Another ridiculously wet weekend!

The path down the side of the shelter belt to Glencorse reservoir.

Threipmuir reservoir where a boat capsized at the weekend in the stormy weather.

Complete boredom from these cows and calves as I cycled past.

After another weekend of torrential rain and more than it's share of wind at times there was no biking done, so yesterday, Monday, I at least tried to make up for my inaction with a 26 miler in the middle of the day and then a 19 miler at night with Clive. Highlight of the night ride was a tree leaping out at Clive and sending him sprawling.Apart from being eaten alive by the midges there were no more mishaps.

The Yellow Peril......

Mark,aka The Yellow Peril, struggles up to the start of Black Hill

Everybody else was nearly falling asleep waiting on him!

A slightly different route tonight taking in Black Hill going eastwards, at least I think that's the direction we went! Mark cycled past the first path up even though we shouted to him, deaf bugger, and then discovered the other path was steeper. He took a bit of ribbing for wearing a yellow jersey and later disgraced himself by scattering four old women going down the "Dougie Dip" at supersonic speed! I'm sure the old dears were witches and put a curse on us for Marty's tyre deflated suddenly just after we'd passed them!

23.5 miles tonight and the midges were out in force at the finish!

After the storm, a drier day again

The overflow from Threapmuir reservoir going full tilt!

A small river runs down the path up from the Howe.

After a weekend of rain when nearly 4 inches fell, the tracks up the Pentlands this afternoon were wet and muddy again. The temperatures however were in the low 60's farenheit and things were a definite improvement from Saturday and Sunday which were the first weekend for a year or two when I haven't been out on the bike due to the weather. I managed a solo 28 miles today and got back home with a wet and dirty backside and lower back but at least I'd managed a ride! 

A dry 26 miler,(makes a change)!

Marty struggles up to the throne (he said he was pacing himself!!)

My 3 co-riders before the start of the descent.

Out of interest, this is one of the spare bikes used by the outriders 

when the Olympic Flame went through our village today.

4 of us out last night for a 26 mile ride up the Pentlands. Dougie just back after illness, Marty still recovering from an injury and Mark and me not recovering from anything!! At least the rain stayed away and the course remains reasonably dry, but there's a storm forecast for the next day or two so it'll be back to mud and muck again quite soon!

My bike's falling to bits!!

Since the Glentress 7 I've had nothing but trouble with the bike. The night after the event Clive and I were going out for a 10 mile leg stretcher. I got no more than 5 yards and when I went to change gear the gear shifter jammed solid and effectively died. How close was that to disaster at the event itself?!! The vouchers we won as our prize were immediately called into use and with a further 10% discount from the race entry fee included I was able to get 2 new gear shifters for the price of one. The change of shifters was noticeable right away, the old ones were obviously on their last legs. This morning Baz and me set off for a Pentlands ride and had done about 6 miles when the freehub packed in! No more prize winning vouchers to ease the pain this time of the replacement, when I get it that is, until then I'm borrowing Baz's back wheel off his spare bike! Here's hoping that's it with the breakdowns, it's becoming a bit costly1

The Glentress 7, brilliant race, brilliant course, (and dry but cold weather)

Our motley bunch of soloists and pairs, Mark and Ian missing, before the start.

They're off, and in the middle of that lot are Baz, Dougie and Clive.

Baz and me getting our trophy and having a laugh, (which it's all about!)

Down to Glentress for the 7 hour race that we've been training for. None of us were going to be overall winners, the real race being against ourselves and keeping going when the going got tough! In the end Dougie did a highly creditable 8 laps in the solo with Clive just behind him with 7 laps. Baz and me somehow managed to come first in the senior veterans, though to be honest the opposition crumbled when we made our appearance (only joking!!). As well as a plaque to decorate my garage wall (not allowed in the house!) we got £40's worth of vouchers to squander on our bikes.

Keeping us well amused were Mark and Ian who had entered as TFI, don't even ask what that stood for, who forgot to change the timing chip at one change-over, had a  newly serviced bike back wheel seize up and then on the one remaining bike after they'd changed pedals etc. they suffered a broken spoke! All taken in good spirits, they should be renamed the "Chuckle Brothers"!! The average temperature ended up in the mid 40's Fahrenheit which was OK when out riding but was a bit on the chilly side on the lap off.

Great day's biking.