Riders' safety in focus

Club chairman Nat Magee said in the light of what has happened to other cyclists and the relationship with the motorist not seeming to get any better, it is vital that we all know what the law is in relation to cyclists and runners.

Ballymoney Cycling Club also want to liaise with the PSNI before setting out their race calendar, with new young riders wanting to join the club.

Their safety is important and the club feels that the PSNI can be of assistance when it comes to local events.

Ballymoney Cycling Club want to help shift the Mince pies.

The first thing to realise is that cycling is a long-term sport.

Five reasons to cycle

1. Sleep better

An early morning ride might knacker you out in the short term, but it'll help you catch some quality shut-eye when you get back to your pillow. Stanford University School of Medicine researchers asked sedentary insomnia sufferers to cycle for 20-30 minutes every other day. The result? The time required for the insomniacs to fall asleep was reduced by half, and sleep time increased by almost an hour.

2. Look younger

Scientists at Stanford University have found that cycling regularly can protect your skin against the harmful effects of UV radiation and reduce the signs of ageing. Harley Street dermatologist Dr Christopher Rowland Payne explains: "Increased circulation through exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to skin cells more effectively, while ?ushing harmful toxins out. Exercise also creates an ideal environment within the body to optimise collagen production, helping reduce the appearance of wrinkles and speed up the healing process." Don't forget to slap on the factor 30 before you head out, though.

3. Increase your brain power

Need your grey matter to sparkle? Then get pedalling. Researchers from Illinois University found that a ?ve percent improvement in cardio-respiratory ?tness from cycling led to an improvement of up to 15 percent in mental tests. That's because cycling helps build new brain cells in the hippocampus – the region responsible for memory, which deteriorates from the age of 30.

"It boosts blood ?ow and oxygen to the brain, which ?res and regenerates receptors, explaining how exercise helps ward off Alzheimer's," says the study's author, Professor Arthur Kramer.

4. Beat illness

Forget apples, riding's the way to keep the doctor at bay. "Moderate exercise makes immune cells more active, so they're ready to ?ght off infection," says Cath Collins, chief dietician at St George's Hospital in London.

In fact, according to research from the University of North Carolina, people who cycle for 30 minutes, ?ve days a week take about half as many sick days as couch potatoes.

5. Save the planet

Twenty bicycles can be parked in the same space as one car. It takes around ?ve percent of the materials and energy used to make a car to build a bike, and a bike produces zero pollution.

Bikes are efficient, too – you travel around three times as fast as walking for the same amount of energy and, taking into account the 'fuel' you put in your 'engine', you do the equivalent of 2,924 miles to the gallon. You have your weight ratio to thank: you're about six times heavier than your bike, but a car is 20 times heavier than you.

For more tips and information about cycling visit the clubs website on www.ballymoneycyclingclub.com

EGM Club meeting is this Tuesday 5th Jan 2010, at the Joey Dunlop Centre at 7.30pm.

This is another opportunity to register with Ballymoney Cycling Club and enjoy the benefits that brings.

Saturday and Sunday runs leave the town at 9.30 each day, on Saturday the meeting place is at Outdoor Life on Market Street

And on Sunday from the car park at Ballymoney Rugby Club.