Sunday Leisure Cycle  8th March 2015

A huge turn out this morning for our Sunday morning leisure cycle.

There was about  twenty in the beginners/re-joiners group.  This group covered approx. 25 miles,  taking in to Swatragh, Garvagh, Kilrea, Upperlands and home to Maghera.  The group was ably steered by veterans (old legs, cool heads, young hearts)  Anthony Bradley, Gerry Kelly and Carl Peter McWilliams.

Everyone done well and all home safely without incident.
Look forward to seeing you all next week and all new faces are welcome.

The other (more experienced, and nicer looking group) consisted of 16 riders.  These lads headed off to Dunloy, via Kilrea and Ballymoney  (the detours some folks will take to avoid lumps in the road).  In Dunloy we paid a homage to a sportif that was being held there and refuelled with scones, sandwiches and biscuits, we headed off for home via Cullybackey (near enough), Kilrea, Upperland and home.   Sometimes we cocked our heads out of the way from the bright sunshine and heat,  sometimes we bowed our heads to lessen the pain of the hailstones,  but it was all good fun.

A strong wind made the homeward leg tough,  but sure that is all good training.

I would thoroughly recommend all groups out on the roads to have at least one person carry a first-aid kit.  You see, it was after the second puncture on Tommie’s bike that we decided to do a thorough examination of his tyre,  and sure enough, we found a small piece of wire protruding out of the wall of the tyre.  "That tyre is goosed”, Tommie was told,  but he was having none of it.  He was offered a tyre from another member of the group but he refused.  Tommie said that he was not sure if the replacement tyre would work with his bike ---  he has a point,  I have heard of Specialized tubes being rejected by Cube bikes.

Someone then suggested to Tommie that if he folded up a twenty pound note and place it inside the tyre next to the frayed wire, then that would do the trick.  "No good”, says Tommie,  "I only have a lock ave loose change”.  We checked,  two half crowns and a trupenny bit were in his money bag, marked "Happy 10th birthday, love granny”.

But then Tommie saw a sticky plaster in the purse as well,  and he stuck it on the tyre --  well,  it took him home, so good work all round.

Well done to all.