On a cold and damp January morning, in a windswept farmyard in the shadow of the Comeragh Mountains a wooden door opened just as the first brightness of dawn arrived. Looking accross the yard at a blue Ford 5000 tractor with its white cab, and a perspex rear window slightly ajar, the young man now …
Month: September 2015
What’s it like to visit a cycle show? and what is it like to work at a cycle show? Hopefully these images will give you a glimpse of what it’s like from both sides of the Trade Stand. …
Dawn was awakening over the Bulmers factory as I left Clonmel this morning. My destination of choice was the NEC in Birmingham for Cycle Show UK which opens with a trade day tomorrow and runs until Sunday. I’ll be spending most of my time on the Onda stand, G21 (clothing not motorbikes) so be …
Here is a glimpse of what you can expect to find at the this weeks Cycle Show UK Barry www.thecyclingblog.com
One of the things that I enjoy about modern technology is the photographic capabilities of the iPhone in the back pocket of my cycling jersey. Taking photos whilst out on the bike adds a different dimension to each spin. Whilst the abundance of phones and camera phones has the effect of disassociating spectators from the …
This short video is just 2 1/2 minutes long but might just add a little bit extra to your weekend. Barry www.thecyclingblog.com
One day I was chatting to the volunteer crew on a charity cycle from Cork to Carlow. They mentioned that almost everyone was accounted for aside from one lady who they presumed had gone straight on in Cahir in the direction of Cashel. At least she would be able to make her way from Cashel into …
Conor Dunne and Ryan Mullen were among 13 riders selected by Cycling Ireland for the upcoming UCI World Road Championships later this month in Virginia, USA. An Post star Mullen, who will join WorldTour team, Cannondale-Garmin, next season will be first in action, lining out for the men’s Under 23 World Time Trial on …
One of the greatest pleasures of taking part in any cycling sportive, along with experiencing different roads and scenery is meeting new cyclists and listening to their stories. Last Sunday as we rode along in the Bobby Power Commerative Cycle I began chatting to a former GAA man from Kilmacow who has swapped the hurley …
Like many aspects of life in general there are nuances of riding a bike that are passed down by word of mouth or that some times will be demonstrated . Many are simple things, but if you are never informed, how will you ever know ? Here are my top 10 : 10 : The rear …
One day in Calpe at the An Post ChainReactionCycles early season training camp I was one of a group of five guests who managed to crest the Col De Rates alongside Sean Kelly and face the steep twisting descent on his wheel. Adrian Hedderman, Alastair Irvine, Paul Butler, Johnny Carroll and I were about to …
Getting to work twenty seconds earlier. Running the red light just to have to stop at another a hundred yards up the road. Weaving from lane to lane trying to get ahead of everybody else on the road. Shouting and screaming at anyone who you deem to be in your way or not moving fast …
Friday evening was spent in Portlaw with the Village Wheelers Cycling Club as they selected the items and sizes for their winter order of Sean Kelly ONDA Bikewear. There’s a great atmosphere within the club and I always enjoy each visit. The last time that I was there with Sean we met some of the …
Race against rugby stars Joel Stransky, Paul Wallace, Craig Chalmers, Serge Betsen, cricket legend Allan Lamb and pro-cyclist’s David Millar in the Maserati Team Cycle Challenge. You can either enter your own team of 4 riders or join one of the Celebrity or CygnatureSport teams as an individual! This multi stage 3-day event based out …
Cyclists come in 2 basic forms. Those who love cycling in the hills (Hill-Seekers) and those who don’t, and who would do anything to avoid them (Flat-Liners) If you think about cycling as a metaphor for life what does this mean? How exciting are flat things like flat tyres, flat hair, falling flat on your …
Sometimes a spark of imagination sets off a chain of events that can make big differences. Recently at The Sean Kelly Tour I met up with Paul Carroll from Co. Waterford who has come up with, and put into practice a very clever and charitable idea. One day last October, Paul was driving home when …
Your bicycle is more than just an implement to get you from A to B. Many place a higher value upon their self propelled steed than on their car or sometimes even their home. (Trust me, those people are out there) Whilst much focus is placed upon training regimes and eating habits sometimes the …
Everyone who cycles a bike gets so much from the activity that they very often choose to give something back. In a spirit echoing the movie ‘Pay it Forward’ starring Kevin Spacey, many cyclist choose to help others less fortunate by doing something out of the ordinary. Charity cycles begin at a 10k level and …
Today is Monday September 7th or just plain old 7/9/15. For many the day may go something like this ; Get up, eat breakfast, go to work. Work, drink coffee, work, eat lunch, work, drink coffee, work, go home. Get changed, go training on a road you have been on 1000 times before, shower, eat …
That day came sooner than a fair chance to regain his form would have warranted and Ryan found himself wandering towards the waterfront in Marseille one Tuesday afternoon with a rucksack full of useless cycling gear and a heart full of shattered cycling dreams.