Pedal to the metal for group of cycling fans in Loughrea

Talking Sport with Stephen Glennon

IT has been seven years since Seven Springs Cycling Club was founded and since then it would be rare a day goes by without one of their members not to be seen pedalling their way around Loughrea and the surrounding villages and towns.

One of those who has taken up the sport in the last 18 months is their new PRO Colm Riordan and he has taken to it like the proverbial duck to water. In many respects, Riordan is the type of member who typifies what Seven Springs CC is all about.

“When I started cycling about 18 months ago, I would have considered a long spin to be 30km. I suppose, at this stage, I wouldn’t take the bike out of the shed for less than 40km,” he notes ahead of the club’s first group spin for beginners from SuperValu carpark in Loughrea this Sunday morning (9:15am).

“In terms of Sunday, we are thinking of bringing out the group to the (Supermac’s) Plaza which is 8km out and 8km back to start off, just to see how people get on with it. There will be no one out to set any records. The main aim will be to take those people who have never cycled out in a group setting and to show them the basics of what they need to do to be able to cycle in a group safely.”

It was not so long ago that Riordan was a beginner himself and when asked his reason for taking up the sport he gives an answer many people will relate to. “I won’t lie to you,” he says. “The doctor told me to.

“I had bought a bike four or five years ago and I didn’t really do much. Then 12 months ago last Summer at the usual doctor’s check-up, he told me to get my act together. So, I guilted myself into it by buying a better bike and joined the club here in Loughrea.”

A year on, he followed this up last Summer by signing on for a plethora of charity cycles across the country. “I had to do a bit of fundraising for those to make sure I did them because I would be the type of lad who would wake up on a wet morning and decide not to do it,” he laughs.

“So, I did a bit of publicity for four cycles that covered over 500 kilometres and I split it between four charities – Act Meningitis in Tuam, Cancer Care West, the Hospice and Croí. Between the four cycles and the four charities, I raised over €2,500 last Summer.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.