CLUB NOTES

Post date: Feb 09, 2012 8:6:43 AM

Youghal Cycling Club Notes – Sunday 5th February 2012

With the big freeze shutting down cyclists all over Europe, we were glad of our Atlantic fronts as we had a pleasant 6degC and light North Westerly, to greet us at Moby Dicks 9am on Sunday morning. A fine peloton of 19 cyclists was gathered and headed out the N25 before turning off down towards Ardmore and taking the coast road through Ring and onto Dungarvan. The lumpy coast road set its challenges as the group were more like a squeezebox from a ceili as we stretched out up the climbs and regrouped at the bottom. We rolled into Dungarvan with 45km on the legs and stopped for the cup of tea and bit of banter. There was plenty of discussion about the challenges laid down in Berties the week before when we were juiced up with the amber nectar. More about this to follow over the summer months I am sure.

After Dungarvan we rolled out towards Clashmore. The fresher guys were talking of attacking the climbs at Strandcally Castle, not so at the back of the group, as the Hamster was feeling the pressure and he was recruiting for a shorter route home via Aglish. He took the quiet left as the main peloton continued on into Clashmore and Knockanores. We started climbing steady, again the squeezebox was stretching out, but there was no chance for it to recoil until about 10km later when we met up with the Tallow Road.

From here the pace increased as we started to count down the km’s to home. The Taco chips and pints from the previous evening were starting to tell on the Knockanore Bandit, but he did not care as he had beaten his nemesis, Paddy Merc, to the top. Tongues were hanging as we raced down the Tallow Road and through Lombard’s corner, Di2 was giving it his all as he electronically shifted through the gears and held onto his lead. As the main group caught him and lined up for the green jersey, it was the Suffer-king from Killeagh on his cyclo-cross, that took the honours. Reviewing his Garmin log afterwards he certainly gave it all to collect his first points of 2012. Word of note for 2011 rear of the year – when we all sit up on the hoods, the sprint is over.

Rolling around the Rincrew Roundabout we gathered our breaths as we prepared for the last climb of the day up the bypass before home. A steady pace was kept up the bypass, but this was a little too much for the men from The Deise as they dropped off the back. But I can say, as the Cork Rebels looked back, it was a beautiful moment as we saw the men from Tallow and Knockanore bond as they cycled up the bypass together while fading off in the distance.

It was a great morning for sure as we rolled into town for 1pm with 110km on the legs. Same again next week!

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.