Wheelers push distances and look forward to new season

Cycling, like many other sports is centred on the calendar and is seasonal in its nature with the majority of participants living for that glorious feeling of sunshine on the legs during the warmer days. For many years, with the odd exception, those in Lakeside Wheelers Mullingar were only interested in or involved in one side of the sport, the road. However, in recent years the popularity of gravel and more so, cyclocross has given members an added reason to extend the competitive season and it is fantastic to see some of our younger members taking to this off-road phenomenon of late.

But with the arrival of the new year and whether you are a racer or sportive rider, there is nothing like the famous post-Christmas “stretch in the evenings” to get you motivated for another season. Without doubt there will be more frost or storms that will disrupt training but there is something about this time of year that lifts any athlete involved in outdoor sports and gives you the boost to keep going.

With all this in mind it is no coincidence that the leaders of both the A and B groups chose routes last Sunday that marked a step up in distance and difficulty. The As went for the hills and draggy roads of north Longford with a 97km route around Ballinalee, Granard and Multyfarnham, which is a favourite route at this time of year. The B group have maintained a very relaxed approach in recent weeks but last Sunday the distance was pushed back out to 85km and also had a few slopes thrown in as the route looped around Kinnegad, Edenderry, Rhode and Rochfortbridge. It is normal practice for these increases to gradually creep upwards as the spring hopefully brings drier and warmer conditions. So, if you have been off the bike in recent weeks or even months for whatever reason, now is the time to get back out and enjoy the club spins on Saturdays and Sundays.

Club Kit

The new committee will be holding its first meeting of the new term in February at which it is expected a new order of club kit will be sanctioned. Keep an eye on club texts and emails in the coming weeks for further updates.

Membership

The committee would like to remind all members that it is now time to renew your membership for 2025. Please log on to the Cycling Ireland website and renew via the membership portal.

Having up to date membership is vital for insurance reasons so it is advised that all members renew ASAP.