All leisure events in the province this weekend take place on Sunday and with Monday being a bank holiday, there is extra time to recover!
Tour of the Glens
The Tour Of The Glens is one of the toughest events on the Cycling Ireland calendar and incorporates many tough climbs through the scenic Antrim Glens.
For the first time ever, there are three distances on offer; 200km (starting from Loughside Recreation Centre, Shore Road, Belfast), 150km (starting from Cushendall Sailing and Boating Club, Cushendall) and 100km (starting from Cushendall Sailing and Boating Club, Cushendall). All are challenging, but extremely rewarding. With the Gran Fondo now absent from the cycling calendar, this is the perfect event to challenge yourself and set you up well for the rest of the summer!
Don’t forget to join our Strava group!
Map and GPX file for 200km route
Map and GPX file for 150km route
Map and GPX file for 100km route
200km route: Early online entry fee is £25with on-the-day entries at£30 dependant on allocated entries not being filled. Start and finish is at the Loughside Recreation Centre on the Shore Road, from 07.00-07.45 on the morning of the event. Roll out at 8am sharp.
We’ve decided to keep the latest iteration of the 200km route; rather than joining the Coast Road after Balleygalley, proceed to Glenarm via the Dickeystown Road. For those who haven’t ridden it before, it’s a short but steep climb (at odds with the big drags later on!).
There will be coffee and scones at Loughside after sign on in the morning. Water and food stops will be available at Glenarm and at the Big Collin, just before Ballyclare on the homeward leg.
The main food stop once again will be at Cushendall Sailing Club after completion of “the Glendunn loop” (approx 88miles) when tea/coffee along with sandwiches, cakes and biscuits will be served. There will also be tea/coffee and sandwiches at the finish where you won’t have to worry about not eating too much.
150km route: Early online entry fee is £20, with on-the-day entries at £25.
Early online entry £20 and £25 on the day. This starts and finished in Cushendall Sailing Club and proceeds down the coast to Larne before turning up the dreaded Glenburn road out of Glynn! Short but very steep, it’ll bring you up to Carncastle so you too can tackle the Dickeystown Road. Not to worry – you might have a couple of steep climbs early in the day, but you don’t have to worry about dragging yourself over Collin at the end of the day like the 200km guys! Sign on from 07.00 – 07.45, with roll out at 8am sharp.
100km route: Early online entry fee is £15, with on-the-day entries at £20.
Early online entry £15 and £20 on the day. This starts and finishes in Cushendall Sailing Club and proceeds down the coast to Glenarm to join the full event and start the Munie Road climb towards Ballymena. Sign on from 08.00-08.45 roll out 9am sharp.
All finishers will receive some unique Tour of the Glens memorabilia
This year McConvey Cycles have very generously offered their support for this event. They will also be providing 6 £25 gift vouchers for our very popular “King and Queen of the Glens” competition. Simply join our Strava group (and ride the route!) to be in with a chance of winning…
Tour of the Glens 2018 Strava Group
Full first aid support provided by The Order of Malta.
Proof of membership of Cycling Ireland is required on the day and for non-CI members a temporary 1 day event licence can be purchased for £5.
Phoenix CC Sportive
This year three routes will be offered – one around 32km for the families, one of 80km and longer route stretching to 110km. The entry fee for each courses is £15.
The Sportive will start and end at the Lagan Valley LeisurePlex taking cyclists through picturesque Co Down, skirting the commanding Slieve Croob mountain, known locally as ‘The Twelve Cairns’ before turning North East to avoid the Mountains of Mourne to return to Lisburn.
The 32k route will leave Lisburn towards Ballinderry. It will then head onwards toward the hamlet of Maghaberry and then Hillsborough before returning to Lagan Valley LeisurePlex for a post ride meal and the opportunity to celebrate with your cycling companions with your achievements.
The 80k route will leave Lisburn towards Annahilt to the crossroads at Kinallen (“beautiful headland”). It will then head onwards toward the hamlet of Katesbridge, which is named after Kate McKay, and then onto Castlewellan for refreshments at the Forest Park. The route will then proceed via Annsborough, Spa and Ballynahinch before returning to Lagan Valley LeisurePlex for a post ride meal and the opportunity to regale your cycling companions with your achievements.
The 110km route will follow the same route to Castlewellan. After refreshments at the Forest Park. the route will head via Newcastle, Dundrum, Clough, Downpatrick, Killyleagh, Darragh Cross, Saintfield, Temple before returning to Lagan Valley LeisurePlex. This longer route is a challenging route aimed at experienced cyclist.
Thanks to the generous support from Lisburn and Castlreagh City Council, the Phoenix Cycling Club’s sponsors and the supporters of the Sportive all money raised from the cycle challenge will be donated to two great charities Corrymeela Community and Habitat for Humanity. These charities is continuing to break new ground and reach deeper into the heart of local communities throughout Northern Ireland and beyond in order to really make a difference to people’s lives.
Facilities on the day will include
- Refreshments in Castlewellan
- Meal at the finish
- First Aid
- Broom Wagon
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Registration between 9.15am and 9.45am. Please arrive on time.
- Starting at 10:00am
- Helmets must be worn at all times
- Rules of the road must be followed at all times.
- Personal information will not be passed to any third parties.
- All participating cycling must have insurance cover via membership to a national cycling association such as Cycling Ireland. For people who are not members of Cycling Ireland an Event Licence Fee (ELF), formerly called One Day Licence (ODL’s), will be available offers the same insurance cover as full members but only for Phoenix 2018 Charity Sportive at a cost of £5.
No Hills No Trills Sportive
Kilmegan VC is a leisure club which was recently formed in August 2017.
It is based in the market town of Castlewellan, Co. Down at the foot of the mourne mountains,we have decided to host our first sportive in aid of THE MOURNE MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEA, these are dedicated team of volunteers who always attend those in need .Should it be mountaineers,hill walkers or even mountain bikers. No matter what the weather conditions throw at these brave people they always attend every callout and thats why this is a great charity to run an event for.
Kilmegan vc has two routes to choose from
50k ROUTE
This is a really enjoyable route taking you through some beautiful local scenery ,from Castlewellan through Leitrim and up over the Light House rd ,down into Moneyslane before heading into Rathfriland over towards Hilltown where there shall be a water stop for refreshments.Once on the road again its off down the Bryansford road before turning left up the Fofanny road,here you will see some of the most picturesque scenery that Co Down has to offer looking out over Kilcoo and Lough Island Reavie and right down through the valley into Newcastle ,Dundrum and Ballykinlar from here you can even see the Isle of man on a good clear day.From here its down hill at a blistering speed into the village of Bryansford before turning left onto the Newcastle road from here its slightly up hill back to Castlewellan where you shall receive a warm welcome and some well earned refreshments back at Castlewellan Gac club house.
80K ROUTE
The 80k route is a more challenging course incorporating the 50k route its refreshment stop is in the village of Bryansford from here its down through the village of Maghera before turning left onto the Wateresk road ,onto the Holy bush road .From here its onto the Drumcaw road up towards the village of Drumaroad its lturn left onto Cawleys Pipe before turning right up the Ballywillwill road.
At this point the climbing begins up to the Slieveanesky Road where you will get a short recovery and take in the beautiful scenery again .Turn right onto Slieve Croob its all the way up until you reach the Kilhill road. From this point on its all down hill through the Ardglass road down through the valley of Beckaderry where you will be totally amazed by the views over the Co Down country side .Once through the cross roads and down the Drumbuck road passed Ross cycles its turn left onto Mill hill and with a short climb to the market house its left onto the circular road and back to Castlewellan Gac Club house for refreshments and a bit of crack.
Route maps are available
https://www.strava.com/routes/11825460
https://www.strava.com/routes/10892383
This event is not a race. Remember the following points on the day;
- There are many drivers who will not be aware a cycling event is taking place. Be aware of other road users and obey the rules of the road at all times.
- Ensure you wear a cycling helmet.
- Observe the highway code.
- Ensure your bike is in a good condition and fit for road use.
- There are some hills in this sportive, please be careful.
- Be prepared to slow down and stop if necessary.
- Be careful at junctions, bends and entrances.
- Roads will be marked along the route and marshals will be at all major turns/junctions.
- Cycle within your capabilities.
- A refreshment stop will be provided en route.
- Smile at all times as a photographer will appear when you least expect it!
Roddensvale Hilly 100
Roddensvale Hilly 100′ cycling sportive in aid of pupils at Roddensvale Special School.
10am roll out from Lusty’s Centra, Old Glenarm Road, Larne.
Sponsored by Lusty’s Centra, Chain Reaction Cycles and supported by Team Knockagh Cycling Club it promises to be a fabulous event for a great cause.
The wonderfully scenic yet challenging course has been designed and risk assessed by the great man Gordon Parker.
Please check out the Roddensvale School Facebook page and website for more details on the Roddensvale Parents and Friends Charity Association all proceeds will go towards plus more details of the sportive.
A minimum donation of £20 is required for entry on the day and all participants can look forward to a warm welcome and a good feed after their efforts! Thank you in advance for helping to increase opportunities for some very deserving young people.
