Regrets - I've had a few, in fact I've got a lot of regrets, but right now, what I really, really regret is writing that last damm race report about the Castle Douglas TLI.

Why do I regret it? - because as soon as I turned up tonight I was told that I was a marked man, that I was going in the scratch group -  until my dying days, when my legs drop off, no matter how badly I do in future races, I will be a marked man, in the scratch group -  hanging on for dear life.

The run up to the race had been pretty positive -   On the previous Thursday I went out with the Dumfries / Classic Walls chaingang and managed to hold my own (Just). On the Saturday I did a recon of the course, flew up the hills and managed to total 60 miles with intervals -  the form was there Dougie had offered me his state of the art, carbon fibre, sex on wheels Tarmac -  although 2 inches too big it was featherweight and put my steel bike to shame I learnt the night before our star rider Gareth Montgomerie was riding -  Having THE finest mountain bike rider in the country as a team mate bolsters your confidence somewhat.

And yet, as in life and especially  in sport, it all went horribly wrong As I wheeled up to the start, I learnt the course had changed -  Chapelcross, 7 miles away -  bugger, I dont know that course. Even worse, Mrs Crooks was cycling over to watch me race for the first time. She hadn't arrived yet and I had no mobile phone - the intended highlight of my race was to whoosh past her during the race and hear her dulcet weegie tones squawk "That's ma man".

The  7 miles ride allowed a fair warm up and I spun along with Steve and Gareth also riding for the yellow and blacks tonight -  we talked tactics, Steve's was to hang on for as long as possible, Gareths was to have some fun and rip up the others, mine was "unmm yeah, sounds like fun".

The handicap groups were made up -  the front group was identified and given several hours start  -  the next group set off and two days later the 3rd group followed leaving the scratch group - Gareth, myself and three Classic Walls riders  - of the Classic Walls riders I knew two -  Tommy who made my legs seriously hurt the Thursday before and Steve who won the last the race -  oh yeah we had the country's top mountain biker, and me -  Fan - bloody - tastic After two weeks wait the marshal felt the rest of the bunch had sufficient lead and we set off. A brisk pace was set and for about 2 miles we clipped along, through and out, through and out - Gareth took a long pull at the front and then the fun and games began - I think we made the first lap together although the flowing pace lines were not there -  Gareth would spin at the front, hands on the tops, looking relaxed and I would be sandwiched in between the CW riders who were a wee bit frustrated at the lack of cohesion-  Onto the second lap and obviously bored by leading us along Gareth took a flyer and stayed approx. 50 meters in front. I obeyed the golden rule - "Thou shalt not chase a team-mate down" and sat on and let the CW riders chase him -  it was a slow process, Gareth dangled in front for over half a lap but we gradually caught up with him. Surprising absolutely nobody, a Classic Walls rider counter attacked just as the junction had been made. It was Tommy, and I have to say, having just recently met Tommy, he is a seriously nice guy and I knew I would feel guilty about chasing him down. However no need. Just like Gareth, he dangled in front of us, Gareth and I never really pushed hard to chase him and the junction was made by a Classic Walls rider.

Onto lap 3 and up that pig of a grinding hill we catch and pass a rider with tribars and push on - further on the rider with tri bars catches us and takes to the front -  in my state of near exhaustion I think we have been lapped, but it soon sinks in and he drops away -  onto the long back straight and still no sign of the next group -  and we are shifting along -  I am sitting mostly at the back -  the inexperience and strange sensations from riding an unfamiliar larger bike starting to tell - we swoop around a corner and hit that pig of a climb again -  not a hard climb I accept, but when your going flat out into a headwind its a pig alright.

Gareth grinds away at the front and opens a gap -  remembering rule number 1(see above) I dont jump across but hold back -  Steve does jump across though and for the remainder of the race they act  like a carrot, never more than 10-15 seconds in front -  we spin along the 3 of us as back markers and without noticing it, we are soon just 2. Tommy and myself chasing behind Gareth and Steve with no sight of the main bunch. And then PING! -  Riding a bike which is 2 inches two big, with longer cranks and a dougie mcfern gearing range took its effect and inexplicably I suffer sharp pains in my left calve - I've pulled a muscle and it hurts like buggery. For the next two laps in high discomfort I am towed along by Tommy.  l watch in the distance as Steve and Gareth counter attack each other -  Tommy is riding like a steam train but we cant catch them as I sit, for the most of the time on his back wheel, making the odd token effort at the front. Up that Porker of a hill again and glory be, its the bunch! - Tommy ruins the moment by pointing out the lack of a race car which means there are other riders up in front and out of sight - On this lap we pass Stewartry wheeler team mate Steve Warner grinding along, I shout encouragement as I go past and he does likewise  - you cant fault the team morale of the Stewartry wheelers -  Steve has done well, just two weeks back on the bike after breaking his wrist, and like his son Liam in the Castle Douglas race he will finish,  the marshal calls out two laps to go -  thank god for that, my calve really hurts now -  Gareth and Steve have made it into the bunch which dangles very close in front but we just cant bridge the gap -  And that was all she wrote, for the last two laps we chase and chase but remain just 10 seconds behind the bunch, on the final climb up to the finish, I  sit up and take a deep swig from my bottle -  William and Dougie are there and give me a cheer.  As soon as I stop, I start stretching my calve and in my ear I hear a voice say "That will teach you to write how easy it is!". Indeed it will, but as per the last article it was a heck of good time, along with the rest of the Stewartry wheelers travelling fan club  I applaud Steve as he finishes -  he still has enough juice left to pull a bunny hop as he crosses the line -Gareth finished in the main bunch and seemed relatively happy - appreciative though I am of Dougie lending me his fantastic bike, I was tempted to drop it off at Chapelcross and melt it down to size Sandwiches were laid on at the pub back at brydekirk and I made sure to thank the marshals for their  work. One day I may see the front of the bunch again.