Broken chain piles on the agony.....

It was a JDI day - just do it.

Bigman, Wingman and myself had taken part in the beer tasting evening at Dunfermline FC - sponsored by Belhaven and an excellent night. Possibly not the best preparation for 2 athletes in the heavy training phase pre race. It was worth it as we had a great laugh and really enjoyed the evening.

So this morning we met slightly later than usual at the usual junction and set off for Perth. It looked like the skies were going to clear and the mild weather of late was going to lead to a pleasant ride. How wrong we were.....

We climbed Knockhill slowly chatting about the night before and our relative weeks. We were pedestrian at best and as we climbed the mist and fog closed in. The boy racers were heading for their fuel fest at the race track and our voices were lost under the throaty roar of exhausts claiming the available decibels. The chat died away as we reached the top. The posse was grinding out the miles today!

There was a temptation to stop in at the Powmill milk bar, settle in and enjoy a coffee before heading home after a gentle ride out but with 5 weeks to go the temptation was avoided and we ploughed on towards Dunning. At the junction to Dunning we were passed by a roadie - he soon shot ahead of us mountain bikers.

The climb up Dunning was easy but the clawy miserably weather closed in and the temperature dropped quickly. Our roadie friend waited ahead and joined up with us - turned out to be a member of Stirling called Graham. We had a really interesting chat as Graham is studying about performance in cycling and how the body reacts to different training regimes. I was really interested and we had a great blether.

We said our goodbye's at the top of the hill as he was heading back to Stirling and we were off to Perth. The drop down into Dunning was baltic. I was really cold by the end of the decent and thirsty. We stopped for a bottle of water before setting off again. The valley between Dunning and Perth was very cold and I was using the climbs to warm up. We pushed our way up and into Perth looking forward to a bowl of soup.

I turned a few heads with my mud spattered face - I thought initially I must have been looking attractive in my lycra but my face was a picture.

Lunch at the Outreach Cafe in Perth was great. Fab food, friendly service and a nice atmosphere - I have to say the thought of the cycle home didn't appeal in any way and it was an effort to leave the warmth of the cafe.

We pushed the speed up on the way home. The run down to Bridge of Earn was done at pace - Bigman following me was pebbledashed by grit. It turned out to be his first facial. He didn't enjoy it my spa treatment and took the lead as we climbed back up to Glenfarg. Bigman had the bit between his teeth and we hammered the pedals up the long climb. The welcome sight of the motorway bridge at the top of the hill signposted the top of the hill. I jumped off the back wheel and pushed hard to Milnathort - I was keep to get home. The damp, cold and wet was getting to me and I just wanted to get home.

We crashed on through Kinross and turned towards Cleish. I briefly flirted with the option of avoiding the hill but the additional milage was not an attractive proposition. We reached the bottom of the hill, I changed gear and pedalling fresh air! Initially I though the chain had fallen off but it had snapped.

A quick call to Wee Yin and the 5th emergency service went into action and international rescue appeared. It was great to jump in the car. I'd had enough ( I think the Bigman felt the same) It was without doubt one of the least pleasant rides we done. Cold, damp and abjectly miserable. Other than the company it was no fun.

Anyway we'd cycled for 5 hours and the just do it training session was done! I was as cold as I've been in a long time.

We hopefully get our rewards in Cape Town in 6 weeks....