Leisure

The leisure group (formerly the touring group) is for those looking to enjoy cycling at a more relaxed pace in a friendly, less competitive atmosphere. This part of the club has grown exponentially in the last couple of years and has become a huge part of 'Team Orwell'. We have a wide range of riders from beginners wanting to do their first sportive, all the way up to the elite leisure riders looking to take on challenges such as the Étape du Tour. Members of our group will participate in many of the year's sportives, like the Tour of Kildare, the Mount Leinster Challenge, the An Post Cycle Series and the Wicklow 200.

Pictures from the An Post Tour of Meath are now in the Photo Gallery.

Many of the members of Orwell took part in the epic Wicklow 200 of 2011. The conditions were horrendous and many of the cyclists who signed up for the event quite understandably did not complete the course. Here are the stories from 2 first-timers who survived the day and lived to tell.

The second best decision I ever made... by Billy Parker
I survived 200k of torture-fest and was somehow still smiling… by Jacqui Howard

Mentored Sunday spins with the club are now in progress and the mileage will start to gradually increase. This is the best way to build your fitness for the coming year. Groups of all levels leave from Joe Daly's. With the end of the mentored fall/winter Sunday spins, our group spins move to Saturday mornings starting from Joe Daly's. Get on the mailing list for start times and routes. The spins are longer and hillier, but we regroup at the top of most hills and, as usual, somewhere along the way, we will take the time to pour into some unsuspecting coffee shop for refuelling.

Beginner cyclists are encouraged to come out first on our mentored Sunday spins in the fall and winter. These are run every Sunday from Joe Daly's in Dundrum. A note will be put on the website when they are to start. They are leisurely in nature and cover a distance of between 60-80km (coffee stop included). They will build up in distance and speed after Christmas. These Sunday spins will build your fitness gradually and give you the confidence to cycle in a group. We have group leaders out each week who will introduce you to the Orwell "Experience". They will pass on tips on road safety, bike positioning, the use of the correct gears and, when the unexpected big "P" happens (puncture), they will show you how quick it is to fix and ride on again.

Ensure you have the following:

Helmet
Pump
Spare tubes (we recommend 2)
Tyre levers
Water or your other preferred liquid
Mobile phone
Money

For further details, or to get on our mailing list, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .