Remembering Patrick O’Brien RIP

Leonard Kaye reports back from the Mount Leinster Challenge from last week…

Remembering Patrick O’Brien RIP

After our visit to Pat’s grave the 120 strong Orwell Wheelers peloton assembled back at the Bellefield GAA Complex in Enniscorthy. Some pictures from the early morning gathering can be seen at: can be seen here. I have included the words of the prayer; that Eileen’s mother read at the Pat’s grave side in the second video at: Pat’s grave side in the second video.

The MLC Sportive

The Grand National in Aintree comes to mind when I think back upon the 2016 experience of Slaney Cycling Club’s Mount Leinster Challenge (MLC). Will Slaney Cycling Club would be pleased with my comparison that; this sportive is the Grand Fondo National of events in Ireland? The comparison can be made as like the Aintree National two laps, over Mount Leinster, are part of the course.

It has been said of the Aintree Grand National that it is “the ultimate test of horse and rider”, and certainly we would say that the Mount Leinster Challenge is also an “ultimate test of bike and rider”.

I hope you all bought shares in rubber recently; as the W100/200 leaders lost count of the number of tubes and tyres that needed replacement last Saturday.

The first climb, with a 20% gradient, of the mountain may be your Becher’s Brook, or the second The Chair; but when you decide to take the 140km route turn; that left turn may well be your “Canal Turn”!!! No going back now. Leonard