CLUB NOTES

Post date: Feb 14, 2012 6:41:17 PM

Youghal Cycling Club – Sunday 12th February, 2012

A bright eyed bunch of cyclists assembled as usual at Moby Dicks for 9am this Sunday morning. By the time we were ready to pedal off we had a respectable bunch of 19 cyclists. We had travelled a whopping 100 meters when the first mechanical struck us as Ina’s cleats were acting up. A quick re-adjustment and we were back on the road heading for Ardmore. Just after we passed Piltown cross, the second mechanical struck as Kieran’s chain snapped. There was no recovery from this and the dreaded call for a lift home was made. We were on the road again and itching to make up for lost time so we pushed hard past the Curragh and on towards Glenwilliam. The Gods were not smiling at us, again the dreaded call “hold up” was heard, our third mechanical struck. This time it was The Greengrocer wit a puncture. Some of the group said they would continue on easy and allow us catch back up once we fixed the puncture. Forty minutes later, with our tongues hanging down at the handlebars and our lungs up by our eyeballs we caught up with then – cheers folks!!

At this stage we had passed down by Helvic, An Rinn and were heading for Dungarvan. It was from here that Plan B began to call the route. Threatening to bring us up Barry’s Boreen, he gave in, and let us up Strikes instead. The climb started at a steady pace as we all eyeballed each other for a hint of who was in the most pain. Suddenly Team Sparky & Hip made the break off the front. Nobody followed for a minute, and then it was KKK that hopped out of the saddle, hit the big ring and pulled away. He held the break for 1km when Plan B, The Happy Hamster and Madone reeled him in and beat him to the top (again!).

We regrouped at Reamanagh took the fast descent past Mount Stuart, through Aglish, Dromana Drive and onto Clashmore for the cuppa. Here SuperValu reported record sales on the Turkish Delight and Fruit Pastilles as we all tried to get our sugar rush. Rolling out of town Paddy Merc was on a mission to recover from last weeks struggles up this same section of road. All we can say is he did it with honours, he was even heard to mutter “If Tom Hickey could only see me know”. I think the gauntlet has been thrown down.

Once back on the Tallow Road we wound it up again and pushed it hard home. We descended down through Lombard’s at great speed with the group lined up for the final sprint. He had been biding his time down the descent, as the Rincrew Roundabout beckoned, suddenly it was Bob the Builder that made the final break and took the green jersey. After doing the cursory climb of the bypass, we split for home with a handy 110km loop complete before lunchtime.

Meanwhile at 10am a second peleton of 13 riders met outside Moby Dick's. We also set off to West Waterford, on through Piltown, down the back road to Ardmore Cross and on to the climb up to towards Kiely's Cross before swinging right to An Sean Pobal. There was lots of effort to get this far and unlike the earlier group there were no problems so far, but that soon changed. Just short of Bun Scoil Baile Mhic Airt, it was Ronan who punctured. As we waited at John Paul's, 3 riders went back to help pace Ronan back. But it was not to be as he had blown the tyre as well, no other option ring home and ask the lady wife to come out for him. Now 40 minutes behind the rest they had to chase hard to try catch up. It was not to be as the two Maurice’s were giving it plenty welly on the front. However, they were old dogs for the hard road, so the chasers decided to skip An Rinn and head for An Senachie where they had a cup of coffee. When word came through that the rest were on the way up the hill, the old dogs rode on for home with 70kms covered at 19.5kpm average speed. See you all next week on the climb up to Kilcredan and don't tell Scobie.