Yearly Archives: 2011

Happy Christmas and other news!!


Happy Christmas to all Foyle CC members(and to those soon to become!) from your 2012 committee.  Hopefully you will all get those things you wish for in this festive season.

Whilst training days are somewhat hampered by poor cycling weather there are some dates you may want to note.

First is the members sign in nite at 8p.m. on January 9th in the Waterfoot Hotel. This is to allow old and new members to fill in 2012 cycling applications and to pay their annual club fee(appended below).  It also makes it easier for our busy treasurer if fees can be collected together and sent to Cycling Ireland in a single package.

Also, please note if you wish to race in the inter club league you must have a club competition licence.

Please come along to this evening as we will also have some cycling related issues to cover which you will surely find it of interest.

Also coming up for FCC members is the annual nite out on January 20th at 8p.m. in DaVincis restaurant. Traditionally this a nite to meet your cycling friends, hand out the year’s cycling awards, sing some songs and generally have some fun. As Peter says “a nite not to be missed!!”

Fees:

Open licence £105
Club competition £65
Club non competition £40
introductory £20
Youth age10/12/14yrs £5
Youth age 16yr full competition £30
Junior (1994-1995) full competition £40

Winter arrive in the north west Dec 04, 2011

Foyle riders took to roads far and near on a week-end which turned fairly wintry and made for challenging conditions.
Saturday’s 0900 departure from TSC saw 14 eager and enthusiastic souls venture forth on a ride which took in Donemana, Artigarvan, Clady and Carrigans.
The tone of the day was set early as being buffeted by squally showers and unfavourable winds we experienced our first puncture of the day close to Prehen woods. Chalking up the first misadventure to soft Schwalbe compound we headed on to Donemana where new man Bermuda Neil looking good on a well restored Mercian classic called us to a halt for a necessary change to the second flat tyre of the day.
The winter conditions were not making our ride easy and trying to generate some warmth we picked up the pace as we dashed down the hill past Leckpatrick and onto the main Derry road. Simon signalled that we were headed for Clady and whilst fireman Chris, Neil and Eamonn briefly flirted with a shorter route for home we reconvened our peloton and took the quieter Urney road which lead us to the sleepy hamlet of Clady.
Charlie was next man to increase the puncture tally when we reached the outskirts of Lifford for the second time. Several of our group here grew disgruntled with these setbacks and headed on whilst Terry, Eamonn, Shaun, Simon, and your scribe remained faithful to the club PRO and helped to get him back on the road.
Thankfully this was the last delay we were to encounter and we sailed back to Derry under the shelter of a very favourable wind picking up young Gareth who had been dropped by the first group and was well pleased to see us arrive on the scene.
Terry and Eamonn headed over Sheriff’s mountain for some hill training. Charlie and I headed for the coffee shop which was deserted except for our two firemen, Chris and Peter, and new man Michael who were only slightly ahead of us. We gratefully warmed ourselves and once again contemplated the relative merits of various rubber compound. The final tally in the puncture stakes was: Schwalbe, Conti, and Vredstein one apiece. Inconclusive in the extreme!
Today seemed like it might be a better day than Saturday but in truth it wasn’t!! Only 7 of us assembled this morning and we were lured northwards by that man of many words, Frankie D. His claim to fame as one of the fittest athletes in the region is hard to argue but I would be loath to compare his ability to select good riding routes!
As we headed north to Moville we were blown along by an ever strengthening wind and could see storm clouds ahead, the harbinger of sleet and heavy rain which was soon upon us. Such omens spelt a hard day’s riding ahead and fate did not disappoint us!
Frankie, Larry and Paul B quickly turned about face when Moville was reached and headed for home. We four, Terry, Ciaran O’D., and Eamonn kept going to Carn with the option of there heading for Buncrana.
The weather gods now unleashed their full fury on us. Heading over this undulating road to the capital of Inishowen we were buffeted by the icy wind, and dashed by a mixture of rain and hail. Our riding fortitude was tested to the extreme but we kept going. Your scribe was suffering but spirits were kept high by the unceasing stories poured forth by master raconteur Terry D.
Thankfully the Carn to Quigley’s Point road brought with it a following wind and a slight improvement in conditions. Terry kept telling stories, Eamonn and Ciaran lead us out manfully. We reached the Ture straight feeling more human It had been a tough day in the saddle but we had warm showers and hot drinks soon to come. Our lot in life was really fairly good.
Simon, Lawrence, Aaron,Chris, Donal and Ritchie planned a day mountain biking in Belfast. No news yet of their day’s work.
See you on the road.
Mark

Week-end of Nov 20, 2011

Once again the large number of FCC members taking to the road over the past w/e bore testament to the excellent cycling weather we continue to enjoy here in the sunny North West!
Saturday looked the least promising of the two days but although those who were still on summer steeds would have had extra cleaning chores at the end of the ride the conditions were good and we enjoyed a dry, relatively wind free day.
As we headed west towards L’kenny we were over 20 strong on the beginning of a route which took numerous twists but ended up passing the famous dry arch roundabout, Stranorlar junction, Raphoe, Galdonagh. Manor and Derry.
Arriving at the foot of the only serious climb of the day several of our group decided to take their leave. The two Diarmuids had sworn to do low heart rate training and retraced their bike steps at a pace suited to their needs, accompanied by Eamonn who was due at base before the noon hour. Lucia and Maureen also turned about face feeling perhaps that a more flat based adventure would suit them better..
Traffic and road works made the long ascent somewhat precarious but all managed to summit successfully. Ciaran O and Terry were next to take their leave as somewhat without warning they turned around just as we attained a flat section of road. Our reduced peloton sped on regardless and took the left turn to Convoy and Raphoe taking advantage of favourable wind to increase our speed.
At the Raphoe cattle market Ritchie, fireman Chris and neophyte Michael A headed to Ballindrait for further challenges. The rest of us charged on over the drumlins which barred our path to the main Lifford-L’kenny road before being brought to stop by drummer and speed merchant Billy D’s suffering a puncture just as we attained the busy cross road.
Luckily Charlie was at hand and using all his engineering experience made the required repairs ensuring Billy’s dilemna only caused us a mild delay(sic)! Rhonda and Olive here took advantage of the interrupt to head over the Galdonagh road, recent scene of our racing triumph, and were not brought back in to our midst until Burt chapel was reached.
Once remounted Billy drove us on relentlessly in an effort to make up for lost time. Passing Manor he continued on alone as the larger group settled in to winter training pace. Shortly after Olive and Rhond settled back comfortably in our ranks and the whole group finished together just after the noon hour.
All that remained was a post ride prandial and so a small number repaired to the favored waterside coffee house. Here we were pleased to meet the two Dermots, and fireman Chris accompanied by his peloton. As Eamonn had suffered two punctures on the return journey our conversation soon turned to the merits of Schwalbe versus Continental tyres. Your scribe’s high regard for Schwalbe(it’s the price you know!) was well in the minority. However, it struck me that we missed the input of Ciaran H and his familiarity and love of all things Conti!
Sunday was another great day for cycling and when we gathered at the complex it was good to see the return of Jim D after his epic round Ireland adventure. Looking in fine fettle Jim was accompanied by nephew Matthew who is now part of the Irish 2020 initiative. Matthew is already getting serious about this challenge and he headed off with Jim astride an elegant fixed wheel m/c for some fine tuning of his pedal stroke.
The rest of us took off at a good clip for an adventure in South Derry/North Tyrone. As we reached Tullyally Fergal was first to break off, under pressure as he was for family duties. Ciaran was not to be distracted and he kept the pace high, all the time maintaining conversation with Simon and Aaron, as we drove along the road thru Ardmore. Ascending the lengthy Ballycarton hill. Shaun, just recovered from a puncture(what tyres does he use?), was the victim of some chain mechanicals but he quickly recovered and was present at the regroupment at the junction with the Donemana road. We all continued southward but Ciaran, Aaron and Simon committed themselves to the attainment of Plumbridge and so we let them have their head.
Our seven strong group made the right turn which lead us back over rolling roads, to Donemana. We then headed for Strabane on familiar ground and although hampered by diverted traffic we made good time on this section of our journey.
Swinging northward at Lifford we were aided by a strengthening wind but our rapid progress was soon halted by Stephen’s suffering a puncture(Schwalbe tyres!). Aided by Billy’s recently gained knowledge we soon had Stephen back on two wheels and our group worked well together until we reached the always exciting Carrigans brae. Here your scribe suffered a severe hunger knock and was left to watch from afar Billy, Brian and Terry Mc contest the KOH points on this short but steep summit.
All that remained was the run down to the old dairy where a sprint for final points was taken by Terry Mc.
Coffee was eschewed as time had conspired against us. We headed home having enjoyed a good mornings fun with some excellent cycling companions.
Some news in informs that injured member Joe M is making good progress and having completed several hundred virtual miles is now completing runs to Buncrana on his mtb. Hopefully we will soon have him back in our midst, sharing our fun.
Reminder that the FCC annual general meeting takes place Tuesday at 8p.m. in DaVincis. Please come along to support and listen to officer’s reports. If interested in standing for office that would be great. We need volunteers to help run your club.
See you on the road,
Mark

 

AGM upcoming; venue change for circuits

FCC AGM will be held at Da Vincis 8pm on 22nd November. Please turn up to support your club. There will be an election of officers for the committee for 2012, and anyone interested should come along and participate. Come along anyway to discuss the past year, and hear the officers’ reports on the many achievements of the club, and look forward to 2012.

 

Circuits tomorrow 8pm at TSC Aerobics Suite. Shower and changing facilities available. Please ask for directions at reception.

Gavin