Ironman shocker ...........................

After a couple of hill climbs yesterday with Junior II to sweat out the corporate excesses of Twickenham conference centre over the last two days, today was to be the real deal.

The team - The Ironman, Bigman, The Fit One, and Santiago ( a new nom de plume who hales from Aberdour). The sun was up early, the wind was out of the North East however it was not too cold, and we were targetting new ground. A trip to Perth ( Scotland) via Dunning returning by Milnathort and The Cleish. 63 miles all in. The trip would be supplemented by a coffee stop at the Mustard Seed Restaurant in Perth for coffee and scones. The journey started well with the Ironman timing his convergence with the 'usual' meeting place perfectly.

The climb over Mont veKnockhill resembled a Cafe Claik with the chatter from the 'chasing pack' leading to a pedestrian plod at around 12mph. Hardly the stuff of sub 4 hour Etape times!

Up and through one of Scotland's best kept secret glens to Dunning. Beautiful, awesome, inspiring, these words can only half describe the scenery through this glen. Out of Dunning and across the River Earn and it is up the hill to a coffee stop in Perth.

With the North Easterly working in our favour on the return journey through Glenfarg, The Ironman was in awesome form. Pummeling up through Glenfarg for the first time ever, he would not accept we were travelling uphill. In a fit of humility, he declared 'it cant be uphill, I cannot cycle at 30kph uphill'. we breezed up to the summit in short order. At the summit he declared himself to be 'shocked' at how strong he was feeling. I shared some of my humility with him whilst we waited for the 'chasing pack'.

The trip back to Dunfermline was at breakneck speed and not even The Cleish could destroy the Ironman's confidence as he smashed his way across the tarmac, chest puffed out as he past two female walkers, to the tumultous applause of the swaying trees as he crested the summit arms aloft, punching the air with ecstacy ........... ok so now I am getiing carried away!

Today was just one of these days that make cycling in Scotland one of great wonders of the world.