Sunday Cycle  6^th April 2014

Definitely a day for the low profiles.

A tremendous group of 30 cyclists turned up today for the first of our 8am Sunday cycles this year.

Five boys wanted to "keep her flat and fast” so they zipped away off themselves ---  well,  only two were on zips, one on Fulcrum-Racing,  a fourth on Mavic (I am nearly sure), and the last boy was away out of sight before I could take note of his wheels.

The rest of the group all decided to join in with the Wicklow 200 training programme and take in a couple of hills.  We headed out of the rec carpark in two groups,  however, the chasing instincts of the second group were too strong and we all merged again after about 6 miles.

Our route was to Swatragh, Garvagh, Ballerin, sharp left onto the Belraugh Road and onto Dungiven.  Then up to Altinure and  turning left for Moneyneeny.  Then Draperstown, Tobermore, back to Maghera and a lap of the town to give us a nice round 50 miles.

The morning was mild, wet and very breezey,  with head and side winds hitting us hard on the upslopes.  But,  as Pat Purvis would say, "It’s all good training”.

Well done to all.

Next week’s instalment in the continuing Wicklow 200 training epic can be seen at http://carnwheelers.co.uk/news/details/?id=895

I had two cycling shocks this week, both wheel related  (That probably explains my acute observational skills wrt what other cyclists are shod with).

Shock number one.  As any friends on facebook may have noticed, I managed to bust open the rim of my road bike rear wheel.  Last Sunday, the bike had started making a bit of a thumping noise when breaking .  I thought it was just the rear break being a bit sticky so I continued on home. On Tuesday evening before I went for a wee spin I centred my rear break, being confident that the noise would disappear.  But at the first Give Way sign the noise continued.  I horsed her on away and finished my ride.  It was only on inspection afterwards that I noticed the damaged rim, and I was shocked to think that I had gone up, and down Glenshane, Coolnasillagh, Lisnamuck, Ranaghan and Slaughtneil with the wheel in that state.  How the tire stayed in place I do not know.

So I bought a new set of wheels on Saturday.  As I drove home from Cicli-sport,  I imagined how vastly improved my riding was going to me on my new Mavic Aksiums.  In my mind’s eye I could see myself scooting up them hills no bother,  no loss of revs, no increased breathing rate.   On Saturday afternoon when I actually tried out my new wheels on my bike, came shock number two.  I found that even on a gentle hill like Brackareilly, I still had to pedal the damn bike!!

BM