Lakeside Wheelers to host Tour of the Lakes this Sunday

All cycling enthusiasts, don’t forget that Lakeside Wheelers will host the Tour of the Lakes next Sunday, with two routes: 83 kms and 120 kms. Sign-on in Columb Barracks opens at 9am, with rollout at 10am. Entry fee is €20, with one day insurance fee for non-Cycling Ireland members.

There was a large turnout of Lakeside Wheelers for the weekend club spins, despite our promised heatwave not being at all evident. Two A groups and a large B group met in club HQ last Sunday for the prescribed routes as plotted by Eugene Duffy and Mark Horohoe.

Mark’s route was interesting as it took riders deep into Offaly country and onto roads which many of us had heretofore never known about. Unfortunately rainy conditions prevailed for the first part of the spin and at times there wasn’t much chat amongst the group.

We got into Edenderry where teas and coffee were had. Rolling back to base through Rhode, Rochfortbridge and home. We finished with 108km on the Garmin, with a shade over 30km average, and did I mention the wind which was ever present? Yes, a typical day’s cycling in June!

C Group

Twelve happy C Group cyclists rolled out of the Columb Barracks on a breezy Saturday morning. Pat, our leader, expertly guided us along the ring road onto the Ballymore road.

With the wind on our backs, we swiftly sailed by Uisneach and into Ballymore. From there we turned south towards Moate. Mid-Westmeath looked resplendent on this sunny summer morning with the trees lining our route coming into full foliage.

Having crossed a bog we arrived in Moate where we stopped for a welcome coffee and scone in Tuar Ard Arts Centre. Well fed and watered we headed east to Tyrrellspass via Horseleap and Kilbeggan along the old N4. The headwind was tough on this section of the spin but with short 30 second up and overs the group worked like a well-oiled machine to reach Tyrrellspass without a hiccup.

Along the way we picked up three intrepid Marmotte cycling men fresh from Blooms Hill training. Best of luck in July lads. From here we turned north along the backroads into Dalystown and onto Mullingar. We finished with 80kms on the clock with dinners well earned.

D Group

Setting off from the barracks, an excited bunch of 16 riders headed for the Delvin road. It was quite windy, but we didn’t let that bother us. With our group leader Pat at the helm, we turned off the Delvin road and pushed through the wind and the hills up into Clonkill, then Gigginstown.

Passing through the picturesque village of Collinstown, the sun joined us then, on into Castlepollard. After another few hills, and a gusty entrance into Fore, we stopped off for the coffee and treats with Sarita at ‘Ned’s Forge’.

All fuelled up, off we headed on a “less hilly” although beautiful route through Drumcree, Turin and back onto the Delvin road, sailing all the way back home, with the sun and the wind behind us.

Another great spin and some hill practice for next Sunday’s Tour of the Lakes. Thanks once again to Pat and all the Ds for a lovely enjoyable spin.