Hydration and the Bobble

We all know how important hydration is but I hate tap water.  Found this and works perfectly.  It's a water bottle that filters as you drink. Created by the Move Collective and designed by famed industrial designer Karim Rashid. Bobble improves the taste of water from your tap and gives an environmentally friendly replacement to single serve plastic water bottles.  Sold online or in Harvey Nics if you are in Edinburgh and it comes in the right colours.  Mine is pink!

http://www.planetorganic.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=bobble&x=0&y=0&gclid=CP2iy_DG2qgCFQEY4QodNRdz_A

New machine....

So, this seemingly had it's first outing at the weekend....  Nice looking isn't it.

Wed 4th...a line in the sand

Take your turn on the front or Fuck off! Not quite politically correct but I think it conveys the message that the bunch wanted to put across.

Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. We like to ride well as a bunch. No accidents, look out for each other and respect the bunch. We choose to ride as a bunch because we trust and respect each other. Graham issued some rules let's try and follow them.

As it was it was another fabulous night. Lance had returned from his sojourn and our dedicated pro Graham was hurting the amateurs. Oh for the life of a pro rider. The ride out to the West Ferry was simple, through and off although a little fast. Aileen was half wheeling and causing Mark some pain as she wound the peleton up towards Bishopton. Looking left to the car park the open TT entrants were warming up, our own Cooke recording a 23.15 and Vandertoon not far behind with a mid 23.

A rumble down to the West Ferry and Voigts faked one of his usual attacks. All bluster with no substance.... A quad soon formed of Graham, Ewan, Crawford and Jens. Three working regularly with Jens taking the occasional rest what with being in his 5th decade now and age catching up on him. The run in to the end was fast and the trio broke away from Jens with Graham taking the tape.

Perversely the hill gave some rest bite and the group reconstituted at the top. An easy off from the top of the hill meant that Lance broke out his iPhone and was tweeting away until the peleton left Kilmacolm. Graham politely inviting riders through "take a fucking turn" yes please my good sir and the work started again. Lance attacked with vigour having found his legs again and drove us up the hill towards Houston. Jens attacked at the roundabout utilising his considerable mass in a game of momentum. Through and off was sporadic causing Graham to issue some more refined encouragement "come through or fuck off you bunch of lazy bastards". Quite how I found the oxygen to waste on a response surprised me. I confirmed that indeed my good man I was trying my best endeavouring to take a turn whilst on the rivet I think it came out thus "I am trying my fucking hardest". I am also at a loss as to what possessed me to try an attack 1,113 watts was my peak watts and I am certain it was the only time I dug like that last night. To be fair I only lasted 200m before the water collecting in the cheeks led me to conclude I was going to be sick. Find a wheel, find a wheel....Graham where are you when I need you. Salvation came in the form of Ewan towing G along. Through the S bends and G took the finish line again.

Boy has class in his legs.

TT

Well that was a blast last night. JD has posted the results on his website. The Heid won in terms of the G3R bunch with Brian Lafferty taking top spot. If you do the maths it should be easy to ride a sub 23 min TT. All you have to do is ride for 10 miles at an avg of 26mph. We have all seen the numbers but only The Heid managed it. Interesting that I couldn't hold that speed for 10 miles. Fingers crossed for the same conditions on the 1st of June. Oh and Jim Cusick did a 21.13. Gives you something to aim at!

I wish I was famous and in 220....

Signed copies available on Wednesday night at the TT.

Even looks fast doesn't he....

Ride No. 2

With a head wind blowing six turned out for ride No.2. Voeckler, Lance, Pozatto, Nibali, Cooke, plus the new girl Tina Pic (née Mayolo) (Aileen - that's you) who was definitely riding as Pozatto's domestique. They rolled out along the road heading for the Westferry and whilst the sun might have been out the wind was not playing the game as the gusts were nasty. The group then hit the Westferry and the fun started. Pozatto was first to go then Pic, she was feeling sorry for her team leader. Pozatto was just not looking his usually self out on his winter stead. Summer bike next week Pozatto. Cooke was on fire showing how she won the time trial last week. But further down the Westferry it was down to three, Voeckler, Lance and Nibali as Cooke dropped off the pace as the wind was relentless. The pace kept going up until the three reached the end with Nibali putting hard efforts in, and also up the climb. By the top it was Lance followed by Voeckler and Nibali dropped off the pace hardly able to protest enough that he was saving himself for Sundays race.

The group set off again and first off were Pozatto and Pic. The bunch concurred that Pic showed a huge amount of potential. She later reported how much fun she had. The four stayed together till the Georgetown. First off was Cooke who is riding too dam well, Lance and the group will have to watch out. Then 3 were left flying, Voeckler made a mistake while Nibali and Lance attacked each other and the gap opened but could not get back on, while experience paid off for Lance as he got the break on Nibali. Both riding strong so its going to make for an interesting ride as the group gets bigger.

Post ride, Cooke said it was a course recorded for her. It was a storming ride by all. Pic said "she was on top of Pozatto that night" while she was definitely Pozzatto domestique let’s hope he eats something and brings a summer bike so he is back on form for ride No.3 or Pic may have her own domestique!

Seriously good...

Waiting for the call from Rouler to ask for the photo rights and also to publish my article.....

It only took a minute......

It did really and it was relatively painless.  £26 was all it cost to put my name on a start sheet for a triathlon....

20th March 2011 - The Lake APR

Anyone fancy this?


The Lake APR is one of the traditional early season events, held on a circuit based around two laps of Scotland's only Lake (the Lake of Menteith). This year they are repeating the ladies race, the Lake APR "Feminine" for up to 30 riders. The Lake APR (Australian Pursuit Race) is a handicapped event, riders will be placed according to ability.

Entry is £15. There is an 80 rider field for the men and a 30 rider field for the women. You must have a British Cycling race licence (or suitable British Cycling membership) to ride these events is required, classified as Regional C under British Cycling rules.


http://www.entrycentral.com/index.php?festivalID=134

Torridon

Not a bad photo of the hills, shame about the foreground...