A Coastal Run with a Sting in the Tail By Rosemary Gibson

Thurs 30th July 2015.

Tonight's round (15) of the Bike Station League was the much feared Flagstaff route. 33 km in total with a fast, flattish first 29km round the coast from the Ballymac to Carlingford, then a rolling scenic road to Omeath and Davy's Pub. From there a steep climb up to the Flagstaff turn and a brutal and unrelenting last 1.6km up to the finish at the viewpoint. Numbers are dwindling now as we near the end of the league, only three rounds left and the hard core were out tonight trying to collect points. Two Cuchulainn ladies were racing this evening, myself and the lovely and inspirational Celine fresh from her Titanic triumph in Belfast at the weekend.

We lined up at the start and after an (unsuccessful) attempt to unduly influence / threaten / cajole Karl into giving us an extra 20 minutes head start (ah g'wan!) we were off, heads down and tails to the wind, flying along at an average of 35kph and sticking in our tight little group of three. It was a bit touch and go as I found myself clinging on to the back, losing touch periodically and frantically going all out to get back on the wheel. A few well timed shouts of encouragement from the marshals in the race car helped me to refocus! Couldn't hear the words but I got the gist! That's Jason and all his secret Dolomite training for you! After Sunday's marathon rain it was unspeakably pleasant to have a dry road. We got to Carlingford in what seemed like no time and felt the wind a little turning the corner. It lessened though as we came into the shelter of Slieve Foy.

There was excitement in Carlingford when a stray breakaway rider from Group 2 appeared out of nowhere and scattered us like a cat among the pigeons. I scattered backwards and Jamie and Jason went with him for a while but I suspect he may have escaped eventually! So head down again and chasing my group I rode like I stole it and didn't give up. That in itself is a personal victory in my book. I was starting to feel a tiny glimmer of hope for a top ten finish, no one in sight behind, no dreaded orange flashing lights signaling a chasing group on your heels and lying in fourth with only three km to go. I should have known. ..

No sooner had I turned and started the ascent up from Davy's than I was engulfed by a noisy, colourful swarm which was all the groups come together. How anyone can go up there at that speed is beyond my comprehension. Lads, seriously! grin emoticon

So having gone from fourth to fourth last in a space of about 200m the pressure was off. Sigh. Just get to the top.

I was lost in thought (ran out of back wheels to focus on) about why photographers always seem to lurk on nasty climbs when you are in a tunnel of private suffering and really don't want to share the moment, and concluded that it's probably because you are going so slowly that there is more time for the shots, plus a little bit of wanting to catch your expression of unguarded agony. I think the dark moody forest was contributing to this
line of thought.

As I was lost in my musings I heard someone behind me and was delighted to see Celine coming up for the craic. It really warmed my heart to have a companion and a word of encouragement gives hope to the spirit and strength to the legs. We rode up side by side and gave Coraline a salute to Girl Power as we reached the finish line together. Allez les femmes! Results, points and photos will be up on the website and Facebook soon!