Brakes may have been pulled on the annual ‘When In Doubt Pedal It Out’ mental health awareness cycle last year but it’s all systems go with wheels pumped and ready to pound the roads of Clare this Sunday (October 24th).
Pedalling the message that exercise is a key component in positive mental health is one of the main motives of the event which first began three years ago.
10am is the start time on Sunday from Clarecastle GAA club. A slight change to the route will see cyclists strike out the Kildysart Rd as far as Drumquin before turning down towards the Fergus Estuary and back to Clarecastle. From here, they will travel to Latoon and pass through Balllygirreen and Urlanmore onto the old main Limerick Rd.
A cross-country aspect follows along the Newmarket-on-Fergus and Sixmilebridge border and then onto Ballycar with the final leg through Quin into Clarecastle.
Clare Cycle Safety are assisted by the Ennis Municipal District with sponsorship. Marshalling will be provided by volunteers with members of An Garda Síochána and Clare Civil Defence to assist.
Clarecastle’s Paul Murphy is part of the organising committee and highlighted the benefits of activities such as cycling in promoting a positive mindset. “Since we first ran this event three years ago our mantra has been ‘When In Doubt, Pedal It Out’, this may sound corny but it has been scientifically proven that regular exercise is key in having positive mental health and this is all the more important with the onset of winter and the shortening of daylight hours”.
Registration for Sunday’s event costs €10 for Cycling Ireland members and €20 for non-members, a link to register is available on Clare Cycle Safety’s Facebook page.
Murphy added, “All funds raised from the event will go to local mental health associations and we are proud to say that we’ve given financial assistance to some very worthwhile local initiatives. Mental health week took place recently and we would like to commend the associations in Clare that ran some very worthwhile events”.
