Lakeside Wheelers Back On The Roads After The Frost

Last Sunday saw a return to normal for Lakeside Wheelers members after the recent very cold weather led to the cancellation of some of the early spins of 2025. Safety first is always the mantra within the group leader ranks and they rightly called off last weekend’s club spins as the temperatures began to plummet.

This policy was also utilised last Sunday with a national weather warning for foggy conditions in place however, with a delayed start time of 10.00am the groups got the new year up and running, or, up and cycling to be more accurate.

The later start time led to an adjustment in distance which suited Martin Nally and his charges in the B group as they had a short, sharp 65km spin already planned to ease back into cycling after the holiday season. The A’s took a similar option with a spin of just over the 70km mark around the Tullamore direction.

Hopefully that arctic blast is the end of the interruptions for this winter and everyone gets back to normality with a good consistent run of training and cycling over the coming months. For anyone coming back to cycling in the new year please remember the winter rules of, front lights, rear lights, mudguards and check your tyres and bike to ensure it is in good working order before hitting the road.

National Cyclocross Championships

Ballinasloe, Co. Galway was the venue for this year’s National Cyclocross championships last Sunday and going by the feedback, the local club put on a fantastic event. The course layout came in for some very positive comments with riders delighted with the fairness and challenging aspects of the track. It was based within the confines of the fair green which is more commonly associated with the annual horse fair but last Sunday had the sand trap, hills and boards now almost mandatory for a good cyclocross circuit.

One of those riders happy with the design was Lakeside Wheelers’ Richie Lenehan. Richie has dedicated a lot of his ‘24/’25 winter season to cyclocross attending a race practically every weekend no matter the weather conditions. In Ballinasloe he rode the National Masters (>40 yrs) race which started at 10.00am. Following an early warm up session at 09.00am it wasn’t long before the commissaries were calling the riders to the line for a 10.00am start. Richie felt he had a good chance as the initial laps ticked by he was sitting comfortably amongst the top ten. But, a slight mistake as the race entered the final laps cost him dearly and he slipped to 15th where he eventually finished after what he described as a “very enjoyable race”. Well done Richie and also to your back up team who kept you rolling with seamless bike changes during the race.

On Saturday it was the turn of the juniors where Lakeside Wheelers was represented by some of the Horohoe family who have also dedicated a lot of time to cyclocross this season. While there were no prizes collected in Ballinasloe there is no doubt that the hard work put in over the last few months will pay off very soon.