With PeeGee in climbing form we all knew the weekly Sunday spin was going to be an interesting one. “I haven’t been up Cappagh mountain for a while so why don’t we give it a go today” he suggested. There were a few nervous laughs as everyone agreed. Even The Touring Department in the form of the 2 Mr and Mrs Caped Crusaders turned white just thinking about it even though they were going to be travelling “due south.” “I’m glad I’m in the Touring department” said Brendan “it’s a bit more exciting.” Fred Astaire had a smug look on his face and his cycling shoes looked whiter than usual after a good clean with baby wipes. He has been going to spinning a couple of nights a week and felt like he was ready for the Giro.
The Sandbagger was up for it as well even though it took him near half an hour getting out of his car in the Square. He was determined to pace himself so that he would be fresh as a daisy for the final sprint. The MC was ready as ever too and he and The Tone were keen to get as many miles and hills under their belts in preparation for the big Chain Reaction Grand Fondo in May just a week or so before the Giro.
The Younger Schleck led the 9 strong peloton out of the Square just after 9.15. There had been talk that The Farmer and The Bev would be back in business following several months of rest but the rain probably put them off just like it did many others. The Younger twin was then joined by his older twin brother who has been showing progress on the bike following his injury a while ago. He has been out cycling under the cover of darkness and has bumped into the MC on one or 2 occasions around Parkanaur in the dark, their high powered night light attracting all the moths in Tyrone and Armagh.
Everyone was full of chat talking about the Giro again. The Tone was telling everyone about the winter Olympics and how he was nearly a participant in them due to his love for curling but couldn’t find a brush big enough to sweep the ice with. But maybe next time. “I tried a brush out of the pound shop but it wasn’t good enough.”
The rain continued as we cycled through Milltown and out the old road to Castlecaulfield. While we all looked pale in the rain the Ferryman had a healthy glow about him, as they say. He had been out for a few days in Italy enjoying the mountain biking weather in the hills. His face was sun drenched like a film star, one cheek a bit darker than the other. His next plan is to go to Spain for a while and so he has been learning a bit of Spanish online in his spare time. He was sharing his many languages with the group as we pedalled along. He said that he is particularly handy at Italian and has learnt words like Pizza, Pepperoni and Marguerita as he is a fast learner.
Once through Castlecaulfield the roar came from the back of the peloton from PeeGee for us all to turn right. Everyone in the town heard him as we headed for the hills. There was talk of the challenge ahead and how it would be great to cycle it quicker than The Dubliner did a while ago. Nearly everyone paced themselves except for MC and the Tone who disappeared in the distance for a while and then slowed down to let the rest of us catch up. There wasn’t as much chat as we went through the crossroads and onwards and upwards. Fred Astaire’s spinning class was paying dividends as he effortlessly reached the top ahead of most. From the top it was downhill for a few miles behind the Older Schleck who made it to the coffee stop in Ballygawley and had his coffee finished by the time the rest of us arrived.
MC went searching and it wasn’t long before he spied a meal for one in the form of roast beef and Yorkshire Pudding. Fred opted for a pack of coconut rings while MC looked longingly at the Smartie biscuits even though they were cookies.
Before long it was back out again but not until Fred had found the toilet and spent 10 minutes or so in it. The sun was out to greet us and didn’t disappear for the rest of the run. The Older Schleck suggested a spin by President Grant’s Homestead and we all obliged. There was no-one in the White House when we went passed and no sign of security either. Once again PeeGee suggested a hill or 2 and we soon found ourselves on the road to Carnteel where we went through Main Street. “It’s a bit funny that street being called Main Street when it’s the only street in the place,” said The Tone, “but I suppose it sounds better than Only Street.”
From Carnteel The Ferryman led us up the remainder of Rehaghey and downhill towards Eglish. Despite us picking up a tailwind for the first time MC made the suggestion of the day to go by the Battleford Road and into Armagh against the wind hoping to pick up the tailwind that had been in our faces all day. Before long we were in Armagh out to the Moy Road and back under the Square again after what had been a picturesque ride with loads of sheep and wind farms.
Sixty miles had been covered at a pace to suit all!
The Sandbagger was up for it as well even though it took him near half an hour getting out of his car in the Square. He was determined to pace himself so that he would be fresh as a daisy for the final sprint. The MC was ready as ever too and he and The Tone were keen to get as many miles and hills under their belts in preparation for the big Chain Reaction Grand Fondo in May just a week or so before the Giro.
The Younger Schleck led the 9 strong peloton out of the Square just after 9.15. There had been talk that The Farmer and The Bev would be back in business following several months of rest but the rain probably put them off just like it did many others. The Younger twin was then joined by his older twin brother who has been showing progress on the bike following his injury a while ago. He has been out cycling under the cover of darkness and has bumped into the MC on one or 2 occasions around Parkanaur in the dark, their high powered night light attracting all the moths in Tyrone and Armagh.
Everyone was full of chat talking about the Giro again. The Tone was telling everyone about the winter Olympics and how he was nearly a participant in them due to his love for curling but couldn’t find a brush big enough to sweep the ice with. But maybe next time. “I tried a brush out of the pound shop but it wasn’t good enough.”
The rain continued as we cycled through Milltown and out the old road to Castlecaulfield. While we all looked pale in the rain the Ferryman had a healthy glow about him, as they say. He had been out for a few days in Italy enjoying the mountain biking weather in the hills. His face was sun drenched like a film star, one cheek a bit darker than the other. His next plan is to go to Spain for a while and so he has been learning a bit of Spanish online in his spare time. He was sharing his many languages with the group as we pedalled along. He said that he is particularly handy at Italian and has learnt words like Pizza, Pepperoni and Marguerita as he is a fast learner.
Once through Castlecaulfield the roar came from the back of the peloton from PeeGee for us all to turn right. Everyone in the town heard him as we headed for the hills. There was talk of the challenge ahead and how it would be great to cycle it quicker than The Dubliner did a while ago. Nearly everyone paced themselves except for MC and the Tone who disappeared in the distance for a while and then slowed down to let the rest of us catch up. There wasn’t as much chat as we went through the crossroads and onwards and upwards. Fred Astaire’s spinning class was paying dividends as he effortlessly reached the top ahead of most. From the top it was downhill for a few miles behind the Older Schleck who made it to the coffee stop in Ballygawley and had his coffee finished by the time the rest of us arrived.
MC went searching and it wasn’t long before he spied a meal for one in the form of roast beef and Yorkshire Pudding. Fred opted for a pack of coconut rings while MC looked longingly at the Smartie biscuits even though they were cookies.
Before long it was back out again but not until Fred had found the toilet and spent 10 minutes or so in it. The sun was out to greet us and didn’t disappear for the rest of the run. The Older Schleck suggested a spin by President Grant’s Homestead and we all obliged. There was no-one in the White House when we went passed and no sign of security either. Once again PeeGee suggested a hill or 2 and we soon found ourselves on the road to Carnteel where we went through Main Street. “It’s a bit funny that street being called Main Street when it’s the only street in the place,” said The Tone, “but I suppose it sounds better than Only Street.”
From Carnteel The Ferryman led us up the remainder of Rehaghey and downhill towards Eglish. Despite us picking up a tailwind for the first time MC made the suggestion of the day to go by the Battleford Road and into Armagh against the wind hoping to pick up the tailwind that had been in our faces all day. Before long we were in Armagh out to the Moy Road and back under the Square again after what had been a picturesque ride with loads of sheep and wind farms.
Sixty miles had been covered at a pace to suit all!