Super vet leads the charge.......

It was to be the Bigman's birthday ride out. The five oh has finally arrived and our big friend has joined the Super Veterens race category.

Today, despite the birthday, was business as usual.

I met the posse, Bigman, Fit One and Snatiago on the bike path at the bottom of the Col De Carnock and we were off.

It was a birthday blast off for the Bigman. He was off on one. He was flying with the rest of the posse trailing in his wake, well not just trailing but about 800m behind. He was moshing along at over 40kph, I say moshing advisedly. As during our coffee stop he fessed up to having both AC/DC and Abba in his car. So as he thrashed away I imagine he was singing 'thank you for the music' moshed with 'sweet child of mine' - a strange mix but one that works for him!

He slowed down and let the posse catch him. It was his birthday and he was going to party, party hard. If you remember my blog of Thursday I mentioned that I thought we were going to push it hard today and that's exactly what happened. Once we got together we wound up the pace. Not just a little but alot. We blasted to the end of the path, hearts pumping, breathing from the pits of our stomachs and working hard.

We stopped at the end of the path briefly before hammering through Alloa and on towards Stirling. The posse worked together to build the speed up and 4 exhausted bikers reached the Stirling roundabout. It was a slippery as a very slippery thing and we fought as the back wheels of the bikes wanted to go sideways - scary stuff!

Santiago was beginning to feel the pace and as we turned towards Yetts O Muckart the Bigman and I took off to get in a fast 15 miles under the belt. The run up to Dollar is pretty flat with the last 6 miles being a tough climb. We bashed it out. The coffee shop was a welcome sight.

We met two of our friends (I'll leave Bigman with the alias naming!) and enjoyed a coffee as we shared stories. This was our 2 friends first time out and they had managed an impressive 1 and a half hours from Dunfermline and were indulging in coffe and cake when the Bigman and I rolled into town.

Fit One and Santiago rolled in a few minutes later and as a special birthday treat we stopped for an extra cup of earl grey - the bikers tea of choice. There was much confusion as we settled the tab and it took a few minutes to sort the bill out. The Fit One used his charm to guide the confused cafe owner through what we'd all eaten.

The Fit One, Santiago and our 2 friends set off on a shorter route back climbing the Vicar's Bridge valley, over to Saline and then back up to Dunfermline. That left Bigman and myself to head in the opposite direction towards Milnathort. We were flying. We finished the climb out from Yetts O Muckart. We were moving very fast and passed a fellow biker like he was standing still.

By the time we reached Cleish we were both tired but climbed the hill with relative ease. We reached the top, following the dry part of the centre of the road, which was great until the centre of the road became a snowy block fortunately with a gravel crust.

The bus museum was looming in the near distance. I positioned the bike behind Bigman, glanced down to select the right gear, looked up and the Bigman was gone. He'd stolen 30 yards and claimed the polkadot jersey once more. He's the tactical king compared to me the tactical joker!

We parted company both pleased with the effort and speed. Just under 60 miles in 3 hours - happy days! I think we're ready for Cape Town, not just ready to survive but ready to enjoy. The goal is exactly the same as it was on day one. To finish and now I believe we will. We're fit, healthy and have put in the hours both in the gym and on the bike.

We know more about each other and as time as passed over the last 12 months I'm more convinced than ever that I have the best partner I could have hoped for. The Bigman is special, as are the rest of the posse, and as he turns another year older I, and the rest of the guys, wish him a very happy birthday and every success for the year to come.

We're a good and strong team.