3rd Ballymoney BB meets Ballymoney CC!

Ballymoney CC’s Joan Trengove (Women and Youth Development) and Stuarty Laverty (rising star of Ulster’s youth racing circuit) were invited to join Company members recently to go over the basic safety principles related to bike riding, from properly fitting helmets, proper bike maintenance and checking, to being seen, safe positioning on the roads and hazard awareness.

The Company consisted of ten lads aged 11-18, plus a number of leaders with their bikes, and this was the first week of the badge work which will also cover practical skills of bike cleaning and maintenance. The boys were very interested to learn more about Ballymoney Cycling Club and how they could get involved. The lads participated in the training with great enthusiasm, with many questions being asked, and discussions developing about a range of bike related issues.

There was also much interest in, and talk about different sorts of bicycles and cycling, from mountain biking, to cyclo-cross, time trialling and road racing, all of which can all be pursued through the club.

The evening was such a success that the Company have accepted an invitation from Ballymoney Cycling Club to spend another evening together before Christmas, trying out the community bicycles, along with the specialist Watt bikes and other training equipment based in Dalriada School.

Joan said: “It was great to be invited to spend time with a group of young people so enthusiastic about cycling and I really hope the new links made between 3rd Ballymoney Boys’ Brigade and Ballymoney Cycling Club will continue for many years.

“Stuarty was a great asset too on the night as many of the lads knew him had seen stories of his successes in the paper over the past season. I and other club members would love to do more community development with youth groups and community groups throughout the Borough.

“We have club members who are trained specifically to provide Sprocket Rocket bike skills training to younger children, and lead cycle outings for children and adults with a range of disabilities. It would be great to put our skills to greater use around Ballymoney Borough. We also have the community bikes including tandems, which we would like to be used far more than they have been to date.”

There was also some interest in the Mayor’s Fun Cycle Challenge which started on Saturday and runs for nine weeks. Starting at the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre at 10am, there will be cycle routes for all abilities and all ages with less confident and younger riders being taken on a route around the shared pathways, and eventually over the new shared access Jubilee Bridge when it opens in a few weeks.

Participants who come to the weekly cycles will be treated to a medal presentation in the Mayor’s Parlour in the New Year. Gold, silver and bronze medals will be given to participants dependant on how many of the weekly cycles they participate in.

The indoor facilities based in Dalriada have recently been enhanced with additional turbo trainers being purchased by Ballymoney Cycling Club to accommodate increasing numbers of the racing team and leisure group wishing to train with other club members during the winter months.

In addition to the winter training programme running on Wednesday evenings, there is also a women only training night on Monday evenings for female members of all ages.

Ballymoney Cycling Club welcomes new members of all abilities and cycling interests. Catch up with us on Facebook.