Would you gear-heads kindly stop thinking about your carbon-fibre down tubes and your oversized bottom brackets for just one minute and consider pre-registering for the Orwell Wheelers Randonee. 135km of really, really hilly bits which are not very far from your house. Plus, you get fed a hot meal when you're done.

Pre-register and you'll save a fiver.

For a fiver you can buy yourself:
A bottle of wine (from Tesco) or
A sandwich from O'Briens (with fewer than 3 things in it)
A puncture kit
5 Denny's cottage pies (marked down at Superquinn)
A lottery ticket
1/2 a pack of cigarettes
Slightly more than 2 Powerbars
And oh so many more things at Spar.

How have you not done this already?

Sign up here:
www.orwellwheelers.org/news-and-events/1...s-randonee-2010.html

You will save €5.

More importantly, you'll give us a better idea of how many people are going to be joining us.

And for your trouble, I've added a link to a blog about really, really cool bikes. (Special mention to the bendable bike.)
http://bicycledesign.net/

You're welcome.

Now sign up already.

-The Administrator

Folks

As we get closer to the Orwell Randonnee this Sunday, can I also encourage all club members who have not already signed up for the Club’s Annual Randonnee to register to help support and promote the club.

There is a great route planned along with good support facilities provided including shower / change facilities, food stops, support vans, Red Cross etc. There are also riders joining us from many other clubs whose events we have attended so there should be a great mix of people there on the day.

Based on my own experience since joining the club last year I am sure that we all get a lot from being part of the racing and touring sections and as members I think it’s important that we all support the club’s own event each year. There are a small group of people whose hard work both on the racing and touring sides have made the club what it is today.

For most of the rest of us including myself, we simply turn up on Thursday nights for races and then on Saturdays or Sundays for a spin without realising the voluntary time spent that goes on behind the scenes to make it all happen.

As our membership still continues to grow, the Randonnee is a great way to show people what we are all about and to promote the club.

We hope to see as many members as possible out on the road this Sunday.

Thanks,

John Lanigan

Weather's looking good for this weekend.

Pre-registration closes at 5:00pm Saturday.

Update on the weather: Sunday will be another dry, warm day with temperatures reaching 20 or 21 degrees in much of the country, there will be some bright and sunny spells however there may be some misty periods at times too. Winds will remain light to moderate and northerly in direction. In other words : perfect cycling weather!

Big Thanks to all those involved in organising to a great event. Beautiful day, quite warm and the water stop at Luggala was a blessing. Well done to those who got round.

For those of you that missed out:

Top of Lugala - Power Shots & water, thanks to Aiden.

Morning Tea
Starters - Orange quarters with water
Main course - sandwiches - selection of cheese, turkey or ham
Pudding - selection of carrot cake, strawberry cheesecake or choclate cake
Drinks - Coke, tea or cofee

Lunch
Selection of Beef Stroganoff or Green Chicken Curry with rice
Pasta Salads
Various other salads
Bread & Bread Rolls


Great day, Great weather.
Thanks to marshalls and all who did the organizing & catering.
I'll be back next year !

Hi all,
On behalf of the organising group, I'd just like to thank all the members of the club that did turn up for your support. It was our first time trying to run something of this nature and to see the numbers of Orwell riders out and enjoying themselves made all the work worth while.

Hopefully we can improve on this event for next year as we have several ideas already in mind.

Thanks
John T, John L, John H, Stephen H, Fergal O'S, Brendan S and Denis.

My pics of today

I think the club can be proud of today - well done!

Gert

The pics from yesterdays randonnee are absolutely fantastic. You have captured the joys (and pain) of a days cycling in Wicklow. The views down over Glenmacnas waterfall are spoectacular.

If anyone hasnt seen them yet can I suggest puttng on the kettle, making a coffe and running the slideshow. Puts a smile on your face just watching it.

Thanks again for all your help

I just want to say thanks to all involved in bringing it all together yesterday. A really great event and brilliantly run. Efficiency and organisation are essential for that kind of thing to go as smoothly as it did, but it takes a lot more than that put a smile on so many faces, and that you did.

Brilliant atmosphere, excellent food, perfect marshalling and a sense of occasion and enthusiasm about the whole thing.

The route in particular is a masterpiece of sadism. Well done.

Anyone who had any part in organising yesterday's Randonée, take a bow!

It was, without question, one of the most enjoyable days I have spent on a bike in a long time. Of course the fantastic weather helped, but the planning, organisation, marshalling, road-markings, lead-car, food etc.. were all top notch. The entire day seemed to go perfectly.

Everyone should do this event, it's definitely worth skipping one racing Sunday out of the season for!!

Well done again folks...

Folks

The following link is to some additional photo's from yesterdays Randonnee.

picasaweb.google.com/osullivan.fergal/OrwellRandonnee#

More pics now available here : www.flickr.com/photos/johntw/sets/72157624619557015/