163ee668babbef74f695d93104

Well done to the rest who competed.

Carbon in the sun.

New wheels and tape.  Some make over magic for a G3R bike....

It's for you..........

For a while I have been posting on this blog and I thought it might be best to open it up to a few more people.  Feel free to post, review, contribute positively.  I think we all know the rules.