CLUB NOTES

Post date: Jan 13, 2012 7:31:24 PM

Youghal Cycling Club Notes – Sunday 8th January 2012

Firstly Youghal Cycling Club would like to wish all our members, families, sponsors and friends a Happy New Year! We look forward to your friendly ‘beeps’ as you pass us on the roads over the coming year.

With the wonderfully mild weather we have had a burst of activity with members taking every opportunity to get in a few miles – it would be impossible to write about them all!! I will limit the write up to our weekly spin last Sunday, 8th January. As usual we had two groups head off.

First the 9am group. Here we have a group of riders that have been growing in numbers, as we kept the pace down, for the winter training. This Sunday was no exception, there was a fine crew of 23 riders assembled, full of beans we decided to do the shorter 90km Vee Challenge route. We rolled nicely out of town and straight onto the Tallow Road where the pace was kept in control to give a little time for the legs to warm up. As we descended into Lismore there was a call made and some of the boy racers dropped off the back to get in some hill training as they tried to get back on the main group while climbing The Vee. On the descent into Capaquinn with a nice breeze on our backs the pace increased significantly with an all out sprint for the last 5km. Much to the disappointment of Jay, it was the ‘ol dog, with the club foot that took the green jersey – you cant beat cuteness! A great note of improvement has to be made for PK, for a change he cycled his bike down the hill, as opposed to getting off and walking – well done Paddy! Rumour has it that next on your Bucket List is to go down the slide in the Millennium Playground without falling off! After the caffeine load, ‘twas off along the beautiful Dromana Drive, back towards Youghal. The pace was nice for most, but the Hamster was not happy, we are still not sure if it was too fast or slow for him! Rolling into Youghal we took the usual detour up the bypass for the final blast and home for lunch. On a serious note, big congratulations to all the new cyclists to the group, this is a tough 90km route with 900m vertical climbing, steepest ascent of 16%, four Cat5 climbs and one Cat4 climb – not to be sneezed at all in January!!

Next up on Sunday was the 10am group. Seven riders assembled for our first spin of the New Year, what a sight was to greet us as Santa was very busy bringing a new bike for John, but there was just bits of bling for the rest of us. Route ageed, we set off only make it to the fire station, when one of the chains snapped on the tandem, alas no spin for Seamus and his pilot. Just before the bog road we picked up two more riders and headed off down the road for Ballymacoda at brisk pace of 25kph with John Tracey leading. There was a big cheer when he rode straight on, no Kilcredan climb today, new bike or not! Into Castlemartyr, on to Mogeely, Killeagh and home up the bypass. Next week we will be going West Waterford to avoid the traffic going to the Killeagh Point to Point.

January schedule as follows (weather dependent):

Tuesday & Thursday at 10am from Lidl Carpark – Intermediate Cycling

Tuesday at 8.15pm - YCC Spinning Class in Aura Leisure Center

Saturday’s at 10am from Lidl Carpark – Beginner & Intermediate Cycling

Sunday at 9am from Moby Dicks – Intermediate Cycling

Sunday at 10am from Moby Dicks – Beginner (& Golden) Cycling

Please note that all riders are expected to have road bikes (racer type) of good repair for scheduled spins. Riders must wear helmets, bring a spare tube & pump