NCC Summer '13 Membership Newsletter - Issue 3

7/28/2019 NCC Summer '13 Membership Newsletter - Issue 3

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Hugh Durnin

Now that we are enjoying the benets

of those wet winter and spring days of

cycling through wind and gales, we are

hopefully all now tter and ready for a

full summer programme of cycling. NCC

is alive and well, our groups are providing

spins, races, sportifs and leisure cycling for all our members

who are ranging in age from 14 to ??? I wish to expressmy appreciation to the captains and leaders of the various

groups who lead and coordinate these events and activities.

We have three events coming up, The Wicklow Peaks Cycling

Challenge on Sun 30th June, the NCC Picnic Spin on Sun

21st July and the Tour of Kildare on Sun 11th August. These

are an ideal opportunity for all our members to support and

participate in the work of your committee and to contribute

to the ongoing success of the club. I look forward to meeting

many of those members who I havent yet had the opportunity

to meet.

I also wish to thank those members who attended the recent

egm/open meeting and contributed to the discussion, it

is always good to exchange ideas. I also wish to thank all

who assisted in the recent Rs weekend, our large turnout

of volunteers was noted by Cycling Ireland and other local

representative bodies.

KEEP SPINNING, SMILING AND WEAR THE CLUB COLOURS

WITH PRIDE. 25 YEARS AND STILL SPINNING... WE ARE

DOING IT RIGHT.

Welcome to the third Summer

edition of NCCs MEMBERSHIP

NEWS.

This Newsletter will attempt to

keep the growing club membership

informed and updated with all

thats happening in Naas Cycling

Club. With over one hundred andfty members the club is expanding

rapidly and communication

between members has never been

more important. We already have

an excellent web site and the Club

Facebook page is also very active.

Membership News is an extension

to that and will be emailed on a

quarterly or seasonal basis to all

members who have supplied an

email address to the club secretary.

It will also be available on the main

web site to view and download.

If you have any suggestions for

content or pictures that you think

might be of interest to otherclub members please email Trish

McGuane, NCC PRO at:

[email protected]

CHAIRMANS COMMENT

NCC MEMBERSHIP

NEWSSummer 2013


2/26

Dont ever question the value of volunteers. Noahs Ark was built by volunteers;

the Titanic was built by professionals.

PRO/SOCIAL UPDATE

Great time for cycling in the wonderful

weather we are currently having. Lovely

to see so many Naas CC jerseys when I

get out cycling. Speaking of jerseys and

club stuff , I am really looking forward

to the 25th Anniversary Jersey, our

25th Anniversary buff (for those that know what this

is and I didnt, it is a very nice tubular neck scarf worn

mostly in cooler weather), lads dont worry, we wont

ask you to wear a scarf, I am just stuck for words to

describe it! We also have a very nice polo shirt suitable

for cycling related events. Hopefully, ngers crossed

we will have these before the Wicklow Peaks on 30th

June. Many thanks to Pat Spillane and Lance for all

the hard work in bringing this together.

Speaking of Wicklow Peaks, preparations

are well under way at this stage for this

major event in our cycling calendar. Can

I appeal again to members to please

support Colm Alley in his request for

members for road marshalling? For

myself can I appeal to you for any foodstuffs/baking/anything that we can use

to make this event as enjoyable as possible

for everyone? Our ultimate aim is to raise enough

money (bottom line gure) for our proposed sensory

room for the Saplings new school in Kill. I went to see

the school a few weeks ago and believe me if you had

seen it, you would be as determined as me to make

this happen. We will have a great day, please God

everyone will arrive back safely, to food in the TownHall afterwards and a bit of fun with friends.

Our initial plans for a BBQ in the Friary Road Car Park

had to be scrapped due to insurance concerns around

food storage/distribution and overall safety. The 25th

celebrations are now moved to our Christmas Party in

Nov/Dec next. Trish McGuane

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Lets not think of winter just yet. We

are organising a family fun day in

Emo in July. As cyclists I guess we are

always conscious of heading off on a

Sunday morning and leaving families

behind. Well on this Sunday in July,

we will cycle to Emo, our families will

drive down for a picnic. We will have

food for everyone so if you want to

come down and family are away or

whatever, no worries, you will still get

fed. We are working to make our club

inclusive. So for now put this date in

your diary, Sunday 21st July - Emo

NCC family fun day for everyone.

Tour of Kildare again great

work being done by our

committee in preparation

for this. Again mark Sunday

11th August in your diaries

for the Martin Earley Tour

of Kildare. Lots more onthis later.

Thats all for now, safe and happy

cycling to everyone. Just a reminder

that when you are out cycling and

wearing the club jersey, you are

representing the club. Best behaviour

at all times, respect the jersey and

also ensure that everyone in our clubis equally respected and valued.

(Feel free to contact me if you

can assist on the 30th June on

[email protected] or 086 192

5292.


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both safely and efciently, despite being told on numerous

occasions by husbands, boyfriends and pro cyclists!!! Well

done Emily Anne!

Maeves demonstration was equally as important. Withmilitary background and a previous statement of Id rather

strip a rie, I was all eyes and ears for my next lesson

how to eat a teacake correctly! I have to admit, I hadnt

lived until I saw this you must remove the foil, then crack

the teacake off your forehead before proceeding to eat the

chocolate, savouring the mallow for last. Of course there

is photographic evidence to support this. You are always

guaranteed to learn something new on these cycle trips.

Not putting your full glass of

wine in the door of the fridgewas another valuable lesson

learned. The night continued

with sing song entertainment

(obviously after an abundance

of wine) however silence fell

when Movana shared her

wonderful voice. The silence

equally diminished with the

statement the night is but a

pup!!!

Barry was the backbone of the

weekend, on stand by for any

emergency and when among

ten women, Barry was often

expected to perform miracles

beyond his call of duty.

The weekend was an absolute

success, thoroughly enjoyed by all. This includes Frodo, the

dog, who according to more photographic conrmation, hadone too many on Friday night. This did not affect his hurdle

performance the following day.

On that note, whether you are a racer, an avid cyclist or

just enjoy a leisurely cycle this group caters for all in a

friendly, good fun environment. With a mixture of hill

climbing, laughter, good food, drinks, lovely company and

atmosphere the ladies really know how to have a good

time!!!

LADIES GROUP UPDATE

Ardamine the view was

spectacular despite the wind

and rain. It wasnt long until the

house began to ll up. Warm

embraces were made withfamiliar faces along with some

introductions. The chat and laughter continued

into the early hours of the morning. The men

would have been impressed with discussions

around gears, cassettes, oil, chains, muscle balm

and when it comes to bike gear who knows

fashion better than women!

It was absolutely glorious to

wake up to the sound of wavesand the sun high in the sky with

a gentle breeze perfect cycling

conditions! We took on the

Wexford lumps with enthusiasm

and zeal. Multitasking was at its

nest, with superb group cycling

etiquette along with comparison

of calf denition, with a clear

winner in the group! There were

plenty of smiling faces Saturdayafternoon after a lovely 100km

spin and in particular one proud

100km rst timer. At this stage

no matter how hard you tried

you couldnt annoy us!!

All that pedalling worked up

quite an appetite. The spread of

food would have fed an army. The craic, banter

and laughs over dinner were mighty and just like

the gentlemen, for some, opening the top button

was necessary!

Emily Anne gave us an educational demonstration

on bike management and control when turning

a corner on decent. This explanation took place

in the middle of the doorway leading into the

kitchen. This was the perfect location as this

practise was thoroughly understood in this

female setting we all now know how to decend Maeve Quigley

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A GROUP UPDATE

I was going to write about what we got

up to when we cycled. Where did we go?

What exciting events unfolded over the

weeks since the last newsletter? What

plans do we have for the future? Instead

I wrote about this.

Im going too fast downhill. I can see the end of the footpath

approaching fast, the tricycle only has a front brake so I

pull it hard, too hard. The bike stops suddenly although I

continue on, my hands on the bars acting as a pivot. I feel

sick as I am upside down, then suddenly everything stops

as I land on my feet. At the age of three I knew that cycling

was for me. Im lucky.

I wake up in the morning, I can hear the

rain dancing on the windows. Turning

to look at the alarm clock which plays

KFM, nothing too offensive at that hour

in the morning, it is time to rise and get

breakfast on the go. Bottles made up,

both rain covers found for the shoes and

a rain jacket. No excuses then, time for the off and to see

who else believes that someone might turn up at the Court

House. It could be any number but today there are nine of

us, nding our way down country roads to a warm coffee.

We have ventured down to Athy with the weather clearing

enough to allow us notice the wind. After a brief chat on

our return to the Court House we all go our separate ways.

Im lucky.

Today it is warm, the ride starts from just down the road.

I know that while I set off with many I still call friend andclub mate, I will not be in their lofty company for long.

Setting off we are cruising the roads at high speed getting

sucked along in a big group. Pedal? If I must! Little effortGraham Custerson

4

equals some distance. Im now with others

who found the 4th Cat climb less than easy.

I meet up with two of my friends at the rst

foodstop. Smiles and familiar wheels for

a while rudely interrupted by Hourquette

dAncizan, Col dAspin and Col du Tourmalet.

Friends to meet me at the nish. Im lucky.

Its going to be a nice weekend. There were

croissants in the oven and the smell of fresh

coffee lled my senses. The sun was out as

promised, the kids were up and about at full

volume. There is still some breakfast left for

my wife as she is greeted by the familiar

sound of clicking cleats. Im off to Cahillsbike shop for a Saturday spin with the NCC

Youths. They are eager and refreshing

company. The trip through Blessington

and Ballymore Eustace passes in a ash.

A heady cocktail of raw enthusiasm and

bravado. Im lucky.

Im a Naas Cycling Club cyclist. I meet up

with other similar cyclists most weekends.

We enjoy the routes, the pace, the company

and the chat most of the time and Id like

to thank every rider who has ridden with

the group throughout the year so far. Also,

Id like to encourage all club members to

experience all aspects of cycling within our

club. We have a great club which contains

lots of different cycling interests, all of

which can be most rewarding.

So NCC cyclists I ask you, do you feel lucky?

Well do you?


5/26

B GROUP UPDATE

At the moment we have

about ten core members

in our group with others

joining us from time to

time on our Sunday Spin.

The routes have been

varied and the spins have gone well

with everyone nishing together and

there has been a good social aspect to

the group with enjoyable coffee stops.

This year we have tried something

a little different with our training

concentrating mainly on intensive hilly

routes for the last month to prepare us

for the Wicklow Peaks.

After the Wicklow Peaks we intend

to have a few introductory spins at a

slower pace to allow anybody who feels

like moving up to the B group to settle

in. All who are interested are welcome

to come along and nobody will be left

behind.Tony Gavin

CLIMBING GRAPHS

When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments. Here was a machine of

precision and balance for the convenience of man. And (unlike subsequent inventions for mansconvenience) the more he used it, the tter his body became. Here, for once, was a product of

mans brain that was entirely benecial to those who used it, and of no harm or irritation to others.

Progress should have stopped when man invented the bicycle. ~ Elizabeth West

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6/26

C GROUP UPDATE

Well we are in the throws

of the summer now,

although sometimes its

difcult to see it. But

the C Group is thriving

now. All the preparation

work in the early part of the Spring is

really paying off now. We have gradually

increased our distances whilst not

necessarily increasing our speed. Our

gradual hill work has meant we now take

on the Sally Gap and Wicklow Gap with

impunity and the lakes are a walk in the

park.

Our initiative at the end of winter to

include a shorter route for new and

returning riders, has certainly paid

dividends. As we have gradually brought

on riders who would, most likely have

experienced difculty in returning to full

C Group pace.

Changing the start time to 9am has beengood for peoples time management on

Sunday mornings. Although Im not sure

if it has gelled the club into a better unit. I think we should

make better efforts to integrate the members into a properly

unied club. This should now be a priority of the committee,

to nd methods of breaking this apparent divide.

C Group has always been, and continues to be a close knit, and

friendly unit. Our spins on Sundays have a huge emphasis on

kinsmanship and camaraderie. We have fun on the road and

we have the personnel in the group to ensure no one gets left

behind or suffers unduly on the spin. Mick Brosnan does this

job with aplomb and on the days he is off with the grand kids,

we can see the difference. Fortunately, we have members

who are willing and very able to take on this role if required

and people accept this task willingly, when asked.

Our evening rides I.e. the Monday and Wednesday evening

short wind down, (or is it wind up?) rides have seen a fall off

in recent weeks. Possibly due to more family commitments

over the summer. However, we are still continuing these and

adding others as necessary.

Thank you to all the members who make Sunday spins the joy

they are and we look forward to the various sportives coming

up into the summer. Enjoy your summer and keep cycling

safely.

John Boyle

Theres an old cycling adage: Dont walk if you can stand, dont stand if you can sit and dont sit if

you can lay down. It doesnt mention housework but I think its probably out of the question!!

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2013 WICKLOW 200

After completing the Wicklow 100k in 2012 myself and

Karen decided that 2013 was going to be the year of the

200k route. Training began last February and was going

great but unfortunately I was ill for the whole month of

May and with a couple of stays needed in hospital I decided

to favour the side of caution and do the 100k route and

Karen was to press ahead with the 200k route.

With the weather looking

hot for the day we decided

to roll out at 7am and get

in the distance before the

midday sun peaked. It

started with a nicely pacedspeed until the rst climb of

the day at Kilmancanogue.

After 4k of a testing climb it

was another good pace until

we both reached Laragh. It

was at this point we waved

and wished each other the

best of luck for the day

ahead.

I made good speed to the

only food stop on the 100k

route at Rathdrum. While

I was tucking into the

refreshments Karen was

never far from my mind because at this stage she would be

making her way up the gruelling Wicklow Gap. Approaching

the Wicklow Gap Karen picked up a slow puncture which

made the nal approach to the car park that much harder.

Gladly there was a bike mechanic at the car park and

after a quick repair Karen was on her way. At approx. 11am

Karen arrived at her rst food stop in Baltinglass, she

quickly took on some liquids and food and was on her way

again. At Hacketstown Karens chain came off and again at

Knockananna, luckily a bike mechanic that was taking part

in the event stopped and made a quick repair.

While all this was happening I had nished the climb atRedcross and was tackling the small but frequent steep

climbs through to Glenealy. At Ashford I had a puncture

and after a quick tube change I was on my way.

For Karen the dreaded Slieve Mann

and Shay Elliot were looming. A lot

of training time was spent on these

climbs by Karen so no way was she

going to be beaten by them. So she

dug in and steadily grinded her way

up the SM and in doing so took great

satisfaction passing those who

had dismounted their bikes.

At the water stop at the top of

SM Karen took on uids and

used the water stop as most

people did as a reason to stop

for a quick breath. It was then

onto the dreaded SE, at this

stage I was enjoying a shower

back at the nish. Again she

steadily grinded her way up the

SE and was then happy to see

the toughest climbs of the day

behind her. With heavy and tiring

legs she made her way to the

food stop in Rathdrum and then

onto the climb

at Redcross and

the hills through

to Glenealy. On

seeing the sign

30k remaining

this gave Karen a

moral boost and

she speedily made her way through

Ashford, Newcastle and Kilcoole.

At this point I was waiting at the nish

line for Karen, and sure enough and in

customary fashion as seen in the photo

Karen crossed the line with a big smile

and very proud of herself as was I with

her fantastic achievement for the day.

Jason 100k : 3hrs39mins

Karen 200k : 9hrs16mins

Jason Ebbs

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GALWAY CYCLE - MARCH 13

As graduates of NUI Maynooth, Trish McGuane and Iset ourselves the early season challenge of doing theMaynooth to Galway Cycle last March for the Jackand Jill Childrens Foundation. I remember the annual

charity cycle fondly from my college days though onlyas a collector. Back then it was a small affair of only 20cyclists so I was surprised to see almost 100 cyclistsat the rst mandatory training spin. The efciencyand tness of the marshals had to be admired as theywhipped (not literally) 243 cyclists into shape and madethe cycle to Galway and back become a reality.

The only aw in an otherwise amazingly managedweekend was that someone forgot to arrange theweather. Friday brought torrential rain of biblicalproportion where we really needed wet suits andcanoes rather than lycra and bikes but we made it toEyre Square, saturated and elated in equal measure.The forecast for the return journey was even worsewith a block headwind for all 200km. A little bit ofperspective was offered on Saturday night however,when we heard from a Jack and Jill father and theirchilds battle. To complain about a headwind seemed

trite in comparison and Ive no doubt his story helpedto power many cyclists journey home.

In total we raised over 120,000 and cycled with manyadmirable people, none less so than Trish; incrediblytough but always a lady and one of only eleven womento cycle the entire journey. Kudos! Our Jason Ebbs alsorode as an outrider and was always on hand with a smileor word of encouragement. Many seasoned GalwayCycle riders say that this was the hardest cycle in recenttimes so I feel justiably proud of our achievement.

Thanks to those who sponsored our efforts and turnedout to welcome us home much appreciated.

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Emily-Anne Doyle


9/26

SECRETARY UPDATE

MEMBERSHIP:

Almost half waythrough the yearand we still have

new membersjoining the club.It may be a slow

trickle but we now have a total of155 members which shows as a clubwe must be doing something right.With so many members it is now abit harder to keep track of everyoneso if for some reason you change yourphone number or e-mail address or any

other personal details, it is importantthat you notify me so I can continue tosend you this club news letter, meetinginformation and details of clothingorders etc. You should also updateyour prole on Cycling Ireland. AgainI would encourage those of youwithout e-mail to sign up as it makesit easier for me to contact you andensure you dont miss out.

CLUB GEAR:

So far this year we have alreadytaken two deliveries of gear andthis kit has all been distributed toour members. On both occasions Iordered some extra but once again Ind I only have a couple of garmentsleft. Our winter order will be going inat the end of June so if you want

anything be sure to respond in timelyfashion when you receive notication.Remember for these orders I needpayment at time of ordering.

I am considering expanding the rangeof gear we offer our members anddepending on interest we may startto order both leg and arm warmers,gloves (winter and ngerless) andovershoes. All of these items will havethe club logo and colours and will befrom Giordana. Those of you who wereat the open meeting will have seensome samples.

Pat Spillane

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I am also looking at thepossibility of a casual/track

jacket (see bottom pic) whichcould have the club crest

embroidered and I will havea sample available for all tosee very shortly. This kind oftrack jacket would be suitableto be worn before or after arace or sportive (or around

the house while doing the

hoovering - Ed.). If there isanything else that you feelwould be useful or that you

think we should include inour gear order let me knowand I will investigate.

The polo shirts with the25th Anniversary Logohave turned out very welland the embroidered crestlooks great, so thanks to

Lance for his good work.

The Spin 11 Limited Edition25th Anniversary Jerseysare expected to be readyin or around the 24-26thJune and we also hope tohave the Limited Edition25th Anniversary Neck Buffs

available that week too.

When I have everything

delivered I will notifyeveryone who ordered ofthe collection details andtry and get it all out to youas soon as possible.

Thanks to everyone for theirco-operation throughoutthe year and I look forwardto your continued supportand patience.


10/26

SPRINGTIME IN NORTHERN MALLORCA - MARCH 13

NCC members Graham Custerson, Cathal Murray, John

Shannon, James Mooney and Lance Connolly returned from a

weeks cycling at the end of March in Puerto Pollensa, Northern

Mallorca. Graham wrote the following account of the trip.

Saturday March 23rd - a cold day for sure, especially at 6amoutside the departure terminal at Dublin Airport. As the afternooncame and went we had managed to determine a number of facts.One slice of Ryanair Pizza was enough for any man, the number ofrows that the smell of vomit could travel was less than 10. We veconsidered ourselves lucky on a number of fronts as we reached forour sunglasses on our exit from Palma Airport.

Bad weather limited our ability to test out our reassembled bikespost ight on the day of our arrival, this was mainly due to thehavoc the weather was causing with postponed and delayed ightsfrom the UK with the knock on effect of our transfer being delayed.

Apparently the following week was also going to be rather cold inthe Emerald Isle! After a short stroll to familiarise ourselves withthe local surroundings we settled down to dinner and retired to ourrooms when we noticed that the heating had kicked in which washardly necessary for anyone arriving from Irish climes. A sign ofthings to come?

Sunday March 24th - a hearty breakfast would surely set us up forthe day ahead. 4 groups to choose from. The real learning startedhere, everyone was going at, 60, 80 or 100 miles they said, a quickcalculation and a nudge from returning riders allowed us to plumpfor an appropriate group. Burgers was the touring option (myself,James and Lance) with our two racers (Cathal and John) headingout with Stuart Hall. The pace of both groups was steady and wellcontrolled. Lunch was at 60km in the town of Felanitx. A leisurelystop in the town square was accompanied by Peruvian Pipes andsunshine aiding digestion of baguettes and coffee perfectly. Lancewondered if the A Group were enjoying their coffee stop in balticBaltinglass quite so much! Some of our new friends conrmedthe ride distance as 80 miles, we were halfway and feeling good.Terric scenery distracted us as we weaved our way throughcountry roads, which thankfully proved to be just wide enough toallow cars pass. There must have been an adverse movement in the

exchange rate as at 120km it was not the hotel which greeted us buta rather beautiful eld of Artichokes some distance away. Our rstride turned out to be 141.5km, a baptism of re and it was chapeauto James for completing the longest ride of his cycling career todate tomorrow was to be his second longest!

Monday March 25th - time was to be at a premium this morning.Early rising was less prominent (and forbidden in some rooms!) withbreakfast being a much more civilised affair. Denitely a day for thesun cream, outside the hotel the days routes were announced withMallorcan towns ringing in our ears. Our eyes scanned for familiarfaces as yesterdays group leader was out of action for the day. Atrip to the Orient was in the ofng with Ivan. It sounded exotic,a little more so than was in store for Cathal and John who wereheading for the climbs of Little Soller and the Puig Mayor, or as itsaffectionately called The Pig, a 5km climb out of Soller followed

by a 15km climb up to the aqueduct. Ourclimb out of the coffee stop in Bunyola, TheOrient, is a pleasant climb with trees on thelower slopes leading to a false peak beforethe panorama widened out revealing sundrenched slopes and full gas to the meetingpoint! A point worth noting is that Jamesproved that it is possible to drink a litre ofcoke, a coffee and eat three huge pastriesprior to embarking on this climb. Cathaland John had their lunch in the picturesquesquare at Soller which is one of the bettercoffee stop locations on the Island. ThePig was suitably dispatched by both of ourCats. Meeting up at the hotel post ride we

all agreed that recovery should be top ofthe agenda and post dinner we headed toOHaras for refreshments. Only later did welearn that Cathal and John were also in thehabit of calling into Tullos on the sea frontfor brief post ride re hydration before cyclingback to the hotel. These small details arewhat separate the dedicated racer from youraverage leisure rider!

Tuesday March 26th - after some sketchygroup riding and accidents in 4 out of 5groups the previous day our motivationalmorning speech from Stuart Hall in a deepBrummy accent (which I interpreted andtranslated for the lads) included a forceful

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11/26

reminder that we were on a Cycling Camp, not a Racing Camp.In fairness the groups were very large (up to 40 at times) andsubsequently there are bound to be a lot of incidents on the road.Flat spins were announced to audible sighs from near and far andStuart also said that from tomorrow a brand new notice board wasto be installed in the hotel foyer where clear details of the next daysgroup activity would be there for all to see well in advance. I thinkLance may have dreamed that last bit as it never happened and I

personally think he has an unhealthy obsession with notice boards!The two groups we chose were to meet in Petra for lunch prior toheading back to Pollensa. The rst 25km were pretty undulating andtough on our tired legs. A couple of punctures provided welcomerelief although the pace picked up as we appeared to be in a rush tomake Petra for our coffee stop. A nice square and acceptable foodalthough possibly the worst coffee we had all week. On being givena 5 minute warning to mount up our compatriots arrived havingcycled 80km in comparison to our 50km, and slipped quickly intoour pre-warmed seats. Thoughts wandered in the afternoon aspanoramas were punctured by hill top villages and some excellent

wheels to follow. Another puncture close to home allowed some ofus to latch on to faster wheels as the Standard Only No CompactChain Rings group whistled by. Dinner was our meeting point againas we all looked forward to International Footie Night in MombasaBar. Free wi, good music and a friendly host somewhat lessenedthe disappointment of that criminally late equaliser. Curiously, theMontenegro v England result seemed to cheer the lads up a tad!

Wednesday March 27th - having not ridden together so far as agroup of 5, we decided to head to the hills and go for an expensivecoffee and baguette in Sa Calobra. We all agreed that it was a longway to Tipperary and there was some discussion as to how far the

round trip to Sa Calobra would be. This continued until it was provedbeyond doubt that it was 96km (2,000m) and not the 100km thatCathal incorrectly previously thought! We now also know that halfof this was down hill, green is the new black and James has power to

burn. Great scenerymostly taken in onthe ascents, roadswhich appeared tobe scribbled acrossthe mountainside bya 2 year old, roads

where tour busdrivers appearedto be taking drivinglessons, roads whichin places broughtthe phrase you cantbe serious to mind!What goes down mustgo up and there isonly one road so the20 minute descent

into Sa Colabra wasobviously followedby a one hour climbout! Is this why themountain bikers

were getting lifts to the top in the back ofa van with trailer? Everyone made it (somewith smaller brake blocks and hotter wheelrims than they started with) and all arrivedback at the hotel safe much to the relief oftheir travel insurance company!

Thursday March 28th - twas declared a rest

day of sorts, the day to explore bike shopsfor kit etc. Cathal and John went for theorganised 100km rest day option by takingin a shop in Binnisalem with Stuart. For somea look in the window was enough to cometo a decision, others decided to enter priorto arriving at the same conclusion, maybethe best shop, denitely the most expensive!For myself, James and Lance a 70km tripdown the coast unveiled many more shopsto peruse. A quiet square in Santa Margalidawas our coffee stop of choice, providing thebest value all week and the best food! We tookin cycle shops and the old towns of Alcudiaand Pollensa on the way back, managing toavoid some black clouds and their contentsto our delight.

Friday March 29th - tired legs, tired minds,no matter what the ailment we still hadgoals for our last day in the saddle. Lancechose an undulating 115km spin with an oldfriend, Irish Jack, and had one of his more

enjoyable days in the saddle while for myself,Cathal and John a mountain called. Theydelivered me perfectly to the bottom of theclimb from Selva to Lluc and it proved to bea climb to my liking, 8km at 5% with loads ofswitchbacks. Another coffee in the garage atthe top followed by the long descent downby Pollensa Old Town which is always anopportunity to stretch the legs. A few morefarewell drinks that evening and bed beforemidnight for three hours sleep.

Saturday March 30th - perhaps the hardestday of the week. Certainly the hardestascent if it was only from the bed to a taxiat 3.30am.

Mallorca should be a potential destination forany cyclist with geography to suit all tastesand abilities. Quiet back roads with goodroad surfaces abound, at or mountains allwithin your grasp. It was certainly a pleasurefor me to be able to enjoy this place both onand off the bike with Cathal, John, James

and Lance. Fellow cyclists prior to the trip,good company and friends, during and post.Well be going back...

Graham Custerson

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TRY SOME OF THESE TIPS ON YOUR NEXT RIDE...

There are tons of little tricks to riding your bike

better. Many are quickly learned and result in

instant improvement.

1. FINISH THE HILL:Finish The Hill is a term coaches use to remindriders that a climb doesnt end until gravity startspulling you down the other side. Many riders starteasing up when the top comes into view. Backing offwhen you see the top will make the nal few meterslast much longer. Instead ignore the physical andmental temptation and dont let up during thosenal few pedal strokes. You will gain distance oneveryone whos doing it the normal way.

2. SHIFT UP A GEAR TO SMOOTH OUT ROUGH

ROADS:

You will see the pros do this on the cobble sectionsin events such as Paris-Roubaix and the sametechnique applies to some of your typical Irish backroads. Just before you hit a spot of rough road orbad tarmac, shift to a lower cog. This higher gearincreases pedalling resistance and slows your

cadence, in effect putting more weight on your feetand less on your seat. You bounce less and yourass doesnt get as hammered. The higher gear alsogives you a more stable platform reducing bikechatter and increasing your control. You go just asfast and you wont spin out your gear if you needto stand for part of that rough section. When theroad gets smoother just shift back to your spinninggear and carry on. This technique also works whenyou come upon a loose or slippery surface. A lower

cadence in a higher gear gives you higher tractionand control.

3. APPLY BRAKES EARLY WHEN RIMS ARE

WET:

Has this happened to you? It start raining and thenext time you apply the brakes they dont work.Caliper brakes and water dont mix. When the rimsand brake pads get wet, almost zero bike stoppingfriction is created no matter how hard you squeezethe brake levers. The trick is to anticipate the needto slow or stop and apply the brakes much earlierthan normal so water is wiped from the rimsand pads. Dont squeeze too hard. Just hold the

rubber against the metal like a squeegee.As the water is displaced you will need tobe prepared for sudden stronger brakingpower. Be careful or you could lock up thewheel and skid.

4. SCAN AHEAD TO IMPROVE YOUR

CORNERING :

The main cornering mistake most ridersmake is not using their eyes. Instead

of looking at the turn carefully, well inadvance of approaching it, they stare toonear their front wheel. Scanning the cornerearly helps you choose the correct speedand best line, then approach the corner aswide as trafc and other conditions allow,cut through the corner on nearly a straightline. Exit wide, again using as much of theroad as you can safely inhabit. Keep aneye out for potholes, gravel etc and adjustyour line slightly if necessary, which cansafely be done only if you see them well inadvance.

5. LET YOUR EYES STEER THE BIKE:

Following on from the previous tip, oneof the mysterious truths about cycling isthat your bike will go right where you look.Often this is the reason why riders crash,they look fearfully at the one thing theydont want to hit or the place they dontwant to go. So remember to focus and lookwhere you want to go and let your eyessteer the bike.

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CYCLEAGAINSTSUICIDE - APRIL/MAY 13

On 22nd of May I headed out from RTE to begin a 14

day 1400km cycle around Ireland for CYCLE AGAINST

SUICIDE. 14 days straight, no rest days, averaging

100km per day.

The purpose of the cycle was to help make people

aware of the scourge of suicide in the country and

letting people know there is help available locally.

Awareness, Awareness, Awareness!

We headed out every day at 9.30am and cycled to

a lunch break stop which was always in a college or

school, where we were greeted by all the pupils,

cheering us in. They had prepared sandwiches and

cakes and soup for us. Then there was a presentation

by people who had a story to tell, about suicide orother mental illness issues. These presentations were

always inspirational and uplifting for adults and pupils.

The basic message was Its OK not to feel OK! And its

OK to ask for help!

We started out from Dublin with about 800 riders

of all abilities. Leaving Gorey the next day we had

dropped to about 300. People could drop off at any

point and join in at any point and stay for as long as

they liked. Sign on cost was the same if you did one legor multiple legs. So numbers varied, but always around

300 riders.

There was a hardcore of LIFERS, as we became known.

People who did the whole 14 days. We numbered about

50. Needless to say we all got to know each other

pretty well on the way round.

From Gorey we went Waterford, Cork, Killarney,

Limerick, Galway, Castlebar, Sligo, Letterkenny, Moville,

Manorhamilton, Cavan, Dundalk, and back to Dublin.

When we left Cavan the numbers increased dramatically.

Leaving Dundalk we had swelled to about 1000 riders

and when we stopped in Balbriggan for our last meal

we took on another 500 riders.

1500 cyclists in CAS orange was a sight to behold and

a nightmare for the Gardai arriving into Dublin.

For me it was a personal triumph. I had doubts that I

would be able to ride for 14 days straight but after 3days I knew that I would be ok. The buzz of the other

riders plus the friendships made were enough to drive

me on.

Looking back on it now, it was

more than just a bike ride. It was

an inspirational journey were I met

some brave people and heard some

sad stories. But the cycling wasfantastic, the scenery was amazing

and to ride around your own country

is something all bike riders should

attempt.

I was glad I did it. Roll on 22nd April

2014. Thats the next one!

John Boyle

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THE WAY - EL CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

The Camino de Santiago follows the ancient route toFinisterre which was believed, for centuries to be at the end ofthe world. St James, one of the apostles preached there andlater his body was buried in Santiago. Today tens of thousands

of pilgrims make their way on the French route from St JeanPied a Porte to Santiago, in north western Spain, guided byyellow arrows and shell symbols on a journey of over 800kilometres through the Pyrenees and over rough stone pathsand roads sometimes in desperate weather conditions. A

journey of spiritual awakening which can take forty days byfoot. Last summer I cycled the entire route in ten days.

I took my Specialized Crosstrail bike as much of the routeis off road. I also pimped my bike by changing the bars andseatpost to carbon, adding a pannier rack to the back, putting

on a pair of Armadillo Kevlar semi slick tyres which can runat 100psi and adding a bell which is vital to warn walkers ofyour approach. I brought two Ortileb front panniers which Imounted on the rear rack to save weight and also a bar bagwhich was big enough to hold my wallet, passport camera,maps etc. and could be easily carried when leaving my bike

outside cafs or sightseeing. I also tooksome spare tubes, which I did not need,a pump, water bottle, a muti-tool and

spanners for removing pedals and barsfor the ights.

I brought a set of maps and guidesincluding John Brierlys Pilgrims Guide tothe Camino de Santiago which containsdetailed routes and lists of hostels and

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The Cycling Pilgrim on the Camino Frances which hassome good information on cycling routes.

I ew to Biarritz and after reassembling my bike Icycled to Bayonne, about 8km away where I caught atrain to St. Jean Pied a Porte, the starting point for my

journey. Here I bought my Credenciales or PilgrimsPassport and received my rst sello or stamp which

one has to collect along the way to receive yourCompostello or certicate on the completion of yourpilgrimage in Santiago.

I set off early the following morning but had to stopto buy a pair of waterproof leggings. I had brought a rain

jacket but I was not expecting such cold wet conditionsin May in Northern Spain. The Napoleonic route wasimpassable due to the weather conditions so I cycled byroad climbing into the Pyrenees through a series of Sbends and hitting gradients of 12% which is no joke on

a bike laden down with panniers.At Ibaneta, 1057m above sea level, I stopped by a

chapel and looked at the monuments to pilgrims whohad fallen by the wayside and then I carried on to themonastery at Roncerevilles for another sello and soupand sandwiches. I had already covered in a few hoursthe whole journey covered by walkers in a day.

After lunch the weather improved so I continued onthe Camino along paths and lanes through the beautifulcountryside to Pamplona, my destination for day one.

Pamplona is the home of bullghting and the famousrunning of the bulls. It is also featured in EarnestHemmingways novel The Sun Also Rises. When I arrivedall the hostels were full so I stayed in a nearby pensionfor 20 run by a lovely elderly lady who showed mewhere to store my bike and in the morning stamped mycredential and wished me a Buen Camino.

The next day took me through small villages andmaize elds to the Alto de Perdon, a rough climb whereI had to push my bike at times, to the famous pilgrimssculpture and an amazing view over the countryside.The descent by road was fast and furious not helped bythe extra weight on the bike.

One of the advantages of biking on the Camino isbeing able to take detours from the main route to seesights like the ancient hexagonal Knight Templar churchat Eunate, part of a network of fortied churches builtto protect pilgrims in medieval times. After a coffeeand boccadillo at Eunate, I rejoined the Camino andheaded for Puenta de Reina with its impressive bridgethen onto the hilltop town of Ciraque where the Camino

joins a roman road with its rough cobbled surface. Thisis not easy going on a bike. As the evening drew in Idecided to stay the night in the public hostel in Estella.

Hostels on the Camino are cheap and cheerful.They cost 6 to 10 per night and consistof one or more large dormitories. In theevening I headed downtown where many ofthe restaurants have pilgrims menus of threecourses including wine for less than 10. Mosthostels have laundry facilities and offer a lightbreakfast for a few euros.

My journey then took me past vineyards andthe free wine fountain at Bodegas towards therst big city, Logrono. The Way passes throughthe hustle and bustle of the city centre beforereturning to the tranquillity of the countrysideand carries on once again on a mixture of roadsand pathways. The Torres bull silhouettes loom

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large on hilltops with the ever present snow cappedmountains in the distance. I stopped occasionally totalk to walkers but apart from caf stops, cycling theCamino can sometimes be a lonely experience. One hasplenty of time for reection as the landscape changesagain and the Camino becomes a red dusty trackwinding endlessly through the valleys. At Tosantos a

church is carved out of the rocks on a hillside. Soonthe main road becomes dangerous with heavy trafcso I return to the path which winds up the side of amountain on a loose stone surface to Monumento a LosCaidos. As dusk approaches I descend on a mud trackroad through the forest with the sound of cuckooscalling, arriving at the hostel at Monasterio de San Jande Ortega where I washed down my bike and oiled thechain for the next day.

Burgos is a city with fabulous parks and a beautiful

cathedral. It is important to take the time to exploreand experience the cultural treasures one sees alongthe way to get the full experience of travelling on theCamino. Many small towns have wonderful plazas andchurches with stunning works of art.

Shortly after Burgos the Camino enters the Mesetaregion. This is the high central plain of northern Spain.The muddy trail winds through elds with stone wallsnot unlike those in Connemara. It rained for most ofthe day. As I cycle along I hear a Spanish man whistling

a tune and I try to memorise it. In the distance on ahilltop I see the town of Castrojeriz and exhausted, Imanage to get the last bed in the municipal hostel.

The following morning I am the last person leaving.The Hostelero approaches me and tells me not to takethe Camino path with my bicycle as it had been rainingfor three weeks and would be impassable. He drew me amap of the roads I should take to bypass this region. AsI cycle along the country roads I notice that the familiarCamino signs, the shell and the churches, are still there.This was obviously the original Camino route. After ashort while I notice a bird of prey hovering beside me,It stays with me for almost a kilometre ying beside meand then overhead. It is a strangely spiritual experience.At my next stop I meet cyclists who had stuck to thepath and ended up having to carry their bikes throughthe mud.

The way runs along a main road for much of the dayso I make some good time. I see the unusual site ofbodegas, little hobbit like houses built into the hillsidesand on through the large town of Shagun with Storksnesting on the roofs and onto to El Burgo Ranero withshepherds tending their ocks on the local footballpitches.

On day seven I meet up with an Italiancarabinieri, Davido and we decide to traveltogether for a while. Its much easier cycling

when you have someone to pace yourselfagainst. We pass through the city of Leon withits Gaudi buildings and cathedral. The wayclimbs steeply from Saintibanez to Crucerio deSanta Toribio from which we have a wonderfulview of Astorga. After seven days on the bikemy limbs are aching.

The following day Im on neurofen pluswith codeine for breakfast but after a fewhours cycling and a caf con leche and pancon Chocolate Im as good as new. We makeanother off route excursion to the adobe villageof Castrillo de Polvares with its cobblestonestreets. Later, we make one of the big climbsof the Camino to Le Cruz de Ferro. Its steepand slow but the weather is good and I getsuch a sense of elation when I reach the top.I throw a stone given to me by my son Roryonto the pile of stones left by pilgrims overhundreds of years. Then we make a fast, cold,wet, dangerous descent to Ponferrada with itsancient castles and on through poppy eldsand vineyards to the welcoming alberge inRuitelan.


17/26

From Ruitelan the climb to OCebreiro turns out to be themost difcult so far averaging nearly 10% for over 7km infreezing rain and mist. After stop for soup at the caf besidethe Iglesia at OCebreiro we descend into the region of Galiciaand the countryside starts to resemble Ireland with its smallgreen elds. Galicia is also noted for its food and the squidwith pasta in black ink sauce is well worth trying. At Zan Xil

we meet the steepest section of the Camino with a slope of25% I have to zigzag the bike to get to the summit. The pathtravels through streams and over railway lines. Sometimescycling is impossible and I have to get off and push or carrythe bike. I arrive in Portomarin exhausted but hope to makeit to Santiago tomorrow.

Many pilgrims choose to only walk the last 100km toSantiago and this section is much busier and commercial.The sun comes out during the morning and we make ourway switching between the paths and the road. The roads

are still hilly and as we arrive in Arzua I feel that something

is not right. I almost faint when I get offthe bike and realize that I have becomedehydrated. I sit down and think that Imight not be able to continue on today.Santiago is only 40km away and myight is tomorrow. I rest for a while, havea coke and try to eat some food before

continuing on wearily towards Santigo.After a few hours we arrive for the

nal climb to Monte de Gozo. At thesummit there is a huge monumentfrom which one gets the rst view ofSantiago. I stamp my credencial andcycle on through the suburbs arrivingnally at the magnicent square in frontof my nal destination, The Cathedral deSantiago. I am overcome by the feeling

of relief and jubilation on completion ofmy journey. I nd a hostel and go for acelebratory dinner with Davido.

The following morning, I present mycredential with its many sellos and walkto the Ocina de Peregrino to receive myCompostello. It is a wonderful moment. Iattend the pilgrims mass in the cathedralwhere they swing the massive incenseburner, Botafumiero and then on to hug

the statue of the apostle. I say goodbyeto Davido, pack up my bike and head offto begin my journey home.

Ryanair y to Biarritz and and Aer

Lingus return from Santiago. The cost of

ights start at80 each way with a40

surcharge each way for the bike. Bikes

should be boxed for the ights. Boxes

for the return ights are available for a

few euro from bike shops in Santiago.Helmets, shoes, tools etc can be placed

in the bike box.

You will need a sleeping bag liner if

you plan to stay at hostels. I also brought

a small rst aid kit. You can buy your

Compostello at the Church of St James

in Jamses Street, in Dublin.

The weather in May can be mixed.

From June to August there are many

more pilgrims and walkers have priorityin the hostels.

Tony Gavin

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RACING UPDATE

At this time of year,things take on afamiliar pattern onthe racing scene: the

Winter Warriors haveretired for the year;the RS has come

and gone from the towns and villages;Mondello Races are in full swing; DerekCliffords beard swings a littlebit longer in the sunshine; andJohn Shannon starts winningraces.

So much has happened inthe club since the spring andmuch of it is to be celebrated.I mention John Shannonparticularly, as just like 2012,and predicted in our previousnewsletter, John took the rstracing victory for the clubthis season in Rathdowney onthe last week in May. This was

race #4 of the league whichinvolves 6 local clubs and tothis point has seen some verycompetitive and thankfullysafe racing. Almost 30 Naasmembers have signed up forthe league and all are gettinga chance to hone their skills.I am particularly delighted bythe number of youths, novices

and women who have taken upthe challenge, not forgettingsome of the old hands frombefore like Pio Murtagh, TomNoone and Bill OBrien whoare enjoying their racing too.At the halfway stage in theleague, 8 Naas riders are inthe top 20 overall but willhave a big task overhauling

the Kilcullen and Carlow teamleaders; regardless, theseraces are just about the bestcycling training and skills

sessions one can get and I hope everybody continues tocome home safely.

Of course, even better news of late surrounds our two leading

lights on the ladies racing scene Lyns ONeill and Emily-AnneDoyle. Having trained since November and sharpened up bysome league racing, it was a source of great satisfactionfor all involved to see the two Naas women nish 1-2 in theCorkagh Park Ladies Racing series on June 4th. This Tuesday

night series runs throughthe summer and it wouldbe a shrewd bet to saythat more victories andimproved performances

seem assured. They bothdeserve great credit forputting the club on thisimportant and growing partof the cycling map.

We have a dozen club ridersat A3 level this is an 1100%increase on last season!Naas CC took 7th place inthe team classication in

the Gorey 3-Day at Easter,an unthinkable prospect9 months ago. And asmentioned before, thisis a hugely competitivecategory and open raceaverage speeds sinceApril have regularly hit 41-42kmh; we are acquittingourselves well but like mostof the country, we have had

Pic

byBrendanCulleton

Club League Pics by Ossory CC

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to admire the many truly excellent junior riders who continueto dominate the prizes each week. We do intend having agood A3 representation at the National A3 Road Race inAugust and will continue to race each week till then. Also, look

out for Cormac Dunne and Des King in A4; they have madegiant strides latelysince hitting the racingscene and can climband descend as good asanybody in the club.

Mention of Juniorbrings us to EvanCunningham: he is our

star at this level andhaving completed hisLeaving Cert he nowdeparts for the JuniorTour of Ireland as part

of the 4-man Leinster Team. Wewish him the very best in a racenow recognised as one of themost prominent 6-day juniorraces in Europe.

On the TT scene, Joe Kelly andHugh Gallagher have been upto Dundalk for the Leinster TT

champs, where both ridersproduced PBs in the 10 Mileand 25 Mile tests. The latter

event is a particularlyspecialist disciplineand with thepopularity of TTs

returning, and seeingup to 50 club memberstrying out in our ownlocal TT series, this is anavenue worth exploringby the club next season.I am hugely grateful toJohn Part from the Cgroup for setting thisup, to Colm Alley, TomKeenan, Tom Noone,Keith Sheridan and MattieCorcoran for helping out,and to everybody for

entering in the right spirit. And of courseto Pat Spillane, the de-facto Racing

Secretary on the ground at committeelevel, among many other things.

To conclude, racing is going very well inthe club. It is very much part of who weare and what we do. It compliments andworks well with the touring and otheraspects of the club and we intend to seethis continue. I think the invitation tocoach Paddy Doran last November is now

truly bearing fruit and I am delighted tosee so many people enjoying their racingat whatever level this is. My last requestis that members ride strongly but safely,respect the jersey, and come home inone piece.

RACING UPDATE (cont.)

Joe Kelly

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YOUTH GROUP UPDATE

wait to go again to the track. I hope to get faster and to

better my lap time. I hope to get proper cycling shorts

or leggings so my Mum doesnt have to tape up the legs

of my tracksuit bottoms with big brown tape up to my

knees!

Diarmuid Keaney

There is a full report on the youth section on the club

website. Big news is that on July 2nd Evan Cunningham

will represent Leinster in the Junior Tour of Ireland, well

done Evan. We have more track cycling lined up, some

mountain-biking with former Olympian Tarja Owens, plenty

of time trials, league races, sportives and regular training

spins. We are out and about taking in various events 4/5

times a week, every week. It is very busy but enjoyable andit is Summer after all.

Im no longer the club Youth Ofcer, I resigned due to work

commitments. The youth section will continue to be run

fantastically well, we have a super team in place. Many

thanks to everyone all year especially the Club Committee,

Chairman and Secretary.

Check out the club website for our full

half yearly report.

For this edition of

the newsletter we

asked some youths

in the club to give

their views on theYouth section. This

is what they had

to say... very encouraging and great

to hear, I think you will agree. So well

done to everyone, especially our adult

volunteers and committee members.

I really enjoy the youth spins because

they are enjoyable and they are well

organized when out on the road. I

believe the youth spin has improved

so much since I started and I

hope it continues. I think the

mentors are really good with

us and really kind. I really enjoy

the speed work and overall its a

great group, Im happy to be in

it

Conor Dowling

Joining Naas Cycling Club is the

best decision Ive ever made.

I enjoy cycling with the youth

group and I look forward to many

events

Robert OBrien

I like descents and just going fast

at the end of a spin. I want to getbetter at racing and climbing. The long

spins are good, just enjoying yourself.

I want to be a better sprinter

David Grassick

I loved the track, it is not as easy as

you think as you have to be aware

of who is around you always. I cant Tom Noone

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Trish McGuane

NCC MEMBERS ON TOUR IN MALLORCA - MAY 13

After much preparation and anticipation

Maeve, Barry, John Boyle, Tom Ryan,

Ann Hayden, John Dillon and Trish

McGuane arrived in sunny southern

Mallorca. Carlow Road Cycling Clubunder its leader Paddy Hayden have

been doing this for years and took us

under their wing in the rst few days.

We arrived late on Saturday and our hire

bikes arrived on Sunday morning early.

They were fantastic quality bikes in mint

condition. We put our own pedals and

saddle on them. Once everyone was

happy with their set up, Paddy Haydengave us a safety talk and off we went

for our rst days cycling. Straight into

a good climb every morning before the

legs were ready was challenging but we

got used to it after a couple of days. We

stopped regularly and no one was ever

left behind. Coffee and cake were the

order of the day. I ate so much of it I put

on weight!

We had an amazing time. Carlow Road

Cycling Club were so good to each and

every one of us. We owe them a great

gratitude for all their help and guidance.

Nothing was too much trouble. We hope

to repeat this next year again and I

would encourage anyone who can, to

come along. There are hard climbs and

easy climbs so something for everyone.The hotel we stayed in was inexpensive

and included all you can eat and drink

until midnight. We will start promoting

it in early January 2014. To be clear it

is not a Club event but one where we all

watch out for each other and it just adds

a new dimension to our club. Non cycling

partners/spouses are very welcome and

there is lots for them to do while we

cycle. We were back most days by 2pm,

time for lunch in the hotel and relaxation

by the pool/beach for the afternoon.

Looking forward to next year already.

And remember, as the saying goes... all that happens

in Mallorca, stays in Mallorca!

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LEISURE TOURS

More cycling related websites

which may be of interest:

www.ringofkerrycycle.ie

www.velonews.competitor.com

www.bicycling.com

www.bicycletutor.com

www.bicycling.about.com

www.roadbikereview.com

www.pinkbike.com

CYCLING THE WEB

The following are some upcoming

leisure events that may be of

interest to NCC members in the

coming months:

Sun 30th June - Naas CC Wicklow

Peaks Cycling Challenge

Sat 6th July - The Ring of Kerry

Sat, 13 July - Paddy Martin

Randonnee - Bray Wheelers

Sun, 14 July - Deenside Wheelers

Ladies Sportive, Castlecomer

Sun, 28 July - An Post Heritage Cycle

Tour of Meath

Sat, 3 August - Tour de Kilkenny

Sun 11th August - Naas CC Martin

Earley Tour of Kildare

Sun 18th August - Stephen Roche

Leinster Loop

Sun 25th August - Sean Kelly Tour of

Waterford

Sun, 8 September - Giants CausewayCoast Sportive

Sat 28 September - Tour of the

Falling Leaves, Baltinglass

Meet the membership is when we ask a club member a

number of questions and then expect some interesting

and entertaining answers... no pressure there then!

This issue the spotlight falls on one of our up and

coming young riders EVAN CUNNINGHAM.

1. How many years have you been cycling with Naas CC and what was

your introduction to cycling?

Ive been with Naas for just over two years now. As a kid every July,

I would religiously watch the Tour de France on Eurosport and after

each stage I would race my brother up and down the road in front of

our house. Of course I would always win the Yellow jersey and let my

brother take the Green.

2. What type of cycling do you do and what do you enjoy most about it?

Racing. Its an unforgiving sport but when you do well in a race theres

no better feeling.

3. What advice would you give to any newcomer to the sport?

The rst time you wear clip-in shoes try avoid that awkward fall at

trafc lights when you forget youre wearing the shoes and just slowly

tip over in front of the waiting cars.

4. What bike(s) are you currently riding?

Lappiere Audacio (2012 edition).

5. Favourite cycling location, route or road?

I would have to say the loop around the lakes in Blessington, some great

views up there.

6. Where is your favourite coffee stop?

I dont drink coffee so for me it is all about the quality of the hot

chocolate on offer and so far I have yet to come across a really good

hot chocolate stop!

7. Who do you admire most in cycling, (not necessarily a PRO rider)?

There are a few people that I admire, people like Tom Keenan, Tom

Noone, John Boyle, Joe Kelly and anybody really who has helped me

over the last few years. Special mention to my Dad who still tries

desperately to keep up with me on the bike!!

8. What would you consider your cycling strength and weaknesses?

Without doubt my biggest strength is climbing, if youve seen me youll

know why. Biggest weaknesses would be descending and shaving my

legs, I still have yet to perfect my technique on both!

9. Any major objectives for whats left of this season or next season?

Im riding the Junior Tour for the Leinster team in the rst week of July

so thats the big thing for me this year. As for next year just a nice and

simple 1st place would be great.

10. Tell us something we dont know about you already that you dont

mind everyone now knowing?Yeah theres a lot that I could put down here but I want to maintain

some dignity... As a kid I was a childrens tv star, appearing on the kids

talk show The Loft as well as winning the gameshow Quizone in the

process scoring the highest score ever in the history of the show.

MEET THE MEMBERSHIP...

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NAAS CYCLING CLUB TOURS UPDATE

2013 WICKLOW PEAKS

CYCLING CHALLENGE:

There are a few

minor changes to this

years Wicklow Peaks

Challenge, the most

noticeable one being the addition of a

third route of 100km. We have decided

to add this third route to facilitate any

cyclists who feel that the 55km route is

a little short and the 120km route with

Shay Elliott and Slieve Mann is a little

too long. The good news is that you

dont have to decide which route homefrom Laragh you want to take until you

get there. At that stage your legs will

either be saying home via Wicklow Gap

or home via Slieve Mann - listen to your

legs!!.

The 55km route is virtually unchanged

from last year, right over the Blessington

Bridge, around the Lakes, foodstop in

Ballyknockan and home via Valleymount,Tulfarris, Ballymore and joining the other

two routes in Brannockstown for the run

in to Naas via Kilashee. A challenging

55km with some nice hills and scenery.

The 100 and 120km routes will follow

the same route all the way to Laragh

via Kilbride, Sally Gap, Lugalla and

Roundwood with the foodstop in

Lynhams of Laragh car park. The 100km

route will head home via the Wicklow

Gap and Hollywood before heading to

Ballymore and Brannockstown. The

120km will leave Laragh and head up

Shay Elliott, Slieve Mann, Aughavannagh,

Ballinabarney Gap, and home via The Glen

of Imaal, Dunlavin and Brannockstown.

With over 150 members in the club todate, the NCC Committee ask that ALL

MEMBERS MAKE THE EFFORT TO

ATTEND THIS EVENT. Its our rst tour

ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS YEARS WICKLOW PEAKS

EVENT WILL GO TOWARDS A NEW SENSORY ROOM

IN SAPLINGS SCHOOL,

KILL.

The Saplings School for

Children with Autism and

Complex Needs in Kill, Co.

Kildare was established

in 2001 by a dedicated

group of parents forthe sole purpose of

securing a centre of

excellence, to provide

their children with an

effective, evidence

based education that

would allow each child to

achieve their full potential.

Since moving into the new

school building in January

2013 the children have not

had the much needed

facility of a sensory room.

A sensory room will give

the children a place

where they can enjoy

soothing lighting and

music in a comfortableenvironment, which

will help to meet their

this year and we want to see a mass of red, black and white

jerseys at the start line outside the town hall on the 30th.

The three routes ensure that there is a challenging route for

everyone so please make an effort to be there.

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sensory needs. Through fundraising,

and with all the money raised by the

Wicklow Peaks Cycling Challenge,

Saplings hope to be in a position to

transform a former storage room into

a fully equipped sensory room with

cushioned ooring, bre optic lighting,

vibrating wall cushions, multi functional

bubble tube, a visual projector system

and an audio system.

It is very true of Saplings that from

little acorns great oak trees grow,

and there is no doubt in anyones mind

that they would not be where they are

today without the untiring work and

dedication that is continually evident

of the parents, staff and the supporting

community at Saplings. Fundraisingevents like the Wicklow Peaks are vital

to the schools future growth.


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2013 TOUR OF KILDARE:

The 2013 Tour of Kildareis the twelfth editionof this very successfulevent run in conjunctionwith The Marie KeatingFoundation.

This year we areamending the routesslightly and makingthe intermediate route60km and adding 10kmto the 100km route.

The 60km and 110kmroutes head from TheNaas Court Hoteltowards Johnstownand cross the NaasRoad at Kill. Thepicturesque villageof Straffan issoon followed byBarberstown Crosswhere both routessplit. The 60kmheads back to thefoodstop in Clanevia Rathcoffey whilethe 110km takesin the outskirtsof Celbridge, andMaynooth and thenheads back to Clanevia Kilcock. Thefoodstop in Clane

GAA is followedon both routes by Prosperous,Kilmeague and the Hill of Allen toMilltown. The routes split againhere with the 60km heading back toNaas via the outskirts of Newbridgeand the 110km taking in BostonHill, Dunmurray and, of course,The Wall. The traditional gallopalongside the Curragh Racecourse

while avoiding the multi-colouredsheep is followed by Kilcullen andthe sprint home from Kilashee.

Glad to report that the post event

barbeque at the Naas CourtHotel is unchanged where cyclists can discuss who dropped whowhile munching a burger!

Its important to also mention that the family 20km cycle alsotakes place as usual with the familiar route of Naas to Sallins toBodenstown Cross and back to Naas via the canal banks. This cycleis always well marshalled so that the participating cyclists are wellprotected from the trafc.

The event is again supported by EUROCYCLES, Kildare Co. Council,Naas Court Hotel, Naas Town Council and Clane GAA.

All funds raised by the Martin Earley Tour of Kildare go directly

to The Marie Keating Foundation. Colm Alley


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Documents

NCC Summer '13 Membership Newsletter - Issue 3