VeloVeritas

Ronnie Boa was a God like figure, when I was a 16 year-old with Kirkcaldy and District CC.

He would come out at the start of the season and dominate - hilly time trials, road races, APR's, two-ups and even a stage in the Girvan.

He was red hot favourite for the 25 title after banging out winning 58's at Stirling on a track iron; but on race morning he was a DNS, leaving the way clear for Drew Brunton to take the title.

And there he was, last Sunday morning, headed across Old Cramond Brig on his mountain bike, the style is pretty much unchanged, just the Lothians jersey was missing. I gave him a shout, thinking he might stop, but no, maybe he had a watch running?

I was with my amigo John; Sunday we potter around the old railway lines, the Cramond Coast Path and any other traffic free thoroughfare that takes our fancy.

If you were of a mind to, you could do most of your training off road in Edinburgh. When I was younger, slimmer and fitter, I used to be able to knock out a couple of hours, easily, hardly venturing on to the roads.

The Union Canal and Water of Leith are cracking, flat, safe runs - just watch for the dog walkers!

Coffee duly downed at Blackhall's Café Citroen we headed back off through Barnton back towards Cramond and the van - beats the Lang Whang.

Inspirational, Patrick Cocquyt still winning big at 49 years of age. (click for full image)

Kermesses, I love them - the season has ended in Flanders; the final score is Guy Smet on 36; Mario Willems on 25; Patrick Cocquyt on 17 (at 49 years of age!) and Iljo Keisse (yup, the very same) is on 11.

But like Adam Blythe says; "you can't be a Kermesse King without buying a few!"

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