Author Archives: docbrs

This is the easier side of the Tak, but there are some very steep little ramps, limited to 10-11%, which is a critical 2% or so less than the north side, where the steeper parts are also longer. On this side, however, there is plenty of less steep road where a rest can be taken,Continue reading “Tak ma Doon climb from Carron Bridge to viewpoint”

This is the side of the climb I have probably done most often, and also quite a few times just up to the car park, about 1/2 way. It’s about 2.5 miles for the full climb. The car park is pretty much the finish of the Glasgow Green Cycle Club hill climb course; going forContinue reading “Crow Road climb, south side from Lennoxtown”

Another climb I do frequently on my 46/18 single speed, a little longer than the south side of the Crow Road, and no car park half way up if a rest is needed! It’s about 3.5 miles, and I have also done it on 46/17, a 73″ gear. That demonstrated it is a little harderContinue reading “Crow Road climb, north side from Fintry”

I’m putting up several climbs around the Glasgow area, and this is the most difficult one so far. I’ve done it several times on a geared bike, but just once on my winter single speed. Tough! The red parts on the profile are 11-13%, just about my maximum for a gear of 46/18, 69″.

There are some interesting climbs around and near Glasgow. The Crow Road between Lennoxtown and Fintry (both directions), the Tak Ma Doon between Kilsyth and Carron Bridge, and a new one to me, Glen Fruin Road (the narrow one) from Faslane to Glen Fruin itself. Here it is! Those red parts are between 10% andContinue reading “Glen Fruin March 1st 2016!”

Well, I suppose it had to happen. I did have a little off on the Velodrome last year when an old, apparently perished but visually OK front tubular skidded down the track, but this was my first road fall. Last year it was just a few bruises, but this time it’s a couple of brokenContinue reading “Dobinson Rule #1 – don’t fall off your bike!”

I have heard all sorts of reasons why cycling helmets are unnecessary, undesirable or counter-productive. This article is a rebuttal of some of these extraordinary views. Cushioning an impact RATE of energy transfer is closely related to acceleration (hit by car) or deceleration (as car occupant); a change in velocity over a shorter distance isContinue reading “Cycling helmets”

After many rides with both my Garmin and also Strava on my iPhone, I had stopped recording rides on Strava on the phone as it eats the battery. But I was caught out at the weekend as one of my Garmin files was corrupted, and wouldn’t upload to Garmin’s site or to Strava. Disaster! 😉Continue reading “Corrupted Garmin file and correction”

The plan for a long run over the three hills, Tak Ma Doon, The Dukes Pass and the Crow Road. Ouch! Garmin Connect – Three hills loop.

I posted a tweet some time ago on the subject of the Higgs particle and field, and it proved very popular, getting many retweets and favorites. For those that struggle with the Higgs endowment of mass, this @lirarandall footnote on page 11 of her book “Higgs Discovery” says it all. The book the footnote isContinue reading “Lisa Randall’s Higgs explanation”