My Simply Cycling Experience….. by Dave Curran

While lying on a beach in Sicily, I grabbed my phone and began to trawl the Ratoath Noticeboard and various club websites of the surrounding area. I had decided that there must be something interesting for a 61 year old retiree to while away a few leisurely hours during the week and to maybe even meet a few new people.

Ratoath Wheelers were happy to welcome a novice cyclist to join their Simply Cycling programme. As I was on holiday when the programme began, I actually joined the programme in week three of a six-week course. So it was on a bright Saturday morning in early August 2022, I presented myself to a group of about sixteen people at the Ratoath GAA club car park.

Most of the assembly were like me, people who had never cycled competitively but knew how to ride a bike and were intent on improving their fitness and perhaps joining a club with an emphasis on the social aspects of sport, rather than fostering the ambitions of those who wished to improve their athleticism.

The participants who had previously attended the Simply Cycling sessions knew their allocated groups and their group leaders. However, as a ‘newbie’ I joined a group led by Chris and Andy, two of the club members. I was reassured when the lads conducted a safety check on my bike, this to ensure its road worthiness and that it was generally fit for purpose.

Thereafter we all gathered around Chris, who provided us with an overview of the planned route for that day’s spin and also provided some invaluable road safety advice prior to departure. As an absolute beginner some of this data did not seem very relevant to me, however as we departed in our groups I quickly learned the importance of wind strength, wind direction and cycling etiquette when riding in a large group.

As we set off, I asked if we were really expected to cycle twenty-five kilometres in a morning, “Don’t worry about the distance, you’ve got plenty in your legs, let’s go” said Chris, who also advised that we would ride at a comfortable pace that would allow us to chat without becoming breathless.

Chris was correct, the entire group successfully completed the twenty-five kilometres and went on to complete the Simply Cycling programme three weeks later. The success of the programme was celebrated one evening with a BBQ and prize giving ceremony!

Joining the Simply Cycling programme has not changed my life but it has enhanced my enjoyment of life and I would encourage all to sign up and enjoy the outdoors, together with the health benefits that accrue from taking up cycling.

This year’s Simply Cycling Beginners Programme will run from Sunday, April 16th until May 21st, and you can find more information here