Lumpy outing delivers weighty eighty plus

The forecast was set for cloudy with a slight chance of rain, followed by a spell of sunshine. Nothing unusual in that............ everything in a day without the snow.

The Ironman and Bigman met up at the usual place resplendant in full winter gear including the winter gloves. Today would be the first return to The Pass of Condie since before the summer. It has to be one of Scotland's best kept secrets, the glen from Yetts of Muchart through to Dunning. It is a gentle climb as you wind your way up to the crest of a 4 mile descent to Dunning. As you leave the Glen Devon road you are welcomed by the tumbling, overflowing waters from the Glen Devon loch which sparkles in the sunshine as you enter the enchanted glen.

A good pace was set as the pair raced up over Mont Veknockhill, with the constant chatter passing away the miles. A few buckets of perspiration leaked during the climbs to the crest of Dunning and we have not even reached the formidable Dunning Hill, a steep one in four climb that has you out of the saddle to avoid the front wheel leaving the road. As they raced down to Dunning, Bigman warned The Ironman of frequent debris that lies around the sharp corners. If only he had taken his own advice he would not have 'enjoyed' a bacck wheel slipping over the road as he passed over a stream of water before a harp bend. The grass verge sped towards the Madone and only a the last minute managed to pull away before disaster struck.

In his inimatable style, The Ironman invited Bigman to take the hill at his own pace. Back came the rejoindre, only if you wait at the top.

The pair zoomed up the Dunning Hill as if it was invisible, only the slightest pecking was discernable amongst the perfect silence of the countryside. The views over Perthshire and Tayside were superb as the sunshine painted a warm glow over the fields.

Climbing the Dunning Hill, is only the first (and worst) of a series of three sizeable climbs before the planned coffee stop at Loch Leven's Larder. The guys made plans for returning here on the tractors for night time training through the winter. Very few cars were on the road making it ideal for winter training, not to mention the bruising hill climbs.

Milnathort was shortly achieved following a welcome downhill. A carb induced carrot cake, fruit scone and two litres of water lifted the energy levels for the return over the north face of the iconic ascent, Col du Cleish. In an attempt to dampen spirits, the rain decide to apply some smur liberally across the cyclists as they crested the Col. It only served to deliver a view of the most magnificent rainbow with both ends visible however there was no gold at either end.

As the pair chased down to Dunfermline, The Ironman tucked in behind Bigman with the intention of challenging his pace at the traditional race point. Bigman shifted down the gearing in anticipation and was only just able to hold of the Attack of the Ironman ( sounds like a Star Trek movie!)

A fine 85km covered in an elapsed time of just over three hours and about 3000ft of climbing. It was certainly a lumpy ride proving a weighty eighty five Km.