Spotlight on cycling clubs in Offaly

Bike Week takes place from the 11th to 19th May 2024. Offaly is hosting a number of events from our inaugural Grand Canal Greenway Relay on Saturday, 18th May to school / club cycle days and lunchtime cycles throughout the week Many thanks to the various cycling clubs across the county who are supporting Bike Week in Offaly. 

If you’re looking to dip your toe into cycling, get back into cycling or get out on your bike more regularly, feel free to link in with any of the local cycling clubs below: -

Team 905, Edenderry

Team905 (so named because the Sunday spins leave Edenderry at 9:05am!) was set up in 2009 and draws its membership from North Offaly and North West Kildare. 

With about 50 members, the regular Sunday morning spins feature routes through Offaly, Kildare, Meath, Westmeath and Laois. Members have also occasionally gone farther afield and cycled the Tour of Flanders; and some of the classic stages of the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España. 

We are always on the lookout for new members and will be announcing spins for beginners on our Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/TeamR905/ - in the near future.

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Grand Canal Wheelers, Daingean

Based in Daingean, the club was formed in 2014. In 2015, the club house, which was the town's former fire station, was opened. 

We are an adult only club participating in road cycles, but with the development of the Grand Canal Greenway, a large number of our members make use of this amenity on a regular basis. 

We run an annual “Peatlands Cycle”, which takes place on the 1st Saturday in May; and funding from this event supports a number of local charities such as the Ken Smollen Food Appeal and the Daingean Lourdes fund. 

We offer “couch to 50km” programmes; and spend the summer months building up our distances so that we can travel to and from our annual club trip by bike.

People can contact us through our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/DaingeanGrandCanalWheelers 
or by email to daingeangrandcanalwheelers@gmail.com 

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Tullamore Cycling & Touring Club

Founded in 1990, though people have been coming to cycle together since the 1970’s in Tullamore, the club meets at the ball alley car park every Saturday at 10am for the coffee spin; and on Sundays at 8:30am for the group spins. During the summer, group spins are also organised on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Groups vary in ability from racing to leisure and everything in between. We cater for racing and cyclocross with the majority of our members cycling socially with the odd sportive thrown in for good measure. We also have an active social side to the club including barbecues, Christmas party, etc. Annually, we host the Pat Colgan Cycle, typically in August, which attracts over 400 cyclists. Last year, we raised €12,000 for local charities as part of this event.

Earlier this year we ran a “get into cycling” programme. This programme included spin classes in the gym to get fit, training spins, and a group ride day. 

People can contact us through our Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/TullamoreCycling. All welcome; and bikes can be provided for people getting started…

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Lynx Cycling Club, Ferbane

Lynx Cycling Club (a play on the word “links”) in Ferbane was established in 2011, after people from various local areas linked together to raise money for charity. 

The club offer opportunities to participate in mountain biking, road racing and recreational cycling; and continues its tradition of taking part in charity cycles and other local cycling events. 

During the summer, meet and spins from Ferbane Business Park take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays; with the club also taking part in a local cycling league on Thursday evenings. A “couch to 50km” programme will also be starting in July

People can contact us through our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/LynxCyclingClub/ or by email to lynxcyclingclub@gmail.com 

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Wolftrap Cyclin Club, Birr

Based in Birr, Wolftrap Cycling Club was established in 2005. Participating in road cycling and mountain biking, the club meets at Horans Shop, Newbridge Street for their spins. 

Starting 16th May, Wolftrap will be running a six week couch to 50k programme for anyone looking to get into cycling or get back on their bike. Contact Marie on 087 4154983 to register for the couch to 50k programme.

For general enquiries on the club, contact Gary Bracken on 086 3580978

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This Bike Week, why not get back out on your bike; “it’s a breeze”