North Down Coastal Challenge – Sunday 17th June Supported by Bikedock

After the speed and excitement of the North Down Grand Prix races, the pace becomes a little less hectic for the club’s next big event, The Bangor Coastal Challenge, when NDCC invite cyclists from all over the country to come and join them for a relaxed tour of the peninsula.
Starting at the Bangor Sportsplex on the old Belfast entrants follow the picturesque (and reasonably flat!) coast road around the Ards peninsula with a stop for a welcome bowl of stew and other sustenance at Barholme in Portaferry before heading back to the Sportsplex to receive their commemorative t-shirt and have a chat with their fellow cyclists over tea and coffee.
As well as being an excellent day out for cyclists of all abilities, over the years the Bangor Coastal Challenge has supported a number of charities and last year some with around 1000 entrants, from nervous beginners to hardened veterans, taking part £12000 was donated to various departments of the Ulster Hospital.
This year the main charities which will be supported are CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) and the Make-A-Wish foundation, both of whom do excellent work locally.
So for anyone who fancies a grand day’s cycling, sign up online at http://www.entrycentral.com/index.php?raceID=100180 and do some good, both for yourself and for worthy causes.

Many thanks to Bikedock for their support with the 2012 Coastal Challenge. Bikedock are based on the Ravenhill Road, Belfast and will be very happy to help you with all your cycling needs. Links to the shop website may be found on the club website.

Since there is likely to be 900+ cyclists lining the Peninsula Roads on the day club members would be encouraged to make themselves available for marshalling.
Even if you are riding the event club members are encouraged to marshal one of the early points on the route before going on to enjoy their own ride.

If you are prepared to help in any capacity on the day please contact Mickey Forbes as soon as possible to allow the club to complete the planning of the event.

Bradshaw’s Brae – 23rd May

On one of the best nights of the year so far  the club opened up it’s Hillclimb Account. A reasonable turnout of our finest riders plus a couple of visitors were there to see who is quickest up the Brae. Eric was on hand as ever to organise the event along with his increasingly glamorous posse of helpers. You know who you are and you know I don’t include Big Swennie under this description.
Some notable times were set over the course of the event as can been seen from the results. Colm was again using Molly for some “motor pacing” up the hill. Training at this intensity so early the season can only mean that he is hoping to open his Cyclocross season with a bang this year.
Special thanks  to Mark Kane from Northern C.C. for stopping off on his commute home, “putting it into us”, then continuing merrily on his way. Commiserations to Shane Farren though. At post race discussion it transpired that Leprechauns had jumped out of the hedge at the junction and stolen his chain. Had this not happened he would certainly have beaten Mark Kane. Easy. Definitely.
Winners on the night were Kerry Speers from Nicky Frew with Matty Blayney taking the fight to the commuter but coming of second best. Still a very quick time however setting a benchmark for other N.D. riders to best.