Monthly Archives: June 2014

  • Checklist – For a one day sportive

      THE ONE DAY SPORTIVE CHECKLIST Feel free to print this off, laminate and keep it in your kit bag. In order to be prepared for all weather conditions and all eventualities you will need the following ; CLOTHING Cotton cap or bandana (keeps the sweat out of your eyes on a hot day) Thermal…

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  • A Cycling Gang – What makes it special ?

    They are your friends who like to watch you suffer but would cycle 20k out of their way to get you home. They will laugh when you fall off but will rush to pick you up. They will slag you off for the smallest infraction but will defend you to the hilt. To a man, and the odd woman, they are the best group that you could ever belong to.

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  • Sean Kellys’ sportive training advice

    With the Sean Kelly Tour coming up at the end of August people are now in training for the big event. Many cyclists have their own way of training. Some will stick regimentally to a training programme whilst others just get out on the bike whenever they can. Twice recently I have heard Sean comment on how…

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  • The Silver Tassie Letterkenny – A cycling hotel

    Donegal is a treasure trove of cycling routes for all levels of cyclists. The hills around Letterkenny have produced Irelands best pure climber and a top professional, Philip Deignan. With incredible scenery and smooth quiet roads, every cyclist will enjoy a visit to the area. For those undertaking a Malin to Mizen challenge, Letterkenny makes…

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  • The Silver Tassie Glenveagh experience

    Glenveagh National Park is the second largest of the six National Parks in Ireland. It took me less than thirty minutes to drive from The Silver Tassie Hotel after a good hearty breakfast to reach the car park and begin my experience of all that the park has to offer. First stop was the impressive…

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  • The Silver Tassie 18k and 27k Leisure routes

    When I mentioned going for a casual cycle in the afternoon, the receptionist in the Silver Tassie Hotel suggested that Ramelton was a very picturesque heritage town nearby, and that Conways pub was always worth a visit. So, off I set.     Just across from the hotel is a road that is a designated…

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  • The Silver Tassie 118k Fanad Cycling Route

    The Silver Tassie Hotel in Letterkenny County Donegal is the first Hotel in Ireland to create Wild Atlantic Way themed rooms. The owner, Rose Blaney is a keen photographer and artist whose works can be seen throughout the hotel. My room was called 'Atlantic waves' and inside along with original photographs and paintings was an…

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  • Jones Engineering Cycling day with Sean Kelly

    Jones Engineering are one of the sponsor names that you will see on the An Post Chainreaction Sean Kelly team jersey. For the past two years they have run a cycling day for employees and clients based in the scenic village of Ballymacarbry at the foot of the Nire Valley. Along with giving employees and clients…

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  • Cycling the quiet roads of West Waterford

    Speaking to former Cycling Ireland president Rory Wyley one day he suggested that I should join him on one of his training spins to see roads down around Dungarvan and beyond that I may never have been on before. I was delighted to tag along. Rory is always a mine of information about the history…

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  • The Bus and the Bike.

    Often a cyclists worst enemy on the roads can be the bus. With their big diesel engines way off down at the rear, the body of the bus is often swooshing up alongside you before you even hear them coming. Often the bus driver is under pressure to be at a destination on time and…

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  • The Dingle Skellig – a cycling hotel

    I recently spent a few days at the Dingle Skellig hotel and spa. As a cyclist your needs are slightly different from the majority of tourists and very often it is the small things that can make a big difference to your stay.     Having a dedicated safe and secure bicycle storage room where…

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  • The Dingle Skellig 112k route.

      The sun was shining down upon the Dingle Skellig Hotel as I set off for another day of exploring what the Dingle peninsula has to offer cyclists. The plan was to visit Inch strand and come back via the Connor pass whilst taking in all of the majestic surroundings of the spectacular Kerry coastline. Just…

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  • Dingle Skellig Family / Leisure Cycling Routes 4k & 18k

    Travelling to the Dingle Skellig Hotel with a  car load of kids, bikes and bags you will happily discover that all of your possible needs will be catered for. With a predominantly car free quayside loop, where everyone can watch local fisherman unload the days catch, before cycling along to a harbour look-out point to keep watch…

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  • Dingle Skellig – Slea Head 44k and 62k Routes

    Upon arriving at the Dingle Skellig Hotel and taking a look at the secure Bike Storage Room, my first instinct was to put on my cycling gear and head out for a spin on my bike. So that's exactly what I did.     Dingle is a very picturesque town built around a harbour on…

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