THE QUINTESSENTIAL SUNDAY SPIN
Tough week at work, kids driving you crazy, or simply needing to escape the city; the St Tiernan’s Sunday Spin offers the perfect tonic for those looking to destress at the end of a hard week. So, if you are willing to sacrifice your sacred weekend lie-in, what can you expect? If you’ve never experienced the joy of a Sunday morning spin, here’s what you need to know. Andrew Archer
The Meet
The day begins with the alarm clock’s cruel serenade at 7:30am, or 8:00am for those perennially late arrivals (you know who you are!). You groggily roll out of bed, questioning your life choices, but the promise of camaraderie and pastries propels you forward. You squeeze into your STCC jersey, questioning the sizing of Italian garments, bolt down a coffee and shoot out of the door, wondering what you have forgotten to pack this week.
At the meeting point, you’re greeted by a motley crew of fellow St Tiernan’s. Whilst the route for the day will have been meticulously planned by STCC’s Logistics Department armed with the knowledge of prevailing traffic and weather conditions, it doesn’t stop our overly eager enthusiasts dissecting the route with an offer of better alternatives. After a couple of “Can you wait for me, I got the wrong Car Park?” WhatsApp messages, the ride begins with a flurry of clicking gears and cheerful banter.
El Capitan
Behind every good cycling spin is a good cycling captain, and there is none better in the business than ‘El Capitan’ - Ken Sherry. Through his distinguished career working for a leading online retailer, Ken has learnt the importance of delivering his consignment on time and in one piece.
Ken brings the same discipline and passion to the Sunday spin, and will often be seen lassoing in lone riders, fixing punctures berating persistent half wheelers and ensuring the runt of the litter is never left behind on a cold winter’s day.
Parading Peacocks
Whilst the cycling fraternity has often been mocked for its fashion faux pas, the Sunday Spin offers our more flamboyant members of the club a canvas for self-expression. The unparalleled maestro of style in St Tiernan’s cycling Club is Frank Fahy. Whilst Frank suffers from an unfortunate medical condition which means he is unable to cycle in cold and wet weather, the annual emergence of the sun in April coincides with the release of Frank’s Spring collection, where he can be spotted gliding down the cycling runway in the latest cycling apparel, turning Lycra into art.
Techy Chat
Ambling side by side along the country lanes of Wicklow, the Sunday spin provides an opportunity to natter away with friends putting the worlds to right across a variety of societal, political or sporting matters. It also provides an opportunity for our more technically gifted riders to impart their knowledge to eager apprentices on a range of cycling subjects, such as “Electrical or mechanical shifters?”, “What is the point of waxing a chain?” and my personal favourite: “Are you brave enough to go tubeless?”. Whatever, you need to know about bikes, there’s always a wise old head ready to give a helping hand on a Sunday spin.
Re-Hydration
A Sunday spin without coffee is like Christmas without Turkey – absolutely pointless.
Unless they want a mutiny on their hands, every good Cycling Captain knows that a coffee and cake stop is a pre-requisite of a Sunday spin. On longer summer rides, many Sunday spinners even indulge in a second coffee stop or imbibe with a cooler beverage as a last mile recovery.
Sally-Anne Macintyre, a leading socialite of the Enniskerry coffee scene explains more about the importance of cappuccino hydration- “The humble coffee bean transcends the very essence of a Sunday Spin - it restores our aching bodies and nurtures our flailing souls, providing a beacon of hope for cyclists in their darkest of hours. Woe betides the Brian Hayden’s of this world, who dare come between me and my mid-spin coffee!”
God’s Country
As every St Tiernan knows, we are blessed with the Wicklow Mountains on our doorstep. A lung busting ascent along crumbling roads is never far around the corner in Wicklow, but the reward of a strenuous climb is always a breathtaking vista - with a thrilling descent through verdant countryside or tree-lined roads bathed in dappled sunlight. Whilst a spot of rain can sometimes dampen the spirits, it’s hard to find a more perfect sanctuary for the Sunday spin.
Farewell
With a shot of caffeine and chocolate brownie coursing through the veins, the final few kilometres of the Sunday Spin often descend into a flurry of activity, with Taylors Lane providing an enticing sprint finale. At the top of the hill the team regroup, exhausted and sweaty, but with the knowing look of a great shared experience.
As the spin draws to a close, cyclists inevitably peel off on descent into the city. A chorus of goodbyes can be heard throughout the group, with the familiar echo “Same time next week?”
If you haven’t been out on the bike for a while, dust off your shoes, pump up your tyres and join us for an enjoyable Sunday Spin. Better still, if you have any friends who would be interested in coming out for a ride, bring them along too!
Andrew Archer
