While the roll out from the Spire in Dublin City last Sunday was not the prettiest, with the summer showers greeting the riders, the clouds quickly lifted to present the trio with some of the most scenic roads in Ireland.
Hazel Hall, from Navan Road Club headed north, and David McLaughlin (DTC Orwell Wheelers) ventured south, while Paul O Donoghue (Sorrento-Audax) went into the west. The riders are now 600km into their journey and I have caught up with them for updates on their experiences to date.
DAVID MCLOUGHLIN – South Route
Dave is no strangers to the long tours. While he is well known for his cycling escapades, like arriving at a training camp in Sneem, Co. Kerry, having cycled through the night from Dublin in time to join his team mates for their interval session, he is probably best known for his ride from Dublin to Timbuktu. His African experience was documented in the crazyguyonabike.com website, and the Orwell Wheeler Secretary was happy to take on the Bike Week challenge, and was responsible for the scenic route choices.
Today Dave is travelling from Bantry to Killarney, taking in the beautiful Molls Gap and Glengarriff climbs. Members of the Killarney based Chain Gang CC will be joining him for part of the route, and he is welcoming anyone who wants to keep him company on the way.
Four days in and Dave’s legs are feeling good, despite his 10 hour/190km stint at Mizen Head yesterday. 145km was into a roaring headwind, sure no bother to him. If you think that’s tough going, this was just the warm down from his spin from Tipperary to Waterford via the Vee, and the previous day he went over Mount Leinster.
Anyone interested in joining him tomorrow on his journey from Killarney to Limerick can contact him on 0879908528 and arrange a time. He will be doing an early trip in the morning, so he can make time to catch a train to Dublin to help out at the Bike Week kid’s event in Leopardstown… why not!
PAUL O'DONOGHUE – West Route
Paul, also known as Mr Audax Ireland, works for the Dublin Fire Brigade. When he is not out fighting the fires, he can be found tearing up the roads of the world on his bike. Paul is one of Ireland’s ambassadors for Audax (which is ultra long distance cycling), and is the Irish Correspondence for Audax Club Parisien in Ireland.
The Wicklow-based rider sees himself as a cyclotourist, and this is not his first long distance challenge this year – a few months ago he spent a few weeks cycling in Chile and Argentina.
While Sunday’s weather didn’t make life easy, Paul was met in Portlaoise by the Mayoress, and members of Laois CTC, to brighten up the day. From then on the sun decided to shine, and new roads were opened up to the seasoned rider. Today he travelled around the South side of Lough Derg, and along the coast road in the Burren. Co Clare has been listed as one of the top cycling destinations in the world, and this very road will be used in the An Post Tour of the Burren next Saturday.
Locals are invited to join Paul on his ride into Galway city this evening – he should be in Oranmore at 5pm, and will make his way to today’s finish line at Eyre Square. Tomorrow he will head around Lough Corrib towards Castlebar – if you want to meet up with him, Paul’s number is 0877850890.
HAZEL HALL – North Route
Representing the women is Hazel Hall, from Navan Road Club. Hazel is new to long distance cycling, but is loving it. According to the Meath woman, there is a lot to be said for an ice cold bath in the evening. Her legs have never felt better – 700km later!! Hazel might be new to cycling, but her taste for the longer challenges kicked off with the Dublin City Marathon, which she has run in a credible 3 hours 44 min. If her cycling is anything to go by, I am sure Hazel could have done this time for several days in a row too!
For the first few days Bray Wheelers member Frank O Leary supported Hazel, and members of Cuchulainn CC joined her for the finish loop on Carlingford Lough last Sunday. While the cyclist has been tackling the scenic Ulster countryside on her tod since yesterday, members of the local clubs like North Pole (Carl Fullerton) have come out to join her.
As if the routes weren’t long enough, yesterday Hazel added an extra 50km to her route, to visit some of her clients with Tobermore Concrete Products (co. Derry). What’s an extra 50km amongst friends?
This Raleigh Around Ireland should be super preparation for her first ever Paris-Brest-Paris, an infamous Audax challenge. If you want to join Hazel, she will be travelling to Sligo tomorrow, via Ballyshannon – come out and join her for a couple of miles, or cheer her on her way. If you want to meet up with Hazel, her number is 0872664466.
