Racing

Orwell members take part in all shades of racing, men's and women's, road, track and off-road, from U12 all the way up to veterans.

The Club League Introduction

The Club League has always been the basis of racing within the club since it's first racing season in 1949. It has followed various different formats across the years, sometimes combined with other clubs, sometimes on our own.

Through the glory days of the Kelly-Roche era the league was a great success, and in the early 1990s the newly founded St. Tiernans came to race within the Orwell league, but with numbers dwindling each year the decision was finally taken to merge with the Irish Road Club's league in 1995. This new Inter-club league was originally called the AMEV(IRC)/Bell(Orwell) league, and comprised of the IMBRC, the Irish Road Club, Orwell Wheelers and St. Tiernans. Staggs (Lucan) joined in 1997, and in 98 IMBRC were replaced briefly by UCD. While a number of other clubs dropped in and out of the league for a season or two along the way those four clubs formed the core of the league for the following 16 years. The league grew into a massive success, but in the years up to 2013 it became a victim of that success, with huge numbers turning up on Thursday evenings.

By 2013, the numbers racing in the Inter-Club League had grown so much that Orwell – as the biggest club in the ICL - made the decision at an EGM to return to an Orwell only league. In 2023, numbers racing in both leagues had stabilised and Orwell rejoined the Inter-Club League. The Orwell League Trophy is now awarded to the highest placed Orwell Rider in the Inter-Club League.

The Inter-Club League now consists of Orwell Wheelers, St. Tiernans Cycling Club, Lucan Cycling Road Club, Sundrive Track Team, Blanch Wheelies, and Clondalkin Cycling Club.

Club Rules & Formats

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Cyclocross

Also known as CX, this is a branch of cycle sport which combines many of the skills used in standard road and mountain biking with an added emphasis being placed on bike handling skills as the riders navigate the sometimes bumpy and muddy terrain. Cyclocross races take place over short distances of around 1-3km on off road surfaces such as grass, dirt and mud in locations such as woods and fields.

The cyclocross season runs during the winter. The races are usually on circuits with a certain number of laps and often include obstacles which the cyclists must overcome. Uniquely to CX you often have dismount, carry and then remount back onto your bike during a race to get through some of these obstacles.

National CX Championships 2025 - Ballinasloe

13/01/2025

Leinster CX Champs Results

08/12/2024

UCI CX Dublin Sunday

02/12/2024

UCI CX Dublin Saturday

02/12/2024

Audax

Typically held in March, this is a beginner-friendly route aimed at first time Audaxers and PBP hopefuls. Navigation is straightforward with total climbing of less than 1,000m (and the lumpier bits are towards the end). The route leaves Dublin heading in an anti-clockwise direction for Leixlip and on to Kilbeggan before turning south and looping back toward Dublin via Monasterevin and the Curragh.

The time limit for completing this event is 13 hours 30minutes.

A handy route for those seeking to step up to 300. Navigation is straightforward, the total climbing is about 1,700m with most of that in the middle.

The route leaves Dublin heading in a clockwise direction for Naas, Portlaoise, Mountrath and on to Birr via the Slieve Bloom mountains. On reaching Birr the route turns north to Athlone before turning east and back to Dublin via Kilbeggan, Kinnegad and Maynooth.

While the route does pass through the scenic Slieve Bloom mountains, it remains one of the flattest 300km rides in the country.

The time limit for completing this event is 20 hours.

This route has circa 4,200m of climbing well spread throughout, though the last 100km section contains the most ascent.Navigation is relatively straightforward however some of the route involves riding at night with places to stop for food and drink becoming limited.

The route leaves Dublin heading north-west to Cavan, before turning south-west to Athlone, south toward Cashel and Clonmel and onto Waterford, before then turning toward Wexford town and then north back to Dublin via Bunclody and Baltinglass.

The time limit for completing this event is 40 hours.

Audax riders do not compete against each other, but against the clock: success in an event is measured by completion inside the time limit. Also known as Randonneuring, this is a branch of cycle sport in which participants attempt to cycle long distances within a predefined time limit. Participation in Audaxing in the club is growing year on year, with members participating in events at home and abroad. Orwell Wheelers organise a number of events on the Audax Ireland Calendar.

Audax Reports & Information

Nov 17, 2024

Audax Completions 2024

Nov 5, 2024

Wild Atlantic Way 2100km Audax

Completed by David Costello in 2024, the Wild Atlantic Way Audax is a 2,126km route that follows the West of Ireland Tourist Trail from...

Oct 18, 2024

PBP Participants 2023

Oct 18, 2024

Vignettes from PBP 2019

After a nervy start - holding back the adrenalin - we’re in open, undulating roads. Dave roams up and down, placing his troops in...

Women's Cycling at Orwell Wheelers

In recent years, Orwell women have had a growing presence in racing and leisure cycling in the Dublin area and around the country, achieving and exceeding their goals at many different levels. We have also introduced dozens of women to the sport of cycling through beginner spins and skill sessions.

Leisure

There is a large contingent of Orwell women present at nearly every leisure event in the country every weekend.

The Orwell women mainly mix with the men for training and taking part in events, so keep an eye on the front page for details of training groups for the likes of the Wicklow 100/200, Ring of Beara or La Marmotte.

Spins

The club run dedicated Sunday morning spins from October to March that feature groups of every pace. For more details on this, see the Spins page. During the season, there are several self-led groups that head out during the week and at the weekend. Most of these are mixed, but there will be a women-only spin, if the demand is there .

Beginners

There has been a women's beginner course run annually since 2012. Keep an eye on the front page for notices of the next one, or contact the women's racing or leisure rep.

During racing season, from April to September, we are open to new women members whose cycling abilities and experience allows them to slot into one of our existing racing groups, described above. If you have read this page and have questions about any of the spins, please contact orwellwomen@gmail.com.

Women's Crit League

Orwell have been running a women's crit league in some format since 2010, beginning with Winning Solutions sponsoring prizes before Wheelworx came on board. The Sandyford-based criteriums were ably run by Aideen Collard, Dave McLoughlin, Jen Sheridan and a merry band of helpers.

They gradually incorporated Corkagh Park when it opened, and eventually the league moved there but added a road race and time trials for variety. Orla Hendron and Mags Donnelly took on the task of organisers since 2014, and since then it has been organised by Orla with help from a combination of different members.

In 2018 we were delighted to have Appleby Jewelers come on board as sponsors.