Castlereagh Cycling Club

Pit Stop at the Plough
Sundays Lite run was called at an easy 50K given that we had a new rider Kieran joining us, we have had so much westerly winds lately Moira was becoming the norm so the decision was made on a loop to Hillsborough, we had 6 Lite riders leave Forestside on a fairly direct route via Sandy Lane into Lisburn, the pace was steady but the wind was strong and having an effect on newby Kieran. The initial plan was a roundabout route through Ravernet into Annahil...t and onto Hillsborough but given the wind we decided to cut short directly to the coffee stop once we were through Lisburn, Coffee and breakfast was in the Plough were we initially had some sunshine so we sat outside, this didn't last long as the rain soon came, the staff were great finding us a table inside, Kieran was glad of the stop but decided to call it a day, with Steve CCC already homeward bound it left 4 of us, since we cut short the outward journey we decided to lengthen the inward journey a bit going out the Ballygowan road and sweeping back towards Moira turning back through Maze and into Lisburn were we climbed up into Drumbo and home. We did manage to stretch the 50K a bit, but everyone enjoyed even in the rain!
Well done to Kieran on his first outing with us and also to Duncan who is getting stronger by the week, Cormac was on point with his sock game and Damian thought he had a chance of selling the Pinerallo....maybe not.
Summer is on its way....isn't it??
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Foyle CC are runing the Inishowen 100 on teh 18th of August is anyone interested in going down?

The Wednesday night run starts from the Forster Green bus stop just across from Forestside at 6.30, its to be really good weather tonight!

Arse about face!
Like most cycle clubs we have roads we generally like to use, certain roads will bring us close to home giving everyone the opportunity to get to their front door, I honestly couldn’t count the amount of times we have come home through Moneyreagh, Past Magaluf and into Crossnacreevy, today we decided to start this way, I thought it was a reverse start only to be told I was doing it arse about face.
We had a couple of new faces this morning, Duncan who was hav...ing his second run with us and JP who is a Castlereagh Virgin, there were a few away doing various sportiff’s but we still had a good crew out, after a tight start up the Ballygowan road we kept it well together in the lanes going through Derryboy and down into Annacloy with Ballynahinch being the coffee stop, along the way we had a few incidents of flying water bottles, punctures and even a loose rear wheel when JP was lucky to stay upright, there is a lesson there about how tight the skewer should be!
A quick stop at Mauds in Ballynahinch with what had to be the best coffee we have had in a while and onwards to home via Saintfield. A thoroughly enjoyable 80k completed and home in time for some Father’s Day gifts!
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Unfortunately, the John Moore Memorial road race, scheduled for Sunday 9th June has had to be postponed. We are currently working with CI/CU to identify a replacement date and will communicate that as soon as possible.

Today was about being together (although I think there were 9 down in Connemara). It's been a tough week and between sick notes and come backs, even the fittest preferred to stick together and chill out.
Daddy Shark called Glenavey and we decided to get the hill out of the way early and took the Glen Road - it's long but not too steep. We were plugging in to a tough wind, so the heavies took long turns. From the top we took the lanes towards the Lough with Yogi getting a...nother QOM, eventually winding through Maghabery to Moira - we can't resist a caramel Square and Breton stripe.
Home was directish to Lisburn, but attacks were going off all the way. Attack of the day goes to El Pistolero - he has no fear!
From Lisburn we split up with some taking the towpath while I led a group up Plantation Road and via Drumbo to Carryduff. Congrats to Arthur on his first clubrun - great effort.
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Something different for a Saturday. Nine of us have set out this morning on the beautiful, but foggy, Tour de Connemara.

It is with great sadness that we share the devastating news that our friend, Noel McIlfatrick has unexpectedly passed away. Noel was a popular member of our club, always generous with his time, advice and support for his fellow riders and while we are all deeply shocked by his passing, we will remember him with great fondness.
We extend our deepest condolences to Noel's family and friends and to his home club, Dunloy Cycling Club, of which he was a founding member before moving to Belfast. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.

We have just had very sad and shocking news that one of our club members passed away today. We’re a small club with tight bonds and we’re currently reeling from the news. Club members who haven’t heard can get in touch via the members page.
Colin

Mike, LJ and Muttley headed to Roddensvale medal 🏅 hunting. Jim and David did the same on the north coast at the Air Ambulance Sportive.
Closer to home Strava crowns 👑 a plenty were picked on a trip through the drumlins, kinda towards Ballynahinch, kinda over to Dromara and kinds back to Ballynahinch and Saintfield.
Retro and the Hipster love God took a longer option heading on to Banbridge, while Nitemare suggested a trip to Montalto Estate for coffee. It was a new one o...n all of us, but we'll be back.
Some dick took all the 30's with stupid uncontested attacks, but as Ariana Grande says "there is no awesoME without ME"....
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Ten days to go! Get signed up!

Our "side team" Upshift Velo is in action again this weekend at the Victus Tour of Ulster.
Today they had the backing of four Castlereagh riders as team car and soigners. What they didn't get was any warning on Slieve Croob, Spelga and Windy Gap - why worry them?! The team all did great and Pete, James, Marcus, Ross and Rafe are pretty much honourary members (we bonded over donuts).
James was 4th on the stage and sits 3rd overall heading in to tomorrow's final stage. Best of luck to all and thanks from Lee for the gift of Jame's podium flowers.

Thanks to Shane for today's write up...
A nippy Sunday morning, with two uber navigators helping out at the Tour of Ulster, on Marathon duty, or taking a well deserved rest post 312, a mere quartet landed at Forestside for 'A' lite ride.
Pablo 'Bakewell' Conway, Escobar 'Retro' Wylie, James 'Trooper' Tate and I took the mainline down to Strangford, with Pablo and Escobar in fine fettle, sporting their Spanish legs we cruised at a respectable 18.5 mph on a relatively flat c...ourse to the Tearooms for the traditional caffeine kick. Trooper Tate doing a sterling job while still suffering from a lung crushing lurgy. Damien tucked into a raspberry and white chocolate scone, followed by the bakewell, Retro stuck to the fruit scone, James rebooted with a tray bake and I scoffed a double chocolate chip scone. No pics, we ate them also. Retro decided to horse back via Kilmore and Listooder, the Hobbit shires of North Down, I was only too glad to hang back with James while Pablo and Escobar flew on ahead, kindly restraining their Spanish legs to let us back on. Just one pic, apologies,
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Two Americanos; one latte; one flat white. One granola bar; one slice of walnut & coffee cake (with cream); one Kinder Bueno cake; one Jammie Joey.
Does anything else really matter when four friends are having fun in the sun.
If you really have to know, we took a mixture of bike paths and greenways to Corrs Corner and Ballyclare, then home for 70-90k depending on home far into culchieville you live. But that’s missing the point.

Pick Up at Picnic
With a large contingent away to the 312 in Mallorca and David and Conor at the Phoenix Sportive we had 2 lonely soles at Forestside, myself and Cormac, the weather was mild with no rain forecast so we headed towards Saintfield and on to Killyleagh for a pit stop in the Picnic cafe.
At the Picnic we unexpectedly met Cormac’s partner Jane and her friend Donna, we decided to stick together on the way home cycling out to Whiterock and onto Balloo where we went ...directly to Ballygowan, we took the usual lanes past Magaluf and up to Four Winds so Donna could pick up her car at Cairnshill.
Well done to Jane and Donna who completed more KM’s than they wanted, around 75Km completed in what turned out to be a mildly moist morning!
Hopefully see a full contingent back next week.
Well done to all who went out to Mallorca.
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Conor and I did the Phoenix Sportive today and had a great time. Many thanks to all at Phoenix for the hospitality it was greatly appreciated and it was a very well organised and supported event. Special thanks to Alfie and Liz for the great company on the way round. We all worked together well and it made the day very enjoyable. 👍🏻👍🏻

This morning's club ride looks a little different from normal. Good luck to all of the guys rolling out on the Mallorca 312!

It turns out awesomeness is contagious. Team Castlereagh (complete with team car upside down 13) gave a very small hand to Team Upshift Velo (our "side" team) today at the Tour of the North and they only went and won the stage.
Huge congrats to Pete and a really top bunch of guys - pleasure to help and see you for more tomorrow.