Dunboyne cyclists together for Bike Week

Inspiration Cycling Club, Dunboyne, recently hosted a community cycle catering for all ages and abilities to celebrate National Bike Week 2011, The cycle route took on three laps of Dunboyne, totalling 13km, and was an ideal route as it offered people the choice of doing one, two or three laps. Entry was free of charge and over 200 cyclists from around the area took part, consisting of leisure and competiitive cyclists, young and old. Despite showers earlier during the day, the weather held up, providing ideal cycling conditions. Following the cycle, children were rewarded with refreshments and such was the success of the event, Inspiration Cycling Club aims to hold similar cycles on the same route later in the summer and throughout the year, which will be advertised locally. The club thanked the local civil defence, the gardai, all the local schools and Dunboyne/Clonee Cycling Club for helping to make their Bike Week event a great success. Although the club is up and running less than two years, it has almost 50 members. The aim is to give youth in Dunboyne the opportunity to try out the sport of cycling. The club organises supervised cycles, departing from Dunboyne Garda Station, every Saturday at 10am and on Wednesdays at 7.30pm. Already some of the junior members are beginning to take part in competitive races with great success; however, the club is primarily aimed at giving the young people involved an enjoyment of the sport and getting them involved in a positive, healthy activity. Earlier this year, as part of Civic Responsibility Week, the youth members undertook a village clean-up to promote the Dunboyne area as a great place to cycle and collected 30 bags of rubbish in just three hours. Members of the club also collected a significant sum for Goal and the Irish Cancer Society earlier this year when seven of the club members cycled with many well-known sports stars in the 'Race the Rás' cycle, which coincided with the An Post Rás 2011. The club is also looking forward to competing in the Meath Heritage Cycle Tour taking place in Trim on 24th July. Although at present the club takes children from 11 or older, it is hoped in the near future to enroll younger children. Anyone interested in joining can find the club on Facebook.com under Inspiration Cycling Club Dunboyne.