The Lycra Lads

With thanks from the Courier

ACC Christmas Lunch - 13/01/13

Eight headed out in a light snow shower for Roundyhill.  Heading up the Dundee road to Inverarity we turned right towards the Glamis Dundee road via Gateside & Wester Foffarty.  We were on the main road for about half a mile before turning right to Rochelhill where the road was white in places before heading down the hll to Slaughs and Eassie Primary School.  We then turned right and a slight wrong left turn took us to the A94 West of Castleton so a quick sprint up the main road took us back on track down through Cookston and right onto the Bogside Raod at Craigton.  

After a cold 22 miles we arrived at Roundyhill where we were joined by Kip, Donal and Stuart.  Jim served us some beer then we enjoyed a fine lunch including turkey for those who still hadn't had enough after Christmas.

The snow fell continually during lunch but it was not lying so the journey home was fairly easy even though the wind had moved slightly and was no behind us as we had hoped.

If you wish to follow the route click here

30 miles, 12.1mph av total ascent 1358ft approx

Bothy Camping Night - 04/01/13

Twelve club members enjoyed a grand night in the bothy on Saturday with Keith serving up a hearty soup, onion bhajis and a Thai chicken curry  washed down by two barrels of Carnousties finest ale - fantastic!

The day had been fairly mild but as night fell the clouds cleared ad a by 10 there was a bit of a frost on the way, six camped out overnight

The campers minus Colin joined by Jim the bothy jani!

Montrose - Sunday 30/12/12

The last run of the year saw seven head out from the leisure centre on a fine day, we were heading for Montrose and Duncan had offered to make the tea.  We had, what we thought was, a light wind behind us as we took the main road, Ron was first to turn at Milldens then we turned off left towards through Farnell where Jimmy turned off then onto Bridge of Dun.

We were a wee bit early for Duncan so we headed up through Dun to the Hill of Stracathro where we turned right for the long slow descent into Hillside where we met up with Duncan, who was out for his eggs, and on into Montrose 29.5 miles.

After a few cuppies we headed back to Forfar on the main road turning off for Kinell turning right at Pitmickie crossing the main road  at Glasterlaw and right to Guthrie to avoid as much of the main road as possible.  We had another half mile on the main road before turning off for Trumperton then Letham where Charlie headed direct for home, Gus, Ian, David and Norman enjoyed a couple of light refreshments in the Commercial Inn.  A discussion was had about why it was not on the Wednesday night list, a decision was made to add it at the start of the next quarters list in Feb and see how we go!

The wind had picked up by the time we got out and we had a cold windy run back via the Lour Road. - 52 Miles 13mph av, assent 1955ft (Route Here)

Glen Clova 23/12/12

A break in the rain saw 7 club members assemble at the leisure centre.  A slight delay for a puncture eventually saw us heading out in light rain and the decision to head directly to Clova proved to be the right one as we had to stop for full waterproofs before Horneycross.

It wasn't a day for flying along due to huge floods and roads strewn with debris, and the forecasted gale force winds were starting to show by the time we made it to the Glen Clova Hotel.    The stove was on which was welcomed by all and gave a few a chance to get some wet clothes dried a wee bit, two good soups were on offer along with Inveralmonds Santa's Swallie

By the time we left the rain had stopped and we had a tail wind down the glen, we then headed for the Drovers as many weren't working on the Monday, Ron turned off just after Dykehead and Charlie didn't stop.  The rest of us had a couple of pints including Orkney's Clootie Dumpling.

The temperature had dropped by the time we headed home but the rain was off and we were back before dark - 39 miles @ 12.1 mph av.

Glamis - 19/12/12

The night started out quite nice, mild again and we had the wind slightly behind as 5 of us left from the clubrooms.  We headed for the Bogside Rd with Gus taking a more direct route up the hill.  We could see Andy in front of us but we never caught him.

Ron had made his own way to the Glamis hotel which was busy with Christmas parties, we were lucky that a large table had just left which seated us all comfortably but the big surprise was the delivery of a large bowl of chips!

The rain which was forecast had arrived by the time we headed back but it wasn't to bad and we made good time. 15 miles - 13.1 mph av

Meikleour - 16/12/12

A good sized group of 8 headed out the Bogside Road via the pig farm led out by Keith, we had a brief stop as Ron mended a puncture, welcomed by some as it was milder than we thought.

Puncture Repair Stop

Charlie was the first to turn at Miegle followed shortly afterwards by Ron, Tom and Brian who were heading directly to Ardler ( they arrived to early and had to divert back to Miegle) the rest of us (David, Gus, Keith, Ian & Norman) headed to Meikleour via Blairgowrie and out the back road past Lairds Marlee Quarry.

We arrived in good time at the Meikelour Hotel and managed to gat a table in the bar for a bowl of tomato, red pepper and chili soup washed down with a pint.  The hotel has it's own ale commissioned from the Inveralmond Brewery in Perth.

Fro,Meikleour we headed towards Perth over the Tay and up the hill to Leyston and Coupar Angus then to Ardler and the Tavern where we warmed up and had a couple of pints today they had Three Sisters from Atlas and Dark Island from Orkney.

We hadn't heard from Donald in a week so we put a pot of tea (empty of course) on the table just to show him what he's missing!

From Ardler it was a nice steady run back to Forfar. - 52 miles 13.2mph.