Lakeside Wheelers Look Forward To A Busy Summer

3/9/20252 min read

Last weekend brought some welcome sunshine with a little bit of, not-so-welcome wind, but beggars cannot be choosers when it comes to the weather. The Saturday and Sunday morning spins were just a little bit more enjoyable without the wet roads and it is always a pleasure knowing that you are not going home to spend an hour cleaning and oiling the bike.

Sportives

At the February committee meeting it was decided to once again nominate a club sponsored sportive for 2025. This has been a popular club initiative in latter years with the club having gone to support Shannonside CC at their Tour of the Heartlands for a number of times. Last year we changed plan and went to the Pat Jones Memorial which is run by our friends in the Edenderry based 905 Cycling Club.

April 19th, Easter Saturday is the date for the 2025 Pat Jones Memorial sportive and all Lakeside Wheelers members who attend will have their subscription to the event paid for by the club. Simply present at the sign-on and you will be looked after. There will be more information closer to the date.

On a different level of sportive, the club had two members taking part in the Strade Bianche sportive in Italy last Saturday. Padraig Moore, his brother Gerard and former Lakeside Wheelers member, Pat Little, took on this huge cycling challenge which sees the riders tackle the famous “white roads” of Tuscany. These are the same roads which the professional races are staged on the following day and are not only dusty but extremely hilly but the beautiful Tusacn scenery is a big help. Well done to all three who were no doubt delighted with their efforts and being present to see the victories of Demi Vollering (Team FDJ-SUEZ) and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) on Sunday in the professional races.

Racing

Racing in Leinster last weekend was in Co. Meath with the Boyne GP on Saturday being the only event on the calendar. Lakeside Wheelers was represented by Neil McDermott in the C2 category and Fergal McCabe in the C3’s. Both lads fared very well coming home with the main bunch in what was a very difficult race. It is early days yet but our riders are showing some good form so hopefully they get just rewards in the coming months.

On a more local note, the 2025 Midland League (MiL) will be commencing shortly and as usual Lakeside Wheelers will be promoting two rounds of this very exciting local league. Our route will be as per recent years, the Dalystown, Castletown Geoghegan, Ballinagore circuit and the two dates for this year are, May 8th and July 17th. The club Rep on the MiL committee this year is Peter Rimmer who will be thankful for all marshalling assistance when the time comes.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The club have been asked to enter a group in this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade to coincide with the theme of Sport and Heritage. Can anyone who is interested in participating please contact the Secretary, Eugene Duffy, at secretary@lakesidewheelers.ie or text him on 087 9426859 by next Friday evening. It is hoped that the club will be well represented between adults and underage from the Sprocket Rocket group. The plan is to cycle the parade in club kit and all types of bikes are welcome and encouraged.