Lovely Spring Day...

Soaked on the cycle in to work today and, going by the rain currently falling, together with the wind which has developed and since my clothes didn't dry on the cold radiators at work today - it's going to be a fun cycle home!

 

John 

Another shave off time

Well, I went for it tonight and push the mountain bike harder than last week. Took another 45 seconds off the time from last week. Not bad over 8 miles. My intention is to get to sub 40 mins. Last week was 43 mins 15 secs. Tonight 42 mins 30 secs.

 

In true Top Gear style on "Guy on a reasonably priced mountain bike" for the record as well this was on a wet track. Therefore I could have been even quicker. I have invited myself back to attempt it when it stops raining. LOL.

 

Cheers for now

 

Hindo

Rain Dangers

Guys. Remember in June, bring your waterproofs.

 

With our track record we don't want to be risking the

old umbrella trick.

 

Cheers

Achnasheen Sunday

John, Bob and Grant cycled additional distance to the Muir, so I decided I would put some in too before we met. After going through Fort Augustus last week, after a bite to eat and cooling down, I should have known. NEVER DO A HILL CLIMB AFTER FOOD AND A CHILL OUT..........

 

Had a good breakfast, mixed my drinks and off. Being clever took the Teandalloch road from Muir through to Beauly. Must admit it crossed my mind to go to Beauly and warm up first, but no. Anyway, suffice to say it probably wasn't what I wanted at 9am on Sunday morning. Nevertheless, it was worth it.

 

Despite however John came a cropper, I almost lost it too at the bridge in Muir after the ride. Don't know how, but even with my left foot firmly planted on the ground I almost went over to do my own horizontal cycle. Luckily recovered it in time. Must admit it was busy on that junction and I would have looked a right goon falling off at 0 mph. How, I don't know, as I thought it was far near impossible.

 

Anyway, a good ride all round and the boys were on form. The higher mileage doesn't seem to be taking its toll on anyone too badly. We all survived and into work this morning. Keep it up guys. We will have to do it over and over again soon.

 

Fair play to John and Bob for the 86 and 84 miles respectively. Good miles. Grant too with just shy of 70.  We will have to do Ullapool before too long.

 

Cheers

 

Hindo

Sunday - Achnasheen

On Sunday the carbonauts took the bikes out to Achnasheen.

 

John left Inverness about 8:20 in the morning to meet Bob at Tore for 9am. Bob, however, was not there and decided to head to Muir of Ord on his own. John then rolled into Tore at a very tardy 9:04, having missed Bob.

 

The team finally regrouped at around 9:30 in Muir of Ord. We headed out the A832 through Urray and Marybank to join the main Ullapool road (A835).

 

From here, we progressed through Contin (dangerously failing to stop at the 'last shop before Ullapool') and around Loch Garve before branching Westwards, off the Ullapool road and onto the A832 towards Lochluichart. From then on, the wind was constantly in our faces all the way through the Achnasheen, which I think, we reached around 12:30.

 

There was nothing to see in Achnasheen - the cafe and tourist information was closed.....hmmmmm.....there must have been something......Ummm....Oooooh we saw a train!

 

The team refuelled whilst there and then re-traced our route back to Muir of Ord after the half-hour stop. Thankfully the wind was behind us this time and it made a real difference. Instead of averaging 10-12 mph we were firing along at around 20mph+ for large stretches.

 

We stopped once on the way back to Muir of Ord, at Tarvie Services where we had tea and some chocolate/cake. This was a very welcome boost as the miles were beginning to take their toll on us.

 

Smooth Bob was very friendly with the assistant at the snack bar..

 

From Muir of Ord, Grant headed back to Kirkhill, Keith headed 'down t'road' and Bob & John headed back to Avoch and Inverness respectively.

 

Total Mileage for the day was different for all of us but must have averaged out around 80 miles. This is very close to a days work on LeJog so gives us a good idea what's to come.

 

I was personally pretty knackered after the run on Sunday, joints were a bit sore but I'll certainly be keeping the workrate up..

 

And in response to Bob's previous post - Option one makes me sound better, so I'll go with that....;)

 

John 

 

 

 

 

Horizontal cycling update

Johnny boy has gone to the top of the leader board in the Horizontal cyclying stakes after taking a tumble on the road to Achnasheen yesterday.

 

Story # 1

As John is a lover of all small animals and whilst trying to avoid a small field mouse that had inadvertantly wandered into the path of his front wheel he decided he would swerve to avoid the impending collision, saving the life of the mouse but unfortunately falling over at the same time.

 

Story # 2

John was at the back in a world of his own thinking about some IT problem on a dry road with no traffic and just fell over.

 

We will let you decide which one is correct.

 

Current status on horizontal cycling:

 

1st: John x 2

=2nd: Bob & Keith with 1

4th: Grant with 0.....think we will have to do something about this one!

 

Bob

Another Road Section....

Decided tonight to avoid the Turbo and do a road run. Up to Tore, down the cycle path, round Redcastle and back to Muir of Ord via the hill at Mulbuie. Honestly thought the wind was in my face all the way to Tore and down to North Kessock and was looking forward to having it behind me on the way back.  Nope wasn't to be, It was even worse in my face all the way back.

 

Still, happy with the run, 21 miles in 1 hour 15 averaging 17 mph considering the hills I had on route.

 

What will tomorrow be........ hrrrmmmmmmm. Not sure, but likely to involve 2 wheels without a doubt.

 

Bring on the lighter nights to, tonight was getting dark a bit too soon.

 

Hindo