(Eds note , you will need to be over 50 to recognise the sound track)
A loud cheer went up as Pat Dunbar appeared this morning , its a long time since this goliath of the cycling world deemed us worthy , however our joy was short lived as he nipped up to Batts wall and away from our route . A good turnout even allowing for Pat’s departure , Kenny , Tim , PS , Eamon < COC, Herself and Brian( and before you ask, yes he was late) .
Kenny called the route , Giants pad , Fallow , Reverse Formal, Road , Kilfeghan , gate , bath , col, Post , Ballynagelty , fiddlers and home .
the reverse formal is just as hard as the forward formal , very little path , enormous sheuchs , babys heads, blood sucking midges and bogs . Very technical but still about 75% rideable . It is however real mountain biking , the virtues of which have lately been extolled by none other than big Dave himself.
The descent off formal from the cairn is nothing short of fantastic , even Kenny was smiling . The climb back up from Kilfeghan especially to the gate proved too much for some and the path up to bath is a real tester even in the dry .
Kenny and Brian then successfully navigated us over to post despite the mist and the naysayers ,,,, ” you’re too high , too low etc” .
Mighty climb of Ballynagelty cairn by only doc lewis and the fantastic descent all the way home .
I’m not really missing the road at all !
Top marks to dan duffy in the fondo ..Mighty time ! I predict a sub 4 hr thriller .
Next week probably Carling ford , keep an eye on the facebook page .