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The 2011 Route Preview!
Approaching the Carrick Forest Drive
Half way across the Carrick Forest Drive beside Loch Riecaw
Tyre Choice? We asked round-the-world cyclist and leading cycling guide Gav McDonald for his advice:
"I think there’s going to be no one right tyre choice down to a particular brand for the Davie Bell course this year. The best tyres will be the ones on the winners bike I reckon. Looking at rider weight, riding style, the whole range of surfaces on the course, the weather leading up to the event, how much one (or one’s sponsor) is prepared to spend on tubs and wheels (or not) and how lucky/unlucky you are on the day will all have a bearing.
"Personally I’m coming down in favour of using HPs. Michelin Pro 3 Grips would be my choice - Mavic use them as their tyre of choice for the pro’s spare wheels in Paris-Roubaix. My question mark with them is that they only do them in a 23c width and heaftier riders, like myself, would most probably be better running a 25c and a having a larger air pocket. They grip like the proverbial to a blanket and are happy to run at low pave pressures (the Mavic tech guys told me to run at 6 bar rear / 5 bar front and that worked a treat on the Roubaix pave sectors).
"I train on Specialized Roubaix 25c tyres and they’re heavy, dead and durable and grip is OK too. They don’t seem to like gravel though as I’ve punctured twice on forest roads in the last month and never on tarmac – maybe’s that’s just me though!
"If I don’t overanalyse things and it remains dry I’ll maybe opt for my sprints and I’ll probably just run with my Conti Sprinters with some Stans Fluid squirted inside them. There’s a host of more suitable tubs out there without a doubt but I’m too tight to shell out on a specialist ones that I’ll race on maybe twice a year.
"I think my main tip would be for those riding HP’s. Make sure the inner tubes are dusted with some talc before they are put inside the tyre – running lower pressures than usual means additional friction between the tube and the tyre ..... the talc helps prevent the tube from binding inside the tyre and can prevent it from tearing as well. Also if you can lay your hands on inner tubes with a removable valve core you can put some Stans Fluid inside them and that’ll help keep them airtight or maybe consider using a heavier pre-puncture proofed tubes like Joe’s No Flats
"Personally, I’ve not run a tubeless road tyre set up so I can’t comment beyond saying that, on paper, they look like a good option."
Gav McDonald is the latest in a long line of Auld Dun Racers hailing from Ayr Roads Cycling Club. Now in his twilight years, the club have badgered him into entering this year’s Davie Bell Memorial Race by promising him a blazer and a place on the club’s diplomatic committee in the near future.
Much faster when he was younger [among over things Gav held the junior 50mile record. He is shown here winning the 84 Jnr RR Champs] he started racing before most of this year’s Davie Bell field were born. He respectfully asks that you’ll take pity on an old man and either go very slowly or take turns to push him up the hilly bits.
Citing the Road’s Bobby MacLean as his hero he says “Nobody at the back of the bunch could shout, swear and get things organised and moving up front like oor Bobby. I never, ever saw him take a turn and he taught me everything I know”.
Gav co-founded and manages 'Rather Be Cycling' leading truly inspirational cycling holidays
Any event questions should be directed to the organiser, Christopher Johnson, care of ayrroads@gmail.com
NEW! Route Risk sheet for Riders
2010 Rider Information and Race Manual HERE
