Blog

  • From Roubaix to Rhodes

    Sean Kelly was famous for his ability to triumph over all types of adversity in the very worst conditions. The roughly hewn cobblestones of northern France, especially those in the vicinity of a small town called Roubaix were no match for the hard man from Carrick on Suir. Wind, rain, sleet and snow could not…

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  • Are you stretching enough?

    Cyclists always have the same excuse when it comes to stretching or any form of flexibility training, they don't have the time. Well, like just about everything else in life that time limits are an excuse for, it is not really about not having enough time, it is more about not prioritising it. So, why…

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  • Swinging from the bars

    Next Saturday or Sunday, when you are out on your group spin take note of how people around you are moving their bodies when out of the saddle on any climb. They will be split into two very distinct groups. Those that swing the bars and those that don't. Anyone who spends more than 60…

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  • Who are your 5 people?

    Carrick on Suir has a population of 5000 people. The population of the World is 7.9 Billion. The Tour de France has taken place 110 times. 40 individuals have won the Green Jersey in the Tour de France, as some have won it more than once. Statistically there is a 1 in 158 million chance…

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  • You are what you read

    It is often said that you are what you eat. This is because the fuel that goes into our body has a direct impact on the way we feel and the energy output of our bodies. The same can be said about our minds. You are what you read. If you spend all day looking…

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  • King Kelly roars into Clonmel

    Standing at the edge of the West Gate in Clonmel, an entire Country came to a halt as World Number 1, Sean Kelly, strove for a second consecutive victory in the second ever Nissan Classic. Emotions were running high. Beside me was a local farmer, on the other side was a girl in a Dunnes…

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  • Free Speed

    Paul O'Donovan, the Olympic and World Champion rower once said that rowing is a very simple sport, A to B as fast as you can go, close the eyes and pull like a dog. Whilst this is a very simplified account of what it takes to succeed in rowing, the same sentiments ring true for…

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  • The Greatest Show on Earth

    Their smiles were like umbrellas when it rained and their homemade posters were our tailwinds when facing the harshest headwind. The goodness of those children and their families seeped across into each and every cyclist and member of the support crew, and this created a truly unique atmosphere. One that I have never experience before.

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  • How to choose and use your gears

    Most road bikes nowadays have a multitude of gears, and whilst every bike rider knows that their bike has gears, many are not quite sure how to actually use them. There are a few different types of popular gear systems and in terms of ease of use they can be ranked as follows : SRAM…

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  • Field of Dreams

    The beauty of cycling is that you get to watch epic battles of the elite, the best of the best as they fight it out on the mythical mountains, and then you get to ride up and down those very mountains as a normal everyday cyclist. Scenery so spectacular that it literally takes your breath away is best viewed from the saddle behind a set of handlebars. You can feel the pain of the savage gradients of the mountains throughout your body. You can taste the salty sweat that drips down along your face. You can hear the marmottes calling to each other along with the deep breathing of those other cyclists fighting the mountain beside you.

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  • Catch them and report them!

    At lunchtime today I was out for a quick spin on my bike. As I was coming back towards Clonmel on the Wood road a large truck overtook me. It did the entire process to perfection. The driver indicated and with no oncoming traffic smoothly went right over to the other side of the road…

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  • The Race – preparation

    The race begins the day before. It actually began weeks, months and perhaps years before but that longer timeframe is more about the training involved to get there and best left to your coach, training programme or club. Here we are concerned with just the race itself. The day before you will wash and clean…

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  • The Clean Slate

    One year in the Kiely Cup in Carrick on Suir a certain unnamed local rider chased another local rider when he attacked with 8km to go. I know this because they both told me all about it. One guy sees it as what would have been potentially the biggest win of his career lost due…

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  • The Cadence myth

    The key to gear selection is simple. If your legs are under pressure and your breathing feels OK then change into an easier gear and increase your cadence slightly. If your breathing is under pressure but your legs feel OK then you need to change into a harder gear and lower your cadence to settle your breathing.

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  • How to make 2023 your best year yet

    At this time you may be looking to make 2023 your best year on the bike yet. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or just starting out, there are plenty of ways to up your game and enjoy the many benefits that cycling has to offer. Here are some tips to help you have your best…

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  • Empty dreams

    Cycling is more than a sport, more than a hobby or pass-time. Cycling for those who are consumed by its freedom, and the feeling of being alive that it provides, is a way of life. At times it can feel as important as breathing.

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  • Wright is right and Rog is wrong!

    Cycling Social media is abalze this past few days. The crash of Primoz Roglic in the last 100 meters of Stage 16 of this years Vuelta a Espagna has been dominating the cycling media feeds. Yesterday afternoon, shortly before the finish of the stage, Team Jumbo Visma sent out a press release stating the their…

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  • Balance on and off the bike

    When learning to cycle a bike the very first thing you have to master is balance. Lean too much to the right and you fall over. Lean too much to the left and you fall over. Relax, let the bike just flow beneath you and you quickly develop confidence and it all falls into place.…

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  • Sean Kelly and Sam Bennett – 2 of just 38

    Imagine for a moment, a young soccer fan putting on their kit and heading out onto a pitch for a training session with Ronaldo and Pele. A golfer playing 18 holes with Tiger Woods and Rory McElroy. Or a musician walking out on stage with Bruce Springsteen and Ed Sheeran. If you are a cycling…

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