rain miles count double

The 2010 Marie Curie Craigavon Cycle Trail, an organised 10Km or 50Km cycle around the Craigavon area in aid of the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity, took place on 22nd May. Three of us attempted the 50Km course, and this is how we fared!

A misty start at the Oxford Island Discovery Centre

Last year’s event was a washout with heavy rain pelting the course for the duration, but this year couldn’t have been more different in terms of weather! As I was driving to the starting point at the Oxford Island Discovery Centre there wasn’t a cloud to be seen and  - at 8:30am - the car thermometer was already reading 25C. Sun cream and rehydration tablets were going to be vital!

Unpacking and registration went smoothly and by 10:00am we were on our way. Phil led out and set a good pace, and we were soon catching and passing groups of other riders. The Cycle Trail attracts a wide range of participants, from the dedicated club cyclists for whom 50Km is a warm up, to parents riding alongside their young children (though I’m guessing they were taking the 10Km course!), and enthusiastic amateurs like us in between.

Whereas last year we struggled with the cold and wet, this year the heat was the enemy. Stupidly, I didn’t drink enough at the very start of the run and was soon feeling the effects of dehydration. Although the course is relatively flat, with a maximum climb of about 200ft, I was struggling to keep pace with Phil and Norwin on what little hills there were. I realised what was happening and rapidly downed half a bottle of electrolyte mix, and was soon back on the pace.

The run to the rest stop at 20 miles was fairly uneventful. Marshalls once again provided safe guidance across the larger roads, assisted at least once by PSNI officers actually stopping traffic on a busier A-road to let the cyclists cross. I did almost have a mishap as I misjudged the sharpness of a corner following a very fast downhill. I went straight across the apex on to the opposite carriageway and was just lucky there was no traffic at the time, and I did manage to avoid an unscheduled visit into the opposite hedge.

Phil and Norwin ready for the second leg

Knocknamuckly church was once again the choice for the rest and refuel stop. It was now approaching midday and the heat was still building, so unsurprisingly the cold water taps proved very popular as did the jugs of chilled orangey goodness provided by the ladies of the congregation. In comparison, tea demand was down on last year.

Fed, watered, watered and watered, we left the church halls and made good speed along the Newry-Portadown canal cycle path and into Portadown. Traffic in the town centre wasn’t heavy and we were soon on to the cycle paths leading through Craigavon and back to Oxford Island and the finishing line. Norwin led this run at a fast pace trying to shake off another rider who had latched on to the back of our group and we – now four – blasted past many a rider on the final 5 mile stretch. Nice try, but it wasn’t enough and he managed to stick with us until the finish line. Phil took the sprint finish from about a mile out, I’ve no idea where he’d been keeping that turn of speed.

Cyclists relax on the grass after the ride

We completed the 50Km route in around 2 hours 11 minutes, topping out at 35mph and with an average speed of 14.7mph. This improves on last year’s 2 hours 28 minutes and 13.4 mph average, but obviously the conditions were much better this time around and Norwin had a proper road bike instead of a knobbly tyred monster mountain bike, so it’s no surprise we were a lot faster.

72 riders were passed, with none passing us. You can view the RunKeeper Track of my ride, and there are a few photos in my Craigavon Cycle Trail 2010 Picasa web album.

My BeOne Storm performed well, apart from front ring shifting problems that should have been sorted out in the previous week’s £100 service (grumble grumble). Oh, and my new Continental Grand Prix tyres are a vast improvement on the old CST rubber, and 400g lighter to boot.

Team 2010!

So a grand morning out in the sun and some money raised for charity. Marie Curie organise a good cycle in my opinion. They’re considering 50 or 80Km ride later in the year in South Down, and next year’s Craigavon Cycle Trail could feature an 80Km route itself. Both of these are definitely worthy of consideration. I just have to see who I can drag along with me.

Did you take part in the Marie Curie Craigavon Cycle Trail? Leave a comment and let me know how you got on!

Update: a letter from Marie Curie states 244 cyclists took part in the 2010 Craigavon Cycle Trail, raising around £15,000 for the charity. Well done everyone!