Glasgow Couriers CC 25Mile TT/ WOSCA Novice Championships

By Colin Meikle

The weather seems to be a common theme in resent posts and this one is no different. 4 St Chris riders (Andy W, Colin G, Colin M and Derek) took part in the 25 mile TT held at Uplawmoor on Wednesday 25th May. The course started just outside of Ulawmoor and went straight down the A736 to Irvine and back so there was no chance of going off course.
 The weather had been changeable most of the day but half an hour before the start it settled down to cold, pouring rain and stiff cross wind. I attempted a quick warm up under a sheet of tarpaulin stretched between my boot lid and a fence but the pretty ineffective, the only way to warm up  was to stay in the car with the heaters on.
Once underway the route it'self was OK, the standing water and strong winds made me a little nervous particularly in the first half which was fast (pretty much down hill all the way). The strong gusting wind made it difficult to stay in any predictable position on the road, which was not great as there was a reasonable amount of traffic.  The return leg was hard with some long uphill drags, however the slower speed made it feel safer. I can imagine this would be a very good course on a quiet sunny morning and I look forward to trying it again in better conditions. This night I was just glad to get of the bike, I don't think I've ever been so wet and cold on a "summer's" evening. The conditions didn't slow everyone the fastest time was a very fast 55.19!
Full results:


45 Robin Wilkins Velo Ecosse 00.55.19
47 Iain Grant Dooleys Cycles 00.56.34
40 Eddie Addis Velo Ecosse 00.57.21
51 Jim Cusick Glasgow Couriers CC 00.57.25
43 Jamie Kennedy Glasgow Couriers CC 00.57.39
49 Tam Gordon Dooleys Cycles 00.57.48
36 Matt Hennon Inverclyde Velo 00.59.05
38 Paul Friel Glasgow Couriers CC 00.59.48
21 Peter Collins Team Icarus 01.00.21
7 Gareth Barnes Walkers Cycling Club 01.00.58
34 Scott Hawkins Glasgow Couriers CC 01.01.07
41 Sean Gray Dooleys Cycles 01.01.13
33 Mark SkillingAyr Roads/Harry 01.01.23
20 William Aiton East Kilbride RC 01.01.44
31 Scott Newman Inverclyde Velo 01.01.48
37 Kenny Kentley Equipe Velo Ecosse 01.02.29
14 Neil CampbellAyr Roads/ Harry 01.02.43
12 Alex McPhee Dales CRT 01.02.47
6 Robert Kelly Ayr Roads/ Harry 01.02.51
22 Kenneth ChristieJohnstone Wheelers 01.03.42
23 John AndersonGlasgow Couriers CC 01.04.03
16 Colin GillespieSt Christophers CC 01.04.08
8 Derek McMillanSt Christophers CC 01.04.29
32 Gary Maher Dales CRT 01.05.11
11 Richard MacPhersonGlasgow United CC 01.05.52
5 Colin Meikle St Christophers CC 01.06.25
2 Patricia Baird Inverclyde Velo 01.06.42
29 Bob Taylor Dooleys Cycles 01.06.49
25 Mike FergusonJohnstone Wheelers 01.07.05
24 Fred Connor VC Glasgow South 01.07.53
10 Martin Shields Dales CRT 01.08.05
3 Charles Adams VC Glasgow South 01.09.01
4 Val Martin Dales CRT 01.09.15
17 Paul Hornby Glasgow Ivy CC 01.09.18
27 Jocky Johnstone Team Icarus 01.10.32
26 Frazer Grant Dales CRT M/V 01.11.32
15 Peter Forsyth Walkers Cycling Club 01.12.07
9 Grant Thomson Stirling Bike Club 01.12.54
18 Tommy Gribbon Walkers Cycling Club 01.14.04
13 Isobel FletcherGlasgow Wheelers CC 01.14.45
1 Andrew Wilson St Christophers CC 01.17.08

City of Stirling Wheelers 10 TT

by Colin Meikle

This event was held on Wednesday 11th May at Cambusbarron. The best way to describe the weather was changeable, I arrived in bright sunshine and went to sign on, when I cam out 5 minutes later it was heavy rain. By the time I got ready the rain and stopped and there was only a light breeze, 10 minutes later the rain was back with a very strong cross wind, with the deep front wheel I was struggling to say on a straight line and seriously thought of not starting but the rain stopped and the wind eased just in time. It was hard going into the wind on the outward leg and as always at Cambusbarron I could swear the return leg is much further than the outwards leg! A time of 24.36 was not bad from me on a windy night.

1 Robin Wilkins Velo Ecosse 21.19
2 Eddie Addis Velo Eccosse 21.25
3 Jamie Kennedy Glasgow Cours 21.32
4 Graeme Cockburn Glasgow Whls 21.33
5 Iain Duguid Bicycleworks.com 21.40
6 Graeme Hay Stirling BC 21.43
7 Ian King Velocity 44 21.57
8 Jon Clarke Glasgow Whls 22.05
9 Jeremy Greengrass Vortex Raceteam 22.05
10 Kevin Lackie Elgin CC 22.13
11 Ross Laidlaw Kelso Whls 22.20
12 Mat Lock Velocity 44 22.33
13 G. Shuttleworth Velocity 44 22.37
14 Jes. Wilson-Young Edinburgh RC 22.39
15 Bill Aiton East Kilbride RC 22.39 22.39
16 Paul Friel Glasgow Cours 22.41
17 Jason Barnes Glas. Nightingale 22.52
18 Mark Baugh Stirling BC 23.08
19 Allan MacLean Glasgow Whls 23.18
20 William Bunyan Dunfermline CC 23.21
21 Timothy May Peebles CC 23.28
22 Colin Sim Aberdeen Whls 23.36
23 Graham Jones Edinburgh RC 23.36
24 Derek Clark Dundee Whls 23.43
25 Eric Easson Glasgow Whls 24.11
26 Paul Anderson Musselbgh. RCC 24.23
27 Richard Reade VC Glas. South 24.28
28 Colin Humphries West/L Clarrion 24.33
29 Stuart Easton Stirling BC 24.33
30 Jocky Johnstone Team Icarus 24.33
31 Colin Meikle St. Christ CC 24.36
32 Neil McFarlane Falkirk BC 24.52
33 Charles Gillies Stirling BC 24.57 
34 Gordon Johnston S.Wallace Cycles 25.08
35 Jim Reid Dunfermline CC 25.09
36 Errol Bennie Glasgow Whls 25.37
37 Anna Harris Angus Bikechain 26.04
38 Aileen Scott Private Member 26.09
39 John Hunter Ythan CC 26.31
40 R. Shuttleworth CSW 26.53
41 Graham Newton Law Whls 26.54
42 Jane Stevenson Edinburgh RC 26.59
43 Katherine Wren Stirling BC 27.07
44 Isobel Fletcher Glasgow Whls 27.21
45 George Skinner Royal Albert CC 30.11
Michael Devlin St. Christ. CC DNS
Frank Anderson West/L Clarrion DNS
Iain Taylor Dunfermline CC DNS
Mir Sadiq West/L Clarrion DNS
Andy Duncan Ythan CC DNS
Derek Stewart Deeside Thst DNS
George McCarter Inverclyde DNS
Jamie Drever Glasgow Whls DNS
Stephen Blom Glasgow Cours DNS 

Weekend TTs

It was a busy weekend with a number of St Cris riders taking part in TTs over the weekend. The VC Glasgow South TT was held on the Saturday and the Inverclyde Velo/Jason Mac Intyre Memorial on the Sunday   With a long period of good weather it had to come to an end sometime and neither day was great. Saturday turned out to be dry but windy, the wind was replaced with rain for the Sunday. I guess it could of been worse with wind and rain on the same day!

Pictures from both events can be found here:

http://imacimages.com/cart/photocart/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=2518
http://imacimages.com/cart/photocart/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=2519

Results
7 MAY VC GLASGOW SOUTH                    8 May INVERCLYDE Velo
Iain Grant Dooleys CRT        20.33            I.Grant Dooley's RT V40 09:30 20.41  
Tam Gordon Dooleys CRT        21.13      J.Cusick Glasgow Couriers V49 09:50 20.54
Barry McGurk Glasgow Couriers 21.14         B.McGurk Glasgow Couriers S 09:46 21.09
Jamie Kennedy Glasgow Couriers 21.33        D.Gibson Dooley's RT V40 09:20 21.18
Jim Cusick Glasgow Couriers    21.39       G.Cockburn Glasgow Wheelers V40 09:10 21.20
Gary Robson Gala CC           21.42       T.Gordon Dooleys RT V40 09:52 21.22
David Gibson Dooleys CRT      21.46       A.Torrance Dooley's RT V40 09:27 21.34
Grant Smith Dunfermline CC    21.49       j.Clarke Glasgow Wheelers S 09:51 21.39
John Clarke Glasgow Wheelers  22.13       M.Hennan Inverclyde Velo S 09:05 21.42
Ian Sim Glasgow Couriers       22.21       S.Grey Dooley's RT V40 09:40 22.01
Jeremy Greengrass Vortex RT   22.25     G.Stead Fullarton Wheelers V40 09:15 22.20
Ross Laidlaw Kelso Wheelers   22.29     H.Jamieson Dooley's RT V40 09:47 22.27
Alan Robertson East Kilbride RC 22.34       S.BloonGlasgow Glasgow Couriers S 09:53 22.29
Tom Worthington Vortex RT    22.54     D.Millar Glasgow Couriers V60 09:35 22.30
Gerry McGaritty Inverclyde Velo 22.56       D.Anderson Glasgow Nightingale CC V40 09:56 22.38
David Anderson Glasgow        22.59       R.Laidlaw Kelso Wheelers S 09:42 22.42
Jessica Wilson-Young Edinburgh 23.03       W.KaneEast East Kilbride Road Club V40 09:38 22.43
Bill Aiton East Kilbride RC   23.04       J.Drever Glasgow Wheelers V 09:25 22.50
Andy d1ckson Johnstone Wheelers 23.09     D.Robinson North Argyll V40 09:43 22.53
Graham Jones Edinburgh RC     23.11       P.Friel Glasgow Couriers V40 09:04 22.56
David Millar Glasgow Couriers 23.12      J.Ryland Fullarton Wheelers V40 09:13 22.56
John Anderson Glasgow Couriers 23.12       A.McPhee Dales CRT V50 09:06 23.16
Derek McMillan St Christophers 23.13       S.Newman Inverclyde Velo S 09:16 23.39
Steve Beech Sandy Wallace C   23.16      J.Anderson Glasgow Couriers V50 09:02 23.44
Mike Ferguson Johnstone Wheelers 23.26     J.Johnstone Icarus V60 09:41 23.44
Graham Lawrie Gala CC            23.29     C.Adams VC Glasgow South V50 09:03 23.47
David Wards West Lothian Clario 23.29     M.Shields Dales CRT V50 09:12 23.49
George McCarter Inverclyde Velo 23.32     D.Robinson Inverclyde Velo V50 09:33 23.49
Paul Friel Glasgow Couriers   23.33       M.Ferguson Johnstone Wheelers V50 09:18 23.56
Scott Glasgow Glasgow Nighting 24.02       C.Meikle St Christophers V40 09:26 24.06
Tom Bishop Dunfermline CC     24.06    R.Reade VC Glasgow South S 09:17 24.16
Bob Taylor Dooleys CRT        24.16        M.Patterson Glasgow Nightingale CC V40 09:36 24.45
Eric Easson Glasgow Wheelers   24.20       P.Baird Inverclyde Velo LV 09:11 24.48
Jocky Johnstone Team Icarus   24.23       G.Balden Johnstone Wheelers S 09:19 24.57
Vicky Begg Johnstone Wheelers 24.43       T.May Inverclyde Velo V40 09:01 25.00
Paul Anderson Musselburgh RCC 24.47       F.Grant Dales CRT 09:29 25.02
Diana Farrell Hervelo         25.30         E.Lowden Glasgow Wheelers S 09:21 25.08
Alan Jardine Law Wheelers     25.42       S.Martin Nevis Cycles V50 09:28 25.28
Nicky Cronin Glasgow Wheelers 25.55       W.Munro Glasgow Wheelers V60 09:49 25.43
David Haddock Inverclyde Velo 26.29       V.Martin Dales CRT LV 09:24 25.45
Isobel Fletcher Glasgow Wheelers27.14       D.Haddock inverclyde Velo V40 09:39 25.49
Alan Rutherford St Christophers 27.17       E.Wells Unattached L 09:37 26.55
Gabriella Nordin Sandy Wallace  27.18       G.Skinner Royal Albert V60 09:32 30.21
Alan Cullie St Christophers CC  28.02          D.Walker Kelso Wheelers V40 09:44 DNF
Sean Gray Dooleys CRT DNF                  A.Kitson Nevis Cycles V60 09:22 OFF COURSE
Richard Egan East Kilbride RC DNS          P.BerrieNevis Nevis Cycles V60 09:54 OFF COURSE
Mandy Cullie St Christophers CC DNS         B.Taylor Dooley's RT V60 09:07 DNS
David McLellan Fularton WheelersDNS         I.Loughlan Glasgow RC V50 09:08 DNS
Frank Anderson West Lothian ClarionDNS     J.Hedrie VC Glasgow South V40 09:09 DNS
Steven Mooney Glasgow Nightingale CCDNS    E.Easson Glasgow Wheelers V60 09:14 DNS
Jim Middleton VC Glasgow South DNS          A.Jardine Law Wheelers V50 09:23 DNS
Gordon Johnston Sandy Wallace CyclesDNS    F.Anderson West Lothian Clarion 09:31 DNS
                                                                 G.T. Adams SVTTA V50 09:34 DNS
                                                                D.Mclellan Fullarton Wheelers V40 09:45 DNS
                                                              C.McGowan Law Wheelers S 09:48 DNS

Margaret Dooley Trophy 10 mile TT

By Colin Meikle

This 10 mile TT was held on the Bishopton course on Wednesday 4th. The weather was kind to us with the wind dying off as we started. There was a bit of headwind on the way back but nothing too bad. I was the only St Chris rider and for me a pretty good night with a time 24.33. This was pretty close to my PB so hopefully I can improve on this a minute faster than my last outing so going in the right direction.

Full Results:

Iain Grant Dooleys R T 00:20:32
Chris Smart Glasgow Couriers 00:20:41
Jim Cusick Glasgow Couriers 00:20:52
Graeme Cockburn Glasgow Wheelers 00:21:07
Alan Thomson Glasgow Couriers 00:21:18
Tam Gordon Dooleys R T 00:21:20
Barry McGurk Glasgow Couriers 00:21:21
Ian Sim Glasgow Couriers 00:21:22
David Gibson Dooleys RT 00:21:23
Jamie Kennedy Glasgow Couriers 00:21:28
Craig d1ck Glasgow Wheelers 00:21:38
Euan Pope Glasgow Couriers 00:21:51
Matt Hennon Inverclyde Velo 00:21:55
Sean Gray Dooleys R T 00:22:11
Jon Clarke Glasgow Wheelers 00:22:16
Jessica Wilson-Young Edinburgh R C 00:22:19
Christopher Staples Fullarton Wheelers 00:22:22
Gerry McMarrity Inverclyde Velo 00:22:22
Benjamin Peacock Johnstone Wheelers 00:22:28
Sadiq Mir West Lothian Clarion 00:22:37
Bill Aiton EKRC 00:22:37
Paul Friel Glasgow Couriers 00:22:37
Scott Newman Inverclyde Velo 00:22:41
Jamie Drever Glasgow Wheelers 00:22:44
David Millar Glasgow Couriers 00:22:46
Gordon Stead Fullarton Wheelers 00:22:48
Ian Mcmullan Dooleys RT 00:22:49
Alex McPhee Dales CRT 00:22:51
Douglas Kirkham Musselburgh RCC 00:23:01
George McCarter Inverclyde velo 00:23:03
Stephen Cooper Sandy Wallace Cycles 00:23:04
David Anderson Glasgow Nightingale 00:23:06
Robert Wilson Glasgow Couriers 00:23:10
Sian Tovey Dooley's Cycles RT 00:23:15
Kenny Ayre City of Edinburgh 00:23:18
Kelly Van Der Toorn Dooleys Cycles RT 00:23:35
Barry Crumlish Glasgow Couriers 00:23:37
Mike Ferguson Johnstone Wheelers 00:23:44
Eric Easson Glasgow Wheelers 00:23:46
Jocky Johnstone Team Icarus 00:24:00
James Hendrie V.C. Glasgow South 00:24:01
Tom May Inverclyde Velo 00:24:02
Richard Reade VC Glasgow South 00:24:12
Geoff Smith Glasgow Couriers 00:24:22
Colin Meikle St. Christophers 00:24:33
Vicky Begg Johnstone Wheelers 00:24:35
Gavin Haddock Inverclyde Velo 00:24:36
Neil McFarlane Falkirk BC 00:24:52
Elaine Louden Glasgow Wheelers 00:24:58
Frazer Grant Dales CRT 00:25:00
Val Martin Dales CRT 00:25:05
Paul Hornby Glasgow Ivy 00:25:09
Gordon Johnston Sandy Wallace Cycles 00:25:25
David Haddock Inverclyde Velo 00:25:28
Patricia Baird Inverclyde Velo 00:25:33
Alan Jardine Law Wheelers 00:25:37
David McLellan Fullarton Wheelers 00:25:38
Jane Stevenson Edinburgh RC 00:26:59
Erin Falconer Inverclyde Velo 00:28:30
George Skinner Royal Albert 00:29:42

The Drumlandrig Sportive

By Colin Meikle

The Drumlandrig Sportive is set in the glorious scenery and traffic free roads around Drumlanrig Castle in the Southern Uplands. The organizers have changed the route slightly  over the years in fact I don’t think there have been 2 the same, In it’s current format you can choose a 62 mile or 38 mile loop or you can do both to give you a 100 miles. If you choose to do the 100 miles the unique thing about this ride is you finish the first loop back at the start and the clock stops, so you can take a leisurely lunch (I’m not really sure that’s a good thing!)

The sun was shining and I met Andy Wilson at the start, it was cool  but warming up nicely, so a day for the short sleeved shirts we though. After the usual deliberation of what to take in your pockets we lined up to start and we off about 9.00AM

Now I’m not normally a superstitious person, I’ll happily walk under a ladder and I wouldn’t fret over a cracked mirror but I do believe if you mention the word Punct*** you’ll get one in fact it’s worse than that as they come in threes. I’d been checking my bike over on Friday and noticed the rear tyre was wearing a little thin, I’d not had a punct*** for a long time so I thought I was riding my luck with the thin tyres. So I changed it over to a brand new one. No need to worry about punct***s I said to the wife as I packed up and immediately wished I hadn’t

Anyway we had gone about a mile when  I hit a pot hole, I seen the pot hole, the organizers had painted round it with yellow paint ( I must admit filling it may had been a better option). By the time I’d realized why someone had painted yellow circles on the road it was too late, I’d punctured. I got if fixed pretty quickly but by that time everyone was long gone and the next group has also passed. I pressed on trying to catch a group, I finally caught sight of people on the first major climb, Tynron Hill  and half way up I spotted Andy.   Tynron Hill  is a tough hill it’s very steep and the surface is terrible, there was already a line of people pushing as I wound my way up. By the time I reached the top Andy was on his way down. The descent into Penpont is a dangerous one, it’s a steep straight hill but for the unwary there is a 90 bend onto a main road at the bottom. I caught Andy at the bottom and we cycled along together for a good few miles. When we started to climb again I left Andy and went on alone I got in a few small groups but nothing really lasted. We were now out in open moorland, the scenery in the sunshine was fantastic but wind was getting strong and with no shelter it was hard work, you were either into the wind or getting buffeted by strong crosswinds. 25 miles gone we approached Dalry when another puncture. I got it fixed but I was now out of tubes and we are on 25 miles in! However Andy arrived and gave me one of his spares which was very kind of him. So I was off chasing again keen to make up lost time but the wind was now a major battle it was head on and energy zapping. I joined a small group of other riders and we worked together, it was hard work in the wind but the shared effort was worth it to keep the speed up. We finally turned on to small gravel roads again and the group broke up.  20 miles from the end of the first loop I hit another pot hole and the third puncture of the morning. I’d now used Andy’s spare but one of the marshals stopped with a track pump which allowed me to get my tyre fully inflated. I was happy now I’d had my 3 punct***s and my tyre was properly pumped up so I’d be OK now (and I was). It was pretty fast back to the start however  I’d forgotten there was one final climb but with lunch in sight I didn’t mind.

Back at the start the sun was out and there were ample sandwiches and cakes. I was nice relaxing in the sun and I still felt good, it was tempting just to pack up and not start again. I didn’t want a repeat of the morning punctures so I stocked up with the spare tubes and pumped the tyres up to 120psi.. I met Andy but he was only doing the morning loop so finally I thought I’d better start the second loop. In the “start pen” I was the only one starting. Looking around there was still a lot of people I guess many of them decided to call it a day, Off I went alone and that’s how it stayed till I finished. The first section of the afternoon was on some rough roads, the extra air in my tyres helped with the punct***s but I could feel every grain of sand I went over never mind the stones and holes. Finally I turned onto the main road  and onto the Mennock Pass. I was now wishing I’d not started the afternoon loop, the wind going up the Mennock was incredible and I battled just to keep the bike moving forward, the climb was never ending at such a slow pace, even when over the top I still had to peddle down hill! Finally after what seemed like and endless afternoon I reached Elvanfoot, I knew then that the wind would be at my back and most of the remaining 16 miles. Long spells at 30mph+ and I was finally back at the start.

The scenery was spectacular in the sunshine but the wind made it very hard going but still a great day, even the puct***s didn’t spoil the day.

Just remember never mention that word and always carry 3 spares!

Tynron Hill  very steep an not in good condition!