NORTH DOWN RIDERS ACTIVE ON TWO FRONTS
Mention the word March and you could be excused for assuming that we have, at last, reached springtime. However, North Down’s cyclists have learned that the calendar is an unreliable guide to the actual conditions they are likely to face on the roads. Last weekend was the second of the new racing season but many riders’ normal enthusiasm for the start of competition has been cooled somewhat by wintry weather and the forecasts prior to last weekend gave little cause for optimism. Nevertheless, the promotions at Annaclone on Saturday and the Phoenix GP at Nutt’s Corner on Sunday went ahead and both events drew large fields. Six of North Down’s regular racing men entered the fray and all of them reported satisfaction with their early season form, the main objective being to use these races to get in some race training and avoid the early season crashes that are fairly common, with riders, anxious to demonstrate their form, jostling through narrow roads in large bunches. The only rider to get caught in a crash was Norman Wilson who came down during the Phoenix GP but managed to avoid serious injury.
Next weekend riders once again have a choice of events.  On saturday Old Bleach CC stage the Surgenor Cup over 100Km at Randalstown, the race getting under way at 11am. Sunday’s competition is the McCann Cup sponsored by Omagh Wheelers at Seskinore, the race starting at 1pm.
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CYCLISTS GEAR UP FOR NEW SEASON
The biting, cold wind and flurries of snow this week can only mean one thing ; the start of the cycle racing season has arrived.  Photographs of last weekend’s John Haldane Memorial road race at Hilltown showed the riders dressed more for a polar expedition than a bike race but at least the weather was dry and it was enough to tempt riders to the south Down venue for the opening race of the 2006 season, a 45 mile handicapped race that attracted a field of 120 competitors. Races so early in the year are rarely indicators of peak season form and many riders use them as hard training rides and preparation for races later in the season.
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Training and Nutrition Talk

Wed. March 8th at 7.30 Darren McWilliams Will be giving a talk on training and nutrition in the Club Rooms all welcome.

While the next generation of North Down champions  are riding the boards in the shelter of the Manchester velodrome, most of their clubmates will be hitting the open roads. Last weekend’s reliability trial around the Ards peninsula drew a huge turnout of well over 100 riders keen to get in a fast pre season run in decent weather and on fairly dry roads. This Sunday’s reliability ride is organised by East Antrim/ Audi CC and it assembles in the car park beside Carrick castle. The format is the now familiar one of a steady, shorter run of around 50 miles and a faster, longer run of 70 miles or so. Departure times for these runs should be made available before the weekend and North Down riders intending to take part will be informed by email.
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NORTH DOWN CYCLISTS PREPARE FOR NEW SEASON

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