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The Isle of Mull Cycling Club members took part in one of the West
Highland Wheelers Races today.
There where 144 Cyclists taking part and 4 of them where from Mull. 2 from
Salen (Allan Noble and Crawford Whyte) and 2 from Tobermory
(David Graham and Jim Keenan).
The race started at 1100 hrs and went off with a flurry of elbow bashing
swearing and screeching of brakes and this was just the Grannys long hill
climb out of Lochaline on the main road.
Davie started at a furious pace on his Flimsy Cross Bike but he was flying
and them skinny wheels where doing their job of gliding on the tarmac and
putting him in 3rd place at the top of the hill.
Jim was 2 places behind desperately trying to catch up and wondering if
they had a medical team back at the start. Allan was Just behind and
feeling good and had the scent of victory in his nostrils .Young Crawford
was just behind Allan and might have been quicker if he had not been
riding a full suspension bike nearly as heavy as himself. This was due to
Crawford having to change the bike the "Gibbo" gave him, the chain set
needed to see a dentist for some new teeth.
.
Anyway into the forest ….and a few miles down the track Jim overtook Davie
at a furious speed… this was possible because Davie had had a puncture and
was carrying the bike.. He had no tyre to replace his stupid clincher
things. Fast=Blast=Last.
If only he had gone to "MacKays Garage" for a tyre instead of 30 quid for
a piece thin rubber tube.. Sheeeesh!!
1 Mull Club Member down but still 3 to go.
Allan was going great Guns until he came upon the spot where Davie
punctured….yes!!! You can guess what happened... He punctured as well!
But... unknown to Allan he punctured on the tack that Davie pulled from
his tyre and threw back on the track... That's friends for you….
Crawford appeared and smirked at Allan's dilemma and was politely told
where to go! He was not happy… still all the women gave Allan a wave as
they passed him.
Allen repaired the tube and proceeded to overtake those that had passed
before him until he punctured again! Ha Ha!!
Well...as he sat on the cold damp track looking so lost and bewildered,
all the women stopped and offered him tubes, pumps and even gave him
cuddles as he had a little tear in his eye. Ever the brave soldier Allan
carried on after the women had fixed his bike and… Finished (unlike
Davie).
Crawford was a little out of condition and the fact he did not want to get
dirty in case any photos where to be taken, held him back slightly but I
know his confidence was high as I overheard him and Allan saying that they
would have caught Davie and Jim no probs if everything had gone to plan.
This was a terrific day out and there where all age groups Kids Grannies
and Old Codgers present and plenty of women.
So come on everyone give it a go you will find it not as bad as you
think and everyone is really friendly it’s a social event for a lot of
people... not a race!
So lets get some training Sat Morning 28/01/06..10.00 hrs Ardmore car park
above the dump.
Your Guides this week will be "Wullie Blue" and "Jim Keenan"
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We will take a gentle cycle and show you where we intend building the
cycle track in Ardmore we will only go as fast as the slowest rider.
Full results on the race can
be found over at
West Highland Wheelers Club
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