There is no place in our bunch for chaos. I have been reflecting on the ride over the weekend and how our bunch works. It works cause we have riders who care about each other but also about themselves. It might seem strict at times and even anal but without our rules and order it wouldn't function and the people that ride wouldn't ride together. The glue is the POTP and that's why he has that title.
A tiny difference in initial parameters will result in a completely different behavior of a complex system. So don't mess with it or try to change it.
The Uncertainty Principle prohibits accuracy. Therefore, the initial situation of a complex system can not be accurately determined, and the evolution of a complex system can therefore not be accurately predicted. So ride until you pop, someone may be stronger tonight than you. Be honest.
Complex systems often seek to settle in one specific situation. This situation may be static but that's the way we like it.
Thank you POTP.
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
Friday, 29 July 2011
TT Times
Results below:
Aileen Scott 25:17 (44 sec PB)
Emma Lamont 25:16 (30 sec PB)
Giancarlo Romano 23:48 - 1st ride
Stuart Reid 23:46
Robert Heron 23:40 (55 sec PB)
Ewan Mulhern 23:11 (16 sec PB)
Brian Skinner 22:43
Sian Tovey 22:29
Gordon Durnan 22:28 (PB??)
Graham Leitch 20:56 (12 sec PB)
Aileen Scott 25:17 (44 sec PB)
Emma Lamont 25:16 (30 sec PB)
Giancarlo Romano 23:48 - 1st ride
Stuart Reid 23:46
Robert Heron 23:40 (55 sec PB)
Ewan Mulhern 23:11 (16 sec PB)
Brian Skinner 22:43
Sian Tovey 22:29
Gordon Durnan 22:28 (PB??)
Graham Leitch 20:56 (12 sec PB)
Something to read. The short Q&A below made me laugh
This much I know: David Millar
The 34 -year-old cyclist on his "stupid sport", cheating with drugs and love at first sight
"When I was in prison a policeman gave me crisps and water and sat with me. That was the first time I really cried": David Millar. Photograph: Andy Hall for the Observer
Martin Love
I like my hands. Which is lucky as I have to spend all day looking at them on the handlebars.
I took EPO and cortisone. They work incredibly well. It's like having the best day you've ever had as an athlete – every day. But if you win you only feel relief. If you lose, you think: "I've just cheated for nothing."
My worst day was sitting with my sister on the steps outside the police station in Biarritz after I was arrested in 2004. I was world champion – and a doper. I sat there with everything – and I had nothing.
Our sport will always be dangerous. There is no way you can control 3,500km of racing. But we are professionals. We try not to take risks.
The first time I rode a bike I was four or five. I crashed into the back of a car.
At 18 I dreamed of being a cyclist.Saying you wanted to be a pro-cyclist then was embarrassing. It was such a novelty sport. It would be like a Frenchman saying he wanted to be a cricketer.
I rarely get angry. My wife would say she'd never seen me lose my temper.
I cry when people are nice to me.When I was in prison in Biarritz one of the policeman opened the door and gave me crisps and water and sat with me. That was the first time I really cried.
My worst habit is I always have to be the last man standing on a night out. I hate missing a party. But I am a lovely drunk. I'm gregarious. I'm a party boy.
My sister is the one person who has had the biggest influence on me.She's always looked after her older brother. She'll always pick up the pieces.
I shave my legs twice a week. It's hard the first time you do it. But I'm very lazy. For a team photo in December I just did the fronts.
After I was arrested I spent a day with a psychologist. He dissected my life and told me I was completely normal. That was a real eye-opener.
Most professional athletes marry young. Life is accelerated. You marry young, have kids young, divorce young. I married in my 30s. It was impossible for me to maintain a relationship in my 20s. I was difficult. But in a harmless way.
I spend six months a year on the road. My wife met me in the middle of my two-year drug ban. I told her what it would be like. She's a trooper, but she never comes to my races. I like to do my thing. It's work time.
Love at first sight isn't a myth. I've loved my wife since the day I first saw her.
The drug thing is just shitty. As a sport we are so far ahead of what the public thinks of us. We are in the vanguard of anti-doping. We've never been cleaner.
I'm happiest when I am at home in Gerona with my wife and my two dogs – a Hungarian Vizsla and a Parson's Terrier, a sort of long-legged Jack Russell.
Cycling is such a stupid sport. Next time you are in a car travelling at 40mph think about jumping out – naked. That's what it's like when we crash.
David Millar's autobiography Racing Through The Dark is published by Orion at £18.99
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Bikes and shit....
Someone is cleaning out their bike shed and wants to offer them at a very reasonable cost to club members...
1 Ridley Aluminium/Carbon Forks Winter Bike Full Ultegra Groupset/Mavic Aksium Wheels/ Size 57cm £500
1 Speacialized Globe Hybrid bike size medium only ridden 2/3 times £200
1 Flashpoint (Zipp) Deep Section Carbon Wheel (Front) with alu braking surface £50
Dura Ace Crankset 165mm with Look Keo Carbon Pedals £tbc
Contact Giancarlo for photos or to buy anything.... Fingers crossed I have attached the correct prices, best check before you make an offer :-).
1 Ridley Aluminium/Carbon Forks Winter Bike Full Ultegra Groupset/Mavic Aksium Wheels/ Size 57cm £500
1 Speacialized Globe Hybrid bike size medium only ridden 2/3 times £200
1 Flashpoint (Zipp) Deep Section Carbon Wheel (Front) with alu braking surface £50
Dura Ace Crankset 165mm with Look Keo Carbon Pedals £tbc
Contact Giancarlo for photos or to buy anything.... Fingers crossed I have attached the correct prices, best check before you make an offer :-).
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Anyone need a new TT bike?
Ok, so it's not the bike, but frame, seatpost, bars, saddle, deda newton 110mm stem and brake callipers. It's an XL tall, ridden all of 100 miles if it's lucky :-). 1 careful owner. Geometry etc @ http://www.parleecycles.com/tt/. Aerobars are HED Corsair http://www.hedwheels.com/proddetail.asp?prod=CORS.
Frame has a RRP of £3,000, bars £599, saddle £110, stem £65, brakes no idea :-) so circa £3,800 in total.
Any offers, or anyone know any tall riders...
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Moto GP
Some of you know Roddy who rides with us at Relentless and last weekend he had the pleasure of riding on the back of this at Silverstone!
180 mph on the back of one of these!
Brave!
180 mph on the back of one of these!
Brave!
Thursday, 9 June 2011
London Velodrome
Your chance to ride the London Velodrome!
Fancy going on the London Velodrome? For Hornby's new scalextric ad, they're looking for two men aged 30-40, two boys aged 16 and two boys aged 10-13.
To be eligbile you need to be available on Friday 17 June and hold a track accreditation.
To enter, please email alex.balzaretti@hornby.com with the below information by 10am on Monday 13th June.
- A picture of yourself
- Name
- Address
- Contact details (email and telephone no)
- Age and Date of Birth
- School details (for the youngsters) and chaperones name for the day
- British Cycling membership number
We will confirm successful entries by 5pm Monday 13th June. Travel expenses will also be covered.
Good luck!
Fancy going on the London Velodrome? For Hornby's new scalextric ad, they're looking for two men aged 30-40, two boys aged 16 and two boys aged 10-13.
To be eligbile you need to be available on Friday 17 June and hold a track accreditation.
To enter, please email alex.balzaretti@hornby.com with the below information by 10am on Monday 13th June.
- A picture of yourself
- Name
- Address
- Contact details (email and telephone no)
- Age and Date of Birth
- School details (for the youngsters) and chaperones name for the day
- British Cycling membership number
We will confirm successful entries by 5pm Monday 13th June. Travel expenses will also be covered.
Good luck!
8th June 2011
14! I mean really, 14 at the start and one trailing to the rear who caught up and made it 15! The last time I played with 15, well that was on grass and we were all the same sex...
Lance, Voigts, Schleck, Voeckler, Clancy, Pooley, Pic, Cooke, Hushovd, Menchov, Budgie boy, Davies (Emma), Cippolini, Mark and Retro boy.
Let's start with retro boy who caused a few injuries before the off. Conscious of his transgression towards the fashion faux pas he skulked into the car park Japanese fighter pilot style coming out the sun only to cause a sudden reaction, fighter pilot whiplash as riders did the double take to confirm that their eyes weren't deceiving them. He was indeed wearing the most ridiculous sun glasses they had ever seen! Period! Not quite as cool as these ones, but close!
Lance led us out from the car park and the rest of the bunch followed, save for Pooley who was caught with her knickers down. She missed the off and was chasing from the start as the bunch rolled towards the swing bridge. Voigts got a break in the traffic and Lance severely reprimanded him for being a bald twat and going off like some 18 year old teenager full of testosterone chasing a bit of skirt! Strangely Voigts seemed to take it as a compliment! His public apology is duly noted for this transgression to bunch etiquette.
So once they caught Voigts who was lighting up the west coast with those majestic quads of his the bunch rolled out towards Inchinnan and onto Bishopton. As the pace increased the hand signals and shouts decreased the riding became a little dangerous. Good communication makes us safe, let's work at it.
Down to the Ferry and the usual suspects were beginning to exhibit similar signs to Voigts as their enthusiasm began to grow in anticipation of the competition. A restrained arrival at the Ferry saw young Schleck hitting the front and dragging us up the climb onto the dual carriageway. Cooke was quickly into his wheel and then deciding it wasn't fast enough pulled out to up the pace again. The bunch was down to 14 by now and riders were beginning to get shelled. Through the Langbank roundabout and the bunch was still in double figures. The small climb towards Finlaystone saw a few riders dip into the red and the lines began to break up. Schleck pushed the button again and two lines became one as the WHEELSUCKERS appeared again.
Thor broke the pattern and allowed riders to pull through again until Voigts lifted the pace towards Woodhall. Finally a single figures bunch. It should never be double figures by Woodhall! Clancy, Lance, Schleck, Menchov, Voeckler, Retro boy, Hushovd and Voigts in the mix, with Voigts and Thor having a chat at the rear to discuss the forthcoming climb and inadvertently dropping off the back when Menchov attacked for the tape.
Cooke pulled through up the climb and starting catching the bunch. Menchov was spotted off the bike on the climb checking the tarmac. He hasn't seen it up close for a while so he just got off to say hello and while he was at it he thought he might as well tighten his rear skewer rather than rely on his own weight to hold it in! At the top of the Clune the goats had had their brew up as they waited for the Rouleurs and the ladies. Davies (looking happy) led us out towards Kilmacolm. Young Schleck was caught with his worry beads out and missed the start as he tried to put them away. The bunch drove out and up towards the Knapps and the elastic was already broken.
Schleck at the back and Pic, Davies, Voigt's with the peleton ahead. Hanging off the back Voigts was able to watch the bunch working together and moving as one, albeit quite slowly. Menchov looked a little uncertain of his new setup and sat off the back slightly. Cippo and Cooke dropped off on the Georgetown to join Voigts and Davies at the rear and the bunch pulled through towards the finish together.
As for what happened up front, then perhaps we will get a guest posting later on today. At the rear it was all smiles as it didn't rain!
Lance, Voigts, Schleck, Voeckler, Clancy, Pooley, Pic, Cooke, Hushovd, Menchov, Budgie boy, Davies (Emma), Cippolini, Mark and Retro boy.
Let's start with retro boy who caused a few injuries before the off. Conscious of his transgression towards the fashion faux pas he skulked into the car park Japanese fighter pilot style coming out the sun only to cause a sudden reaction, fighter pilot whiplash as riders did the double take to confirm that their eyes weren't deceiving them. He was indeed wearing the most ridiculous sun glasses they had ever seen! Period! Not quite as cool as these ones, but close!
Lance led us out from the car park and the rest of the bunch followed, save for Pooley who was caught with her knickers down. She missed the off and was chasing from the start as the bunch rolled towards the swing bridge. Voigts got a break in the traffic and Lance severely reprimanded him for being a bald twat and going off like some 18 year old teenager full of testosterone chasing a bit of skirt! Strangely Voigts seemed to take it as a compliment! His public apology is duly noted for this transgression to bunch etiquette.
So once they caught Voigts who was lighting up the west coast with those majestic quads of his the bunch rolled out towards Inchinnan and onto Bishopton. As the pace increased the hand signals and shouts decreased the riding became a little dangerous. Good communication makes us safe, let's work at it.
Down to the Ferry and the usual suspects were beginning to exhibit similar signs to Voigts as their enthusiasm began to grow in anticipation of the competition. A restrained arrival at the Ferry saw young Schleck hitting the front and dragging us up the climb onto the dual carriageway. Cooke was quickly into his wheel and then deciding it wasn't fast enough pulled out to up the pace again. The bunch was down to 14 by now and riders were beginning to get shelled. Through the Langbank roundabout and the bunch was still in double figures. The small climb towards Finlaystone saw a few riders dip into the red and the lines began to break up. Schleck pushed the button again and two lines became one as the WHEELSUCKERS appeared again.
Thor broke the pattern and allowed riders to pull through again until Voigts lifted the pace towards Woodhall. Finally a single figures bunch. It should never be double figures by Woodhall! Clancy, Lance, Schleck, Menchov, Voeckler, Retro boy, Hushovd and Voigts in the mix, with Voigts and Thor having a chat at the rear to discuss the forthcoming climb and inadvertently dropping off the back when Menchov attacked for the tape.
Cooke pulled through up the climb and starting catching the bunch. Menchov was spotted off the bike on the climb checking the tarmac. He hasn't seen it up close for a while so he just got off to say hello and while he was at it he thought he might as well tighten his rear skewer rather than rely on his own weight to hold it in! At the top of the Clune the goats had had their brew up as they waited for the Rouleurs and the ladies. Davies (looking happy) led us out towards Kilmacolm. Young Schleck was caught with his worry beads out and missed the start as he tried to put them away. The bunch drove out and up towards the Knapps and the elastic was already broken.
Schleck at the back and Pic, Davies, Voigt's with the peleton ahead. Hanging off the back Voigts was able to watch the bunch working together and moving as one, albeit quite slowly. Menchov looked a little uncertain of his new setup and sat off the back slightly. Cippo and Cooke dropped off on the Georgetown to join Voigts and Davies at the rear and the bunch pulled through towards the finish together.
As for what happened up front, then perhaps we will get a guest posting later on today. At the rear it was all smiles as it didn't rain!
Monday, 6 June 2011
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