Lady cyclist flock to Ballinrobe

Western Lakes CC held their Ladies End of Season cycle Sportive, with this being one of a few ladies only event, women travelled from all over the country to show their support. There were riders from Limerick, Sligo, Dublin, Cork and a full squad of nine ladies from North Pole CC in Donegal and likewise from Ballina CC Mayo.

A total of 46 women signed on and this could have easily been double that number if all the local clubs supported the event but with the weather looking poorly and the season more or less over only those who had committed regardless of conditions turned up.

With all the ladies keen not to let the weather dampen their spirits they cycled around the town of Ballinrobe first before heading out the Clonbur road leaving the rain behind as they cycled off to meet the sun.

The cycle split at Petersburg with the long route heading out to Finney and over to the first of two climbs Ail Dubh with the descent taking them into the Maam Valley.  Here they swung east heading back toward Ballinrobe with one more climb at Mamean before dropping down to the food (cake!!) stop in the village of Cor na Mona for some much needed refueling!

While the long route was out battling the hills, the short route had a climb of their own up to the ‘Timber yard’ to contend with. The descent brought the cyclists nicely into the village of Cor na Mona where they managed to sample all the cakes in advance of the long route participants.

This grateful rest stop enabled friends to wait for friends while making new friends.  Once back in the saddle both groups headed back to Ballinrobe, where most finished the afternoon off with a BBQ at Inch’s bar down the town.

Many thanks to all the ladies who came out to share in our day and make it such a success, to our sponsors Tesco’s and Marrey bikes and to those who made donations to our refuelling food stops especially Inch (Ballinrobe) and O’Malley’s of Cor na Mona and finally to all the guys who gave their time to marshal and drive, the day would not have been possible without them.