La Lanterne Rouge club gets ready for big memorial cycle

23 September 2015

LOUGHINISLAND-BASED La Lanterne Rouge Cycling Club is once again hosting the annual Paul McKibbin Memorial Cycle on Sunday.

Proceeds from the sportive are in aid of Daisy Lodge — Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children. Sign on will open at 9am at Loughinisland GAC clubrooms, 7 Teconnaught Road, Loughinisland.

With two routes to choose from, this fun and challenging cycle ride caters for cyclists of all abilities. Both routes are clearly marked, with plenty of food and water stations to keep you hydrated and fuelled along the way.

The short 48-mile route starts at Loughinisland GAC and will take riders on a scenic tour of South Down in an anti-clockwise direction heading for Annsborough, Castlewellan, Rathfriland, Hilltown, Bryansford and back to Loughinisland GAC.

Feed zones: 1 registration (tea, coffee snacks); 2 Bryansford (water stop, snacks); 3 finish (tea, coffee sandwiches etc.)

The long route of 83 miles is as per the short route, but instead of stopping at Loughinisland on the return leg, it continues on to Annacloy, Downpatrick, Saul, Ballyhornan, Ardglass, Killough, Ballykinler and then back to base at Loughinisland GAC.

Feed zones: 1 registration (tea, coffee snacks); 2 Bryansford (water stop, snacks); 3 Saul GAC Club (tea, coffee snacks); 4 finish (tea, coffee sandwiches etc.)

Both routes are available to be viewed on-line and downloaded to your device if you so wish. The Facebook event page includes links to both routes hosted on Garmin Connect, Strava & Ride with GPS. All riders are encouraged to view the routes in detail, paying close attention to distance and elevation before deciding on the most appropriate route.

The pre-entry fee for the event is £13 for those who hold a current Cycling Ireland licence. Anyone without a Cycling Ireland licence must pay an extra £1 at sign on for a compulsory one day licence, which provides third party and personal accident insurance cover for the day.

Pre-entry for the event will close tomorrow at 23:59hrs. On the day the entry fee will be £15 for those who hold a current Cycling Ireland licence.

If you would like more information please use the following links:

On-Line Entry (via Entry Central): http://www.entrycentral.com/llrcc-paul-mckibbin-2015

Event Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/855308034556894/

Club Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/179637099015/

Each rider must wear a helmet. Vehicle support and mechanic support will be available.

All participants must come prepared with suitable clothing, spare tubes, a pump, drinks, snack bars and / or fruit and ensure that their bike is in proper working order. All distances are approximate.

This is a leisure sportive and not a race, and roads will not be closed, so please exercise caution at all times, and obey the rules of the road.

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