Club News Week Ending 13/05/12

Easy known it’s the height of the summer when the weekly diary of an average MCC member fills up fast!  On Tuesday evening, the Comeragh CC hosted the first evening of the SRAM Summer league race.  MCC were well represented at the first round by Fergal Kennedy, Neil Butler (10^th place), Mick Barron (8^th place), Joe Ryan (9^th place), Colm Keher, Fiona Cooke, James Kelly and Eoin Hogan.  On Thursday evening, Waterford Racing Club hosted the third evening of their Criterium league.  This continued to be popular among MCC members with Mick Barron, Patrick Tobin, Fergal Kennedy and Neil Butler, who took the red jersey on the night (A4 leader).

On Saturday morning, Joe Ryan, Mick Burke, Mick Barron, Brendan O’Reilly, Denis Keogh and a few more headed out on the Club spin.  The group took in Ballyragget, Ballinakill, Abbeyleix, Stradbally, Comer and back into Kilkenny.  A good crowd of MCC members turned out for the first of the Gortnahoe-Glengoole Cycle Challenge and included Brendan O’Reilly, Eugene Mullally, Jim Fitzpatrick, Mick Kenna, Dave Matthews, Mick Battle, Marcus Dowling, Colin Feely, Martin Coughlan, Barry Lyrnch and probably a few more!!  Well done to Liam Egan for putting this together!  Fiona Cooke was mixing it with international pros and Olympics hopefuls when she took part in the Celtic Chrono, a UCI ranking women elite time trial event.  Fiona was representing Leinster and had a fantastic experience at such a high profile event, as well as scoring a very respectable 27^th amongst such a calibre of riders.

MCC members on Tuesday night at the SRAM Comeragh CC league - L to R: Mick Barron, Neil Butler, James Kelly, Colm Keher, Joe Ryan, Fergal Kennedy and Fiona Cooke.

There was another unfortunate accident involving one of members on Saturday, when Sean Hogan was out for a spin just off the Freshford Rd when a dog came out in front of him and knocked him over.  Sean was unfortunate to break his collar bone and ribs.  Best wishes Sean and speedy recovery.

The 2012 TT series will be run in conjunction with our friends in Kilkenny Triathlon Club and Deanside Wheelers and will start on Thursday 31^st May – keep an eye on our website, more details to follow!  The Rás, Ireland’s premier cycling race, is coming to Kilkenny on Sunday – anyone interested in assisting in marshalling (between McDonagh Junction and the Blue Bar) should contact Patrick Tobin at 087-4108420.

Club News Week Ending 06/05/12

On Saturday the clubs group spin did a loop which took them out to Castlecomer, across to Paulstown and then back in to Kilkenny. Gerry McGovern took a tumble which unfortunately led to a hospital visit and he’s likely to be off the bike for a while as a result of a broken collarbone. Having seen the remains of Gerry’s helmet after the incident left the rest of the group in no doubt as to the importance of wearing one at all times.

On Sunday Joe Ryan, Mick Barron, Mick Burke, Denis Keogh and Eoin Hogan participated in the Slieve Bloom Challenge organised by Carlow Cycling Club. The lads were lucky to have the finest weather of the weekend at the event and really enjoyed themselves on the 160km route which took them 5 hrs 13 mins to complete.

The beginner’s spins are progressing well. 9 new cyclists took to the roads with us on Monday night lead by John Britton. The group headed out to Stoneyford and back and concentrated rotating within the group and how to changeover properly. The group meets at the Castle Gates at 7pm every Monday evening.

The clubs main group ride leaves the Castle Gates at 9am every Sunday morning and always welcomes new cyclists.

Tip of the Week: How to Correctly Wear a Bicycle Helmet: Check your helmet position and fit by looking in a mirror. Gently rotate the helmet on your head, front to back, and side to side, noticing the skin in your brow area. If the fit is comfortable, and the skin moves with the helmet, you have a proper fit. If not, your helmet is too loose and you should adjust it. Remember, Bicycle helmets can reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85%.

Gortnahoe Glengoole Cycle Challenge

Our own Liam Egan is involved in the organising of Gortnahoe Glengoole Cycle Challenge which is on Sunday, 13 May 2012.  Liam is hoping to see many MCC jerseys there on the day and with a 10km, 40km and 100km routes available, there is something there for everyone.  You can enter online at www.gortnahoe.com/ or just sign-on that day in Gortnahoe Community Hall.  See here for directions to Gortnahoe from Kilkenny –  the handiest way to get to Gortnahoe from Kilkenny is to go to Urlingford, take the turn at the old National School in Urlingford and follow the road to Gortnahoe – it’s only about 3 miles from Urlingford.  For further info, contact Liam Egan at 086-2449384.