Newbornbairn

Kiddy's a waste of skin. Ignore the p***k and keep up the good work.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/14818138.stm Good thing, bad thing?

I registered in August, yet I'm number 436. Maybe they're numbering them in reverse order?

I got my pack today - yay! I took up the cycling this year because I was spending £40 a month on gym membership, then not being able to workout properly cos the gym was always packed. I stopped smoking 2 years ago and piled on the weight so I want to lose the belly. Unfortunately, I can't seem to give up the pies and fish suppers so, although cardio-wise I'm fit, I'm really just exercising to stop myself getting fatter. It's been good working out mph and the like just to see that I'm not a total diddy, but I agree that all the different factors mean it's hard to get consistent results. On top of which, if I push myself too hard my knees give me too much pain for days afterwards. If I do the challenge ride in 3 to 3 1/2 hours I'll be happy.

Getting a bit concerned at the lack of news from the pfs people. I paid on the 9th Aug and got an e-mailed receipt saying an information pack would be sent out but I've received nothing. I emailed them a week ago, no reply and I've e-mailed them again this morning. Is anyone else having problems? Oh - 44, 6'2", about 15 st.

I put those self-sealing tubes on my mountain bike after a series of punctures which seemed to do the trick. Mind you, I did put new tyres on as well.

Och come on the Pedal for Scotland run. If this unfit old man can do it ...

They closed Wholeflats road.

I near got knocked down by a woman at a roundabout in Grangemouth, So close I felt the heat from the engine grille on my leg.

I'm sure it would be handy but I'd be tempted to bolt a bit of angle-iron to the wall with clamps attached. Mind you, I'm a cheap b'stard Just back from doing the two bridges and I have a message for Brad Pitt (I've heard he's an avid P&B reader). Brad you f'cker, I hope the zombies catch you and eat you! They closed part of my route and with me not being a local I ended up going all over the place, including Linlithgow. In the process I came across hills like the side of skyscrapers with the result that I was pretty much f'cked by the time I got to the Forth Bridge. Then that long, long climb between Crombie & Devila damn near killed me. So ten minutes added to last week's time Is it better to go via Culross or stick to the main road?

UtN is going to need something to "spur" him on I think.

Not a good look

The thing about big pockets on jerseys and the like is I'm seriously trying to avoid becoming a MAMIL - a middle aged man in lycra. Some of the more lurid examples I see on the road are fine for teenagers but look a bit daft on grown ups.

I noticed

Truly, I have much to learn in the zen of cycling.

All I've put on the Secteur is a bottle holder (wot rattles on the bottle something rotten) and a wee pouch on the handlebars holding my phone and dextrose tabs. I usually wear a rucksack with a wee toolkit, a pump and a lightweight jacket. I expect in the winter I'll put led lights on it.

So what attachments are allowable on bikes? Bottle Holder Yes/No? Stand Yes/No? Computer Yes/No? Lights Yes/No? Reflectors Yes/No? Bulb Horn Yes/No? Front Panniers Yes/No? Rear Panniers Yes/No? Wedgie Bag Yes/No? Ribbons on handlebars Yes/No? Handlebar Bag Yes/No? Playing cards in spokes Yes/No? Phone Holder Yes/No? Shopping Basket Yes/No? Gel Seat/Cover Yes/No? Mudguards Yes/No?

To be fair, half of them looked like escaped extras from that Glasgow zombie film.

Good tip about anti-clockwise circular routes, ta. Can't help with the headgear problem as I have an awful sense of smell. I did ask the wife to sniff my helmet and she gave me one of those long cold stares. I did the 2 bridges Fife side first but the Forth road bridge had the eastbound cycle path closed and the westbound was covered with 10k runners giving me dirty looks as I pedalled against the flow.

And I stand in awe of the guys who did the 100 miler. Jeez-oh!

Did the 2 bridges today in a time of 2h 42m. But I had an 8 mile ride to get to the route. Overall it was a 54 mile ride and I was shattered by the time I got to Bo'ness on the way back. Exhaustion combined with a brisk headwind and the rain took the wind out of my sails and my times dropped from 3 min miles to 5 minutes. Still, it's my first 50-miler and I think I'll manage the Glasgow/Edinburgh run, probably in around 3h 30 and I'll be happy with that, podgy, unfit grandad that I am.

Yeah, I've been off work the last 3 days (first grand-kid being born therefore dad the taxi driver needed) and I'd hoped to get some miles in the legs as the cycling parlance goes. No such luck in this weather. Not so much the rain as the wind.

Did 35 miles around the Carron Valley tonight after taking UtN's advice. Shahoorsir, some of those hills were a killer but the scenery was superb. Aching a bit now though.

That's me signed up for the 50 miler (gulp) The wife thinks I'm mad.