It didn't take long for his name to change!

Lance was enough to identify him up until this week, but now in an effort to remove his celebrity status he is being referred to as Mr Armstrong.

Whilst he has obviously cheated and deserves to be punished I am not too sure that the focus on him is the right thing to move the sport on. Yes he cheated, but it's now become a witch hunt against him.

The focus and energy needs to move on. It needs to be directed towards the governing bodies, the testers and the scientists. To keep one step ahead. To remain impartial and not to be duped or bribed by a generation of cyclists.

Grand Tour organisers are culpable. They need to respect the boundaries of the human body and not demand super human performances. A normalising of human effort, to allow a clean contender the chance of winning.

Cycling became popular in a large way because of Lance, hopefully he won't ruin it as well.

Cross

I popped along to watch Gordon on Sunday at Auchentoshan and took some photos.  Link attached.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/g3reasystreet/8086083653/in/photostream/

I got a few new orders for some g3r kit today.  The lad on the right bought some a while ago and the gringo in the BMC kit wants a top. I said he has to prove his worth on a Wed night on the Ferry before he gets his dots. If he can hold my wheel on the ramp up to the Ferry perhaps he can get arm warmers.... Stripes count for nothing in our world!

Something nice to look at...

http://www.bertellibici.com/

4mm makes a lot of difference

I love my new bont shoes but since I got them I didn't feel 100%. Ben (@ Bespoke) told me to check the thickness of my old shoes but I forgot! So when I was trying to check my setup last Saturday I remembered and checked the shoes. My old ones were 4mm thicker so I needed to drop the saddle! It helped a lot, so keep checking the little things!

Pussy update from Robert

He has bagged one, metaphorically speaking.

Might need one of these for the winter....

Fortezza TriComp Vredestein tyre

Ribble have put these on discount at circa £20. They are usually £40 each. There my tyre of choice and work well in dry and the wet for a big guy. Wear rate seems good with half a season at least on them. Excellent puncture resistance as well. Easy to get off the rim as well.

Siempre Bike Cafe

http://www.siemprebicyclecafe.com/

Somewhere new in the West end.

Tartan Ride

Tartan Ride. Friday 30th November from 6pm till late. 3 hour night ride
round Glasgow (VIP session at the velodrome) and then dinner, ceilidh at WEST bar and brewery till late. All funds to a bike charity.

Might be a good Xmas night!

Road to glory.

Following the Tour de France finale and Team GB's Olympic success, Sky Atlantic HD announced that on Thursday 30 August at 8pm, five part series British Cycling: Road To Glory will debut on the channel. Forming part of Sky’s investment in home grown content, the Twofour produced series will focus on the world of cycling, following some of the most high profile names in the sport, including Tour de France 2012 winner and Olympic Gold medallist Bradley Wiggins.

What's the choice? Pussy or a Cycle?

It's not a choice a lot of us get very often but tonight that was the choice that was presented to one of the bunch. The fact that he (clue 1) chose to share this with me calls into question his thought process.

As for the rest of us, the famous five, there was no such choice as far as I know. Although I can only be certain for 20% of the bunch, mind you, I can confirm that 100% of the five obviously declined or deferred such an invitation.

Continuing the theme.....it was wet. That's the Wednesday night theme that is. The last few weeks have been biblical, but tonight wasn't a testament it was merely a psalm! It started ok, the rain got heavier towards Bishopton, hail or at least sore rain towards the Westferry, heavy to Kilmacolm and then dried out on the way home.

Safety in numbers was the idea given the weather conditions however Ogg the watt monster had other ideas. He's like Samson at the moment! Hairy and powerful. A quick jag by him and the race was on. Five became four as he drove us forwards, Ewan raised the pace and Brian managed to hold his wheel. Durnan was digging deep to hold on. The run in on the Westferry saw Ewan driving it home. Turning up the Clune, Ewan pressed on with Ogg and Durnan passing Skinner, with Aileen closing the gap.

The summit was reached and we were off again. The bunch worked through Kilmacolm until the drop into Bridge of Weir which split the bunch again with Ewan making the break with Brian in his wheel again.

Through and off down the Georgetown saw dry roads appearing again and Ewan and Brian sharing the work.

David pipped Gordon for the sprint after a long lead out by Brian.

Oh and Robert has promised he will post a pussy update later!

New Kit

Looks not too bad doesn't it.  Seen any skinny guys wearing it?

New Kit - Finished

The kit is being collected at 5pm on Thursday 9th of August!  Make contact with @Diesel1971 on twitter to collect it and pay for it!

New Kit

Hoping that we will have it this week! Excited doesn't even begin to describe what I am feeling as it is so far off the mark! Hoping to avoid another disappointment. Updates soon.....

Roche

GC sent this photo after he was out for a little pedal with this man!

Wed night ride in July....

I rode like a fanny. I mean if I was Wiggo or Cormac I might have used the C word (not often Cormac and Wiggo are mentioned in the same sentence, but quite often with the C word). So as I was saying, fanny! Dropped at Langbank!

Ewan (aka Voeckler) attacked on the hill as is his want. Perhaps to quell his anger towards the cornering ability of Aileen but it was an attack all the same. A vent for his testosterone that has reappeared along with his svelte body after a summer under the wraps of baggy jumpers and untucked shirts.  He looks good in his fitted dotty shirt. Anyway the attack required a response. As I was closest I felt it was my duty to respond. My lone attacks in the tour had only cemented my hard man reputation and thus I was required to dig a little deeper, however the spade was not penetrating!! Permafrost was clearly present and I was dutifully spat out the back faster than an olive pip by angry French woman.

The bunch sped on, Ewan, Robert, Lafferty, Sian, Ogg and Durnan driving forward with Aileen giving chase and Jens claiming the lantern rouge. A further dig by Robert split the group again on the rise to Woodhall with Lafferty, Voeckler & Robert taking the tape.

The climb saw Voeckler take the lead until he slowed at the feed zone. The group awaited the arrival of Jens who needed to relieve himself. The group couldn't wait such was their desire to get home to watch Le Tour. A lone ride ensued. Jens was in his element reeling in the group (well a man can dream).

The ride home was dominated by Pozatto (Durnan) and Robert as they worked through and off with Pozatto taking the win. 

Not too sure how the ride went last night but I got this photo back yesterday from the UCI track event in London.  They kindly put the g3r logo on the big screen for us! Anyone care to post a report.....

Winning

A little late in popping these on but....

Sian won the Mackie Tankard 25 mile TT and Graeme and Emma won at the East Fife Triathlon. This weekend Gordon was third in the Ayr duathlon and first Vet and Aileen was 2nd in her category.

Wednesday nights Wet Dream!

Well that's what you would think from reading all the traffic on the inaugural ride last night. "Dam near perfect" "Best night ever" "The bunch rode as one" "Graham's bum looked very pert", well I made the last one up but you get the picture (sure they were all thinking it anyway).

Twitter was the same, all good reports.  From that I gather Robert fizzled out at Bridge of Weir, the rest of the bunch hanging together, Ewan tailing off further on (more lettuce req), David, Graham & Gordon working to the end with Graham being the strongest of the bunch.  Think the Patron pipped it in the sprints as well #greenjersey.

Happy boys :-).

Monaco - g3r

I have been getting a few updates from our foreign correspondent over the past few weeks.  Only now have I been able to filter out the gems and post a couple of pics.

Before his victory @MSR SG was a bit out of sorts and had been looking for some inspiration to return to form, and he got this from the master of attack.  A few more wise words being uttered below....

UCI Track cycling, London

I have been lucky enough to go to a few sporting events in my life, but this was one of the best ever! I can't wait until the velodrome opens in Glasgow.  It looks as if we be addictive and for the first time in my life I say someone on a bike that looked as big as me! Adding more photos to the Flickr link. Might even write more tonight.

G3R

Turbo room @ SRM

Looks cool :-).

Dig in at the dock

A little cyclocross race at the weekend saw Gordon, Ewan and Brian at the Bo'ness event. The final race of the year was to be on a flat fast course.

G got a great start with Ewan close behind, the big man took the gunner position at the rear. A puncture on the first lap brought Ewan's race to a premature end. G was in the wheel of the top riders most of the day and turned in his best ride of the year. B took advantage of the flat nature of the course and didn't get lapped as many times as usual!

Photos from the race at http://www.flickr.com/photos/dirtyone30/6792477021/in/photostream

TWB

We have a new office getting developed if anyone knows someone who needs some "creative" space.

Visit www.whiskybond.net

Or if you are more sophisticated you could look at our other development in St Vincent Street.

Where have you been....

Must be my age and the cold weather that made my fingers go stiff..... As a consequence I haven't been posting. However, I have discovered that with training again mobility has returned to my digits. So expect a few posts before spring.