HARO BIKES

well, that's the Nairnshire Challenge for 2009... a really enjoyable, well organised event on a fine day showing that not all Rotarians think that spreading carpet tacks constitutes a good Sunday out!!

http://www.nairnshirechallenge.co.uk/

The Mike's Bikes team (or two thirds of it!) performed admirably, with pride of place going to local G.P. Gill Irvine who finished 35th overall and 2nd lady, having given Mike a bit of a fright by finishing the run stage ahead of him before he managed to reel in her advantage to finish in 30th position. As exclusively revealed in these blogs last week, evenings spent with beer and crisps in front of the t.v. is not an effective preparation for an event like this and I was able to contemplate my folly for longer than I would have liked as I struggled with the run stage. Thanks to Stevie for the encouragement when he passed me around the 10 mile mark - nice Avenir top! I realised how visible it was as he stretched the gap between us and I could still see him off in the distance! The cycle stage was my saving grace and I managed to recover enough time to finish safely under three hours in 113th - a positive interpretation would be "room for improvement" next year. So Gill left Nairn with a trophy, Mike left Nairn with 20 minutes to spare over me and I left Nairn with the phone number of the attractive event doctor. A keen cyclist and a Raleigh owner herself I think she was more interested in my Raleigh Carbon Race than in my performance. A successful day for all!

Footnotes

1. Mike used High 5 Sports Bars before the event and High 5 Energy Gel and 4:1 Energy Source during the event - the first hand account is - "it works!"

2. Gill was a late replacement for her husband Hamish. After the club ride on Thursday, Hamish decided he needed some adjustment to his gears - Mike sent him to the workshop for a long stand - we think he's still there.

3. It was good to see several Cairngorm runners putting their training to good effect - looking forward to seeing you again at the Runners' Evening at Mike's Bikes next Monday (see "What's on" section)

4. Thanks to

http://forresharriers.myphotoalbum.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=album43 

and

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gurnnurn/sets/72157618726542718/ 

for photographs.