Newbornbairn

Great shot by Murray, but I would have jumped the net and punched his pus if he did that to me.

Well, my pre-season started in earnest today. It's my intention to use the bike to go to as many Bairns home games as possible next season. It's about 12 miles from my door in Stirling to the Bairnebau, a straight-ish road and slightly uphill both ways. In order to replicate match day conditions as much as possible, I had a wee bit too much to drink last night and a nice curry. At 1pm I mounted my trusty second-hand Tescos mountain bike with it's tractor tyres and set off. It was a nice enough day and no dramas meant I arrived at the stadium 1hr and 12 minutes later having travelled 11.84 miles according to the Endomo-thingy GPS. Average speed 10mph and a top speed of 15mph - not exactly impressive. I checked out facilities at the stadium - 1 bike shed out the front with about 5 anchorage points. I guess that might get a bit busy but there's loads of lamp-posts to chain the bike to. In the spirit of keeping things as close to match day conditions as possible, but in the absence of the pie stall, my next port of call was McDonalds. Curiously, there were no bike lock-up points at McDonalds. Stopping to eat may have been a mistake as when I came out it was chucking it down. I felt truly miserable as I set off - cold, wet, stiff and with a congealing McLump in my gut. However it wasn't long before I warmed up again and I grimaced happily as I swooshed through the dubs. It might be an idea to get some mudguards at some point though. My arse got sprayed more thoroughly than a non-swimmer at a Barrymore party. The return trip was done in a virtually identical time so I reckon commuting to the games is entirely feasible.

Took a wander into Smith's in Falkirk today and they've pointed me in the direction of these beasts - http://www.evanscycl...ampaign=froogle or possibly http://www.evanscycl...=sirrus%20sport Hmm. Dunno.

Sounds like good advice. I'd say I'm fairly fit, I'm in the gym often enough but at forty-cough my knees are still aching from that 40km. The mountain bike is really annoying me - I'm never out of the top 3 gears and even in top gear with my legs fair birlin', I don't make much progress. Can't afford a new bike just now, so it might just have to be ebay for me.

Aye, for some weird reason the wind seemed to be in my face for most yesterday. 40 km in 3 hrs isn't that good I suspect. Be interesting to see what speeds I would get if I wasn't on a Tescos mountain bike.

Hmmm - unfortunately MyTracks won't load on the Blackberry

Does anyone use one of those phone apps that record where you've been/how fast/how long etc? I've been using one called Runtastic which has helped me figure out where I got lost today That was my longest trip yet - 40km on roads, tracks, fields and 4ft stinging nettles!! Home now, cold and aching but tucking into a big bowl of beef broth. nom

Definately "Oooooyyyyaaaammmeeennntttaaalllffffuuuuccccckkkkeeeerrr"

Anybody done the mountain bike track at Pendreich? Tried it for the first time the other day and it was quite an eye-opener.

You're no kiddin'! I've rapidly come to the conclusion that the mountain bike I was given is no use for cycling any distance on the road. I only ever use the top 2 or 3 gears but even when my wee legs are whirlin', pensioners on road bikes swoop by me. But the prices of those road bikes are fierce! I'm just watching ebay with my fingers crossed.

Cheers

Ah, alright then. I'm just trying to get fit again and it's damn near 30 years since I was on a bike. I've been given some kind of mountain bike by my step-son and I've been out on that a few times but it's obviously not the best for using on the road. I've no real intention of going off road, so is it practicable to change the stupid knobbly tyres to road tyres? Also, I presume the gearing is different so how easy/sensible is it to change this?

Helmets - essential equipment or just for tw@ts?

Thought Perry played very, very well. A more important player for us than Moutinho in the last couple of games. Hope we can keep him at least until the end of the season.

Falkirk manager Steven Pressley says that free agent Michael Stewart will not be signing for the club - he is merely offering his former Hearts team-mate training facilities. (The Herald) BBC gossip