A Group Spin Sunday 11th July

Post date: Jul 11, 2021 5:43:20 PM

A Group Notes

The number of riders who assembled at our temporary meeting point at O’Brien’s was once again impressive in spite of several of the clubs racers missing as they were competing at the open races in Moynalty. Two A groups and one B group formed up and headed out on the pre-planned routes. While it wasn’t a unseasonably cold morning many riders had overshoes and long sleeves or a jacket on - was this being over cautious? After all we have been very lucky weather wise in the last while. It didn’t take long at all for the answer to be quite clear. Once the rain started about half an hour into the spin it literally didn’t stop for the remaining two and a half hours. Oh well it was warm Summer rain, at least that’s what we told ourselves.

Mark Horohoe, one of the group leaders, put together this route which took us out towards Kinnegad onto Ballivor and left at Addinstown Cross. Those who were feeling the incessant rain might have hoped that we were headed straight to Delvin and then left for Mullingar. Not today. We made a right and travelled past Ballinlough Castle onto Clonmellon and where we met the other A group for a very quick coffee stop. Back on the bikes we headed deeper into County Meath and although I was brought up not far from where we were, I still didn’t recognise many of the roads which Mark’s route had us travelling on!

If you want to consider yourself a true cyclist, in Ireland anyway, there are two main things you must come to terms with - one being the weather and the other the inevitable punctures. Two of these punctures be-felled the group and as we waited in the pouring rain there was some funny banter going around. Somebody produced a large bag of sweets and it was noted that Michael Murtagh had his fair share. We must remember never to give Michael sweets again because once he got to the head of the group on the Delvin road the speed went up way beyond comfortable. But we hung on in a 'strung out group' with Aidan Daly and Stephen Corroon taking the honours. 97 Km at 32 km/h average. Not bad for a wet Sunday spin. Notes by Paul Gibney.