Wheelers change their plans on frosty Saturday morning

Think safe, go later was the idea last Sunday morning for the ladies and gents of Lakeside Wheelers Cycling Club. A sharp ground frost had covered all areas on Saturday night and the call was quickly put out via text and social media on Sunday morning to put back the start time to 10am instead of the usual 9am rollout.

Some members didn’t get the message and by 10am, they had got 20 or 30km racked up and were ready to join their group to put in a day’s shift in the club peloton.

The prescribed route was also altered in favour of main roads, where frost was less likely to be an issue. That meant we headed for Tyrellspass, taking a left up Gneevebawn Hill and through Kinnegad to Clonard. Not our usual stopping off point as it’s too close to home.

On our way back to Mullingar, the group leaders of Mossy and Mark had us ride in what is best described as tempo formation, which keeps the pace quite high but does not leave any time to chit-chat to your clubmate beside you.

This abbreviated spin meant we reached Mullingar with approximately 60km completed. A few of us headed out in our own small groups to rack up more mileage – and to catch up on the chat.

As the saying goes, when you’re out you’re out!

Frost issues aside, it was a glorious day to be outside and active once again after an extremely poor month of February weather.

Rolling the bike back into the shed in pretty much the same condition as when you took it out that morning, i.e., without it being covered in muck and slop is a win, believe me.

The club will be running the sportive, the Tour of the Lakes on Sunday June 12. After missing the last two years due to you know what, we aim to be back bigger and better than ever before so remember the date. The annual club race, the Mullingar Grand Prix, will take place on July 17.

Dear cyclist: if you still have not renewed your membership for 2022, please log on to the Cycling Ireland website and do so without delay as this safeguards us all.