Coastal Tour 2006

Exceptional turnout today especially considering the cards seemed stacked against us what with the weather, other events on and the mess-up on the Cycling Ulster website.

It is a pity other clubs in the province wouldn't check the year book before picking a date to run their leisure tours. Is it not the case in the road racing calendar that you can't choose the same date?  On top of that the extra coverage given on the CU site smacks of favouritism.

Anyway, rant over..

Ninety riders set out from Dromara and stayed together for the first 20 mile through the quiet country roads through Seaforde, Woodgrange and Ballynoe before reaching the coast at Rossglass. From there the pace increased thanks to cousins Marcus and David.

All went well until one of the Newry Wheeler Lads slid off on a very mucky road entering Ballyhornan and received some nasty looking cuts to his knee and elbow. Fortunately our mobile marshals managed to patch him up enough to see him home. We hope he makes a speedy recovery plus sorry about the new Jersey and shorts.

After a welcome tea halt at Strangforde it was on to the Quoile bridge where the route split with a good number taking the easier option back via Ballynahinch.

For the rest it was on towards Castle Espie via the winding lanes along the lough shore before heading inland to Lisbane and home via Saintfield and Ballynahinch

Thanks to everyone for your support on such an unpleasant day. Especially good to see the 5 tandems and not to mention John the Welshman on a recovery from a nasty illness.