With blue skies, little to no wind, and temperatures reaching a high off 22 degrees the conditions where perfect for the 110 cyclists who signed on for the 2011 Four Masters Cycling Club annual Poison Glen Tour
Rolling out of Letterkenny shortly after 9.30am the group headed for Kilmacrennan via Trentagh at a controlled pace of app 16 mph. With everyone safely through the village of Kilmacrennan it was on towards Glenveagh National Park before turning right to tackle the first major climb of the day, Muckish Gap. With everyone getting into their own rhythm is was not long until everyone had successfully summated the climb and they where glad of the fast twisting decent down into Falcarragh, where our neighbouring club Errigal CC done a great job to get us though the town safely. 
With one big group once again it was a controlled pace down into Gortahork. Once through Gortahork the pace was increased to drip feed the group into An Chuirt Hotel in Dunlewy for a well earned break and a club of tea.
With bellies filled and water bottles topped up everyone left An Chuirt at their own pace and headed back to Dunlewy and right towards Errigal to tackle the 2nd and toughest climb of the day. Climbing over Errigal mountain the cyclists had fantastic views of the Poison Glen down to their right, and the majestic Errigal mountain to their left. After a 4 mile climb there was a welcomed flat section of road before a fast descent down into Glenveagh National Park once again and then a right turn towards Gartan Lake.
Arriving at the edge of Gartan Lake the 3rd and final climb of the day stung like hell, with riders being spread for the entire length of the climb. Reaching Churchill it was a flat ride back into Letterkenny where everyone had a welcomed shower and refreshments.
Four Masters Cycling club would like to thank all cyclists who took part in todays fun event and would like to thank them for their behaviour on the roads. The club would also like to thank, Letterkenny Community Centre for the use of the premises, An Chuirt Hotel for the feed station, Paul Devenney for his great work in getting everyone around safely, Seamus O Donnell, Seamus Connolly, Martin Mc Devitt, Cathal Mc Daid and Damien Tourish for their help on the road, and Michelle Connolly for the superb food at the finish.
The next Four Masters Touring event is the Tour of South Donegal which takes place from Donegal Town in September and we will have more details of that event on the club website soon.