After my recent tour around Ards I signed up for the Glens coastal challenge from Larne to Cushendun and back.  This was a charity event in aid of Make A Difference.

I stripped off my rack, sprayed oil on my chain and donned lycra to give me an FCN 8 or so (including beard)  This time I was accompanied by JT – same starting FCN same but with flats and baggies giving FCN 10.

Sign Up

Sign up was not as easy as it could have been – there was no online option, although online payment was available through paypal.

In fact, the whole online experience was fairly shoddy.  The top search in Google was last years event on cycle NI with links to last years registration forms that had the wrong start time.

The lack of online was apparent on the morning when most people seemed to be signing up at registration.

The route

The route was simple – Larne to Cushendun and back.  If you took a wrong turn you would be either in a field going up a cliff or in the sea.

Runkeeper let me down and only recorded the first section.  Until they mend the damn thing you’ll have to go to there site to view.

The start

Plenty of parking at the start and sign up and registration pretty well organised.

Start was un-marshalled but Larne was pretty quiet so presented no issue.

Outward

JT and I agreed to stick to around 16-18mph so we flew out of Larne at 21-23.  We could see a large peloton ahead but, despite working our way through the field, we never caught them. 

After 17 miles or so we were well and truly dropped by one group but then got in the middle of a nice large group doing 22 miles per hour or so.  With good company and some club riders up fronting taking the air we stuck with them.

As usual a casual guy on a mountain bike dropped the whole bunch without breaking too much sweat.

This group split on the hills between Cushendall and Cushendun, with JT in the front group so I had to work hard to catch him.

Journey time was about 1 hour 30 and we averaged just under 20 miles per hour.

Lunch

Hot soup, roll, water, mars bar and of course a banana.

Very welcome.  There was also a family day out with bouncy castles etc. – which looked good for kids and families wishing to join.

Return

I was feeling somewhat tired on the return and the strong headwind was not going to help.

We looked for a group to join and when one sped past JT managed to hook up with them but I failed to wake up!  We took a break in Carnlough and then jumped quickly back on to try and catch the same group as we used on the way out.  Again JT managed to catch them but I didn’t.

We then hooked up with three fast movers.  They were switching front runners frequently.  About 5 miles from Larne they dropped me.  JT stuck with them and I waved him on.  He got in 5 minutes or so before me.

Journey time about 1 hour 55 minutes, average speed just over 15 miles per hour.

Verdict

Beautiful scenery, helped by a dry day, and a largely flat ride.  Good crowd (500 or so).  Could improve there online presence.