Racing Through the Night: 24 Hours with Women’s Cycling Ulster at Mondello
Blog Post by Catriona Wheeler:
A few weeks ago, I had the incredible experience of taking part in the Mondello 24-Hour race with Women’s Cycling Ulster—an unforgettable test of endurance, grit, and a whole lot of midnight snacks.
We rolled up to the track as three teams of 8 women—well, 7 in our case—and got ready to take on the challenge: a full day and night of continuous riding in 30-minute stints. Sounds simple on paper. In reality? A blend of adrenaline, sleep deprivation, and surprisingly high spirits at 3am.
What made it even more special for me was taking on the race aboard the new Fustle Lakelander. This bike was an absolute dream—smooth, responsive, and totally in its element, lap after lap. It held up beautifully through the dark hours, the windy corners, and even the slightly wobbly, sleep-deprived dawn laps.
Each rider on our team brought their own strength and energy to the race, and we quickly fell into a rhythm—riding hard, resting harder, and cheering each other on like mad. The camaraderie among all the teams was something else. Whether it was passing high-fives in the pit lane or sharing warm coffee and weary laughs, the support never wavered.
The real test came in the wee hours. Trying to stay awake between rides when your body just wants a warm bed is no joke. But somehow, between the buzz of the event, our collective motivation, and the odd caffeine boost, we pushed through. By sunrise, we were running on fumes—but also pride, determination, and a healthy dose of team spirit.
Crossing the final finish line was pure magic. We’d done it. 24 hours, hundreds of kilometres, and one very happy team (albeit slightly broken and desperate for showers).
Massive shoutout to the incredible ladies of Women’s Cycling Ulster for making this event so inspiring and fun, and to Fustle for creating a bike that truly delivered when it counted most.
Catriona
To find out more about Womens Cycling Ulster events and rides, check out their website: https://www.cyclingulster.com/women-news/
