2013 Ronde Van Ayrlaanderen – Social Ride
Is this Lefevere’s best hope?
Over in the Flemish Ardennes Patrick Lefevere is getting nervous about his boys’ potential in the 97th edition of the Tour of Flanders. Big chinny is back on the scene, that young Slovak is looking sharp, and Beligum is probably not ready to see Tommeke performing domestique duties for a Stybarrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Meanwhile in Ayrshire Captain Skilling has bigger concerns as he frets over whether his men (and women) will miss yet another weekend of crucial racing due to the springtime snow. Ooft. Tension is mounting.
As a coping strategy on Easter Monday we bring you the second ‘Ronde Van Ayrlaanderen’ – same sort of format to last years event – but a wee bit shorter to ensure the young Ayr Burners are back in time to finish their homework.
The route
We gather at Monkton Cross from 0930 for a 0945 kick off along the seaside to Troon before we hit our first Helling at Coraithberg. From here its a mad dash cross country until the mighty duo of Bogendberg and the legendary Barnweilberg, what the Koppenberg is to the Paterberg. You’ll be hoping you recover quick before we rip up the Oude Craigiesmont, and descend quickly before the Rammagetonberg. Fear not if you’re starting to tire, the usual chase by those mean yappy dogs has the effect of quickening the pace.
By now the elastic in the legs is starting to vanish, so the climb up the Tarboltonaarde Muur is gonna be a toughie. But from here we’re almost done. Scootsberg and the Wardneukendries finish the day off before the flat run home to Monkton after 36miles of smashing entertainment
All welcome
Now, despite the nonsense written above, this is a not an organised ARCC event – it is merely an informal social ride with no support, and is for like minded folks who want a social run to enter into the fun of the cobbled classics. Last year there was a free-for-all permitted on the ‘Helling’ but a truce immediately afterwards and the group rode round together. The distance has been cut by over 15km from 2012 to encourage the Ayr Burners along on the Bank Holiday monday.
Hopefully see some of you out on the road then 
0930 – Monday 1st April – Monkton Cross
Club AGM – changes afoot!
Sigh of relief – Club Captain Mark Skilling is your new webmaster. He takes over the controls pretty much now… or as soon as I log off. Ciao!
New webmaster needed
After six years the club webmaster is standing down and therefore the club pages will need someone else to look after them. If that someone is you please get in touch. The site is currently based on a wordpress blog that is easy to manage if you want to keep it as is, otherwise any content required will be made available to populate a new site.
Cheers
Road School Week 1: A great success!
Ayr Roads Cycling Club / Harry Fairbairn BMW’s new ‘Road School’ initiative got off to a great start last Saturday when 15 junior and novice cyclists turned out despite the miserable weather. ‘Road School’ is a six week programme aimed at equipping novice and junior riders with the skills and experience to develop as road cyclists.
Think it looks easy? Come along this Saturday to find out…
Week 1 was split between a session of introductory games and exercises that tested riders bike handling skills and a led ride out to Dalrymple and back. The new recruits were quick to show off their balance and cornering, and proved themselves more than capable of dragging a partner round a tight slalom course with only one arm!
Ayr Roads are keen to welcome over 12s and novice riders along to the sessions which take place each Saturday starting from the Burn’s Centre Car Park at 0930.
Club Chairman Blair Wyllie was delighted by the new initiative:
“The club is going from strength to strength; we were fifth best club at the Scottish championships, we hosted the biggest day race in Scotland at the Davie Bell Memorial, and our riders have been breaking club records all year. With Road School we can welcome and encourage the next generation and ensure Ayrshire cycling continues to grow.”
Week 2 will see participants practice riding in a bunch, using a short 1 mile circuit to master chain gangs and echelons before putting the theory to practice on a group ride out to Dunure and back.
Participants should have a road worthy bicycle and clothes appropriate for the weather. Ride leaders stress that the focus is on fun and participation rather than speed and performance. For more information on the programme go here.
New ‘Road School’ for Juniors and Novices
A six week Saturday club to try road cycling.
25th August to 6th October - 09:30 to 12:00 from Burns Museum Car Park, Alloway
- Learn how to ride in a bunch, form a chain gang, through and off.
- Try a time trial
- Increase your speed and mileage
- Learn basic cycle maintenance and roadside repairs
- Graduate to the Ayr Roads Cycling Club Sunday Run
“I wish i’d been to Road School”, thought Kenny Armstrong – pipped to the line again by his shadow, Trevor Wilson
These sessions are run by Ayr Roads Cycling Club and led by a trained ride leader and cycle instructor.
Participants must:
- be 12 and over;
- have a road worthy bicycle;
- and wear clothing appropriate for the weather.
It is recommended that riders carry a spare inner tube, pump and tyre levers. A flap jack always provides a tasty treat too.
Under 18s should complete and bring a Parental Disclaimer and emergency contact details
Session details including routes will be posted in advance at www.ayrroadscc.com. These may be subject to change depending on weather conditions and road conditions.
All rides will start at 0930 and aim to return to the start point by 1200 (give or take 15mins).
Club representatives prioritise safety and safe riding skills. However, road cycling is not without its risks and all participants take part understanding this.
Schedule
Week 1: 25th August 2012
Level 1 cycling skills
1hr Led Ride
Week 2: 1st September 2012
90min group ride practicing through and off, chain gang, and echelons
Road side repair
Week 3: 8th September 2012
Group ride with hill climb (Carrick Hill)
Route planning
Week 4: 15th September 2012
Mini Time Trial and Australian Pursuit Race
Break – Bank Holiday Weekend
Week 5: 29th September 2012
Group ride with interval sessions:
Sprints and hill reps
Week 6: 6th October 2012
2.5 hr group ride – prepare to join main club run
If you would like to take part in Road School, please email ayrroads@gmail.com
Scottish Team Time Trial Results
Ayr Roads Cycling Club / Harry Fairbairn BMW continue to enjoy the best season in the club’s history with a fine 5thplace in the Scottish Team Time Trial Championships on Sunday 29th. Captain Mark Skilling of Dalrymple led his teammates Kenny Armstrong and Paul Gibson of Ayr, and Mick Robb of Straiton around the 40mile course at an average speed of over 26mph. The event was run over ‘sticky’ roads around central Fife, and finished with a 12 mile grind against a block head wind. Robb and Gibson put in huge turns on the ascents on the way back in, while Armstrong and Skilling ensured the pace was high throughout. The result betters Ayr Road’s previous 7th position in the event.
Ayr Roads showed strength in depth as the veterans team of Alex McAllister, Robert Kelly, Craig Gilmour and Brian Nicol (all over 40) finished 15th in the top class field.
Meet ‘The Straiton Lighthouse’
For those who care about these things, our club 10 record used to stand at 21:50, set by a young Gav McDonald. Then came along Kenny Armstrong with a 21:12 in 2011. Then arrived Michael Robb with a close 21:19. But by now Kenny has ridden a 21:03 so the race is on for the first 20min 10. Anyhow. Michael Robb, to give him his Sunday name, is a lesser known quantity, whose star does not yet burn as brightly on the back of the Ayrshire Post as Mr Armstrong’s. Give it time…
Taken from the man’s facebook page.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we bring you… Big Mick!
My p.b was & still is a surprise to me , I was aiming for a mid 21 this year at some point , so to get it at this stage is a bonus .
I’ve asked myself that, Skillys [Captain Mark] asked me that & being honest my legs felt better the 2nd night & I pushed my biggest gear for longer !! Simple
A tester ? I think I can handle that !! I’m training hard to try improve my rd race results just now
He is not called Big Mick for nothing. Nor is Big Biydie, or wee JP, or tubby Kelly, or lazy Paul…
I always cycled when I was younger – still got the scars for proof! But Biydie [Brian Boyd] got me back into it about 5 years ago and I started out doing Maybole -Kirkmichael -Straiton & back on my mountain bike while he was on his road bike, I then purchased my trek 1000 which I still use as my winter bike. My big run was over the Nic & I used to dread it… wait, I still do!
My cycling heros? After watching his solo efforts in the classics a couple of years ago it’s got to be Fabian, the guys a legend. I’m very patriotic & think Robert Millar was incredible back in the 80′s/early 90′s. tdf kom from Glasgow?!
Probably 150-200 miles weekly, last week was nearer 300 as wee done 105 on the bank holiday Monday.
We’ve had a few good nights & I’d like to see more of you attend. I’ll definitely get some nights out arranged maybe ten pin bowling or just go have a good drink!!
according to our social convener, a good laugh involves riding up 30km ascents in roaring hot sunshine.
Ayr Roads CC [Harry Fairbairn BMW] is not the best cycling club in Ayrshire for nothing , great squad of guys n girls all willing to help, good mix of ages from newest member Nathan 14 , to Skilly 50 , higgi 60 & Vic 107!!
Prob drunk singing in a karaoke somewhere.Mick’s here doesn’t like racing in the rain. Sorry Fabian, you ain’t hard enough for us.
Purple ?? It was supposed to be blue!
Overdue Update
Woah! What has been going on? Where have the mighty ARCC been? Who knows and who cares you might ask, shrugging your shoulder nonchalantly.
Well more fool you!
Some of the team were involved in a wee bike event last week named after a bandit or something or other.
Its over now so back to business. Kenny, Mark and Mick set a new team record over 10 miles on the Eglinton course. It was a good event masterminded by our fiendish nemesis the Fullarton Wheelers. Neil Walker threatened to spoil our parade by riding a 21:03, but thank goodness Kenny Armstrong drew even with him to ensure all was not lost in the Ayrshire top dog contest. (or should we fess up and admit that thank goodness it was an Ayr Roads man holding the watches… shock, horror, of course not.)
This post will benefit from a picture. So lets see what we can find.
A present for Higgi. Lexi on his ‘November/February’ machine
Corrected.
This blog now has a new editor, young Gavin Kerr of Trabboch. We implore you to blame him for all rogue postings.
What else might be happening in the land of Ayr Roads CC? Some wannabee’s attended the 4th Cat Lothian Flyer today. Big Bernie was in a break, but it didn’t work out and some minor placings in the top 20 were all we had to show for a day of hard work in the pissing rain. John-Paul Baxter once again shirked any sense of responsibility and failed to attack on his own and win. Even though he could of done. Take note other Scottish club teams: we might have very few points on our collective licences, but we could if we wanted.
There is a 50 on soon, promoted by Gentleman Jim Cusick. And the pressure is on for a new 50 record according to vice-president Arnie Thomson. But who is going to break it to the old man that we currently don’t have any documented record? Not us, thats for sure.
And how about these damned Garmin devices. If one more clown wants to tell us that they actually rode a 19:21 on our regular mid week blast around the Loans circuit, despite our watches shouting a high 24 we’ll be damned.
Another picture needed.
Lynne and Toni have been riding very well. New PBs and grand performances in road racing. And while Jo continues to flirt with the idea of moving to the mainland, rumours that ARCC have engaged in attempts to poach Jennifer Nicol from the evil throes of the Fullarton might or might not be true.
You heard nothing here first.
We’ll be running a 4th cat event named the Straiton Struggle in just over a month. Officially its sold out, but if you speak to our ticket touts we might have some availability. Amex not accepted. Sorry.
Pennyglen Hilly TT 2012
Big thanks to the Chairman for another fun night of suffering on the Pennyglen Circuit last Thursday. 30 foolish souls signed up to spoil their evening with a 15mile (or is it 17? – c’mon Google, we like consistency) charge along the coast and back.
First man off was our own veteran TT stalwart Grant Young. But first man home was Stephen Couper of some foreign glasgow club. 39:46 said the clock. Thats fast we thought.
A professional, well drilled bunch who would never miss a start slot…
Riders kept appearing from the comforts of our strip at Wellington’s playing fields. Thanks to them for the use. Robert Kelly is our next man off in 14th, with Neil Campbell chasing at a minute. A battle royale? Its hardly worth speaking of, for by now rider now 10 was already on the home straight. Jamie Kennedy of the Kooriers clocks 35:36. My goodness. We must have recorded it wrong. Nope. All four watches say the same.
Neil comes home before Rab.
Craig Gilmour is the first Ayr Roads man to make a mess of things. At least he looks contrite. A last minute puncture and followed by a sprint to the start arn’t enough. He’s missed his slot. Nevermind, he still produces a respectable 40:17
Brian Nicol sets off without drama. His experience at the Fullarton shows. He’s well prepared, no fiasco, and sets off with no drama. His reward is a 41:24, up on last year’s time.
Kenny Armstrong… Where to start. More to the point, where is he? KENNY ARMSTRONG GET ON THE START LINE THIS INSTANT. Ah there he is, slowly strolling down the slip road in his warm up. He appears on the line still in his warm up gear with half a second to spare. He’ll lose another 12 at least faffing to take his coat off before he gets down to business.
Then there is Toni. The pusher-offerers ears were bleeding. Should you not be concentrating on the task at hand Toni? No no, she’s not taking it seriously. Then neither are the watches. Out of the gate in completely the wrong gear. Tsk… hopefully a lesson learned.
Fortunately Lynne Wardrop is ready for action. I don’t know what partner Mark Skilling has done to deserve this, but she is clearly out to catch him. A fine ride tonight will earn her a 45:56, a good warm up for a wonderful ride at the Scottish Road Championships, and to rip the legs off group 1 on the Tuesday chain gang. Watch out everyone, Lynne’s gone and got fast.
Mark Skilling on the line. Good, all correct and present. He’s away without a fuss. Can he beat Mick Robb on his shiny Trek machine?
Then its Gentleman Jim. ”Thanks for coming out boys” he says. Thank you for your presence we reply. Clocks ticking, is this our winner?
Last off from the ARCC machine are Paul McGhee and Gavin Kerr. Another battle royale? Apparently not. Vodka and Borsht are no substitute for a training regime Gav. However, all is forgiven as your Dad’s pictures are ace. See here now:
Times:
1st. Jamie Kennedy Glasgow Cooriers 35:36
2nd Jim Cusick Glasgow Couriers 35:40
3rd Gordon Murdoch Glasgow Couriers 36:37
4th Kenny Armstrong Ayr Roads 37:04 (could have been a 36 kenny!)
5th Neil Walker Walkers Cycling 37:28
Ladies:
1st. Catherine Logan Walkers Cyclking 45:10
2nd. Lynne Wardrop Ayr Roads 45:56
3rd Toni McIntosh 46:01
Other Ayr Roads CC/Harry Fairbairn BMW
Grant Young 42:44
Neil Campbell 39:03
Robert Kelly 40:51
Craig Gilmour 40:17
Michael Robb 38:15
Kenny Armstrong 37:04
Brian Nicol 41:24
Mark Skilling 38:01
Gav Kerr 34:05
Paul McGhee 43:55
Thats all folks. Thanks again to Blair Wyllie and Mark Parlour. To Andy McKinlay for commissaire duties. And to Andrew Wilson of St Christopher’s for hogging the Lanterne Rouge for a successive year! Cheers.
“How I won the Ronde Van Ayrlaanderen” – Gobert exclusive!
After a fierce three hour battle over the helling of the Ayrshire Ardennes, there could be only one winner. Christophe Gobert might have been an unlikely candidate at the start of the day, but there was NO doubting who crossed the imaginary line in Monkton first*. We look back at this legendary edition of the RVA to identify 5 areas where the race was won.
1. Know the parcours.
As early as December 2010 Gobert was out scouting for suitable training venues to mimic the mythical parcours of the RVA. A brief stop over in the Flemish backcountry provided some good options to train for the Barnwielberg.
2. Explore your options.
The dreaded Barnweilberg
Gobert tells us he spent all of Friday night feverishly watching past editions of the RVV to work out all the options and cards to play. Should a solo attack on the Barnweilendries fail, a la Hoste on the Gerardsbergen, there would always be a chance to test the legs on the Pisgahberg, ala Gilbert on the Bosberg.
3. Think like a champion
By pulling on his lucky reproduction Tommeke outfit, Gobert was already in the berg eating mindset. How far he took this method acting is anyones guess. But rumours of sugar lines on the Gobert household table are just that, rumours.
4. Watch your rivals
A telescope trained on Chateau Baxter in the run up to the RVA revealed quickly that Baxter spent more time on skype to his ladyfriend than he did looking out his Museeuw replica Mapei kit. Of course this lack of attention to detail only spurred our winner on further. Knowing full well that Baxter would be afraid of dirtying his white ARCC kit, Gobert was able to attack the muddy Tarboltonaarde Muur safe in the knowledge there would be no challenge.
Sven Nys never worried about dirtying his Tommeke outfit!
5. Find a nervous horse
Had it not have been for a startled horse on the run back into Monkton, the result could have been very different. Alasdair McGibbon would have headed solo to the line with Ross Lyall in hot pursuit. But thanks to his crafty initiative in placing a jumpy horse just 300m before the line, and quick thinking as the contenders lost initiative, Gobert had the race sealed in ample time.
Full results:
C Gobert. 3 hrs 3mins 24 secs
R. Lyall @ 1 spoke length
A McGibbon @ 27.2 seatpost length
JP Baxter @ 126mm rear spacing length
T McIntosh @ an unfurled roll of pink bar tape length
L Wardrope @ an uncoiled roll of orange gear cable length
A Steven @ the back with a broken bike
* no matter what Ross Lyall says, there was NO doubting.
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