Thanks MAD

[Richie Byrne]

Thanks MAD..
Especially Conor, Fergal and Morgan for organising this spin. Whoever you are, if you are a mountainbiker in Ireland, you owe Peter Purfield and MAD a big thank you, without MAD there never would have been a racing scene or the movers and shakers that exist in the Sport.
MAD set the scene and the standard all the way through the 90's when the sport was developing. The first unofficial trails were built by members of MAD, all the other clubs in Dublin came from ex members.
There was a great group out today but there were also notable absences.
As i am not given to sadness, I won't lie and say its sad they didn't have the respect for the Club to turn up.
A couple of hours paying homage to the Club that started it all wouldn't have killed anybody.
It was great to see so many members of Epic and Imbrc there that would never have been in MAD..I was extremely impressed by the number of EPIC riders who came along.
Only John Pennefather, myself, Darragh Mortimer, Rory Walsh and Mike Jordan were there from the Original Club.
We are a very small community, we should support each other, even out of courtesy.
Well done MAD and I hope you have at least another 20 years.
Richie Byrne
President EPIC mtb ( Former Chairman of MAD)

[Fergal]

thanks lads for coming out - a very impressive turn out from our friends at EPIC and IMBRC, all the trails were in decent condition and it looked like everyone had the craic, though the Kilmashogue fireroad wasn't exactly a laugh a minute but everyone got up regardless and we ended up meeting a few batches of riders when we went back up the aerials a second time
It was great to meet Peter Purfield and hear the stories, great to see 'the old classics' riders like Rory, Mick, Morty, Byrner, John Pennefether (some outfit on the lad!)
We should do that every year

[Conor]

Just to echo what Fergal and Richie said, thanks a million to everyone who made it out this morning. Sure, the Kilmashouge climb was a killer, but it was worth it for all the deadly trails we rode afterwards. All the trails are in tip top condition despite the snow.

Thanks also to Peter Purfield for making it out to see us off. Although I was talking to him for a few minutes before he introduced himself. Lucky, I'm usually polite and so I did'nt say anything stupid!

Thanks again everybody!

[RichardL]

Many thanks for a great spin today lads! Great route and good craic as you'd expect!

[erykkartman]

Thanks lads,
That was great day out,
more spins like that ! :D

[MarkG]

really enjoyed todays spin,great turnout and it moved along nicely
a few photos in black n white, Doh!

[alfie]

great spin today lads,fair play to anybody who turned up its definitely gonna be another twenty years before i cycle up kilmashogue again,that was pure torture the rest of the spin was deadly and really well organised and thanks for having us

[mudslinger]

Great spin today and great turn out.Good steady pace.That first long climb nearly got the better of me.

[Morgan]

Thanks to everyone who came along on the spin. Here are a few photos I took:

http://picasaweb.google.com/morgan.oconnell/MAD20thAnniversarySpin#

Also, check out these photos from Rory of MAD in the early days:

http://picasaweb.google.com/morgan.oconnell/MADPhotos#

[The Happy Fairy]

That looks like it was good crack. Sorry I missed it.

I was supposed to be there, bike in the car gear ready, went to the pub for one with the brother in law and the wifes uncle, staggered in a three in the am reeking of beer and home brew wine, got up at eight to head over, but as the living room spun around me I came to the conclusion I was in no fit state to operate my automobile.

Again sorry I missed it. With luck I’ll be around for the 40th