Leisure

While Met Eireann were predicting that the storm of the year was about to hit Ireland with 100km/h winds, two brave (foolish?) Orwell souls headed north to take on what was already a daunting challenge, but given the weather, was perhaps downright suicidal. Stephen Ryan reports below!

Denis Gleeson and Paul Walsh with the podium girls at the finish line of the Nicholas Roche Classic on Saturday 19th October in Tayto Park, Ashbourne.

The Gerry Brannigan Memorial Cycle will take place on Sunday the 3rd of November starting at the Grasshopper Inn, Clonee, Co. Meath. (Please note that because of this event, there will be no organised cycle from Joe Daly’s on this date. We hope to see you all there instead.) Updated with poster

La Vuelta time and Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford time. Both share the same slot. They also share the man himself. On this occasion they also shared the day with Nicholas Roche who had an outstanding victory in Stage 2 in or around the same time as we were grinding out our own battle against the steep gradient of Mahon Falls. We are pleased to report that we too were victorious.

Kilkenny may have been beaten by Cork but the bruised and spirited Cats sought to extract some retribution by endeavouring to beat up a few Cork cyclists, including Orwell’s Billy Parker, on the Tour of Kilkenny.

Plenty of photos from this year’s highly successful Orwell Randonnée below in slideshow format!

This weekend sees some members of the club heading to France where the Etape du Tour and the Marmotte are taking place on the same day but in different parts of the Alps! In 2013 Billy Parker wrote this article which inspired me to do my first Marmotte and as we wish good luck to everyone taking in either challenge I though it was time to share this epic read once more!

Welcome home to the Marmotters, Mi Marmotters and Etapers! A big congrats and welcome home to Siobhán, JP, John H, Paul and Billy after completing the mighty Marmotte GranFondo, Emma and Rosie who took on La Mi Marmotte and John L and David F who aced l’Étape du Tour. (Updated)

The annual Joe Daly memorial cycle in aid of Simpson’s hospital will be taking place in a couple of weeks, on Sunday the 23rd. Details after the jump!

Back in the middle of winter, some brave or crazy people from the It’s Not a Race Saturday group decided to target a three day cycling sportive in Kerry over the June weekend. This was The Kingdom Alliance Sportive (TKAS) organised by Tralee CC, comprising 160km or 80km each day, and passing through the highest mountain range in Ireland. Eleven Orwell members signed up for this ambitious undertaking, most of whom had never cycled a multi-day event previously.

Following another very successful running of the Orwell Randonnée in May, members of the organizing committee met with this year’s chosen charity recently to present the proceeds .

Saturday last was the occasion of the fourth edition of the Orwell Randonée, truly one of the highlights of the Irish sportive calendar. Once again the sun shone on the select group of riders who’d made the cut, as they battled the wind and the tough course to reach the famous cake-laden foodstop. One rider battled harder than most, going so far as to claim the lanterne rouge for himself: Mr Tom Weymes shares his thoughts from the day below.

A group of 16 members of the Orwell leisure section, together with some friends and family, jetted off to Mallorca last week for what has become an annual outing and this year, as with last year, it coincided with and culminated in the International Cycletourist Tour of Mallorca.

The season opener sportive for the Orwell leisure section was most unseasonal. However despite the very high winds, cool temperatures and constant threat of rain a huge contingent of Orwell jerseys swelled the ranks of the KARE Tour de Foothills yesterday in Naas.

Archived version of the old page.

Answer the question. Yes or No? Are you ready for a challenge? Yes or No? Can you overcome some of the toughest roads in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains? Yes or No? Can you take on the notorious Wall, Sally Gap, Luggala and the Shay Elliot in one ride? If so the Orwell Wheelers Randonnée offers the perfect mix. And it’s back again in 2013 – on Saturday, May 4th. The event is fast becoming a key milestone on the annual sportive calendar and, as those of you who have participa

Answer the question. Yes or No? Are you ready for a challenge? Yes or No? Can you overcome some of the toughest roads in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains? Yes or No? Can you take on the notorious Wall, Sally Gap, Luggala and the Shay Elliot in one ride?

The Gerry Brannigan Memorial Cycle will take place this Sunday the 11th of November starting at the Grasshopper Inn, Clonee, Co. Meath. (Please note that because of this event, there will be no organised cycle from Joe Daly’s on this date. We hope to see you all there instead.)

Orwell Wheelers ran its hugely successful annual Randonnée on the 5th May, 2012 over a challenging route through the Wicklow Mountains. This event was again in support of the Irish Hospice Foundation and was the perfect warm-up for those taking part in the Wicklow 200 or indeed greater challenges such as the Marmotte/Etape! Gert Conradie put together this excellent video for us of the day!

The Gerry Brannigan Memorial Cycle will take place this Sunday the 23rd of October starting at the Grasshopper Inn, Clonee, Co. Meath. (Please note that because of this event, there will be no organised cycle from Joe Daly’s on this date. We hope to see you all there instead.)