Bigman, Big day out, Big five oh!

It was the day he had been waiting for half a century to occur. Bigman has achieved his 50th Birthday and what better way to start the celebrations than with The Fit One, Santiago, The Ironman, and the other half of Team Turtle and his buddy from the far south - Special K.

As The Ironman was due to go see his beloved Caley Thistle, hoping the result would have him dancing in the streets of Raith, the posse set off early at around 08:30. It was a crackin day with little wind and a mild frost overnight providing a crisp start to the day. Fifty years ago today they would not have been a cycling day as the snow lay thick and deep.

The cycle track to Clackmannan was the first stretch. As The Ironman has put his trusty MTB steed in for an overhaul in readiness for South Afica, the posse resumed cycling on the road bikes. What a joy to escape the constant drone of nobbly tyres fighting for space on the tarmac.

The ease with which you can accelerate had been forgotten as it is so many weeks since their last roadie outing. They blasted along the cycle track at speeds averaging 38kph. It felt good, it felt easy.

Once the posse was back on the road the tempo was upped to 42kph out of Alloa and along to the dual carriageway to Stirling. The Ironman led the 'chaingang' digging deep into that iron resolve to push the pace. At the roundabout Bigman took over and held the pace at 42kph all the way to Stirling junction.

At the roundabout, the posse then headed for the Ochil foothills along through Memstrie and Alva. The pace was a touch more conservative at 32kph and a gap was opened up between the chattering pack at the back and Bigman and The Ironman.

The climb from Dollar to Yetts of Muchart, the planned carbing stop, was long and steady and The Ironman led the attack with Bigman 'holding onto his wheel. And then the coffee stop appeared. Special K and Team Turtle part deux had already ordered as they had come via an alternative route.

A hot drink and a fine piece if walnut and coffee sponge served to replace lost calories. The banter was good and plans were made for the posse to ride out post Cape Epic in the homelands of Special K.

Santiago had to get back to Dunfie for an early appointment and so the posse split with The Fit One and Santiago joining Special K and Team Turtle part deux on the return to Dunfermline via Vicar's Bridge, a mighty climb on its own.

The Ironman and Bigman picked up the pace again and held an average speed of 40kph all the way to Milnathort and down to Kinross. And then it was over Col du Cleish, the scene of carnage last week when Ironman mented his chain.

It proved to be a nice wind down to a superb 100k ride on Bigman's special day. The Roadie's were a pleasant distraction and a reminder of joyous days to come post Cape Epic. Hoever, it would have been foolish to continue the training on road bikes as the MTB's take extra effort, extra muscle, and extra attitude.

Both the Cape Epic adventurers feel they are close to their peak and ready for the adventure of a lifetime starting in 35 days. Bigman completed 16 hours of training last week and with only 24 training days left, every one counts towards an epic experience.