In Which :

• Brian Scullion arrives late ……..nothing new there.
• Kieran Duffy goes swimming. Well as he came in shorts it would have been rude not to.
• Cormac mis-calculates speed and grip ratio resulting in a gravitational failure.
• John (Sco) completes his Rapha ensemble with bike bottle . ( I wonder if there is a Rapha Kilt?)
• Robbie forgets gloves , sends home for delivery ..survives .
• Kenny pretends to be himself.
• Tim still on lime green bedstead.
• Liz beats a hasty retreat on tunnel descent but avoids hypothermia.
• Paul and COC take the early escape route .

Sunrise is officially at 8.44 on 1/1/18 .Plan to leave Glen Gate at 07.45 , Aim for Cairn at 08.45 .If weather good on to Knockshee , if not home. 

A big turnout today , supplemented with a smattering of ROSSI , A Horse and a Hound , A Ross and a Rusty . The Santa Costumes were variable to say the least with the least designer santa being a designer ! Mr Scullion had the look of a UFC fighter and I for one would not cross him.

Up to tunnell with a steady pace led by Mr Power AKA 9005 Santa . ( trying to be politically correct there) No clear rounds to mast on a slippy climb , halfway to Knockshee turning right for post , lead astray by Rowan ( GPS for XMAS) McMahon) , down fern gully where Les and Liz gave a poor account of themselves with some sideways action. Dropping down atlantic to wall and home . NTSR towers for mince pies and beverages . Much cheer and festive spirit .

The staff at NTSR would wish you all a happy and peaceful christmas and a healthy and two wheeled new year.

Or in some cases he came early ,with Doc Lewis arriving on yet another Lime green aberration . It took the cycling industry 25 years to get round to good suspension ,but oh no …its back to rigid all round for the good doctor , I hope he has no loose fillings .
Kenny had been diverted to carve a turkey somewhere but his right hand man made up for it and led us ( literally) over castle bog , which was a slippery mess . Red Bog , through trees to trails , back to giants pad , up switchbacks ( not even nearly a clear round) , cairn and home by Glen and river walk . John( SCO) , Robbie and the right honourable Scullion made up the numbers.
Next Saturday is Santa Saturday ( Hoorah) , compulsory fancy dress , retiring to NTSR towers afterwards. Calendars are ready.

Route

COC

The early birds , Kenny ,Robbie and Cormac had started at 8 with a bin run and met COC , PS, and the convalescent John (SCO) back at the glen at 9 . Scullion true to form caught us up as we headed for fiddlers , top burma and a slide down the mountain to the wall track.

Cormac went off up Sallys like a scalded cat with Kenny in close pursuit doing his best to drop COC . The also rans fought over the leather medal . It got colder and wetter as we neared the mast and here John (sco) , PS and Kenny who were minding themselves dropped down to home . Michelle , Emma and Sharon having issued  fatwas for lateness.

The rest of us headed down to a very damp tunnel , could have done with a mudguard! On to the trails and home by black run ( as least Cormac and Robbie did)

There was some discussion re the inclusiveness of the 2018 calendar and whether ROSSI jerseys should be seen in same. You’ll just have to wait and see.

Route Here