While it could be apathy or contentment but I understand that no ballots will be necessary for the five positions to be filled on the board of 10 at the annual general meeting of the Federation of Irish Cyclists at Malahide on Saturday, November 28th.

When nominations closed there was just one man in for each post and that long serving stalwart Tommy Campbell is not seeking reelection with Frankie Campbell also standing down.

Pat McQuaid stays as president for another year and development officer Dermot Dignam along with Paddy Doran and Peter Purfield, who have responsibility for coaching and mountain bike racing also remain in office.

Although National Bike Day on October 18th was a great success, with the principal organisers Dignam and Paddy Griffin delighted with the numbers that turned out, an earlier date is aimed at for next year. Griffin suggested a Sunday in September but Dignam has an even more enthusiastic idea. He hinted at a Cycling Week in June, encouraging people to ride to work, and build up to a Sunday family outing.

Team Route promote their annual cyclo cross handicap event at Leslie Hill Farm, Ballymoney, tomorrow (12.30) and Wallace McNaul insists that, as usual, only cyclo cross bikes are allowed. It will be over 12 laps of a circuit of just over a kilometre with a free race for under 12s at 12.15.

The Irish cyclo cross championship is listed for Lurgan Park on December 6th.