McCREADIE PICK OF THE BUNCH The second weekend of the 2010 racing season was centred on the Newry Wheelers’ promotion, the John Haldane Memorial which, because of road works, was moved away from the normal hilly circuit around Kilcoo to the dual carriageway between Newry and Warrenpoint. This turned out to be a mixed blessing for the six North Down… Read more »
STEADY START FOR NORTH DOWN CYCLISTS A few days ago the Meteorological Office announced that Northern Ireland had just experienced the coldest winter since 1963. Last weekend saw the first road races of the new season, Annaclone on Saturday and Nutt’s Corner on Sunday and the dry but bitterly cold weather was a reminder that the short-sleeved jerseys might remain… Read more »
CYCLISTS FRUSTRATED BY WEATHER Last week’s optimism about the demise of icy weather has proved to be premature. The final pre-season reliability trial, scheduled for last Sunday by Phoenix CC in Belfast, had to be cancelled when riders awoke to find a layer of snow covering the landscape. The prospects for the coming weekend don’t appear to be much better…. Read more »
CYCLISTS READY TO LAUNCH INTO NEW SEASON As we approach the end of February the lack of spring-like weather has not distracted the competitive riders at North Down Cycling Club from the looming challenge of the first race of the season, now just over a week away. The last weekend of the month offers the possibility of doing two races,… Read more »
WEATHER SLOWS CYCLISTS’ PROGRESS With the 2010 racing season only three weeks away, most cyclists agree that it has been many years since their pre season preparation has been impaired to the extent experienced this winter. North Down Cycling Club’s racing squad have found scant consolation in the knowledge that, while the local roads have been treacherous at times, other… Read more »
TECH TALK FOR CYCLISTS A bicycle is a simple machine in many ways, the basic design of a diamond shaped frame and chain driven transmission not having changed much since the introduction of the safety bicycle in the 19th century. Frame materials have progressed from steel, still dominant in the Eighties, to aluminium, titanium and, more recently, carbon fibre. Lightweight… Read more »