New Cycling Club in Ballinasloe

The Ballinasloe GAA Croke Park cycle was a great success with many new riders out on the bike. It would be great to see this trend continue into the winter, cycling presently can be tough with the dark evenings and cooler temperatures.

Winter however can also be the best time to start as it gives you a few months to get a good base before you head into the spring where the real fun starts.

The benefits of getting out regularly on the bike are huge; better muscle tone, stronger legs and think of all that fresh air. As an asthmatic it has improved my condition, as cycling is great for the cardiosystem, with a proper bike fit which is critical you can improve your overall fitness and health in no time. The sport of cycling is not too hard on the body provided your bike fit is correct. With good exercise comes a change in lifestyle for many, diet is usually the main change as your diet directly affects your ability on the bike. A hunger for good nutrition will come when you start to feel better and stronger on the bike and for some “get more competitive”.

Over the last couple of years anybody in the area looking to take up running had a great outlet in the form of “Running Against Cancer” to start out. Cycling now has a similar outlet; a new cycling club club called “Ballinasloe Cycling Club” has been formed. I would advise anybody who is currently cycling or thinking of
taking up the sport to join a club, this time last year myself and a few local guys joined Shannonside Cycling Club in Athlone and I can honestly say it was the best decision I made since taking up the sport two years ago.
The cycling club offers a medium for you to meet fellow riders and complete regular spins in the locality. Cycling as group takes the sting out of winter cycling along with gaining the skills of cycling in a group which is important for sportive cycling next spring/summer.

Join up with the newly formed club for an exciting heart pumping 2015. The cycling club members are currently
going out on morning/evening spins and welcome cyclists of all abilities especially beginners. The club can be contacted by clicking this link or on Facebook.

---

Written by Stephen Roche and published in Ballinasloe Life issue 23