www.iska.ie

I am starting up a new cycling group.
Its name is not yet fixed but the above is a possibility.
Based on Dublin.
The first trip will start outside the metropolis to avoid pinging any existing AA Roadwatch radar system.
The first trip will be a 3 hour (approx) circuit from Brittas, County Dublin (on the Dublin Blessington road, NOT the Wicklow seaside resort / beach) next Saturday 3rd October, starting 10.00 (but arrive at the start 9.30 AM please). Those participating have the advantage that they may well be the last people in Ireland (and perhaps elsewhere) to know the result of the Lisbon Treaty Referendum, Mark 2.
The route goes Brittas, Sally Gap, Glencree, Glenasmole, Ballinascorney, Brittas. It is uphill (gently) all the way to Sally Gap, then undulating homewards but on balance (actually, unmistakeably) downhill.
Lunch afterwards in the Brittas Inn is lovely, (I have done a reconnaissance), and there will then be plenty of time to get home in readiness for the 2009 Leinster Munster second (revenge, say some) bloodletting contest.
As 3 hour cycling trips go this is good, but not great. In particular the advance warning party noted (a) it is hilly and tough, (b) there is poor parking at Brittas (so please double or treble up) unless you have the confidence to park within the carpark of the Brittas Inn, and (c) there is a dangerously steep descent from the Featherbeds immediately after crossing the county line down into Glenasmole, so your brakes need to be in order.
This whole concept may go anywhere, into mountainbiking, day or weekend touring, trailing, but if you ain\'t in you won\'t win.
All adults male and female welcome, but no children, sorry.
9.30 arrive, not 10.00, and you know I mean that.
DWalsh

The next run, 31st October, will meet 9.00 at the Yellow House Pub in Rathfarnham. Cycle to the start if you can, eliminate the logistics. Route - Hellfire Club, Featherbeds, Glencree, than a debate considering Powerscourt Waterfall versus the Devil\'s Elbow in Glencullen.
Today was rough enough, rain, wind, cold, but fortunately all concerned were young, and tough.
There were a couple of paddlers along today, and the brother of another, so paddlers are still in there with a shout for the group name in due course, rooting for Pedaller Paddlers. Tennisers want Huffers and Puffers, while cyclists prefer Wagga Wagga cyclists. This important matter is all to play for.
If you are not in by 31/10 your opinion will not be rated.
DWalsh

I\'d have an opinion (as usual), but am focused on 26.2 on 26/9 just now, so it\'s all running and no play makes Ciaran a non-cyclist.

I felt sympathetic to you poor so-and-sos, out in the most miserable Saturday in quite some time. The Sunday was quite nice, to add insult to injury!

C

Dave
Love to join you at some stage but won\'t make 31st Oct.

How about \"Surf\'n Turf\" considering all the Bog off the Sally Gap

Alan

A detail change. The cycle on 31.10.09 will leave Yellow House at 9.30 (which is subtly different to assembling at 9.00). The route is the same for the morning, but some are talking of Sally Gap / Seehan / Bohernabreena for the afternoon.

I have promised our webmaster that this will be the last cycling posting. Anyone wanting to stay in the loop must email me to receive a questionnaire on various options \"going forward\" and to receive future notifications in a closed email loop.
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