Club Notes 5th January 2013

(Pictured L-R) Julie, Gary, Aidan, Sinead, Kevin, Pat, Liam, Benny, Brian, Paddy, Doncha, & Dan. Tommy is behind the camera.
With the New Year come new objectives for club leisure, racing and mountain bike members. High winds, heavy rain and frost may have presented some challenges to the Christmas training plan but it offered great opportunity for alternative mountain biking with numerous outings to Cloughjordan, Ballyhoura and Keeper Hill over the festive period. With the open racing calendar commencing in only a matter of weeks, the attention of racing members turns to structured cycling building on base training conducted over the last few months.
The stable conditions on Saturday morning enabled a group of Wheelers (pictured) to put in the first group 100+km of 2014. In the interests of safety, the route stayed to the old N7 heading out eastbound from Nenagh to Roscrea before returning on the same route to motorway ramp at Birdhill and then doubling back again to Nenagh. Despite the distance of 110km and only one puncture, an effective training speed was maintained throughout the ride and no one was left behind.
Club training will continue this week with night cycling on Tuesday night from the Five Alley, Thursday night and Sunday morning from Moynan’s Bike Shop (Nenagh). Club cycling is not only sociable but is a great way to get involved in group cycling and can greatly improve cycling abilities. The North Tipperary Wheelers welcome new members for the New Year and now is a great time to join the club with 2014 club membership free to new members. There are opportunities for all levels and cycling abilities and particular effort is made by all cycling groups to ensure that no one is left behind. The club website and facebook page is regularly updated with club training schedules and events and the Wheelers will be holding a dedicated open night next week for new members. Details of this will be published next week. For further details or enquiries on club membership, refer to the club website www.northtippwheelers.com or contact club chairperson Pat Bergin on 087 6744400 or club secretary Mike O’Keefe 087 6710870.