Where the sum of the parts is less than the whole!

The media called it an Indian summer and so it turned out on a fine Fife autumn evening. Bigman was fresh off a call to Australia and it was onto the bike in 17 degrees to join the magnificent seven.

The Fit One, Junior II, Santiago, Knight Rider, Marathon Man, The Wee Yin, and Bigman rode out into the darkness to climb the iconic Col du Cleish in the pitch black.

The few passing motorists must have been confused by the array of flashing lights and could have been forgiven for thinking Christmas lights had been switched on early in the rurals around Balnagown.

With no wind, there was lots of chatter as each switched position to catch up with the news from one another. As the posse passed the monument to the Gruesome Twosome, Junior II and The FitOne had a debate as to which represented whom. Junior II reckoned he was the handsome one! The MArathon Man was in need of some new batteries as he borrowed illumination from The Wee Yin sporting her knew 100w spotlight.

And so onward and upward to the view over Loch Leven. A slight mist hovered over parts of the road adding to the mystique of the mountain climb. Loch Leven had a shimmering reflection of Scotlandwell resting on its surface.

On the return the scent of a race was in the air. The would be no competition as, due to technical difficulties with his mountain bike, the Fit One was on his road bike. At the first rise on the way down Cleish, Bigman found The Fit One 'sleeping' and in the wrong gear for acceleration, Bigman sped up the hill. That would not likely happen again tonight. The Museum Sprint would soon be upon them and The Fit One would be ready.

As the descent started the Fit One looked to see where Santiago wss lurking and eyeballed Bigman. He then wound up the roadbike. Bigman knew he would have to build momentum on the downhill and sustain the rise up to the museum. Like an eagle swooping on its helpless prey, Bigman sustained the drive and flew past The FitOne with metres to spare before the virtual line, as the Fit One cried that he had gone too early.

junior II watched with interest as memories of the unbeaten record of the Gruesome Twosome on the Creepy Coupe flooded back. As the headline states, the sum of the parts is less than the whole. It also shows the speed the Creepy Coup must be achieving as The Bigman has not yet managed to accelerate past the awesome machine.

A class 3 rise near Townhill saw The Fit One claw back some pride however the damage had been done for the night.

It was a superb night and it would be good to see the Return of the Magnificent Seven next week. It may even be more as two tandem cyclists have threatened to join the posse next week. Two more names to add to the roll call as the posse, once again, ride out!

Watch this space.