WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN THE MONKEY HOUSE ?

GORILLAS' GRAND DAY OUT

As you can see the patches and brevet cards for the Grand Day Out have arrived , and everything is in place for a fantastic day ( even the weather!) . Neil Cocklin is riding the route one final time on Thursday to check there's been no road closures - so that will mean he's ridden it 4 times in total! If you want to ride it once - full details are in the events section, booking is via the ride sign up.

GORILLA ENDURANCE

Talking of riding a long way, normally Antony Stewart's 215km Dragon ride, or Maj Ali's 222km variant of the Castleton audax up to the Peaks would get the longest ride of the week.

Or Adam Gale, Tom Wieckowski and Karl Tibbetts Marmotte Grandfondo taking in the Col de Glandon, Col de Telegraphe, Col de Galibier and Col du Lautaret which was 5400m of climbing over 180km would be the hardest ride of the week.

On any normal week Neil Cocklin and Oliver Agar 211km Ronde de Birmingham ride would get a significant mention .

But not this week.

The ride of the week is John Pears Solstice "Sprint" - 977km (approx 610 miles) with over 10,600m ( 34000ft) of elevation - that is not a mis-print! It took him nearly 44 hours, surviving on a couple of hours sleep and a lot of Snickers bars - Madness !

Well done to everybody, but especially well done to John.

GORILLA RACING

Last Thursday for Solihull Cycling Club charity 2 up TT - there was a great turn out from the club to support this charity event and Kelly Baker, and Sarah Damm won the ladies pair. Blake Timmins and Joanne Ness won the mixed 100+ category on their tandem.

On the Tuesday Paul Astin won the BMC K1/10 timetrial in 23;27, with Blake 2nd road bike in 25;42, and Phil Hood 3rd in 26;34.

Well done to all those who raced , and represented last week.

QOMs and KOMs

A lot of people were going fast last week - i spotted the following Strava crowns:

QOMs

Nicola Greenwood

Joanne Ness - on her ride BACK from the TT!

KOMs

KJ Andrews

Neil Ashton

Chris Mapp

Chapeau to you all.

THURSDAY RIDES

The rides for Thursday are now up on the website for you to book onto - if it's your first time use the coupon code FREERIDE25 for a weeks free trial. This week we have:

15-16mph Helen Pike 25 flat miles to Hockley Heath and back

16-17mph Gareth Ebbon Brat Loop

16-17mph James Brown 27 mile flat Fenn loop

17-18mph David Morton 30 miles steady, with some efforts thrown in for good measure.

17-18mph Paul Griffiths Lowsonford loop

18-19mph Adam Maclean 27 mile Fenn End loop

19mph+ Pete Edwards TTT down Broad lane.

Ride safe

Bruno