West Lothian Roadies

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  • Fat Head
    Fat Head Posts: 765
    I had been thinking of driving to Patterdale actually then on to Ambleside, Eskdale via Wrynose and Hardknott passes then just reversing the route. It gives a total run of just over 50 miles.

    grant, with this run you wouldnt have much time to enjoy the scenery, believe me! probably do anything else other than this......at an average speed of 8-9mph which I think is likely for this run it would take you at least 5 hours not even factoring in stops

    you should be looking for 2 or 3 climbs...a fortnight ago i stayed 4 miles from the foot of hardnott west and didnt even bother going near it on a bike, preferring to get out for a couple of hours on a nice run from eskdale, over birker fell, ulpha, corney fell
  • SparkyP
    SparkyP Posts: 259
    Good Evening Gents

    I have reluctantly decided to sell the clothes horse :?

    The Clothes Horse in question is a Large,Black Giant Bowey Fixed/Single Speed from 2008 that has been built up,but never seen Tarmac.The brake cables have not even been cut!! :oops: and the fixed sprocket is still in a plastic bag.Giant say that it should riders between 5'11" and 6'2".

    So,if you know anyone looking for a New bike at a £225 (2009 model is £400.00) then send me a PM or post here.I would prefer collection from West Lothian,so postage would be extra.....

    Cheers

    Mark.
    http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/
  • grantus
    grantus Posts: 690
    Mark! How could you!

    P.S. post it on Gumtree - I had mine on there for a while before I decided to keep it and i'm still getting people enquiring about it (even though I've asked Gumtree to remove the ad). I reckon I got 7 or 8 enquiries for it from around Central Scotland.

    Richyboy - thanks again for all the advice, likewise Sadiq.

    Cheers,

    Grant
    www.westlothianclarion.co.uk
  • SparkyP
    SparkyP Posts: 259
    Grant-Knees..... :(
    http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/
  • grantus
    grantus Posts: 690
    Ah, do you get trouble then?

    That's a pity. I've felt quite a difference in my leg strength each time I've been out on the fixie and the day after hasn't been as painful - despite increasing the distance each time. Hopefully it will enable me to keep up with all the old men in the club next year :wink:
    www.westlothianclarion.co.uk
  • SparkyP
    SparkyP Posts: 259
    Hi Grant

    I wouldn't say problems,as they have been OK until the past two weeks or so.
    After the weekend runs they are a bit sore-hence the reason for not pursuing the fixed option.I am a bit hacked off as i was looking forward to (hopefully) having a better pedal stroke next season,but better look after the knees-me being one of the "old men in the club" :wink:

    I have had a bit of interest already. :D

    Mark.
    http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/
  • OS 65
    OS 65 Posts: 415
    Old man? you're practically a bairn compared to some of us oldster!

    Maybe its your set up that's causing knee problems? Do you get knee pain on your regular bike? I had a few twinges early last year but had a fiddle with my shoe plates and it seemed to solve the problem.

    Alex in my office in edinburgh would be interested in the Bike- I'll send him your email address.

    OS 65
  • SparkyP
    SparkyP Posts: 259
    Hi OS

    Its after the weekend runs that i have the issue,but i have not done anything to the shoes,and my winter bike is set up the same as my good bike :?
    I may have to tinker a bit...

    Mark.
    http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/
  • OS 65
    OS 65 Posts: 415
    I found this website useful

    http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/bikefit.html

    If you make any changes make them small ones.

    where is your knee pain? Do you stretch? I find that any knee niggles can be alleviated by stretches that work on the hamstring and quads.


    OS 65
  • grantus
    grantus Posts: 690
    All,

    Following on from the minutes of the committee meeting regarding organising of rides, etc., etc.,

    I was wondering if we could run a Reliability Ride?

    Falkirk and Stirling BC do theirs in February and I thought it could be a good idea for WLC to do one.

    I'd asked on SBC's forum about this and they don't bother with anything too formal such as an entry fee and food at the end, etc. They just send the groups off and away you go.

    I thought seeing as our Sunday runs seem to be quite popular we could manage to get a decent number and make two or maybe three groups?

    Any thoughts?
    www.westlothianclarion.co.uk
  • OS 65
    OS 65 Posts: 415
    Good idea Grantus I reckon it would prove popular

    Just need someone to organise it... :wink:

    Here is a definition of a reliability trial here
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliability_trial

    Instead of having having designated control points, it could be a treasure hunt - the rider would have to bring back answers to clues - a carving on a rock in a particular town etc to prove they had followed the route.

    I like the 100 in 8 ratio

    I guess the organiser would have to decide how much of a trial it would need to be - for instance if it started and finished in LInlithgow do we need someone who would be happy to be available when riders set off and then finished?

    Open events are a bit more complicated to sort out compared to club events, but as yet I'm not entirely sure what needs to be done for an open event, maybe keep it club confined this year as a test run

    I could design some certificates to give out to successful finishers!

    OS 65 :
  • grantus
    grantus Posts: 690
    Matt,

    I am happy to organise it and sit out the ride if people want to chip in with suggestions of preferred months, routes, etc.
    www.westlothianclarion.co.uk
  • grantus
    grantus Posts: 690
    Oh, I'll find out when FBC and SBC and Stirling Tri-Club run theirs so we don't clash with dates.

    From memory of their website Stirling do theirs over to Comrie, Lochearnhead, Callander and back to Stirling.

    Stirling Tri go through Glendevon to Dollar and Falkirk go up into Fife past Dollar as well if memory serves me correctly.

    Anyone care to propose a nice hilly 60-70 mile loop that takes in the best roads West Lothian has to offer?

    From the feedback I got on SBC website their chap suggested their rides may be better attended if they had them later in Spring instead of February - or we could always be first and do it in January?
    www.westlothianclarion.co.uk
  • grantus
    grantus Posts: 690
    sorry Matt, didn't read your post properly re. 100 in 8.


    I'd be happy to go with the general consensus re. distance
    www.westlothianclarion.co.uk
  • OS 65
    OS 65 Posts: 415
    If it was club confined it probably wouldn't matter when we did it, Traditionally in Feb or March? The Dalmaney audax is in March so I'd say Feb. Your route on Bikley looks ok?

    Or maybe there is this one with some extra twiddles?

    http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Forth-Finale218620

    os 65
  • ElCampesino
    ElCampesino Posts: 146
    Happy to help organising the reliability trial. I've done a few in the past (and always got lost!).

    EC.
  • grantus
    grantus Posts: 690
    Nice one Tobias,

    Shall we pencil in a couple of dates for consideration?

    How about last weekend in Feb or first in March?
    www.westlothianclarion.co.uk
  • BillR1
    BillR1 Posts: 271
    Guys,

    I usually do the Musselburgh Audax, 100km, at the end of February and thought it would be a good event to show the world our new club gear in mass.
    The route is excellent and includes the climb of Red Rig which is a fair wee lump. How about getting some names together to do this, who would be interested?

    This would be a good warm up for our own reliability trial 100 miler ???

    Bill
  • grantus
    grantus Posts: 690
    Yes, I would give it a bash
    www.westlothianclarion.co.uk
  • dm10599
    dm10599 Posts: 60
    Bill, I would also give it a try.

    David
  • BillR1
    BillR1 Posts: 271
    Here is a link to the page showing map of the route etc. have a look and see what you think.
    http://www.musselburghrcc.co.uk/menu_frame.htm

    Bill
  • dm10599
    dm10599 Posts: 60
    Bill, just had a look online it looks good. I have never been on those roads before and wonder if the route is clearly marked. You know what i'm like with directions.

    Also can you advise how steep the climb of Redstone Rig is and would I manage it without a compact.

    Thanks David

    When do you expect the new clothing to be available
  • BillR1
    BillR1 Posts: 271
    David,

    The route is very clearly marked and there is usually a very big turn out as well as most road clubs use it as a pre season warm up so pace can be a wee bit frantic !!!

    I need a compact for the climb but it depends on your ability I suppose but it is a bit of a long climb and relentless in places. A lot of people walked up it the last time we entered.

    Club kit hopefully will be here before Santa comes.

    Bill
  • dm10599
    dm10599 Posts: 60
    Thanks for that. Club kit being added to list for Santa.

    Can anyone advise if I can put smaller rings on my standard Ultegra chainset so save buying a new one.

    David
  • grantus
    grantus Posts: 690
    David,

    I have an unused triple chainset 48/38/28 and a used compact 50/34 however both require a square taper bottom bracket.

    They aren't as swanky as Ultegra - triple is Suntour and compact is generic unbranded stuff imported by Raleigh.

    If you want one I'd swap you for a couple of spare tubes? Or if you just want it for the day you could borrow it gratis. I suppose you'll have external bearings though if you're running nice Ultegra?

    Sorry but I don't know the answer to your original question - It would depend on the bolt circle diameter whether you could swap the 39 for a 36 or even a 34?

    You could always stick on a 12-34 casette with a nice long cage mtb rear mech - you could probably get away with this for around £30 using Deore (unless you're running 10 speed?)

    Cheers,

    Grant
    www.westlothianclarion.co.uk
  • OS 65
    OS 65 Posts: 415
    Hi David
    You can't have a too big a gap between your small and large chain ring

    I have 38-53 instead of 39-53 and it works fine plus it really helps getting up the hills
    OS 65
  • dm10599
    dm10599 Posts: 60
    Thanks Grant,

    Will the compact work with shimano, if so I would be happy to swap you inner tubes

    Cheers David
  • grantus
    grantus Posts: 690
    Yes it will work fine with Shimano. Bear in mind it's for a square taper bottom bracket.

    I'll let you give it a try and if it suits you and you want to keep it then you can swap me a couple of tubes later on. If not, I'll take it back no probs.

    How does that sound?
    www.westlothianclarion.co.uk
  • dm10599
    dm10599 Posts: 60
    Top drawer, thanks Grant.

    I will contact you in the next couple of weeks and cycle out to pick up the chainset.

    Thanks again

    David

    With this chainset I will not have any excuses if I have to get off the bike. Well I might think of one or two before the Audax
  • grantus
    grantus Posts: 690
    David,

    I've sent you a PM.

    If you don't have a square taper bracket it's not the end of the world - you can get them for under a tenner.

    Your other option would be to buy a compact chainset however if you're running with hollowtech bottom bracket you'd need to make sure the chainset was compatible. i.e. if your bracket was Ultegra I'm not sure if a Sora chainset would be compatible (it probably will but if you check the Shimano website they say that like has to be used with like i.e. 105 with 105, Tiagra with Tiagra, etc. - another way of rippin people off!!)

    If you've got octalink you could look for an octalink compact chainset but I think these are rare, even if there is such a thing - I think most Octalink stuff is either double or triple.

    Finally, you could keep the standard double and just stick on a new mtb cassette and rear mech. You can get a Deore mech online for under £20 and a cassette for £12-ish.

    You won't need a new chain but you might not be able to use the two biggest rear sprockets on the 53 front ring.

    Hope this helps.

    Grant
    www.westlothianclarion.co.uk

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