Central Scotland May Ride

[scook94]

Skook94, if this manages to be a weekend that I can do, do you fancy riding from Stirling up to Dunblane or alternatively meet them on the way there, say Deanston?

Well, I was thinking about this last night. Currently at my level of fitness the uphill from Stirling to Dunblane would kill me and the prospect of a 60-odd km ride afterwards might be too much. So I was contemplating getting the train to Dunblane and then it'd be downhill into Stirling at the end. Deanston is a possibility though.

Of course I hope to improve my fitness between now and then...

 

[eldudino]

the uphill from Stirling to Dunblane would kill me ... Deanston is a possibility though.

That was exactly why I thought Deanston would be a good choice, nice and flat from there to Stirling! My fitness level would also be challenged getting up the hill to Dunblane!

 

[scook94]

Deanston it is then (if that's the route chosen)? Just depends if it's on a weekend I can manage...

 

[MrRidley]

That Trossachs run is exactly the kind of thing I'd hoped to be doing when I decided to get back on a bike. What sort of average speed do you guys do on one of these things? I'm not sure that right now I'd be able to keep up without some sort of coronary. But I guess I have some time to get my fitness level up before May time...

That was my big fear, also as a solo rider most of the time i was quite wary of riding in a group, but have no fear as everyone is made to feel very welcome and i can't wait for the next rides to come up, i just wish i had more speed from my hybrid to catch up with the big boys up the front who did'nt seem to be breaking sweat, but a most enjoyable day was had by all

 

[TechMech]

That Trossachs run is exactly the kind of thing I'd hoped to be doing when I decided to get back on a bike. What sort of average speed do you guys do on one of these things? I'm not sure that right now I'd be able to keep up without some sort of coronary. But I guess I have some time to get my fitness level up before May time...

Mate I'm 17st 9lbs and 6ft 4in, and on the last ride i was seriously the rear gunner, virtually all the way round. After being out only three times before this year for an 11 mile run (which is pretty flat), i was by no means prepared for the 45 degree hills (well they looked that way to me that faced us at the start of the ride. Plus it was 20 miles round going up and down these hills.

At no time was i left to flounder on my own, as Hairy Jock stuck with me practically all the way round. There was loads of encouragement from several of the members and no one, it seems, was bothered by me holding them all up (although i did feel pretty bad about it).

But i made it round the route and i'm pretty chuffed with myself for doing it. Also after seeing the comments posted back about the last ride and the encouragement i'm getting, i'm definately going to out on the next one, where ever that ends up being, and i think you should come along too (if you can make it of course).

It's not a race, it's a day out for cycling and banter

 

[scook94]

...... i'm definately going to out on the next one, where ever that ends up being, and i think you should come along too (if you can make it of course).

It's not a race, it's a day out for cycling and banter

The more unfit old duffers at the back of the pack the better?

 

[Scoosh]

The more unfit old duffers at the back of the pack the better?

So those 'unfit old duffers' get encouraged to become fitter and move up the pack, allowing more UOD to join in - yup, that's a fairly accurate description of what we are about

 

[ACS]

I would just like to be fit enough to hang off the back of the UOD's

 

[eldudino]

What about the unfit young (is under 30 young?) duffers? I'd like to claim my rightful title as Prince Unfit Young Duffer, you lot can slug it out for the king of the UOD's!

 

[ACS]

What about the unfit young (is under 30 young?) duffers? I'd like to claim my rightful title as Prince Unfit Young Duffer, you lot can slug it out for the king of the UOD's!

King... not me might just make head chef in the royal house hold.

Anyway age is only important if you are a lump of cheese.

Retires walking backwards doffing cap

 

[HJ]

Looks the sheep dog at the back is going to busy keeping the stragglers together More time to look at the scenery, given that the most popular route is the Trossachs, that is no bad thing D:

Ok so it looks as if there is a clear route choice, how are we doing on a date for the first ride?

We can do the second choice ride on a later date...

 

[goo_mason]

Ok so it looks as if there is a clear route choice, how are we doing on a date for the first ride?

We can do the second choice ride on a later date...

Imagine my confusion when I mistakenly opened up Cyclechat instead of the online dating forum I was aiming for and took HJ's comments in completely the wrong way....

 

[TechMech]

As for lunch, on the Trossachs ride, at the turn around point of HLaB's route (as apposed to the one in my blog in which I went on to Loch Katrine) there is a very nice wee pub with excellent food (at least it was last time I was there)...

HJ is this the pub in Brig O Turk? If so, i've been reliably informed (by a resident no less ) that this pub is closed and is not likely to open any time soon

However, she did say there was a cafe place on the north road of the loch, that's right next to the water, but she didn't know if it was open on Sunday's or not.

 

[MrRidley]

Can we have the next ride as soon as possible please as i am in need of more miles, in an attempt to get some more in i went along on a go-bike ride yesterday, i should have realised what i was in for when the guy leading us was wearing denims, anyway after about 20mls or so he decides to lead us along the strathkelvin path ok for me but not for the two 60yr old's on their vintage raleigh's who could'nt keep upright on the muck, so after a stop off at clachan of campsie and big al's bike shop i left them to go on my merry way vowing never to go on a go-bike ride once again

 

[HLaB]

I like to go on Spokes rides (the Edinburgh equivalent of Go bike) it can get mucky sometimes too so I do them on my heavy, wide tyred commuter. The pub stops usually make up for it.