Steady Cycling Club

 

Page Name

 

Up the Yellow Road

click for the pics

“Come early!! Bring food!!  70 miles!! Yellow Road!!!”  Six undaunted riders , some of us better colour coordinated than others, Colin, Rossi, James, Benny and the two Paul's, met at the lay by at 8:30am, loaded up with energy bars,  bananas and no shortage of enthusiasm.  We headed off on the Legacorry Road in the direction of Clare and Ahorey and then the wrong way down the Six Steps and up into Scarva where Colin burst through for the first 30s of the day to loads of jeers sorry cheers from the rest of us.  We turned left, no sorry right ;-) and on to Loughbrickland and then up the second worst  hill into Rathfriland.   No 30s going into Rathfriland today due to the abuse given to the winner the last time we were here, and the fear of the unknown to come.  After a discussion about the state of the public amenities on offer in Rathfriland and how they should be used, we realized that the sextet had become a quintet with one Paul breaking off to head home early, much to the consternation of his namesake who blamed himself for building the route up too much.

It was on to Hilltown and that dreaded right hand turn onto the infamous Yellow road, half expecting to see “The Pain starts here” painted on the road.  A total height of 341 meters, it was a nice wee climb, some of us even had to get out of the saddle for part of it, some of us had no choice because he had no saddle!!  Colin's seatpost had refused to go up the hill in one piece, leaving the big man with no saddle, forcing him to complete the ascent and the descent into Warrenpoint standing up mountain bike style.

The best sandwiches of the year so far ensued in Warrenpoint followed by a quick run down into Newry where the quintet  became a quartet when Colin's better half came to his rescue and ferried him homeward.  The run from Newry to Markethill and on to Hamiltonsbawn was entertaining with a high average speed and not a lot of chat.  Weather was super today with a very challenging well planned route, scenery fantastic!!

3hrs 45minutes ride time, 97km, 27kph, 1143 meters climbed, 1613 calories burned, avg cadence 84rpm,  Great job this Garmin

 

Steady Ladies Report 9th April

Six of us set out on a beautiful warm spring day on a little mystery tour, knowing only that euros were required and we were up for a 40 mile trip. Well one of us knew a bit more than that! Off we went to Keady at a steady pace, keeping in a tight bunch, climbed past Clay lake( where there is gold to be found,) then on the straight stretch to Castleblayney. Much of that road has been resurfaced recently so it was a fairly pleasant spin. We found Eileen's tearoom on the main street and enjoyed a bit of banter with the country and western/ jazz loving waiter who was clearly enjoying the sight of "so many women in lycra".(His own words) The coffee, french toast, pancakes ,wheaten soda etc etc were definitely worth the trip..........to say nothing of the entertainment thrown in!
We wound our way home via Newtonhamilton negotiating multiple bends and toiling up a few wee hills, but after the last killer hill there was that 6-7 mile reward of a long downhill where it was hard not to freewheel! 'Class' and 'brilliant' and a few unladylike shrieks might have escaped the lips and the top speed is rumoured to be 38mph.  So despite a few very tired legs and sometimes just not enough gears I think it fair to say this new route gets the thumbs up!
How about doing it in reverse the next time??????????
 
Frances

 

Sat Spin 5th Feb
On Saturday we met as usual at the lay by just past the Stonebridge restaurant and shortly after 9:30 we set off. The decision was made that we would go through Richhill to Hamiltonsbawn and on to Market hill where we turned left for Newry which of course takes us over crankey. I may have forgotten to mention the 30's going into Richhill and Hami-bawn this was merely to save the blushes of other club members no names Colin, I think that this was the reason for the very under hand trick played at the cafe. Anyway I was very disappointed that everyone change their minds about the return journey. This explains the look on my face when the proposed route of Forkhill to Markethill was suggested so it was a look of disappointment not shock and fear. I will say no more about that so we left Newry and took a (Gentle spin back)

Steady cc cycle Sat. 12 February
 
Steady cc fielded 6 members on the men's ride(Brian,Thomas,Rossy,Charlie,Paul and Colin) A sub-group led by our honorable secretary took an alternative route. The main group traveled to Benburb where a necessary visit to the gents was made, to the relief of all ! Colin took the 30s into Benburb for the first and last time ! 
The climb over Rehaghy was summited by Brian and Rossy, closely followed by Paul S, who ignored advice to stick closely to Charley for medical reasons. Charley protested he had no equipment anyhow!
A welcome breakfast in Sally's, in Aughnacloy, followed after Brian took a worthy win at the 30s.
Given the improving weather, a group decision was taken to venture on to Emyvale, Glaslough, Caledon and back to Stonebridge via Armagh. Brian's winter training paid off as he took the final sprint into Armagh. Well done!
On reaching the lay by, some 48 miles had been clocked up. Tired legs were combined with smiling faces, having completed the longest run this year. Well done to all ! 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Colin H

19th Feb

Nearly a spring morning, at least it wasn't raining. A departing steady septet quickly became a steady sextet
as Melvin peeled off, pleading time pressures. Soon there was a  brief episode of group cycle rage as we were cut up by a
young member of the motoring community. We eventually made our way to Gilberry Fayre to sample
fine food - well, bacon sandwiches and medium strength coffee. There were cyclists galore, as usual.
Benny remarked to a young lady cyclist, who was adding cream to an already creamy dessert, that it would slow
her up. 'That'll be a relief for the men then, won't it', was the quick reply. No reply to that, then. As we all looked forward to
bringing out the racing thoroughbreds, the summer bikes, Benny confessed that his new bike was still in his bedroom.
His wife is apparently not quite as enthusiastic about that as he is. No one asked where in the bedroom the bike is.
And so to the canal towpath - funny how it always seems to be downhill on the canal towpath after coffee.
Then back to the  lay-by, 43 miles in all.
A word about 30s: the more senior members of the club decided that today the youngsters could have their head, as it is
early in the season and we don't want to discourage them. However, as usual Terry could not contain himself and had to have one or two.
Colin got one or two as well, and Benny is beginning to get the hang of it. Coached, of course by Tommy.
Rossi appeared to climb hills with the same amount of effort you would use to sit in a chair and watch TV.
 
                                                                                                                                                                            Charlie

Sat 26th Feb.
 
The 3 amigo's, Paul Colin & Rossi met at Stonebridge at the pre-arranged time of 9.00am. Terry was brushing up on his bike skills in Kilbroney and Charlie had been dragged screaming & kicking to a training camp in Majorca but where was the 4th member who had posted "Accepted" on the Teamer.net ?
A quick phone call to Benny revealed that he hadn't read the new time and we agreed to meet him in Armagh. The 3 soon became 4 as we met James Gribben heading down the road. 4 then became 5 as Tommy also discovered that we had left Stonebridge early. We met up with Benny near Armagh and the Steady 6 set off.
Paul had mapped out the route  and we left Armagh and headed to Caledon and through Minterburn and up Rahaughey. The route was a bit lumpy Paul said and as we turned right towards Carnteel we soon learned what lumpy meant !!  Benny was King of the Mountain up Carnteel,s lung bursting hill. We all managed to summit the hill and it was nearly worth the climb to witness the outstanding view over the countryside. It was all downhill to Donaghmore via Castlecaufield, or so Paul had told us, but the road again lived up to its reputation as lumpy. Anyway we all re-fuelled in Donaghmore and headed to Dungannon only to loose 2 of the team on the way. Colin had hit a pothole and broke his bottle cage. Now how he managed to find a pothole on our roads is beyond me but after a brief wait and a couple of phone calls we all got together again and headed for home. I lost count of who won all the 30's but I think the prize money must go to Colin as I know he got at least 3.
It was such a beautiful day and a joy to be out..............roll on summer.
 
Rossi.