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, the annual season opener at Annaclone on Saturday 26th and the Phoenix GP the following day. The recent spell of cold but mainly dry weather has given riders the chance to get in some long runs, with a few men clocking up 150 miles each weekend, thanks largely to the regular reliability trials, the last of which will take place this coming Sunday, leaving the House of Sport on the Upper Malone Road at 9.30am. As usual there will be two groups, both covering the same 60 mile route.

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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 parts of the country have been far worse. Long weekend training runs usually involve early starts and there have been a number of occasions when the first 20 miles have been covered at or below freezing point. These sorts of conditions create a dilemma for riders. If they go out on frosty or icy roads they run the risk of a fall and a broken collar bone can take weeks to recover from; if you don’t train for five weeks it can take 10 weeks to get back to your original fitness level and before you know it you have lost half a season. On the other hand if you play safe and stay indoors you will enter the season only partially fit and low in confidence, convinced that every other rider in the peloton is fitter and faster than you.

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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 wheels and components can bring a modern road bike’s weight down to a svelte 15 or 16 pounds. Unfortunately the old adage “you pay more for less” proves true today with a top class road bike costing up to five thousand pounds. However, regardless of price and quality they all need to be properly maintained. Modern cars require much less maintenance than they did thirty or forty years ago but the bicycle, by virtue of its major components being continually exposed to the elements, and in Northern Ireland that means wet, muddy, salty roads in winter, needs cleaning and lubrication after almost every ride. .

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CYCLISTS PREPARE FOR NEW SEASON

They may not be in a state of panic but, following a prolonged spell of bitterly cold weather and icy roads, North Down’s cyclists have woken up to the fact that the new season of road races begins in little more than a month from now. The Christmas and New Year holiday period normally provides an opportunity to get in some solid endurance work in readiness for the annual programme of reliability trials which get under way at the end of January. This time round, however, the unsafe state of many roads has driven many riders to retreat to the clubrooms or garage at home to put in a few hours on the indoor trainers. Fortuitously, the recent, timely opening of the excellent DW Fitness centre at Bloomfield has provided a further option and a large number of club members have already taken up membership, allowing them access to state-of-the-art spinning machines as well as an enormous range of the latest exercise equipment.

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A YEAR OF SUCCESS FOR NORTH DOWN CC

As 2009 draws to a close the committee of North Down Cycling Club can look back with satisfaction at what, in some respects, was a record year and look ahead to what is being anticipated as a year of further development in 2010.

The final event of the year was the annual, post-Christmas Mince Pie Run, held on a cold and frosty Monday morning. The icy roads caused many members to opt for a day off but there were still 20 or so who decided to do a steady 25 mile run on the main roads of the Ards peninsula. Safely back in the Marquis Hall they were joined by other club members, including the youngest rider of the day, four-year old Ewen Ferguson, in a feast of mince pies and Hazel Allen’s celebrated fudge. As usual, Ruth McNally and helpers did a splendid job in the catering department.

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North Down Cycling Club’s pre Christmas events

North Down Cycling Club’s pre Christmas events have been attracting big turnouts. The two registration nights saw around 60 riders take out membership for 2010, an encouraging start given that the main push for membership will take place in January. Most of the riders were existing members but there were an encouraging number of new faces, a clear indication of the growing interest in cycling in general and a measure of North Down’s growth in particular. Prospective new members are reminded that membership forms can be downloaded from the club website at www.northdowncc.com.

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