Sunday Cycle 23rd Feb 2014

Sunday Cycle  23rd Feb 2014

A few road/MTB races on this weekend, so a smaller turn out for the Sunday cycle that what we have been enjoying recently.

A few of us had planned to go do a charity event in Greencastle,  but the howling wind and prospect of heavy rain to come persuaded us not to go  (yes, yes,  I know, we are weak in the face of adventure…).

I work in I.T., so basically I sit on my arse all week,  and so it is a great release for me to be out in the open air and as far away for the office as possible.  I pity the boys who cannot let go of their work to relax  (I genuinely do know how they feel).  Take for instance Pat,  so determined was he to re-create his working environment at home that he turned his bicycle into an office swivel chair.

And anyways,  the dozen or so cyclists set off for Bellaghy, Newbridge, Ballyronan, Ballinderry, Coagh, Stewartstown and onto Cookstown.

In Cookstown,  some folks went home directly via Moneymore,  while others headed for Lough Fea.  I think everyone who went via Lough Fea did so for a different reason,  for example:

·         Young Patrick wanted to test his young legs for the new season

·         Jimmy wanted to keep an eye on Patrick

·         Tommie wanted to learn the rest of us how to climb as a group

·         Anthony wanted to check the effect of a double portion expresso-flavoured energy gel on the bike’s ability to get up the hill quickly  (did you eat it of rub it onto the chain?)

·         Adrian had not been on this route before and so was keen for exploration

·         Ali wanted a good time so that he could compare with his new bike  (when he eventually gets the bubble wrapper off it).

·         Ciaran wanted to see the effects of cold turkey on Anthony when the caffine had worn out

·         Me, well I was so disgusted with Strava’s elevation calculations the last time, that I wanted to give it another chance  (otherwise I’d me mapping my ride using some other alternative GPS driven geographic locating application).

Well done to all.

And well done to Strava,  you have redeemed yourself for now.

Folks,  I’d like to gather up, for publication,  any advice/signs that you may have that you are getting too attached to cycling,  so that they can be published in the Sunday Cyclist column  ( a paper by the people, for the people, etc).

I’ll start the ball rolling with an example from Adrian Glass.
"You know you’re too addicted to cycling when you go out for a drive in the car, by yourself, and you start shouting "Hole!!”, "Water on the left!”, etc.

Send me your experiences by text on 07989400672, or email, barney.mulholland@btinternet.com