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Post date: Feb 18, 2018 11:30:16 PM
(By Bob O'Ceallaigh - Sunday 18th February 2018)
Last Saturday the Beginners group was greeted with sunshine and mild weather, just rewards for all the hard work over the previous four weeks.
The progress achieved during the last few weeks encouraged all concerned to attempt Tyrrellspass and back and aim for an increase in both speed and distance. Some of the club’s D Group turned up to lend an encouraging ear and to partake in the tea and scone later.
All the beginners accompanied by the D Group soon felt a little pain as we climbed up the first drag on the old Tullamore Road to Belvedere. With all novices safely over this “climb” it wasn’t long before the brave band of beginners was sitting down enjoying the tea, coffee and scones in Tyrrellspass Castle. The coffee-break chat focused on how to cope with traffic on the road when starting out in cycling and valuable lessons were learned. The value of such briefings along with the demonstration of cycling skills since the Beginners programme commenced has allowed this group to improve whilst learning the key skills associated with safe cycling on Irish roads.
A leisurely pace on the way home via the Old Rail Trail was enjoyed by everybody under the bright spring sunshine and before lunchtime the group completed the day with a total of 34 kms clocked up. Saturday next, the 24th of February is the last day of the Beginners Programme. It is planned to cycle 40 - 45kms on this occasion. The progress of the participants has been remarkable upping the distances cycled from 15kms up to 34km last Saturday with more to follow. Hopefully all will move on to the D Group which starts its spins form the clubhouse at Columb Barracke every Saturday morning at 9 am.
Thanks again to Steve, Gerry, Paul and Tom for their help so far and also to the D Group members who gave great encouragement to the new cyclists.
Beginners Group take to the Open Roads on Saturday last.
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