Newsletter Autumn 07

Angus CC Newsletter Autumn 07

DAYLIGHT REFLECTIONS
Charlie

HOW DID I FEEL BEFORE THE EVENT ?
FAIRLY SURE THAT I HAD ENOUGH MILES IN THE LEGS, BUT WAS VERY WORRIED THAT BACK/SPINE/NECK WOULD GIVE OUT. THOUGHT OF 600 K AND SAID MUST BE MAD KEPT TELLING MYSELF ONE CONTROL AT A TIME. (THIS WAS SIMPLE ONCE ON THE ROAD).

THE ROUTE
STARTED DALMENY THEN WENT THROUGH FOLLOWING, KELTY, GLEN DEVON, CREIF,AMULREE, ABERFELDY, CRIANLARICH, ANNOCH/GLENCOE, CORRAN FERRY, ACHARACLE, GLEN FINNAN, FORT WILLIAM, BALLACHULISH, CONNEL, PASS OF BRANDER, CRIANLARICH, LOCHEARNHEAD, CALLENDER, BRIDGE OF ALLAN, CULROSS, + OVER THE ROAD BRIDGE TO DALMENY

TERRAIN AND CONDITIONS
MOSTLY ON MAIN ROADS SO SURFACES REASONABLE, OVERALL LOTS OF CLIMBING BUT NO REALLY STEEP HILLS, (AS FAR AS I WAS CONCERNED). COLD AND WET WITH CROSSWIND TO CREIF, COOL + CROSSWIND BUT DRY TO ABERFELDY. DRY+ TAILWIND TO CRIANLARICH. WET AND WINDY OVER RANNOCH + GLENCOE. BIG IMPROVEMENT FROM THERE WITH EVENING SUNSHINE ROUND BY ACHARACLE (BUT MIDGES WERE OUT IN LARGE NUMBERS). DARKNESS ARRIVED JUST BEFORE FORTWILLIAM WIND HAD NOW DIED DOWN, COLD DURING NIGHT + EARLY MORNING ESPECIALLY BETWEEN TYNDRUM + CRIANLARICH. RETURN FROM THERE IN SUNSHINE AND WARM WITH LITTLE WIND. TRAFFIC FOR THE MOST PART NO PROBLEM BUT VERY IFFY GOING OVER RANNOCH + GLEN COE (EARLY SAT. AFERNOON NOT THE BEST TIME), ALSO THE SHORT SECTION JUST BEFORE ROSYTH BUSY.

THE GOOD BITS
NICE ALONG LOCHTAY, VERY ENJOYABLE AROUND ACHARACLE, THE NIGHT RIDE BETWEEN BALLACHULISH + BENDERLOCH WAS THE BEST (NEVER MORE THAN HALF DARK), EARLY MORNING RUN TO CRIANLARICH, AND OF COURSE REACHING THE FINAL CONTROL.

FEELINGS AT THE END AND AFTERWARDS
TIRED, A BIT STUNNED BECAUSE I GOT ROUND NOT TO BADLY + WITH PLENTY TIME LEFT. LEG MUSCLES REASONABLE BUT KNEES WERE NEEDING A REST. DID I ENJOY IT '? YES (COMPLETING A SELF SET CHALLENGE USUALLY IS). SHOULD I HAVE RESTED LONGER ON THE ROUTE? I DID NOT FEEL OUT OF CONTROL ON THE BIKE BECAUSE OF LACK OF SLEEP, AND AT NO TIIME DID I FEEL UNABLE TO CONTINUE, BUT WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN A BIT BRIGHTER (MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SLEEP ANYWAY.)

WILL I DO ANOTHER I TOLD GUS THAT I WAS ONLY GOING TO DO ONE, HOWEVER MY EXPERIENCES ON THIS ONE MEAN I MIGHT.

PREPARING FOR PBP
Dave Husband

Sometime last year after managing to scrape an SR Series I had a notion to try complete the qualifying SR Series for the 2007 Paris-Brest-Paris. About 2 summers ago I did a sponsored run from London to Paris and thoroughly enjoyed the French cycling experience. I decided that if I could qualify for PBP then I would use it to try and raise sponsorship for my chosen charity, "The Scottish Huntington’s Association"

The campaign started in March when I tackled the 200k Rosewell qualifying event. A difficult run against a chilling gale on the first half then soaked to the skin from Peebles back to Rosewell. Still, never appreciated at the time, completing a hard run provides confidence and stamina for the next event.

Next qualifier was the 321k " 2 Firths from Dalmany" which I did with Charlie. Again a hard first 150k against the wind from Dalmany down through Dumfries to the turning point at Dalbeatie. (apart from the section between Abingdon and Johnstone Bridge which never seems to comply with the prevailing wind). A fairly good time on the retum journey saw me knock 2 hours off last years time for a similar event. Just what I was looking for as wanted to speed up a bit to accumulate rest time on longer events.

The 400k Goodbye Ardgay" was an excellent event with good facilities and controls. Club members Charlie, Dave Fawcett, and Alex, as well as John Fyfe from the Bike Chain also tackled this one. A great route taking us up the coast to Helmsdale before tuming inland and making for Melvich on the North Coast. It was hard work along the top of Scotland following the roller coaster route through Bettyhill and Tongue to Hope where we tumed south again. The arduous 7 mile climb against the wind from Altnahara to the Crask Inn will stick in everybody’s mind when they reflect on this event. The other memorable part of this event was the 3 course meal provided by our hosts back at Ardgay before they sent us up Struie Hill to complete the final 100k. Again quite pleased with my personal time which again was over 2 hours faster than previous 400k. Having also managed reasonable rest stops.

Then had a go at two 600k events. First tackling the Charnock Richards 600 at the end of May followed by the Edinburgh Preston Edinburgh 600k the following weekend. The idea being that if I could recover sufficiently after a few days to tackle another 600 then I might just be able to attempt The PBP 1200k. These events had me climbing over the Shap 4 times in 7 days, cycling through a virtual night club in Carlisle city centre at midnight, and dodging a couple of high spirited youths at Carnforth. The Edi-Preston event threw in an additional challenge when I lost all my money and credit cards at Peebles and didn't notice until I got to Moffat. Don't know what happened maybe my cycling top was on the wrong way round when l slipped my wallet into my back pocket:-) Still got a loan from a fellow cyclist then borrowed some more from relatives in Carlisle on route. On the next Audax at Newtonmore, George Berwick cycled behind me for a while hoping that I might leave a few more tenners in my wake. After the 600s, 2 weeks recuperation in the sun with the family, then trying to keep momentum going until PBP.

Barbeque at Reekie Linn

ln July 9 members made their way to the bothy at Reekie Linn for a camping and barbeque weekend. Members brought along their own food and Keith brought the charcoal, rolls etc. and soon got the barby up and running. Ron procured a barrel of home brew and there was no shortage of other drinks to keep the party going. Most pitched tents around the bothy and thankfully the weather stayed dry although a bit chilly for that time of year. lt turned out to be a fine night with Ali Moug entertaining with a few tunes on the bagpipes before the cool night air drove everyone into the bothy. The barrel of beer and a few nips on offer added to the already good company and it was the early hours of Sunday before we took to our tents. Thankfully Sunday morning was warm and sunny and everyone managed a bit of breakfast before packing up and setting off.

Sunday Runs

The past few months has seen 2 Sunday runs on several occasions. The 2nd run sometimes the ladies, and sometimes mixed, goes at a more sociable pace although the distance is often similar to that of the main run. Ron Harrow is quite keen to continue this trend and would be willing to accompany any member who might want to choose this option.

Club Weekend in October

Keith Buckingham has arranged another club weekend in October Fri 12th - Sunday 14th with accommodation at lnvertrossachs near Callander. The following members have booked: K Buckingham, T Ward, M Ward, J Dickson, G Anton, M Baird, N Johnston, E Grewer, R Harrow, P Harrow, C Irvine, D Husband, S Sutherland, D Fawcett, P Hargreaves, B Coull, J Coull, A Patterson, Rod (Sorry don’t know your surname) A Patterson.

Details for the weekend will be sent out closer to the date.

Meetings

There will be a quarterlv meeting in the club rooms on Thursday the 13th September at 7:30 PM.
The AGM will be on Sundav 28th of October at 2:30 pm following a short club run.

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