Chaingang, time and start

[Mark B]

Hi Guys

Just to let you know the chaingangs will be starting at 7pm from next tuesday (April 29th).

It starts on Chalmerston road which is the little side road on the left off the A84 just past Dobbies garden centre if you are coming from Stirling.

We had 18 bodies last night and so had 2 groups, the first group was given 3 mins and was caught on the Dumbarton road. There would have been even more but some turned up for 7pm start and/or waited at the bus stop opposite Dobbies.

See you there next week.

Cheers
Mark

[rgp]

Road to Thornhill from Blair drummond junction to edge of village will be closed for four nights 1900-0700 starting 12/08/08, chaingang will probaly be able to get through as I doubt it will be totally closed straight away but thought you whippets would like to know (careful of the two ramps), good news is it looks like quite a lot of road is going to get the nice new smooth blackstuff

[Charlotte]

hi guys - whats the minimum fitness that can keep up with the chaingang? i'm just needing to get back on the bike sometime soon.
cheers
char

[Mark B]

Hi Char

The chaingangs average 25mph for the 20 mile course and there's normally only the one group of about 10-15 riders. We have tried having a 2nd group going off first on occasions if there are enough numbers.

There's no problem if you want to just stay at the back and get swept along. As its a chaingang there's no stopping for punctures or slowing down so we dont always finish with the numbers we started with. There are a couple of cut-throughs to enable re-joining with the group on the Dumbarton road.

There is also the Falkirk APR wheelabouts on a thursday evening in Bellsdyke Road in Larbert. They get about 60 people and normally 4 groups of different speeds, that might get you back into fitness more smoothly if you're currently lacking. Also dont forget about the saturday rides - 10am at Rainbow Slides, 3 groups for about 3 hour rides.

Mark

[markleadb66@msn.co]

Has the route for Tuesday night chaingang been decided for 2009? Has there been any debate about it that I've missed?! How about going back to the old circuit:

Dunnipace->hill towards Plean->back round towards Granada Services roundabout

I don't know what else this circuit is called but I think that most people would remember it from when it was last used about 3 years ago  Or was it 15 years ago  ?

Just my personal opinion but, anyone who moans about having a hill as part of the speed training can also go to the Falkirk chaingang which is pan flat.

How about some discussion?

[Neil]

id be up for this one Mark!

Neil

[Mark B]

Not that this should sway any decision but I find it really hard getting to Dobbies for 7pm let alone anywhere further out simply due to the time I get back from work.

Just wondering how the courses measure up distance-wise, traffic, road surfaces etc.

Given that we may get more people turning up this year and the high possibility of a 2nd group the safer the circuit the better and the Plean one is probably a bit better although that A872 can get a bit busy at times and is probably narrower than the Blair Drummond / Dumbarton road sections of the current circuit.

To add another alternative I think the old Chalmerston road circuit be re-usable soon as I think they're repairing the bridge at some point.

[NeilC]

Around the 45 minute mark for three laps,is Pirnhall much further from centre of Stirling than Dobbies?A811 and A84 pretty dangerous for wheeling about,just my opinion.

On this topic,when the clocks change a few of us are planning to start the chaingang out at Falkirk,starting at 6.30 to begin with on the usual Thursday night circuit.

All welcome! Groups to cater for your ability,if you get dropped,just ride round the circuit the opposite way and join in again!

[Mark B]

Yeah lots of chat about this today at the cafe and I think the Denny circuit was getting lots of support. We may have a go at re-trying it out prior to the official start. It would make a nice change/alternative to the pan-flat wheelabouts so lots going for it probably. Other alternatives put forward were a mini-Braes/Micro Braes route. All of them seem to have the positives and negatives I guess...........

[Scooby26]

+1 for Dunipace loop.

Absolutly nothing to do with the fact I stay in Dunipace 

[Rob Wilkins]

My view is the current route is fine and we should stick with it.  I'm not that clear on what the problem is?  I assume its saftey related?  It's got all the features you'd look for in a chaingang circuit - fast, very few junctions, good visibility, and you can finish at the 30 or the castle.

There's no way riding at high speed in a big bunch on the open road is ever going to be that safe.  Take our big groups onto back roads and there will just be other problems.  The only dangerous experience I remember from last year were at the sprint, but if you don't like the danger there it's easily avoided - just sit up!

For me the main problems last year were because we always set off in one group which lead to riders getting dropped and loads of folk sitting in.  We need to improve that so it runs like the Falkirk run with groups of about 10 setting off at intervals.  The whole point of the chaingang is training.  Often on the run last year there would be a big chunk of riders who sit in.  If we can persuade these guys to set off earlier everyone will benefit - everyone will have to work harder.

[Eddie A]

I'd agree that the circuit in principal is a good one, but do think that it puts some people off coming out because it's just one big lap so if you get dropped it's just a lonely ride back to Stirling. The idea of more, smaller groups is a good one as not only would this encourage people to come out and try it for the first time, but would in principal make it safer on the main road.

I personally would like to see a slightly longer route as at 18'ish miles I feel it's just a bit short.

As for the other options, I've never ridden the Dunipace loop with this in mind so can't really comment, but will try and get round it soon. Micro braes, potentailly a good curcuit, if a touch narrow in places for groups and I dont think the surface is great at the moment. 

E.

[Neil]

I do agree, laps are a good feature to ensure dropped riders can have a chance of getting back in a group.

Works well at falkirk APR.

Neil

[NeilC]

Laps are definitely are far better option than a big loop,like Neil says works at Falkirk .

As well as being safer I'd say the Denny/Chartershall circuits are a lot less boring than the one used last year,some nights there were only 4 or 5 riders who turned up.

Also as they are undulating you have to keep working,even the riders sitting at the back. Maybe that's why some people would like to keep things as they are.

[Rob Wilkins]

Anyone up for starting this years chain gang session next Tuesday (31/3)?  Clocks change this Sunday apparently and sunset will be 19.54! Summer is here 

6.30 start with lights for the first few weeks?

Usual location?