Towpath Thursday 21st

[Graham B]

Anyone out tonight?

[manuel6b]

I'm keen to. I just need to get one bike functioning and I'm there!!

[Graham B]

I've got a spare one you can borrow Picked up my new 29er yesterday!

[kyle1]

I have been heading out with a few guys in my local area (Ballynahinch) the last couple of weeks. It just suits a wee bit better as we start and finish slightly earlier. Will be with them tonight. Have a good run...

[manuel6b]

NOTE!!

The xmas tree lights are being turned on tonight at the Civic Centre. We'll not be able to get near the place.

Best to meet up in Lambeg and join the path there.

link to council website

[manuel6b]

A lovely evening out on the tow path. Weather was cool but it was dry with little wind.
Just Graham and myself out. We had to meet at Lambeg due to the festival at the Civic Centre.
Before we set off we sorted out the seat on my full sus bike as it had slipped back making for an uncomfortable ride.
It didn't take long before it moved back into the uncomfortable position again.

Graham was out on his new 29er, a flying machine. He was getting used to having brakes, especially VERY good ones.

I haven't been out on the bike much in the last 4 weeks. I've been busy eating all the pies, cakes, buns, biscuits, chocolate in the shops.
This guy is in better shape than me.


And the bike felt like one of these on wheels!!


We headed into Barnetts rather than cross the bridge as I would die on the hills. A great spin around the red runs. On the second run I managed to do a great endo leaving me with a nice bruised knee and elbow. This didn't help my speed.
We knocked off early returning to Lambeg for around 8:50. I cycled back home for 9 exhausted.

It was great to get out again. These are really good nights and I'm looking forward to getting out next Thursday and getting my fitness back up again.

[Graham B]

Nice report Martin, although accounts of your rapid weight gain and lack of fitness are greatly exaggerated! Really enjoyed the red trails at Barnetts again. My lack of singletrack bike handling skills was showing on some of the trickier bits, but it is great craic blasting down some of the faster routes, especially with the "tunnel vision" that you get from riding at night.

Going from a 13 yr old MTB with really poor rim brakes to hydraulic disc brakes takes some getting used to, and I kept on locking the rear wheel at every corner, but after a while I was starting to get the hang of it.

Hope to see a few more out next Thursday.

P.S. for anyone who doesn't know about it, there are a group of us heading for the trails at Castlewellan this Sunday, meeting 9.45 am at the Leitrim Rd entrance car park.

[martymc]

Next time your gonna put a picture up of me martin ask premission first, altho i have lost a wee bita weight....