The club charity cycle ‘Slí na Ríochta’ or ‘The Kingdom Tour’ was launched on Sunday with a quick photo session for the papparazzi, followed by a tough spin around Kerry Head, over to Causeway and back to base in Tralee. Many started the spin with enthusiasm (was it the prospect of tackling the pavé of Ballyheigue, or was it the appearance of the long awaited sunshine on the melting tarmac…….or maybe, just maybe,  it may have been the prospect of meeting some of our new club members???)  We’ll keep the answer to that one in-house!

On the 10th June, Slí na Ríochta 2012 will take riders through 100 kilometres of some of the most scenic parts of the McGillicuddy Reeks, Ireland’s highest mountain range, and around Lough Brin and Caragh Lake.  Slí na Ríochta (The Kingdom Tour) will be a seriously good warm-up for the ‘Ring of Kerry’ Charity Cycle to be held three weeks later,  and will be based in Beaufort.  The sole beneficiary of Slí na Ríochta is ‘The Myelin Project’, which is an international non-profit charity.  Established in 1989, it aims to fund research to find a cure for demyelinating diseases. Founded by Augusto and Michaela Odone for their son, Lorenzo, who suffered from X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), the most common of the leukodystrophies.

A multinational gathering of families joined the Odones in their efforts. Stricken by one or another of the demyelinating diseases, they refused to be passive victims by encouraging cooperation among researchers, and by providing scientists with funding for translational and clinical research. While The Myelin Project has taken the conventional steps to advance remyelination research, it has taken the unconventional step of encouraging direct interaction between families and scientists;they continuously remind the scientists that there are people waiting for effective treatments.

Myelin is the fatty sheath coating  nerves; and is required to allow efficient conduction of nerve impulses. Research has been focused on efforts to understand mechanisms of myelin repair, with a view to discovering therapies that will permit restoration of damaged myelin. It is anticipated that these will permit at least partial restoration of function in patients suffering from myelin loss. The story of the Odones’ struggle was dramatized in the motion picture “Lorenzo’s Oil”, starring Nick Nolte and Susan Sarandon, released by Universal Studios in 1992.  Lorenzo, who was six when diagnosed with ALD was expected to survive for a year or two, however despite this terrible prognosis survived to see his 30th birthday, before finally succoming to his illness the following day.

Tralee Cycling Club has agreed First Aid/Medical back-up with ‘The Red Cross’.  Sign-on for the event will commence at 9a.m. at Beaufort GAA Clubrooms, and the following issues for participants will be dealt with at this point;  Sign-on, Cycling Ireland license check, Myelin Project donations and admission fee received, Route confirmation issued, Safety instructions issued, Helmet and bike check, Support wagon/Medical back-up confirmed. A number of Tralee CC Motorcycle Marshals will ride ahead of the cyclists, and assist in warning other road users of the cyclists which would be about to pass by.   They will wait at road junctions and stop traffic if required.  These marshals will be suitably attired in high-visibility vests. 

A Tralee CC ‘pace-car’ will drive ahead of the front riders.  This car will have warning lights in use.  Two Tralee CC riders will follow the pace car at a distance and warn the following ‘peloton’ of road obstacles such as pot-holes, gravel etc.  All participants will be asked to pass on such visual and/or audible warnings which they receive to the riders behind them.  Tralee CC riders will be available on-route and positioned at intervals within the peloton to assist any participants who run into difficulty.  The last riders will be followed by a ‘Red Cross’ ambulance and 4×4 vehicle.  The last car, provided by Tralee CC, will act as ‘Broom Wagon’, and will provide technical assistance if required.

It will be the responsibility of each participant to cycle in a safe manner, and with regard to the rules of the road.  This point will be stressed to each cyclist, and known dangers on the road ahead will be highlighted before departing Beaufort. The route will be sign-posted with specific Tralee CC signage.  The pace of the cycle will be strictly maintained to ensure that the peloton stays ‘relatively’ compact depending on the road conditions; riders ascending or descending climbs etc. 

There will be two rest-stops to allow riders to recover, eat and re-hydrate.  These will be located in ‘The Black Valley’, before the climb to Moll’s Gap, and at ‘The Climbers Inn’ at Glencar.  Refreshments such as water, bananas’, energy bars and gels etc will be available from the pace-car at each stop.  All waste/refuse will be collected at the rest stops and brought away in the pace car. On returning to Beaufort all riders will be counted and shower/changing facilities will be provided.  The cycle will  finish approximately at 4:30pm.  Post-cycle refreshments will be provided, and certificates awarded to all participants. 

Tralee CC has travelled the route by bicycle and noted the following areas of concern, which in the interest of safety we would like to highlight to all participants.  The road up the Gap of Dunloe is in poor condition, with pot-holes and gravel scattered across its surface.  The descent from the Gap is over a road with some gravel and grass on the crest.  Two hair-pin bends must be negotiated at slow speed.  The junction with the main Killarney to Kenmare road at Moll’s Gap will be marshaled well, as cyclists will be required to cross over to the far side of this from the road ascending from The Black Valley.  Similar stewarding will be required at the exit off this road when the riders turn for Ballaghbeama.  Stewarding will be at the north end of Caragh Lake, at the Quaybaun junction with the Ring of Kerry road and at Ardmoneel outside Killorglin where the riders will take two turns east for Beaufort.

All of the above hazards will be highlighted to the participants on the day, appropriate action will be taken on-route, and stewarding will be in place at junctions to ensure safety.  Warning signage will be in place to warn of the need to slow down or avoid obstacles.  Direction signs will be erected in the days’ preceding the event.  These will be removed immediately after the last rider has passed each one by the broom wagon. For further information on the event you can contact:   Richard McElligott (Tralee CC Secretary) at info@richardmc.com or 087 6370738 and Aidan O’Dowd (Safety / Medical Officer) at 087 2719902

The finalised route can be seen at http://www.bikemap.net/route/1587051

The order for club gear has been submitted and everything ordered is included on the list (in PDF) below.  Please check that your order is correct.  If we need to amend or add to the list we can do so.

May-2012-order

Round 1 of the County Road Race Series took the club representatives to Killorglin and a circuit which started at Ardmoneel and proceeded to Groin-Ownagarry Bridge-Meanus-Annadale before returning to Ardmoneel .  Billy Casey took part in the Under 12 race which was run over the 6.2 mile circuit, and was beaten into a creditable third position in the sprint finish.  Dick McElligott rode the 31 mile senior race and came in just behind the lead group.  The County TT League continues next Thursday and the Road Race Series heads for Killarney on the 31st May.  The schedule of upcoming events is as follows:

Thursday 24th May   Time Trial – Ballycarthy Roundabout – Promoter Peter Whyte 
Thursday 31st May   Road Race – Promoter Killarney CC 
Thursday 7th June   Time Trial – Ballycarthy Roundabout – Promoter Peter Whyte 
Thursday 14th June   Road Race – Promoter Currow CC 
Thursday 21st June   Time Trial – Ballycarthy Roundabout – Promoter Peter Whyte 
Thursday 28th June   Road Race – Promoter Tralee Manor West Hotel BC 
Thursday 5th July   Time Trial – Ballycarthy Roundabout – Promoter Peter Whyte
Thursday 12th July   Road Race – Promoter Killorglin CC 
Thursday 19th July   Time Trial – Ballycarthy Roundabout – Promoter Peter Whyte 
Thursday 26th July   Road Race – Promoter Tralee Lee Strand CC

Welcome to all our latest big money summer signings.  Personal terms have been agreed at last with Kieran O’Callaghan.  He drives a hard bargain!!!  Paul McMahon, the man- mountain will provide plenty of draughting for the lucky cyclist following him….that is IF he can stay on Pauls wheel!!!  And to keep Joan Burton happy, in order to keep a gender balance within the club, we decided to overlook Judith Arndt and Marianne Voss this season, so as to afford our latest signings Adeline Fahey (below left) and Deirdre O’Halloran (Right)  Welcome aboard everyone.

Adeline and Deirdre - signing on the dotted line.

Please check the order below, to be placed this evening (14/5/2012), to make sure we have included everything required.

May 2012 order

Order PDF