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The text below documents our activities throughout the various months of the year. You can find out more about any activity by following the highlighted "hyperlink" in the text, or by clicking on one of the buttons on the left hand side of this page.

September

We're just back from the summer break and slowly build up the miles to get fit again.There are lots of moans and groans, and sore legs, while we are getting back into the cycling after our summer break. Cycles are usually nice and gentle, and about 25 to 35 miles long.

October

The miles are growing steadily week by week, and the pace is increasing.

During the Halloween break a group of about 40 boys, accompanied by some parents go to Italy (in the lake Como area) for a cycling / cultural exchange. Click on Italian Exchange to see how the lads got on this year. The report gives details of their daily activities, the places they visited and their thoughts on the trip. Lots of pictures too !!

November

The nights are closing in early, and it is difficult to do long cycles and get back before dark.With safety being of the utmost importance, all cycles are planned in order to get back before nightfall. Most cycles at this time of year are between 40 and 50 miles long. They start at about 10.00am and finish at about 4.30pm.

December

There are usually only 2 cycles in December, during the first two weeks of the month. With Christmas exams looming, closely followed by the Christmas holidays, preference is rightly being given to studying rather than cycling.

The annual fund raising cake sale takes place on the 2nd Saturday in December in the assembly room underneath the sports hall of the school. The sale is always well attended, with parents from present, past and future members of the club supporting the clubs fund raising activities. Why not go to the Cake Sale web page to see how this years sale went. Lots of Pic's !!

However the highlight of the month for the kids is definitely the Christmas Party. This takes place directly after the last cycle of the month. For some reason, there is usually an exceptionally good turn out of the cycle on this day. For details of this years Christmas Party click here.

January

Make no mistake, cycling in the Month of January in Ireland takes commitment. Its generally very cold, wet and windy. Some fitness has generally been lost over the Christmas break, so the first one or two cycles are easy enough, maybe 30 to 40 miles. The evenings are still short, so there is still a priority on being back in the school before dark.

February

Thoughts are turning to getting fit for the weeks cycling in France which is coming up at Easter. Most groups would cover between 250 and 350 miles during this trip away. The cycles are getting longer in order to prepare for this week, maybe 40 to 55 miles every Sunday.

The annual table quiz takes place in February. It definitely one of the social highlights of the cycling clubs year, for both the adults and the kids. For a report on last years quiz, and details of when and where this years quiz will be held, please go to the Table Quiz page.

March

The cycles are getting serious at this stage. Most are between 50 and 65 miles. Fitness is building nicely in preparation for the Easter Trip. The younger boys who have not been on this trip before are really looking forward to it, and the older boys talk the talk among their cycling groups to see who is going to cycle the furthest and the fastest.

Meetings for the parents of the kids that are going on the trip are held in March of finalise the arrangements, and to answer any last minute questions that parents or boys may have about the trip.

Cycle training for next years cycling recruits also begins in March. The 5th class boys are put through their paces on their bikes in the school grounds, in preparation for the real thing, which will start for them just after the Easter break. The boys must pass this course before they will be allowed to cycle with the club on the public roads. For details on the Irish Road Safety Association accredited course that is run for the boys, please go to the Cycle Training page.

April

Its Easter time and we're off to France for a week cycling. There are normally about 120 cyclists on the trip, and it is without doubt the highlight of the clubs year. For a comprehensive report on last years trip (with photos), and details of where are are going this year, please go to the Easter Trip page.

Easter is a very busy month for the club. We are are only just back from France when, the 100 mile cycle is upon us. This is an annual event that takes place generally on the last Sunday in April. Its is a charity cycle , supporting the Holy Ghost Missions in Sierra Leone. Money is raised through each cyclist getting sponsorship for completing the cycle. Last year more than  £45,000 was raised. This event is the largest event of the clubs year with literally 100's of cyclists taking part. For a report on last years cycle, lots of pictures, and what you might expect this year, please go to the 100 Mile Cycle page.

May

May is also a very busy month for all of us. The new recruits of 5th class are out every Saturday getting used to cycling, traffic and hills !!. The older lads come out on the Saturdays, to give a hand and guidance to the younger ones. This is very important to the club, as it ensures that there is no more than 4 novice cyclists to each experienced cyclist.This ratio has helped us to maintain our excellent safety record.

The older lads have their own cycles on Sundays, which allows then to enjoy at least two cycles a week, in the steadily improving weather, as summer approaches.

Competitions are also organised for the club in May. There is a "King of the Mountains" competition and "Track Day. Both of these competition are much talked about and fiercely fought. For full details and results of  last years competitions, and the dates for this years competitions, please see our Competitions page.

Sadly all good things much come to an end. And a sign that the end is coming (for this year at least) is the "End of Year" function.This is the social highlight of the year for the club. Its always exceptionally well attended, not least because the prizes for the competitions, and awards for cycling, are presented on the night. To see us all at this function and a list of the awards presented, please go to our End of Year Function page.

June

Despite that fact that the End of Year Function has taken place, and the school term is over, there are still two cycling highlights yet to happen, and they are the Hostel trips to Clare and Donegal.Like the trip away at Easter, each lasts for a week. With many boys going on both trips, it makes for a very tiring, but exceptionally enjoyable two weeks. For a report on last years trips, and some pictures of the stunning scenery and places we visited, click here for Clare and here for Donegal.

July

You would have thought that we would all have had enough by now, but with so much cycling done over the last 10 months, some of the boys are actually getting good at it, and want to have a go at racing. This is facilitated by the parents of the boys interested in doing it. To read about some of the events that the boys entered and to see how they did, please go to the Summer Racing page.

That really is it now. The boys are off enjoying their summer holidays, taking a well deserved break from school and cycling. Some of the adults and the older lads keep in touch over the summer, and go for a cycle on Saturdays or Sundays. All anxious to hold on to some of the fitness they have built up over the last year.

Send mail to ndevine@indigo.ie with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: August 11, 1999