Leisure

Good luck from Orwell Wheelers to Jonny O’Reilly who flies to Switzerland today (Wednesday) together with his accomplice Patrick O’Dwyer to prep for the Alpenbrevet Platin Tour this Saturday 23rd August. A mere 276km with 7031m of climbing. Click through for the profile!

Eugène Dillon, known for his love of Shimano Skil gear, has been sighted more and more often in his Orwell club colours, having the banter. Last weekend he completed an epic double on the continent, the Sean Kelly Classic in Belgium and the Ardennentrip in the Netherlands. His report is below, but be warned – we might have a challenge for Billy Parker’s most verbose title!

Those familiar with Billy Parker’s writings know he’s not one for brevity, but he has outdone himself. Clear your schedule to digest this emotional rollercoaster of a ride up and down the Tourmalet, a skirmish with hypothermia, and (hopefully!) the final ascent of the Hautacam!

Our very wonderful Mr Tom Weymes recently completed the Mi-Marmotte, and has been good enough to document his musings. We could all learn a lot from his calm and positive attitude, never sinking into self-pity despite being passed by one rider with her derailleur in her spokes! Updated: now with video!

With the Marmotte recently passed, and L’Étape just gone by, we’ve dug this one out of the archives – Stephen McNally’s diary of an epic week of cycling in the French alps with Stephen Surdival and Dave McLoughlin which culminated in a very successful assault by the Stephens on the 2007 edition of the fabled Marmotte sportive, rated by many as the toughest of them all. Read on to admire and be inspired…

Sinéad Kennedy was one of the select Orwell crew who travelled to France to face the intimidating Marmotte, and inspired by a giant tortoise, she faced the challenge with heart and strength! Read on for all the details!

Good luck to those tackling L’Étape du Tour this weekend!

Before the heavyweights of the Marmotte share their war stories, here’s a warm-up piece from Brian McArdle on his first taste of the Ring of Kerry experience.

The May bank holiday weekend saw another very successful running of the Orwell Randonnée, and once more members of the organising committee met recent with our chosen charity, the Ross Nugent Foundation, to present the proceeds.

A weekend with something for everybody in it. A very large contingent turned out to support the Joe Daly Memorial Cycle in aid of Simpsons hospital while others opted to test themselves against the Dragon in Enniscorthy and yet others still haven’t had enough of the Wicklow Peaks.

Best of luck from the club to all those taking on the challenge this weekend! Click through!

We have a special thank you message for those who participated and helped out at the Joe Daly Memorial cycle rally yesterday.

Twenty six Orwells were out on the circuits last weekend, to the South for Míle Fáilte, to the West for Tour de Burren, to the North for Swords McNally CC sportive and to the East for L’Eroica Britannia. While we wait for a report on Dave Mc’s epic 1,200k ramble through the countryside here are three reports by first time writer Breda Horan and first time particpants and writers Matt Williams and Marcus Esser.

The Joe Daly Memorial Charity Cycle Rally will be held on Sunday 29th June. Proceeds in aid of Simpson’s Hospital.

Jamie Busher and David Bradley completed Granfondo Milan San Remo on June 8th, following the same route as the Classic itself. They’ve written two great accounts for us, and there’s a video as well!

On Sunday June 8th 2014 under overcast and threatening skies 79 Orwells, 2 support crew and 1 sticky bottle began assembling from 6.30a.m. for the Wicklow 100 and 200 events – truly one of the iconic events on the leisure rider’s calendar. They aimed to complete in times from 5 hours (for the 100) to 11 hours (for the 200).

Thirty-seven people braved the Adare tailbacks, hit the better roads of Healy-Rae country, took over the Tralee town centre apartments and embarked on what in the cold light of day was utter madness. Three days of back to back sportives in the mountains of Kerry. Most of us had never done something like this before. Here are some of the survivors’ stories…

Not long after the Giro bunch passed over the Stelvio, Orwell’s David Fitzgerald tackled it too! The Passo dello Stelvio features endless switchbacks of suffering, and Dave takes us through it all below!

Reports from Connemara and the Mick Byrne this week, courtesy of Michael Staunton and Colm Featherstone, with a few colourful pictures too! Updated: now with Ann Horan’s speed-dating adventures around Lough Derg!

Reports from the sun-scorched Mount Leinster Challenge and Lap the Gaps below, as well as a slightly more Irish affair at the Etape Mourne! Thanks to Eamonn Eaton, Eileen Byrne, Sinead Kennedy and Dave Carroll for the always welcome contributions! Updated: now with a Mount Leinster report from Billy Parker