Queens boulevard in New York was a setting where I often witnessed big strong grown Irishmen reminisce fondly of home, down the neck of a coors lite with a small glint of a tear in their eye at 3am on a Sunday morning. The cause was a 4 minute piece of musical poetry by a…
The winner takes the adulations of the crowd, the money and the glory, but without those who have finished behind there would be no winner. Much is often written and spoken about the winner but what about those who struggle to finish in the bunch or those who eventually make it to the finish…
Own at least one really good pair of cycling shorts Pump your tyres ! Know how to change a tube Wash your bike Wash your bike before bringing it to the bikeshop Wash yourself Wash your helmet and shoes Don't over lubricate your chain Bring home your rubbish Don't fight with cars or trucks, there…
Imagine for a second what happens when a person in an ordinary job gets sick for a few weeks. They take a week or two off work and upon their return, they mind themselves, drink plenty of Lucozade and go to bed early after vegging out in front of the TV for the evening. They…
Thanks to the generosity of a huge number of people throughout Ireland and beyond the goal of raising one euro for every meter climbed to the height of mount Everest has been reached. The effort of the single day climb was pretty tough as detailed here : http://thecyclingblog.com/conquering-everest/ Over the past number of days I have…
Kilkee and the windswept coast of Southern County Clare is famous amongst those who swim, cycle and run for the Triathlon known as 'The Hell of the West'. For those who venture out west on two wheels the area has much to offer, especially if you bring the family along…
After a number of years of restless retirement , Rocky Power finds himself riding down memory lane one afternoon . He had closed the chipper that he now owns for a few hours and headed out on the bike. With no fixed destination in mind, he finds himself cruising through the old neighborhood. He still…
This past weekend I returned to the Kenmare Bay Hotel and this time brought along my family too. It didn't take much persuasion to encourage them to come join me and right from the moment we arrived everyone had a ball. A wise man once told me that the secret to a happy holiday is…
Some bike reviews are based upon a two hour spin up and down a few hills and along a piece of flat road on a sunny Balearic Island. This is not one of those reviews. Over the course of a number of months I have used this bike in many different ways. There is…
The Solas 500 has an epic sound to it. A bit like the Indy 500 Nascar race in America. Whilst there may not be as much horsepower lining up at 12am (that's the middle of the night) this Saturday at the Giants Causeway in Antrim there will be a lot more heart then any race…
We all love cycling because on a bike anything is possible - That was one of many thoughts that passed through my mind last Saturday as I attempted to climb the height of Mount Everest on a bike in a single day. The day began with a beautiful orange sky at 4.45am at the summit…
When you reach the summit of Tickincor at Harneys cross 3 choices await. Turn left, down Boola hill towards Rathgormack. Turn right and follow the route of The Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford down the 8km Mountain road towards Clonmel. Then there is option number 3. The other 2 choices see you travel downhill and…
Training is a funny thing. A few weeks ago I spoke to a friend who had completed the Mallorca 312 in flying shape. His longest training spin in preparation was 3 1/2 hours. He did work to a really good specific programme but I must admit that speaking to him relieved my own anxieties…
Like many cyclists I set goals for myself. The best ones are those with a reason behind them which gives added motivation. Over the years some goals have been achieved whilst others have missed the target but still managed to take me in new and worthwhile directions. This year one of my main goals is…
Last week a group of 25 Adventurers from the Burren Cycling club covered all 2500 kilometers of Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way over the course of just five days. The sights, the sounds, the pain and the exhilaration will all live long in the memories of all who took part in the challenge. You can see…
Over the past two years or so, I have experienced a good deal of what The Wild Atlantic Way has to offer a cyclist. The longest coastal route in the World has spectacular scenery and incredible experiences to offer anyone who prefers to explore on two wheels rather than four. To read…
The danger of radio shows highlighting the plight of poor motorists against inconsiderate and wreckless cyclists is that it creates a mood amongst motorists where they see a cyclist and immediately think 'There's another one of those clowns who think they own the road' and the motorists behaviour is affected by their attitude and dangerous situations are created
Sam was looking good for a great finish today until an Astana jersey decided to play ping pong in the middle of the bunch. Really hope Sam is OK and has a speedy recovery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIMAmVCagPY Barry www.thecyclingblog.com
Cyclists share the roads with many other road users, but of all road users cyclists are the most vulnerable. Walkers and runners spend less time on the road. Usually they face oncoming traffic and can see a potentially dangerous situation as it approaches. They are less likely to have to change course to avoid a…
Over the past few weeks I have noticed the annual phenomenon of MWS appearing on almost every road I travel. Mamils Wearing Shorts appear out of many a byroad as the longer evenings begin. Experienced cyclists are well aware of the potential damage to their knees if they head out on cold mornings or evenings…