Pleasure Team Pride

 

In cycling terms, the Pleasure Team is sometimes seen as the ‘poor cousin’, the last refuge for the failed cyclist, the old, the injured, the females, or as a nursery for the beginners.  For some, the Pleasure Team is even an embarrassment, they’d much rather cycle alone than be spotted in the ranks of the Pleasure Team.  However, such negative attitudes are only held by those who don’t understand the ethos of the Pleasure team and are never held by any of those Wheelers who have spent time in the Pleasure Team ranks even if it was only a short time.

In reality the Pleasure Team are the “keepers of the flame”.  We keep alive that tradition around the Island Wheelers was formed all those years ago, that is “to provide a gateway for every Tom, Dick and Helen to take up and enjoy cycling without necessarily having come from a cycling or fitness background.”  The only requirement is that they turn up regularly and make an effort.

Over the past few years the Pleasure Team has had a lot to be proud of.  Several cyclists, for whom the Pleasure Team provided the ‘gateway’, have gone on to be key members of the Island Wheeler committee or have become top racing cyclists within the club.

Some people stay within the ranks of the Pleasure Team and are more than happy to encourage others; some spend time learning the skills and improving their fitness and then move on; others return at regular intervals each year and play their part; while others just turn up to support Pleasure Team events, but all are welcomed and embraced. In the past couple of years some of those who have played their part in the Pleasure Team include:

• Gerard, Marion and cousin Kris.
• Sheena, Eddie and Martin O Donnell.
• Brian McAllister, Gary Rafferty and Tony McNamee.
• Alan Green, Dwyer O Hagan and his brother John.
• Nigel Flannigan, Kevin O Donnell and the German Valentine.
• Brian Gervin, Declan McShane and big Dermot Donaghey.
• Gareth Donnelly, Paul Hackett, Sean Jordan and the brothers Ciaran and Martin Talbot.
• Paul Hughes, Ronan Murphy and Richard O Loane.
• The young couple Michael and Clare, and on occasions Eamon Higgins and Mark Cullen,

While Barry Hayes and Jim Kelly are the latest recruits.

This is not a bad record for this vicinity.  The Pleasure Team would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Big Dermot on becoming Big Daddy. We wish him, Leanne and baby Flynn all the best for the future.

by Gerard Scott