Some of the racing section travelled to Meath on Saturday last  and took part in a Dublin Wheelers organised event. Luke, Simon and Owen travelled in Patsy’s new cycling car. Patsy has very kindly given the club use of his vehicle for races and touring events.

All club members who travelled to sunnier climates in the past week for training purposes have returned home safe and well. I understand there were some serious training spins and these should prove beneficial to the lads in races over the coming months.

Despite the very cold conditions on Sunday morning two groups left The Bullring. Patsy Mc Caffery took charge of the training group and Oliver Gargan took the touring group.

It is very noticable that there are a large number of single cyclists on our roads on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Wexford Wheelers would welcome any cyclist who would like to join us for a spin on Sunday mornings. If you find that riding with a group is not your thing, then fair enough but most cyclists would agree that cycling is far more enjoyable when cycling with a group. Apart from the social aspect you find that you improve your your own level and can cover greater distances with a group. We would appeal to all these lone cyclists to give group cycling a try and join us in The Bullring for a 09.30.hrs start on Sunday mornings. Helmets are compulsory and no pressure will be exerted on anybody to join the club initially.

Eoin represented the club at the Paddy Neary Memorial in Dundalk where
he rode an aggressive race, making several attacks which reduced the
field during 5 laps of a rolling 14 km circuit. Unfortunatly none of
the attempts were successful, due in the main to the riding of a number
of teams who were determined to keep everything together for their
sprinters. In the end, a somewhat frustrated Eoin had to take accept
the inevitable and wait for the sprint where he finished in a fine 5th place.

Fundraising cycle for the 2010 Wexford Cycling Team – all proceeds go to fund the team in the Rás.

110km, Saturday 13th March, from Naomh Eanna GAA Complex, Clonattin, Gorey, €20 to enter, sign-on 10am, depart 11am.

More details at www.wexfordcycling.com

Sligo: An Post Tour of Sligo, Sunday 9th May
Family Spin 10km
Circuit 60km
Challenge 160km
For more information www.sligosportandrecreation.ie Tel: 071 916 1511

Clare: The Tour De Burren, Saturday 19th June
Family Loop 10km
Challenge 60km
The Burnin Burren 160km
For more information www.burrencyclingclub.com or john@claresportspartnership.ie Tel: 065 686 5434

Meath: Heritage Cycle Tour of Meath, Sunday 25th July
Family spin 10km
Short distance 40km
Mid distance 100km
Long distance 160km
For more information www.meathlocalsportspartnership.ie Tel: 046 906 7337

Waterford: Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford, Sunday 29th August
Kelly Cruise 50km
Kelly Coast 90km
Kelly Comeragh Challenge 160km
For more information www.theseankellytour.com or info@theseankellytour.com Tel: 058 21169

Cork: Rebel Tour, Saturday 11th September
Family fun spin 10km
Short distance 50km
Mid distance 100km
Long distance 150km
For more information info@cclsp.com or www.cclsp.com

A larger turnout than the previous Sunday’s training race hosted by Slipstreasm Cycling Club included Wexford Wheelers cyclists : Luke Maguire, Eoin O’Shea, Johnny Gordon, Simon Lambert, David Walsh and Conchubhar O Crualaoich. After some initial attacks Simon rolled quietly off the front during a lull, and was soon follow by some others including Eoin O’Shea. These formed into a break and it stayed  away for the remainder of the 70km race. Eoin O’Shea took third and Simon fourth behind Greg Dempsey of Barrow Wheelers and Denis McCarthy of Slipstream Cycling, Gorey. In the bunch sprint Dave Walsh took the honours despite the lead out by Conchubar.

 A good turnout for the coaching session under Martin O’Loughan which was held in bitterly cold weather on Saturday morning. The group left Ferrybank Motors at 09.30.hrs and travelled via the bye-pass to Enniscorthy, Clonroche New Ross, Wexford and Rosslare. The afternoon q and a session was held in Conors house. The George Ryan led Saturday morning tour left from the Barntown roundabout at 10.00.hrs.

The Old Man and George!

Sunday morning saw bitterly cold and icy conditions and a smaller than usual turnout in The Bullring. However two groups left The Bullring and both groups rode to the Drinagh roundabout with the Tour under Tour Master John Mc Cormack travelling in the Rosslare direction and the training group under the close eye of Dave Maguire travelled in the New Ross direction. All Members made it home safe with no reported spills or crashes.

John Mc in action!

The second training race of the season took place at Inch and Club Members Conor Crowley, David Walsh, Johnny Gordan, Luke Maguire, Eoin O’Shea and Simon Lambert took part. In a very tactical race  for this time of the year Eoin took 3rd place and Simon 4th.

Members wishing to inform themselves about the Wexford Ras team can log on to a dedicated web site by accessing Wexford Cycling.

For the information of the general membership the Committee reached the following decisions at their meeting on the 15/02/2010. All club memberships must be paid by the 01/03/2010. These can be paid to Martin Gill or left in The Bike Shop. An unpaid membership means an uninsured Cyclist and this can invalidate the insurance cover on any event that this uninsured Cyclist is taking part in.The Committee have decided to hold a monster raffle and details of this will be announced shortly.

The first two events in the Liam Bennett time trial league will be held on the 20th and 27th of March. This competition is open to all club members and all clubs in County Wexford. It is run on a handicap basis so Tourers and Racers alike are asked to support this competition. Further details will be announced nearer the first event. Get the time trial bikes out and dusted down.

A reminder that the coaching session planned for next Saturday the 20/02/2010 is open to all club members who wish to race this season.Meet at Ferrybank Motors at 09.30 hrs sharp.

David Walsh, Conor Crowley and Martin Gill went to Arklow on Saturday and joined with their fellow Ras colleagues for a training ride with former Ras winner Phil Cassidy. By all accounts it was a tough session, it must have been, Martin told me. Another great turnout in the Bullring on a cold Sunday morning with three groups leaving. David Maguire took the underage section, Martin Gill took charge of the training  spin and the Old Man led the Senior touring/want to be Racer group.Five racing Cyclists took part in a training race at Inch, which was won by Wheelers County Champion, David Walsh. David is taking up where he left off last season. All the lads rode well and great credit is due to them for the effort and time they have put into their winter training. There is another training race at Inch next Sunday morning and anybody interested should contact The Bike Shop or Martin Gill for details. A number of cyclists new to the club have joined us for the last few Sundays.They can now obtain membership application forms from the Bike Shop.

Six Wheelers travelled to  Gorey,Davy,Albert,JohnnySimon,Owen and luke.Good team effort led to a great result with three wheelers in the first seven.With a field of over 25 riders and all the Wexford clubs well repersented on the day   , after about 4k into the race Andrew Bracken got into an early break which was brought back at the end of the first circuit , Denis McCarthy also made several attempts off the front with one break staying away for over 22k which was brought back with 9k to the finish , but it was a day for the rider from the south of the county with one Wexford  Wheelers man Dave Walsh and two from Barrow Wheelers Hugh Byrne and Greg Dempsey nipping off the front to keep away to the finish line and the honours went to( Mr. Sprint) Dave Walsh wexfords version of Cav.,  next weeks training race shall be over the same route again as the road is in good condition and not too much traffic to deal with , starting around 10.30am on Sunday 21st at Toss Byrnes , Inch , sign on from 10am all local riders welcome to take part .

RESULTS

1st Dave Walsh , Wexford Wheelers

2nd Hugh Byrne , Barrow Wheelers

3rd Greg Dempsey , Barrow Wheelers

One for your diaries.

The Etape Hibernia will take place on 22nd
August. Details are on
http://www.cyclingireland.ie/Home/News/Etape-Hibernia-Launched.aspx

What should set this event apart is that they say it will take place on closed roads.