CLUB NOTES

Post date: Sep 17, 2012 8:47:55 PM

Youghal Cycling Club Notes – Sunday 9th September 2012

Club Spins With the unexpected period of nice weather during the last week there were a few prompts put up on the facebook site and 36 hours later a group of 12 riders headed off to Kenmare early in the morning and cycled the Ring of Beara in glorious sunshine. They covered the 160km route and were home in time for a late evening tea, well done lads! Midweek spins are still running, albeit limited by time and distance due to nightfall. For those coming out this week please ensure that you bring your lights! Last Sunday a group of 14 riders left from Moby Dicks at 8am for the regular Sunday morning spin. This week saw us head out the newly reopened Glendine Road to take in the Cat 4 climb to Knockanore, from here we headed to Tallow. At this point the Club Secretary made his first appearance at the front of the group while the peloton rolled through his home town. However, 500 meters later he had strategically pulled through to get his nose out of the stern headwind, miraculously he managed to compete the 120km circuit with this being his only appearance out front. From Tallow it was onto Rathcormac and Midleton for the cuppa. After getting totally soaked, the group headed to the hot food section and filled up with a fine selection of breakfast and sausage rolls. With the weather really closing in the group decided to take the main road straight back to Youghal. As we entered the town bounds there was confusion and half the group did the bypass, with the other group heading straight into town. To the disbelief of the author, a certain member of the group who missed out the bypass, felt like he had not finished the spin. Rather than give the other lads bragging rights he continued on through town and took the bypass in from the East side and into the headwind. Well done John – as I said, I am sure you can get medication for this! A note of encouragement must also go to juvenile member Cillian Keneally who has been regularly coming out with the 8am group. Cillian, keep digging in, it will all come together next year for the racing season!

Sportiffs Next up is the Rebel Tour on Saturday, 15th September. This year the event moves to Glengariff in West Cork. This is the last major sportiff of the year and we will have a nice crew going down to participate. Keep an eye on the facebook page for travel arrangements. For those interested in a sportiff on Sunday, 16th September, note also that The Bobby Power Commemorative Cycle in aid of the Irish Children’s Pilgrimage Trust takes place on Sunday September 16th in Carrick On Suir. There are 50km route and 100km routes. Light refreshments will be served on the route and again at the finish. All funds raised go towards taking young children with special needs to Lourdes each Easter for a Holiday.

Club Tour 2013 Note that there are plans underfoot to have a Club Tour to France over the June weekend in 2013. We plan on travelling to French Pyrenees to Velo-Peloton who run the lantern rouge cycling lodge. The cycling lodge is based in the medieval village of Saint Savin. They have 6 Tour de France climbs (Soulor/Aubisque, Borderes, Cambasque, Luz Ardiden, Tourmalet & Hautacam + 28 more) within 40km of the guest-house. The house is run by Irish couple Paddy and Olive with many years catering for cyclists, accommodation is half board (b+b and evening meal). Paddy points out that all abilities are catered for with the valley incorporating 34 climbs all within 40km of the lodge. Groups could be split if need be, some cyclists have covered 4 big cols totalling 200km in one day and others have covered 35km taking in one climb. The Tourmalet could be done alone with the option of taking in Luz Ardiden or the Hautacam(ouch!!) on the return leg. Similarly the Aubisque and Solour could have extra cols added on the return. Paddy has loaded many garmin and strava files on the Velo-Peloton website,check it out. We are looking at two options to suit cyclists.

Option 1:

Depart Wednesday 29th May in the afternoon. Arrive Saint Savin that evening for dinner and assemble bikes. Thursday 30th to Sunday 2nd June will be four days of cycling the Cols. Sunday evening..... BEER!!! Return flight on Monday 2nd June.

Option 2:

Depart on the Friday 31st May followed by 2 days of cycling for anybody who cant make the Wednesday flight, returning on the Monday.