FUN TOURS begin this Saturday

Sunday, August 30, 2015
Ballymena Road Club – Chain Reaction Cycles – are scheduled to commence their Autumn and Winter series of fun cycle tours this Saturday 5th September, from Rex Bonar House at 9.30am.
The normal well tried and tested format will continue for this year’s series.

The participants will be divided into at least three groups with the more experienced riders scheduled to cover about 50 miles on their tour.

Club members will welcome newcomers to the touring section’s group where the average speed will be kept to around 15mph.

This speed isn’t exactly slow for novices so anyone who turns up needs to have been doing some training in preparation for the event. The minimum age of the participants is set at 13 years and all those under 16 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or other nominated adult.

Experienced club members are asked to make themselves available as "travelling marshals”. They need to be fit to do this job as it means riding ahead of the group, to cover junctions and corners and then staying in position until everyone goes past, and then cycling back up to the front again ready for the next turn. This will certainly be good training for those volunteers!

Certificates and medals will be awarded to the successful participants with five tours earning bronze, eight for silver while eleven wins gold. 

Participants are advised that crash helmets must be worn. They are also advised to dress appropriately for the weather conditions and to bring a rain jacket, spare tube, food and money. It goes without saying that bikes must be fully road worthy. There is a minimum one off entry fee of £5 to cover the fun tour series with the donations going to the Chernobyl children’s appeal NI.

The 2014 series attracted a record total participation of 943 over the 13 weeks (average 73 per week) during which 163 different cyclists completed at least one tour. 
Eight riders achieved full attendance, they were John Elliott, Sean Elliott, Iris Grant, Sammy Kerr, Jackie Knowles, Pius McKernan, Martin Ruddy and, of course, Rex Bonar who was in attendance every week to open up the car park and clubrooms.

There were 32 gold medallists who completed at least 11 tours: 23 silver medallists, who had at least 8 tours and 35 bronze for 5 tours.

Record collection for Chernobyl Children.

There was also a record collection of £1069, which was the total donated by the fun tour entrants and by those who had taken part in the Nine Glens Challenge in 2014. 

Sunday 6th September. Ballymena Road Club’s touring section will hold their final "away for the day tour” when their, "last resort”, tour of the harbours will leave from the duck pond in Ballymoney, the starting time will be 10am.
This end of season tour is very popular and is ridden at a moderate pace. The route will include Balnamore, Mountsandel, Coleraine, Portstewart, Portrush, Portballintrae, Dunseverick, Port Bradddan and Ballintoy, where there is a scheduled tea stop.
Then it’s on to Ballycastle and the inland route via Mosside and Dervock back to Ballymoney.

Wednesday morning runs are starting up again from Galgorm at 9.30 am on 2nd September. Runs will be at a steady sensible pace and will include a coffee stop.