In just two weeks I’ll be attempting the 100Km (62 mile) Bangor Coastal Challenge, and according to my self-invented training programme I’m now supposed to be reducing my training down to around 60-70% of it’s previous level so that I’ll be well rested for the main event. My plan for this weekend’s ride was therefore to complete a course of around 30-35 miles.
For a pleasant change, I had some company on today’s ride. Since I was only planning a route of 30 miles or so, Graham, CB and KB were kind enough to cycle out from Belfast to meet me at the end of the Sustrans NCN93 cycle path in Jordanstown, just a few easy miles from where I live. After a quick chat in the sun and some minor bike fettling, we decided on a scenic tour of the Newtownabbey hills taking in Doagh, Parkgate and Dunadry before looping back to Belfast.
I’d ridden much of this route myself a few weeks ago, so I knew what was in store. I went anyway.
Waiting on Sustrans NCN9
Being the local lad, I led the group up through the Newtownabbey Way cycle path through Monkstown Woods. It was Sunday lunchtime but the cycle path was relatively free of pedestrians (compared to Sustrans NCN93 at any rate!) and all agreed that this was a pleasant start to the ride. From here we climbed up from the shore to join the main B59 to Doagh, passing through Ballyrobert before a boneshaking descent along The Longshot.
Turning left in Doagh we made good time along the undulating Burn Road to Parkgate. That is, until a suicide bee made a dive for my helmet vents and I had to dismount to set it free again. Of course, “set it free” is code for “pick bee parts out of my hair and try not to get stung”.
After a bit of a sprint to catch up with the rest of the group again, we all soon reached the village of Parkgate. Graham and the others had no idea this well kept rural village even existed, but I’ve ridden through it any number of times and taken it for granted up until now. My local hills are filled with places like this and I’m lucky to have them within such easy riding distance. And if they thought Parkgate was nice, a few miles down the road the collective bar was raised again as we approached Dunadry along the river bank.
Stopping briefly on the bridge in Dunadry to refuel and ogle the big houses, we were soon on our way again through the other side of the village and on to the B39 Seven Mile Straight. Along here a stiff headwind sprung up, our pace slowed, we settled in to an easy rhythm and rode along two abreast having a bit of an old natter. There was no traffic to speak of, apart from one driver who had stopped for their child’s nature break at the side of the road and was slightly embarrassed by a group of cyclists passing.
Seven Mile Grind
With the headwind, the arrow straight run up the B39 turned into something of a grind and we were glad to reach the end and make left for Belfast along the excellently named Ballyutoag Road (A32). The route to this point had been quite hilly and my legs were feeling the strain, so I was glad again when I finally granny-ring ground my way to the highest point on Ballyutoag Road and started the descent towards the city again. A vicious headwind blowing up the hill prevented any speed records being set on the way down!
Just about stoppipng at the turnoff to the Upper Hightown Road, Graham and the others split off to return to Belfast, leaving me with a short but steep 1-in-10 climb to conquer, up and over Cave Hill, before heading back to Carnmoney and home. Fortunately, this climb and the following descent were uneventful compared to my previous trip along this stretch of road.
Sunday Ride - 2009/06/07 - Route Map
Sunday Ride - 2009/06/07 - Elevation
There is an interactive map of this ride available on BikeHike and a GPS track and more statistics on Nokia Sports Tracker. You can view the photos from this and other rides on my Bike Trips Flickr Set.
With 38 miles on the clock and a reasonable 1800ft of climbing, this route was towards the upper end of the 60-70% of normal target that I’d set myself and I was feeling very tired at the end. Therefore, walking the fine line between resting well and not seizing up, this coming week I’m planning only a little cycling with one or two commuting rides followed by a very short Sunday ride next weekend.
After the Bangor Coastal Challenge and a reasonable recovery period, training will resume in earnest for the 150Km Lap The Lough challenge at the end of August. After today, one area I intend to focus on is hill climbing, so I expect that some Sunday runs will see me riding up and down the back side of Cave Hill.
That should be fun.
