Report on :       100Km “On your Bike”  - Burren cycle. 27th January 2008.
By;                   Aonghus McGuinness

Event:               100Km Burren cycle organised by Nigel ( Nigels Cycle store ,Liosban ).
Started from:  Swimming pool at bothers of charity in  Clarinbridge (Loads of parking)
Entry fee;          €25.00
Preadators;       Niall, Treasa, Tommy, Mark and Aonghus 

Over 60 cyclists turned up for the first long local cycle 100km of 2008.  Entry was quick with free water and a mars bar offered for the journey. Everyone was geared up in full length lycra, hats under helmets, overshoes and even extra socks over the overshoes! Thankfully we didn’t get the weather most were expecting but better prepared than not!
 
Mark was already warmed up as he decided to cycle to and from the event, just to get another 70km in (100km obviously not enough !). We set off on time just after 10 am and the pace was good with lots of chat all the way to Ballyvaughan. It was good to get experience of cycling in a large group.

Just after Ballyvaughan there was a sharp left turn up the mountain and after some confusion on which way to go I lost a bit of momentum getting up the hill.  It was slow but steady progress but after reaching the top of the first climb it took me nearly 3 miles to catch the main group again.

The group split again on the next two climbs but with   encouragement from John from the Burren cycle club I made it to the ½ way point. Tommy was at the top (of every hill) the fastest followed by Mark in hot pursuit. There was a short welcome break (more mars bars, bananas and water) at which point the sun was shining and the scenery was amazing. It certainly made up for all the hard climbing to get there.

After the brief stop the three of us set together off for the very fast cycle down the mountain – Tommy let loose and put the foot down !. We reached the main road back towards Kinvara in no time.  There was only one short sharp hill to climb just before Kinvara and then over the last 15km we were glad of the wind on our backs.

Showers on site ,then Tea and coffee, sandwiches and even more mars bars were dished up aplenty.

Verdict : A really enjoyable day . It represents excellent training ground. As the weather improves we should look at doing a shorter route but still taking in those hills!  

Well done to Tommy – “King of the hills” and congrats to Treasa and Niall who decided to make it even longer by going via Lisdoonvarna!