Tuesday 24th May - 7pm - meet at Dalbeattie trail park for ride around Sundays race course An exceptionally good turn out, good humour and banter abounds.

Wednesday 25th May 2pm - Physical stock take - Two aspirin to combat nagging headache following 2 rather painful 'OTB's - discomfort sitting down following bruising to base of spine, tight trouser feeling in right leg thanks to ugly purple bruises, 1 cut shin and several midge bits making me look like a spotty teenager, difficulty in typing due to cut fingers.

Thanks to William and Gareth for taking the time out on Tuesday night to show the gang around the Dalbeattie course on Tuesday night, the highlight for me was seeing the 'baby' stewartry wheelers zipping about in their yellow and black jerseys, going downhill with no hands, whilst pulling wheelies or in the case of Angus, rather disconcertingly, riding with only 1 brake. Seeing the boys out riding does emphasize the fact that the club is doing well.

Since joining the club I have inflicted a million digs at Steve Warner regards Mountain bikes - the reason they have fat tires is because the riders need the stability because they have not mastered the art of staying upright, suspension is needed because they are not 'manly' enough to go rigid, 26inch wheels because they are not yet ready for full size wheels, etc. etc. ad nausea.

I publicly retract those comments and confirm that Mountain Bikers are from a different plant - last night was the most painful, difficult time I have spent on a bicycle - I crashed more times in the space of 30 minutes than I have in a total of 25 years cycling - no kidding. Easy enough to race in a TLI, do 100 miles in less than 4 hours or go sub 24 on the Dalbeattie 10 course but if you think you can simply transfer this cycling ability to cross country, think again.

Luckily there are numerous trees on the course because they were the only things that broke my falls - after attempting the 'widow maker' I ended up in a heap halfway down spitting ferns out of my mouth - (Only an idiot would try to slow his crash by grabbing onto bushes with his teeth).

The group, wonderful people that they are, did not laugh, point, sneer or even raise an eyebrow as yet again they waited whilst I practised for my audition as Booboo the cycling clown for Billy Smarts circus.

I can only drop my jaw in awe as I watched some seriously talented cyclists handle impossible descents with nonchalant ease, very impressive to watch Gareth tackle a technical climb - the fact that he wasn't able to make it to the top without putting his foot down was small comfort - I had started pushing my bike up the climb approximately half a mile before.

The course itself is an absolute corker, very difficult technical sections, muddy single track and some lovely views, the course will find you out and if Tuesday is anything to go by, I strongly suspect that Sunday 29th May 2005 will be a very successful day for the Stewartry Wheelers.

As for me, I will be washing down the lovely Giant XtC2 that Castle Douglas cycles lent me for the race and returning it - if it was mine I'd be digging a big hole, placing it at the bottom of said big hole and covering with concrete. Never again will the Crooks derrière grace a mountain bike saddle. I will be volunteering my services as a marshal and if you are riding, you will see me doff my cap to you as spin past.