We can now share more details about the 75th anniversary sportive – Journey to the Source of the Lagan. The event will take place on Sunday 23rd June, with sign on in the Odyssey carpark in Belfast from 8am to 9am. The entry fee is £8, which covers the cost of a burger, tea/coffee and buns at the Dromara Football club. The event is a great chance for club members (present and past) to get together for a challenging and scenic day’s riding. Riders need to enter by 16th June so that we can confirm the catering arrangements – either give your money to any member of committee, or make a BACS transfer to the club account (with reference JSL and your name)
Riders will start in small groups (about 10) to avoid inconveniencing walkers on the tow path. Groups will have three options –
- Ride to the lunch stop at Dromara FC, and get a lift home (about 43 miles)
- Ride to the source of the Lagan on the slopes of Slieve Croob (75km), and then back to Dromara FC for lunch, and get a lift home (about 51 miles in total)
- The full ride back to Belfast (75 miles round trip).
Lunch will be at 1pm, so each group/rider should choose a route and start time with the target of getting to Dromara by that time. The early miles are fairly flat, but the route is twisty with lots of junctions so don’t expect a high average speed. The last 5 miles to lunch is a bit hillier, and after Dromara it is a lot hillier 🙂
Each group will have a group leader, who will have a copy of the route and will make sure the group sticks together and is well behaved (especially on the towpath – always give way to walkers)! There is no broom wagon, so all groups need to be self sufficient. If you’d like to offer your services as a group leader for the day, please let Darren or Christine know.
If you want to get a lift home from Dromara you’ll need to organise that yourself. It will be possible to leave cars overnight at Dromara FC – if you want to leave your car down on the Saturday afternoon let us know and we’ll try and help coordinate cars/riders/lifts.
This is a great route, largely on quiet, scenic lanes that most riders won’t have ridden on before. There are options to suit all abilities, and the chance for everyone to meet up and share stories at the lunch stop. We’re hoping to see most of our members out on this special 75th anniversary event.
You can view and download the route on Strava – https://www.strava.com/routes/19175073