The Coastal Leisure Cycle held by Dromara Cycling Club has become a 'must do' event for many cyclists with a great route around the south Down coast along to the Strangford for the views across the lough to Portaferry where the riders are well fed for their return journey home.

This year's event was moved back from its usual second Sunday in May to avoid a clash with the upcoming Celtic Chrono and Big Ride but this meant a clash with another local leisure tour, the Tour of the Glens.  Thankfully for all cycling events on this date the weather was good with bright blue skies and light winds.  There was a chill in the air but the fair weather brings out the fair-weather cyclists which boosted the expected number of hardy cyclists who will tackle all weathers!

Sign-on opened at 8:45 am in the Dromara Village Football Club with the riders receiving a wrist band once they had signed and paid.  The Coastal attracted 120 pre-registered riders and the organisers are grateful for their assistance and speeding up the sign on process.  In the end the event attracted almost 240 riders.

At 9:30 the riders were giving their pre-ride information over the loud-hailer and then, lead by motorcycle outriders, the riders  poured out of the gates of the football club turning left and heading into the village before turning right for Seaforde.  The pace was kept steady and controlled to Seaforde whereafter the riders were allowed to ride at their own pace.  

Over at Strangford the large gazebo had been erected on the green with flags and banners out to greet the riders.  The first of the riders appeared around 11:20 with a sizeable bunch coming at once.   The food tent was then swamped with hungry riders for the next 40 minutes.  By 12:05 they were all away again.  

As expected there was a large turn out from the host club (56 riders) with lots of support again from neighbouring clubs (Banbridge CC (14), Phoenix CC (12), La Lanterne Rouge (11), Team Vision Racing (10), North Down CC (8), Shimna Wheelers (5), etc).  With the growth in cycling and lots of newcomers coming into the sport it was again no surprise that there were over 70 riders who were not with any club.  It was great to see lots of familiar faces this year but only 100 of the riders had taken part in this event in the last 5 years.  The event continues to be a good introduction for leisure group riding.

From the tea stop the riders had a choice of routes back to the football club.  Either the short route across country to Ballynahinch then Dromara or the long route up the coast through Killyleagh towards Comber before returning via Lisbane, Saintfield, then Ballynahinch.   The short route was a 60 mile round trip while the long route was an 80 mile round trip.  The weather remained good for the afternoon with temperature around 10 degrees.  There were two cycling incidents with one requiring an ambulance. Thankfully the rider had no broken bones and was released later that day.

Once back at the football club the riders were provided with tea, coffee and soup and the public bar was open with a football game on the TV.  What better way to relax!

The club would like to thank:

• Dromara Village Football Club for the use of their building and parking
• the motorcycle outriders
• the main food provider, Michelle McStraw
• the club members who helped to mark the route, handle the adminstration at the sign on desk and to those who set up the gazebo and manned the tea stop in Strangford.
• and of course, a big thank you to all those who came along on the day.