On Saturday 18 June 2011 Harps Cycling Club hosted a new off-road cycling event, the Sperrin MTB Sportive, which attracted 74 riders from various cycling backgrounds. Headquarters was based in the GAA club in Lissan, Churchtown which has excellent parking, bike wash, showers and function rooms. Sign-on was open between 8 am and 9 am with riders then able to start whenever they were ready. The day started dry with light clouds and warm sunshine peaking through.
There were two routes on offer, a 20 km and a 40 km. The 20 km essentially missed out the climb up Slieve Gallion. For those who did choose the 40 km option, the route started out fairly gently along the Letteran Road before coming to some road marking pointing left. Once you turned left you were climbing, up to the Tintagh peak, for approximately 45 minutes. Once up on top the riders were able to follow yellow marker posts across the top of the mountain towards the Glenarudda peak. The terrain was a mixture of hard packed gravel, heather and bog with some spectacular views. There was a fast, fun downhill section but this was not the last of the climbing. There were a few more rises to get over before getting back down to tarmac roads. Both routes then headed for Davagh Forest with a super loop incorporating sections of the mountain bike race circuit used for the National Point Series back at the start of May. The route through the forest was fast and flowing and the trails were in excellent condition. The sun was shining brightly again in Davagh which seems to always happen when there is a mountain bike event on in the forest.
Riders then returned to base along the Ballynagilly Road where there was heavy traffic of the four legged kind, but as this event was not a race the riders were in no hurry to get by. Once clear of the 'traffic' the was a fast downhill but then the terrain changed and, just to see if there was any strength left in the legs, there was a tight 'stinger' of a climb just before the finish.
Once back to the GAA club the riders were able to tuck into a great spread of food, sandwiches, buns, cakes washed down with lots of tea and coffee as well as getting body and bike washed for the journey home.
Well done to Harps CC for putting on an excellent event. All those attending seemed very keen to do this again.
Report and pictures by Martin Grimley
