Mountain Biking in the Moonlight

Posted on December 1, 2011 @ 9:43 AM in

Who says the day has to end when the sun goes down? It may be dark outside by 5 p.m. but that doesn’t mean you can’t get out and enjoy the great outdoors.

Clearsky Adventure Centre is currently running mountain biking sessions in the dark as part of their Nightriderseries.

The Hoff may not have made an appearance but this didn’t stop the inaugural Nightrider from being a great success!  Guided by the moon and the stars (as well as a few of the latest in technology ultra bright bike lights) enthusiastic mountain bikers of all abilities met at Clearsky HQ in Castle Ward. The centre is situated at the head of the newly opened Mountain Bike Trails which provided the perfect setting for this off road moonlit experience.

OutdoorNI.com caught up with Craig from Belfast to find out how he got on at Clearsky Adventure Centre’s brand new event.

A keen road cyclist, Craig had not been on a mountain bike in seven years.  Previously sticking to bashing out the miles along tarmac roads he decided it was now time for a change.  Intrigued by Nightrider he gathered a few mates together and headed down to Castle Ward.

“I’ve been to Castle Ward before but never with a bike so it was good to try something different” explained Craig. 

You do not have to be an avid mountain biker to take part; in fact you don’t even have to own a mountain bike!  Included in the price of the session Craig was able to rent a top quality VITUS mountain bike from Clearsky’s extensive store.  Proving that this event is for all skill levels he explained “The group was made up of all different abilities but it didn’t matter.  We were taken round the trails so we knew what to expect and then we were given our own freedom to get stuck in.”

Asked how it compared to biking in the daylight Craig responded “Obviously it’s very different in terms of what you can see.  It definitely increases the difficulty of the trails but the challenge was great.”

And the best bit? “The whole thing! The event was very well organised, the bike and equipment were top quality and the people were great craic. My only complaint is that I wish it had lasted longer!”

Craig was keen to recommend the event to others stating that “it doesn’t matter what skill you have because everyone is able to go at their own pace.  I am more used to road cycling however I didn’t have trouble picking it up.  After about 5 minutes to get used to the different bike I was good to go!”

Having experienced the dark depths of the forest trails by bike Craig is already looking forward to the next Nightrider. 

So whether you’re a mountain biking junkie or simply someone wanting to try something completely different this unique activity is sure to fit the bill.  Mountain biking under the moonlight - it’s hard to think of a better way to spend a weekday evening!

OutdoorNI.com Gift Vouchers are now available.  Treat a friend or loved one with an experience they’ll never forget!

Nightrider vouchers are available for her, for him and for couples – a truly unique present!

 

Activity provider:

Clearsky Adventure Centre.

Castle Ward Estate,

Old Farmyard,

Strangford,

Downpatrick,

BT30 7LT

http://www.clearsky-adventure.com/

fun@clearsky-adventure.com

+44(0)28 4372 3933

 

Cost:

£25 - includes mountain bike and light rental as well as entry into the Castle Ward Estate.

£12.50 - includes the hire of bike lights and entry into the Castle Ward Estate.

Normal booking conditions apply.  Subject to availability.

 

 

OutdoorNI.com Does... Mountain Biking in Tollymore

Posted on October 14, 2011 @ 3:15 PM in

OutdoorNI.com Does… Mountain Biking in Tollymore is the latest in our regular blog feature ‘OutdoorNI.com does…’ which is our opportunity to showcase the exciting outdoor activities on offer across Northern Ireland.

OutdoorNI.com’s Chris Armstrong spent an afternoon with friends (Clare and Liam) mountain biking around the new purpose-built trails course and pump track at the Tollymore National Outdoors Centre in the Mourne Mountains; just one of the many Activity Ideas available on OutdoorNI.com.

I will begin by stating that as much as I would love to label myself a hardcore mountain biker, sadly, this is by no means the case. Instead the reality is much less impressive. I would say I’m the definition of a fair weather mountain biker always dreaming of getting myself more involved in this adrenaline activity however if truth be told my bike spends most of the year feeling underappreciated and neglected in a corner of my garage.

The handful of times when I have been out this year has included a blast around the new cross country trails through Castle Ward in County Down and an afternoon testing out my (very limited) tricks and skills on the Blessingbourne Estate pump track in Fivemiletown. From chatting to friends, the natural progression for me was to go and work on my technique on some of the more challenging features at the new Tollymore Mountain Bike Skills Course in the Mourne Mountains.

Located in the grounds of Tollymore’s newly refurbished National Outdoor Centre we arrived and parked in front of the high ropes course where we could see the skills course weaving in and out of the wooded area next to the centre. After paying at reception (£3 per adult, £2 per child) and fixing are bikes up we set off on a quick reccie for our first glimpse of what this 1.5km course had to offer.

First impressions were good. The course rolls really well and all three of us were pleasantly surprised with how much was on offer. The very nature of this compact course means that you are only ever pedalling for a few metres before coming up to your next obstacle. Whether it is rock gardens, rollers or table tops, the course will certainly keep you on your toes.

Consisting of intermediate red loops and a more advanced black route, signage is clear and easy to follow throughout the course. Clare and Liam spent this initial run eying up some of the tastiest drop offs on the menu whereas I was keeping a mental note of a possible route which might give me the best chance of not ‘dropping off’ after our warm up lap.

Needless to say my routes for the afternoon were very much dictated by the red arrows around the course. Technical features are just as abundant on these red loops only not quite as severe as on the blacks - much more suitable for those less experienced mountain bikers. That being said, after my first few loops, even I was managing to pick up a decent head of steam throwing myself around tight corners, between trees and carefully placed boulders.

As for Clare and Liam, the more advanced black loops did not disappoint, delivering some pretty hairy elements for even the most experienced of mountain bikers to conquer. One particular section of log roller which dropped onto a seemingly gravity-defying section of northshore (boardwalk) proved to be Liam’s own personal nemesis for the afternoon!

From the perspective of someone who is quite new to mountain biking, this skills course is challenging and needs to be ridden with caution. Undoubtedly, it is a lot of fun and when you navigate your way along a slippery, wet log roller with just inches on either side of your tyres and realise you’ve made it across - the feeling is hard to beat.

From watching Clare and Liam, I cannot recommend the skills course enough for avid mountain bikers looking to hone their skills and techniques. There is nowhere else in Northern Ireland which has the same shear volume of technical features which will test your bike handling skills right to the limit. Be under no illusions, despite being a short skills course, both routes include some tough sections for bikers of every level.

In conclusion, the skills course is a must for mountain biking enthusiasts looking to fine tune their techniques and under the right supervision is a perfect facility for less experienced and/or younger mountain bikers looking to develop their skills and indeed feel the adrenaline of mountain biking in a safe environment.

The Tollymore Mountain Bike Skills Course is open 7 days a week, year round, from 9.30 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. From May – September, it is also open on Tuesday – Friday evenings until 9.00p.m.

Activity Provider

Tollymore National Outdoor Centre

Cost

£3 per adult, £2 per child

 

A Sea of Cyclists!

Posted on October 13, 2011 @ 10:20 AM in

The Giant's Causeway Coast Sportive was split into three routes, 57km, 126km, and the final “killer” 182km.  Due to my only training being the daily commute, I decided to take the middle option and hope that the hills weren’t too big!

The morning started bright and breezy along the marvellous Ballycastle seafront.  A large marquee pumping out music signalled the registration point, along with a complementary service centre for those last minute fixes and adjustments.  Then at 10:30 we were given our last instructions and released.

The first few km were heading out along the coast in an easterly direction, offering great views of the Atlantic and the sweeping hills in the near distance.  All along the route were either marshals at junctions or clear signage to avoiding any confusion.  The initial few km were a gradual rise before the first big climb at around 16km.  This was tackled in bright sunshine which caused a few problems for those who had dressed for more inclement weather, like myself, and saw many shed their outer layers.  The scenery was spectacular with rolling green hills and a view of the sea never far away.

The first feed station at 22km was a welcome sight and well manned and stocked, with banana, cake and water all on offer as well as the odd word of encouragement.  This stop was situated in a small dip after the climb and offered a fantastic panoramic view of the surrounding hills, forests and valleys, which alone was worth the climb up.   There then followed a long decent from the 350 odd metres gained back down to around 20 metres before the next climb started at 35km.  By this time a welcome light drizzle had started which offered a refreshing change from the warm sunshine.

As the next climb started to bite the groups on the road started to thin out with many riders having settled into their own pace.  Most of the first climbs were around 8km long and although steep in some sections were easily tackled at a steady pace.  Once over this climb the feed station at 49km was another opportunity to take some refreshment on board.  Set in a wooded area, it too was well stocked and marshalled.

By now full on rain had started but even this couldn’t disrupt the craic amongst the riders which mostly centred on the fact that Torr Head was still to be tackled in the last 25km.  Torr Head Road is a legendary road which has accounted for more than one burnt out clutch among the unsuspecting motorist.

As with this entire route the scenery kept pleasing the eye while the hills kept testing the legs.  Then suddenly at 77km we were out of the hills and descending down to the feed station at Glenarm, where on the sea front an enterprising chip van owner had set up and was doing brisk business.  I elected to load up on the bananas and water instead, although the smell was enticing, and then head along the coast along a wind-swept and thankfully flat road heading into the final 54km.  Although flat, the road was very open with a strong head wind but a great view of the sea.  Then suddenly we were heading inland again and a very steep hill was tackled in a downpour which gave a bit of concern on the downhill and a chance to test your brakes.

The final feed was at 104 km and was situated with a view of Torr Head Road in the near distance, on which you could make out the odd cyclist struggling up the incline.  Having stocked up on food and water it was time to tackle the Torr.  I have to admit defeat this time as I was over geared and under trained and ended up walking, along with a few others, up a good part of the hill.  The final few hills along this road were steep but the knowledge that you were almost home give everyone a great spur on.  A final decent along the coast road brought Ballycastle back into view with its sweeping beaches and hilly backdrop and the knowledge that I had made it.

At the finish the music was still pumping out and after collecting a goodie bag, all the cyclists were treated to a very welcome pasta dish which was piping hot and extremely tasty.

I have nothing but praise for this event.  The signage was excellent, the marshalling great,  feed stations at just the right distance, well stocked and manned,  and the route a challenge for cyclists of all abilities.

As the Torr conquered me this time I will be back next year to even the score.

Preview of the Giant's Causeway Coast Sportive

Posted on August 11, 2011 @ 11:18 AM in

Chris Sidwells, a freelance journalist came over to Northern Ireland in June of this year to preview the route for the first ever Giant's Causeway Coast Sportive along with Irish Pro Cyclist Philip Deignan for the UK's best selling cycling magazine Cycling Weekly. Here is what he had to say...

The Giant’s Causeway Coast is one of the best places to ride I’ve ever seen, and the organisers of this cyclosportive have picked three excellent routes.

The first Irish pro to win a Grand Tour stage since Stephen Roche explores the route of a new cyclosportive, and explains to me why he prefers riding on Irish roads to anywhere else in the world.

Where to? A leisurely ride for a top pro on his recovery week from the Giro d’Italia and Tour du Suisse.

Philip Deignan didn’t think twice when the Giant’s Causeway Coast sportive organisers invited him to be the ambassador for their new event. “Riding roads like these are one of the reasons why I returned to Donegal. I was living in Girona, but the 24/7 cycling atmosphere there was beginning to get to me a bit.

“I’m as dedicated as anyone, but it’s nice to get a break when you aren’t racing or training, and that isn’t always possible in Girona with 40 or 50 pro cyclists living there. They are great guys and some of them are my friends, but you can’t go out for lunch or a coffee even without talking cycling.

“Now, though, when I’m home I get to be with friends I’ve known for years but who are outside cycling. I can indulge myself with some track days with my car too, which is something I enjoy. Then there are the roads around where I live. I’ve cycled all over the world, but I enjoy doing it most in Donegal. It rains, but you get used to that, and there’s nowhere better when it’s sunny,” he says.

The Innishowen Penisula of Donegal is the northernmost part of the country, even though it’s not in Northern Ireland, so technically it’s south of the border. I’m standing with Deignan on the Giant’s Causeway, looking across the Atlantic at Innishowen, but we’re in Northern Ireland, which Donegal shares a border with, and Deignan shares an accent.

He’s helping me preview a new event on the sportive calendar, and it’s one that CAAN, the Countryside Access and Activities Network, who are responsible for developing outdoor recreation all across Northern Ireland, hope will attract visitors from mainland UK. The Giant’s Causeway Coast sportive takes place on September 17^th, when three routes of 57, 126 and 182 kilometres will take participants along the spectacular northern Irish coast, taking in the Giant’s Causeway and many amazing sights. The longer routes will journey into the haunting, misty-green Glens of Antrim as well.

It’s a good week for Deignan to do this. He’s kicking back after an extended period of tough racing that included the Giro d’Italia and the Tour du Suisse in quick succession. The peace and quiet of a quick spin along the coast is a welcome contrast to what he’s been through.

Too tough…

“It’s been going that way for awhile, but this year the Giro was almost too hard. It’s unnecessary for them to make it like that. Zomegnan (the organiser) seems to go out of his way to make the Giro harder. Any Grand Tour is hard, they don’t need to be made harder.  The results are the same, you get the same top ten, but for the rest it’s just survival. And it wasn’t just the route this year, the transfers made it tough too.

“The worst thing I saw this year was after the long stage, the one that took over seven hours. I was riding back down the mountain and I noticed there was no grupetto, it was just riders trying to get up the climb as best they could in ones and twos. Some of them couldn’t even pedal, and were being pushed.  There was one guy I saw who was crying. He was slumped on his bike with a spectator walking along, pushing him. The guy couldn’t even pedal,” he says shaking his head.

It sounds like a vision from Hell, and a million miles from where Deignan is today. After freewheeling down to the Causeway he climbs back to Bushmills, heading north towards Benbane Head. A local racer called Nigel Quigly from Bann Wheelers is acting as our guide.

The sites come one after the other. The Carrick-a-rede rope bridge lolls across a terrifying canyon in the cliffs. We go west to Whitepark Bay, where cattle sunbathe on the beach, with not a soul to disturb them. This coast is a jewel waiting to be discovered, and it’s best done by bike.

“Not too many hills, eh?” Deignan says when I stop him to take a picture with Rathlin Island in the background. He’s kidding, because he loves them. Deignan is a climber who won a stage and finished ninth overall in the 2009 Tour of Spain. He’s got the potential do even better.

“That’s the problem though, converting potential into results,” he says. He’s working with a Belgian coach now who also coaches 2010 Tour de France fifth-placer, Jurgen Van Den Brouck. “I do better tests than Van Den Brouck, but he doesn’t fatigue in Grand Tours like I do. The solution is to do 30-hour training, weeks, like Van Den Brouck does. That’s how you get the strength to underpin your potential, but when I try to do 30 hours my performance goes down. It’s very frustrating.”

Deignan and Quigly continue to Ballycastle. The sea is studded with islands. Islay lurks in the misty distance, and the Paps of Jura peep shyly behind it. As the two riders crest a rise before descending to Ballycastle they see mainland Scotland. Kintyre lies like a giant beached whale just 11 miles across the North Channel.

Our route, which is the shortest of the three Giant’s Causeway Coast sportives, turns inland at Ballycastle to Armoy, then ambles back to Bushmills, where Deignan recommends all whisky lovers should visit to the famous distillery. “Try the Black Bush,” he points out knowingly.



Threatened rain has kept off. “It’s the only drawback, but it’s not a problem if you always carry a good rain jacket. If I’ve got big blocks of training to do in the winter I go to Tenerife, but in summer the roads of Donegal suit me perfectly. There are plenty of hills, the roads are heavy, but they’re quiet, peaceful and the views are incredible,” he says.

Bringing Mountain Biking to the Masses

Posted on July 19, 2011 @ 9:10 AM in

This summer looks set to help bring mountain biking to the masses (and families) with the opening of two brand new, purpose built mountain bike trails. June 8th saw the official opening of the new trails down in Blessingbourne, with over 80 guests invited down. The usual suspects invited from Extreme 26, MTB Rider, Bikedock Belles, CCAR, Trailbadger and myself (except I had to pull out at the last minute due to a work meeting ). Promoted as Northern Ireland’s premier Mountain Bike venue, Blessingbourne offers testing single track riding and family friendly route combinations.

Estate owners Nick and Colleen Lowry have been working alongside the Countryside Access and Activities Network (CAAN) to develop nearly 10km of cross-country MTB trails, including a pump track and skills area.

There are nearly 10km of cross-country MTB trails, including a pump track and skills area. The trails genuinely cater for all abilities, with snaking single-track, lots of trail features including jumps, table-tops, berms, rock-gardens and drops; and chicken-runs for the kids and the faint-hearted, of course!

The trail designer was Architrail‘s Phil Saxena, who has designed trails for the Beijing Olympics and the Downhill World Cup, and they were built by Dinsdale Moorland Services, who work alongside Architrail on this and other projects.

The guys at Trailbadger got a preview of the trails before the launch and they have put on their website their thoughts and some important information on the new trails (www.trailbadger.com).

‘The Blessingbourne trails are an excellent start that the NI MTB community have been waiting a long time for. The trails have been expertly designed and built making them ideal for beginners and young families as well as seasoned pros.’

Another long awaited project that is now finished are the MTB trails at Castle Ward (Strangford). Up to 21 miles of new trails within Castle Ward Demesne opened at the start of July 2011 and the word going around is to get yourself, your friends and your family to check them out, because they are great! The trails are designed for walkers, off road cyclists and horse riders and meander through the picturesque parkland, forest and farmland on the shores of Strangford Lough.

Details for both trails (and a lot more trails) can be found on the Trailbadger and CycleNI websites.