Easter is here, the evenings are getting longer and it's all go in the world of Scott Orwell Wheelers! Remember if there is anything you would like included in The Week Ahead then please email it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SOCIAL:

Jumping a little further ahead in the week to Friday the 26th to start this Week Ahead.  The 2019 Scott Orwell Wheelers Table Quiz will take place on Friday the 26th of April in The Union Cafe, the Beacon South Quarter, Sandyford.

Teams of 4, €10 per person. Come with a team or come solo - teams can be put together on the night.

Questions will be on cycling, general knowledge and anything else our Quiz Master can conjure up. There are overall prizes, spot prizes and a raffle too!

It’s always good fun, a great way to meet your club mates and raise money for special events this year.  Monies raised will go towards events such as helping. The Ras na mBan Team, the Audax Crew’s assault on PBP, helping our Youth & Junior riders and many more. We are also hoping to support our local chosen charity - the Dundrum Arch club.

 

LEISURE:

The training groups are in full swing now. Dont forget about the Leisure Challenges too - Ken explains how they work:

Back again this year are a refreshed set of Leisure Challenges - check out the Sign-up Form for all of the details

This time joining costs € 5 with the prospect of a memento if you complete, so please ensure to pay if you wish to participate.

We think there is a challenge in here to suit everyone regardless of circumstance,
ability or level of experience - they are designed to be inclusive.

The Challenges consist of 3 optional personal challenges that can help
to provide focus and recognition for your cycling efforts this year.
.
They start on Saturday 30th March and finish on Sunday 1st September i.e. 22 weeks to complete your particular challenge(s) ......................

The Distance Challenge:
Based on the European EuroVelo cycle network there are 3 options to select from
for your virtual ride.

The Climbing Challenge:
Ride a selection of our local climbs - a list to selet from is coming soon.

The Randonneur Challenge:
Between March and August inclusive, complete a number of 100km spins.
Any spin completed in 1 day counts.

How it works:
Sign-up electronically right here using the Leisure Challenges Sign-up form or check out the "Files" section of the club website home page.
The deadline for signing up is Sunday 14th April.

During April / early May a Challenge table is published identifying who has signed up for which challenge(s). This is when your commitment to your challenge(s) becomes public.

Once a month log your progress for the preceding month using an online form on the club's website and also distributed via whatsapp groups.

The deadline for logging your progress is the 10th of the following month.
The first deadline will be 10th May i.e. for logging your April progress and so on.

During each successive month the Challenge table is updated to incorporate your prior month progress as logged by you. There'll be a linked visual table on the club homepage that will let you see how you and your club mates are getting
along with your chosen challenge(s).

The boring stuff:
An honour system is used, i.e. you self-report your own progress.
Ideally use Strava to track your progress but manual is okay too though only for distance.
Turbo and spin class miles are deadly but must be excluded for these challenges.
Meeting the deadlines outlined above is a requirement for participation, don't worry though - there will be plenty of deadline reminders.

The "re-assessment" window:
During the 22 week challenges window, your progress might be epic or frustrating or your personal circumstances might change for the better or worse.
Don't worry - during June / July there'll be a window for you to re-assess your preferred challenge(s).

Lastly for any general questions at all please reach out on this thread.

Have fun and the best of luck.

 

RACING:

After 2 weeks of separate nights of racing in Corkagh Park for the Club League its all together now on Thursday the 25th of April.  All 4 groups will be racing - keep an eye on the forum for Brian Mc's update for details.

The Appleby Orwell Women's League continues in Corkagh Park on Tuesday the 23rd of April. It's round 3 already! The B race starts at 7pm and the A race at 7.30pm. Updates will be put on the forum on Monday the 22nd. Dont forget it not too late to join in. It's only €5 per race and we have a lot of complete beginners this year which is fantastic.

 

There are 2 big Stage Races on this weekend for our racers:

Ras Muhman

The second of the 2 big stage races this Easter weekend is Ras Mumhan which is for A1, A2 & A3 riders. It is run by Killorglin Cycling Club, it takes place in Kerry and west Limerick over the Easter weekend. With Killorglin as its base, it passes through some of the most stunning scenery in Kerry and from the cyclists’ point of view, some of the most demanding terrains. The event has been based in Killorglin since 1998, having been originally run in the 1950’s. The race has traditionally attracted the cream of Irish amateur cyclists. Over recent years the event has attracted cyclists from England, Scotland, and Holland.

Stage 1 Preview
Stage 2 Preview
Stage 3 Preview
Stage 4 Preview

Our Team:
111 Paul Forrestal A1 Scott – Orwell Wheelers
112 Barry McMahon A1 Scott – Orwell Wheelers
113 Ronan O Flynn A1 Scott – Orwell Wheelers
114 Callum O Toole A1 Scott – Orwell Wheelers
115 Ronan Grimes A2 Scott – Orwell Wheelers

Support Team:
Eoin Ahern
Sean Murnane

Full Rider List: Ras Mumhan 2019

Event Website: Ras Mumhan 2019 Website

 

The Gorey 3 Day:

Following on from the successes of 2018 Scott Orwell Wheelers is sending another strong team to the Gorey 3 Day this Easter.

The 4 stage International Cycling Race is open to A2 & A3 riders and opens with a 103km stage from Blessington to Gorey starting at 12 noon on the 20th of April.

Easter Sunday kicks off with a 6.4km Time Trial in Gorey starting at 9am followed by an 85km road race that afternoon starting at 3pm.

The final stage is 85km in length departing Gorey at 12 noon and returning back to finish on the outskirts of Blessington on the 24th of April.

If you are heading out for a spin over the weekend why not time your spin to intersect with the course and give our team a shout of support.

Our Team:
80 O'Neill,Colm, Scott Orwell
81 Greene,Barry, Scott Orwell
82 McIlroy,Daniel, Scott Orwell
83 Appleby,Nicholas, Scott Orwell
84 O'Neill,Ken, Scott Orwell
85 McMullen,Luke, Scott Orwell
86 Scanlon,Graham, Scott Orwell
87 Mulholland,Anthony, Scott Orwell
88 McArdle,Brian, Scott Orwell
89 Rodgers/Murphy,Conor, Scott Orwell
169 Hudson,Neal Scott Orwell
170 Hanley,Mick Scott Orwell

And the Support Team:
Stephen O'Shea
Jen Sheridan
Andrew Ryan

Our 2018 Gorey Team

 

SOME INTERESTING EVENTS ON THE CYCLING IRELAND CALENDAR: There are lots of events to choose from this week, these are only a sample few. For the full selection see www.cyclingireland.com

Fleche d'Irlande 2019
Audax Ireland host the unique team epic, Fleche d'Irlande this weekend. Each team devises its own route for the 24-hour challenge with the standard minimum Audax pace limit of 15kph, giving a minimum distance of 360km.
EVENT WEBSITE: HERE
CLUB: Audax Ireland
DATE: Thursday, 18th April - Saturday, 20th April

Connaught 600
It's a busy weekend for Audaxers who have the option of a 600km ride in and around County Mayo on Monday.
Riders leave the start line at St. Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina at 6am on a route expected to be relatively flat.
EVENT WEBSITE: HERE
CLUB: Audax Ireland
DATE: Monday, 22nd April

Pat Jones Memorial Cycle 2019
90km and 40km routes are on offer in the fifth running of the charity event held in the memory of late Team 905 club rider Pat Jones. Members of other clubs and novices are welcome with the 90km riders first off at 10am.  This is a nice flat run out hosted by a very welcoming club.
EVENT LINK: HERE
CLUB: Team 905
DATE: Saturday, 20th April
START: St. Mary's Secondary School, Edenderry, Co. Offaly

Great Western Lakes Sportive
For riders within travelling distance of Mayo, Western Lakes CC have 120km, 85km and 65km routes for the sportif commemorating their club mate John Cummins on Sunday. 
Riders for the 120km route will depart first from Western Lakes Cycling Centre in Ballinrobe at 9am. 
EVENT WEBSITE:  HERE
FACEBOOK PAGE: HERE
CLUB: Western Lakes CC
DATE: Sunday, 21st April
START: Western Lakes cycling centre, Kilmaine Rd, Ballinrobe.

Ladies Sportive 2019
Deenside Wheelers offer two routes for their annual women-only charity bike rides in Kilkenny. The 70km and 50km rides in aid of the Irish Kidney Association begin at Wandesforde National School, Castlecomer from 11am.
FACEBOOK EVENT: HERE
CLUB: Deenside Wheelers
DATE: Monday, 22nd April
START:Wandesforde National School, Castlecomer, County Kilkenny.

See you on the roads!