Tullamore Cycling and Touring Club enters 29th season

Tullamore Cycling and Touring Club (TCTC) is entering its 29th year of successful cycling in the Midlands since it’s foundation in 1994. T

his year has begun with a successful programme of spin classes thanks to Aura Leisure in Tullamore for beginners and existing members. Classes saw a full house every Tuesday and Thursday night for the past few weeks, with two classes per night due to popular demand.

Indoor classes were complemented with outdoor Tuesday and Thursday evening spins on the canal, which have recently moved to the road due to the stretch in the evenings. These spins roll out from both the ball alley carpark and Buckleys bike shop.

Out on the road, weekend spins have been ongoing since early January, with increasing numbers each week. It’s great to see so many familiar faces back again. As always, the coffee spin from the ball alley car park opposite the sacred heart school at 10am remains popular as a social spin that caters to all levels, giving an opportunity to catch up with friends over a Coffee at Tuar Ard Moate, and then head for home.

On Sunday mornings there is a group rollout at 9am for all groups that caters to every ability, with A group reaching distances of over 100km, B1 90km-100km, B2 60km-80km and C group up to 40km.

Tullamore Cycling and Touring Club are proud to partner with Vision Sports Ireland, to promote tandem cycling for visually impaired cyclists. We are very proud of the achievements of club member Josephine Healion at the Para-Cycling Road World Championships in Canada in August 2022. In the women’s tandem road race, Ireland took an impressive spot on the podium with Josephine Healion from TCTC and Linda Kelly claiming bronze.

An enjoyable alternative to road spins in the inclement weather are the ever-popular mountain bike trails in Kinnitty. Our club is very privileged to have the Slieve Blooms, a beautiful amenity on our doorstep. The year began with a number of social spins throughout Christmas and into the new year.

Our Mountain biking section has gone from strength to strength with increasing numbers out on the trails on Saturday and Sunday mornings beginning at 8am for the spring and summer, and 8:30am in winter.

Members of TCTC look forward to a number of local and national sportives in the coming weeks, with members participating in the upcoming Cliffs of Moher Challenge, Ring of Beara cycle, Tour de Conamara, Ride Dingle, Ring of Kerry cycle, a number local sportifs and our very own Pedal The Peaks Pat Colgan Challenge which takes place every year in August. Last year TCTC raised 12,000eur for charity through both the spinathon at the Bridge Centre Tullamore and the Pat Colgan challenge in August.

Every year TCTC members part-take in an enjoyable and memorable cycling trip abroad. This year, the first trip since 2019 will see some TCTC members set out for northern Italy in May. This coming September TCTC members will complete more of the Wild Atlantic Way, and will cover Sligo and Donegal, having cycled north Mayo and Sligo last September, covering up to 500km of road over the course of a week.

As always in preparation for the Midland league which commences in April every year, training spins will commence in the evenings in March. In addition to this TCTC will be hosting a beginner’s cycling training course in June that aims to promote safety while cycling on the road. TCTC also engage in training for anyone seeking to captain a group. This always proves to be a rewarding and fulfilling course for new group captains and will take place later this year.

Joining a cycling club is a great way to get to know your local area and to meet new people. Tullamore Cycling and Touring Club welcome anyone interested in joining the club to contact us on our Facebook page.