CLUB NOTES

Post date: Apr 01, 2010 3:8:28 PM

YOUGHAL CYCLING CLUB NOTES 28th March 2010

THE REAL TRAINING BEGINS ! – Sunday 28th March.

Hello again and welcome to this weeks news about the trials and tribulations of Youghal C.C. A fine group of 16 gathered at Moby Dicks at 9.00am for our usual Sunday morning spin. It was good to see that all hadn’t been caught out by the hour change. Well all that we know of but I suspect that there was one or two who did forget but will not admit it!.

Anyway, we headed up the Tallow road in silence while everyone warmed up and dodged the potholes as we dropped down into Tallow. From there we road steady out of Tallow, on and trough Lismore, before we arrived at the Secretary’s chosen route climb of the day on the outskirts of Cappoquin. We had reached the accent of Salterbridge, a 3km climb that was as steep as Windmill Hill only longer, narrower, had five steep switchbacks and was riddled with potholes. We headed up the climb in complete silence and just grinded and grinded until we reached the top. Speaking from my own experience of the climb, I had to make full use of the triple chainset and if I had anything smaller, I would have been using that too. For those of you who think that I don’t suffer on a bike, I can tell you now that I suffered like never before and if I had any of the Bulman’s or Hamsters EPO, I would have used the lot. I hoped you liked that John ? It’s very hard to have a go at myself when I am writing it so I think from next week, I will go back to having a go at the usual suspects. It was however good training for myself and Big Schleck who will be doing 5 similar climbs on cobbled roads next Sunday in Belgium. Naturally it all broke up on the climb but we quickly re-grouped on the decent from Mellary back down into Cappoquin for our scheduled coffee stop. We duly enjoyed the Coffee and at the same time, enjoyed verbally abusing the Secretary for his climb selection.

Re-freshed, we headed for Dromina Drive, Villarstown and Aglish before Big Schleck showed his age and let the Secretary change a puncture for him. Nice one. Puncture repaired, we rode onto Clashmore with the Secretary kicking off again. He didn’t get far though and the group rode through Clashmore re-grouped. A bit more hopping took place between there and the Main road but we all came together again for the run back into Youghal where we arrived at 12.30pm with 90km completed. Our first tough and long spin of the year was gladly completed.

The 10 O’ Clock group consisting of 4 riders also gathered on the good morning and traveled out the Bog road to Ballymacoda, over the hill to Garryvoe and back through Ladysbridge, Castlemartyr and Killeagh. Another challenging 40km completed for those who participated.

Best Wishes

Best wishes to Club Chairman, Gerry Geary who has been missing from the bike over the last couple of weeks due to injury. He will shortly be having the tricky knee operated on and we wish him the best in his recovery. We will all be looking forward to seeing you back on the bike and getting us all lost again down in Knockadoon again.

Congratulations

Congratulations to local club man Don O’ Reilly and Family on their new arrival. Rumor has it that he has already ordered her a new bike for Xmas. Nice one Don, start them young. Congrats again from all at the club and no excuses now about being tired on a Sunday morning, that’s my excuse !!!

Tour Of Flanders

As the Sunday regulars all know, myself and John Flynn will be heading for Belgium this Thursday for a weekend of bikes, beer, frites and mayonnaise. If the Gold Cup is the Highlight of Cheltenham, the Tour Of Flanders is arguably the highlight of the one day races and is one of the toughest Classics of the year. Belgium is completely mad for cycling, with the most exciting and knowledgeable spectators you’ll find anywhere. The whole of Belgium comes to a grinding halt on race day, much like All-Ireland final day in Ireland with proud Flandrians cheering on their national heroes as well as the Belgian trade teams of Lotto and Quickstep. On the second last climb the Muur van Geraardsbergen or "the Wall" upwards of 40,000 bike fans converge in the square before the climb, watching the race unfold on large t.v. screens, before the madness starts when the first riders approach the climb and all hell brakes loose with spectators lining the 20% gradient up to the church at the top.

While their to watch this great event we will also be participating in the Tour of Flanders cyclo sportif the day prior to the big one, a mass participation event that allows amateurs to ride the course covering 3 distances, 255km, 150km and 75km taking in the tough hills and becoming a Flandrian for a day!! The event attracts approx 20,000 cyclists with the Belgian and Dutch cycling clubs along with overseas visitors giving it loads on the race course.

As a result of this great race, their will be no notes next week, but a full report on the whole weekend will be administered to all on our return and in the following weeks notes as well as on the club website.

MUINTIR NA TIRE CYCLE

The Muintir Na Tire cycle will this year take place on May 15th and will be leaving at 9.30am from Aura, Youghal Car Park for the 80 mile route and leaving at 2pm for the 30 mile route. There is a minimum of €20 sponsorship from each cyclist required and sponsorship cards will be available from Cree's card Shop in Youghal.