Shannonside Cycling Club
Meet & Spin
A friendly, leisurely group ride for those both returning to cycling or keen to join a group spin for the first time.
Maybe you’ve been out cycling on your own and passing groups of cyclists chatting away and thought it looked fun without knowing how to join in or get started? Or maybe you used to regularly group ride and are now out of the habit?
If so the SSCC ‘Meet & Spin’ cycles may be just the thing: a gentle ride up the Greenway as far as Moate for a coffee and a bit of a social (with the club buying the coffee!) before returning to Athlone. Time on the bike will be under an hour each way, and all in the company of experienced cyclists keen to advise and encourage and able to deal with any mechanicals you might suffer.
As confidence and fitness grow the rides will get a little longer culminating after 6 weeks, for any that fancy it, in the club’s annual Tour of the Heartlands short route through the lanes of Westmeath and along the Grand Canal in May; or to move on to another club ride group that suits your pace and goals.
If that appeals then please just turn up to the Athlone Regional Sports Centre for 9am on any Saturday from 21st of February.
For any further information, advice or questions, please email: enquiries@shannonsidecc.info
Despite fears a weather forecast of rain might dampen enthusiasm, over 20 cyclists gathered at Athlone Regional Sports Centre for Shannonside Cycling Club’s (SSCC) first ‘Meet and Spin’ to Moate.
After a few adjustments to tyre pressures and saddle heights, and a short introduction to the aims and joy of the ride from SSCC’s Jim Maguire, everyone headed off up the Greenway to Moate. It wasn’t long before the heavens opened, but all soon got to dry out and chat while enjoying the coffee and scones in the warmth of Moate Golf Club.
Even punctures, that were soon repaired by SSCC’s members, a near continuous rain, and cycling for over 30kms in two hours, didn’t see people flagging on the ride back to Athlone. So welcome and congratulations to all that made it. We look forward to seeing you again over the coming weeks.
Thanks to all that attended, and to Donna at Moate Golf Club for accommodating far more riders than expected at shorter notice than was anticipated!
For anyone curious about the joys of cycling in company, SSCC’s ‘Meet and Spin’ rides will continue to leave ARSC at 9am every Saturday until early May, and possibly beyond.
The Second Saturday
Fears that a frosty start to the second Saturday’s run would curb the enthusiasm of the first week were soon dismissed on seeing the numbers of cyclists ready to go at 9am from the ARSC car park. We were soon moving, and moving well with the groups both closer on the road than on the initial run and almost arriving together at Moate Golf Club. Thanks to Donna and her crew for having everything ready and waiting. Smiles all round, a bit of a chat, and we were back out and heading west for Athlone in what was now bright sunshine. Next week’s ride will be slightly longer, and we may even find a small hill!
Week 4 and we’re lucky in again having great weather and another large turn out. It was encouraging to see the pace go up slightly, and for everyone to ride together as far as the Mount Temple crossing on the GW. Here the group split with the majority riding the lanes to Mount Temple and then on to Moate for coffee, while the smaller group rode beyond Moate before turning and heading back to meet everyone else. After coffee the group again split with a few stronger riders taking on more lanes back to Athlone. It’ll soon be time to push on to coffee in pastures new and a little more distant!