The main activity of the club is the Sunday morning run. On an average morning there is anywhere between 8 and 14 cyclists varying in age and ability. The basic trip is generally around 40 miles at an average speed of 16-18mph. It should be noted that the speed for a group as such will always be 2 or 3mph higher that of an individual cyclist as their are more people to share the workload. Many new comers may choose not to cover the entire distance on their first spin preferring to travel 10-15 miles with the club before returning to Dundalk at their own pace. In addition to the regular bike spins we also organise mid-week training throughout the winter, details can be found on our website.
We also have a Mountain Bike Club and in Dundalk we are lucky to have the fantastic Cooley Mountains and Ravensdale Forest Park on our Doorstep. Mountain biking is very Eco friendly as no damage is caused to the countryside nor is there any noise pollution. Cyclists don't have to worry about traffic on busy roads and can just relax and enjoy the great scenery and fresh air. The group generally stays out for two hours covering various tracks and trails with regular stops for regrouping and recovery.
Most cyclists are happy just to get out once a week on their bike for a bit of exercise and fresh air but for those that want to take it a little further there is a programme of events for leisure cyclists throughout the year of varying distances and difficulty. Some of these events include our own 50 Mile 3-County Challenge, the Border Trek and the Ring of Gullion. All these events are non-competitive and include rest stops and refreshments. For those who want even more of a challenge they can take part in the Newry and Dundalk Summer leagues. These are races run over the summer on a Tuesday and Thursday night and are only open to members of local clubs. The races are run on a handicap basis with points awarded to the first 8 riders across the line each night. The race is generally split into three groups, with the younger and inexperienced riders getting a head start over the more competitive cyclists. Those who want to ultimate challenge can take part in open races throughout Ireland. These events are split between underage categories, over 40s and seniors which are further divided into three categories based on performances to date. Mountain Bike racing is also very popular and like road racing the races are split up according to the riders age and ability.
For many people the thoughts of joining a group can be daunting, but we can assure you that you'll be made more than welcome. Cycling is great fun and very sociable. All the club members are a friendly bunch and are equally quick to offer advice or recount a funny tale from previous outings. If all this seems like something that may interest you, don't hesitate to give us a call, you can contact Karl on 087 2219810 or for the Mountain Biking call Alan on 087 7603487. Alternatively send an email to: karl@dundalkcycling.com or alan@dundalkcycling.com