When Will Curtin of the Giant Store in Cork announced that he was running a sportive to raise money to help keep The Junior Tour alive, I immediately wanted to take part. Like many of what could be called the 'baby boomers' of Irish Cycling, I have great memories of my first taste of real…
One of the most iconic days in Irish Cycling history was the second last day of the 1987 Tour de France. Stephen Roche was about to ride himself into the coveted yellow jersey by that evening. With just the ceremonial spin into Paris the following day he would be all but guaranteed to become the…
Jason O'Brien, who took the fantastic shots of the Nissan Classic going up Seskin Hill in 1985 now shares his experience in words of that fateful day. Myself and a school mate (he can be seen in the bottom right of the Roche pic, red hair grey jumper J ) “excused” ourselves from…
After the post on The Nissan Classic - through the eyes of a teenager, other cycling fans have been kind enough to share some of their memories and experiences, plus some great photos for others to enjoy : Dave Allen had this super photo of King Kelly winning the first stage of the first ever…
On a cold and frosty December morning I looked across at the mountain calling A goal was set A challenge was met I was going Carrauntoohiling ! There is a new phenomenon currently taking hold within the cycling World. People choose a climb and ride up and down until they amass a cumulative total of…
No two days are ever the same, especially on a bike. When surrounded by all sorts of characters form all walks of life, by keeping your ears open you never know what gems of wisdom may be imparted. Some snippets sound like sage advice, and are, whilst other nuggets sound crazy at first but then…
Here are a few simple things that anyone can do to improve your bikes performance : Pump your tyres before every ride to a minimum of 100psi and a maximum of 120psi. Sean Kelly uses 120 in the back and 100 on the front. Wash and degrease your bike often. Here's how Lube your chain.…
Stay away from all the Kamikazes. I've had them all my life and still can't get away from them !
I once knew a guy who always dreamed of owning a red Colnago. For non cyclists with more of an interest in cars just replace Colnago with Ferrari and you will get the idea. His dream took a long while to come true but eventually he managed to make it a reality. Along the way…
' 'Degri' put me in to knock a bit of mutton off !'
A number of weeks ago, ten middle aged friends met in a restaurant to catch up for an evening. All are well established in their careers. Most have enjoyed a reasonable amount of proficiency in their chosen sports like Hurling, Soccer, Golf, Rugby, etc. None of the group were cyclists. The food came and went…
Last weekend the first of the Gerard Hartmann performance workshops took place in the University of Limerick. In January I am assisting Gerard in presenting Bespoke Cycling workshops so went along to the Flexibility workshop as a participant. David Campbell, the former Irish 800m and 1500m champion, who works with Gerard in the Hartmann International…
http://youtu.be/6vcZZ6rMIfs Sunday mornings with the Carrick group usually mean the spin around Ballymac. The group often swells to over 50 riders at times before reducing back down again as those looking for a shorter route turn for home. Some venture further on clocking up over 160k each Sunday morning but the average tends to be 100k…
Cycling is often referred to as the new golf. This can be a very broad and general statement when taken on its own. But when you look at reports like the 2013 Resonance Report from the USA below, it's clear that there is a lot of merit within that title. Cycling is much more…
Q : Why did he choose the sprocket that proved to be too low in 1989 World's ? - Eddy Keogh Sean : Stupid mistake ! ...... On previous days there was always a headwind in the finish straight which made the 13 the correct gear for the sprint. That morning it was still a headwind,…
There is a climb that I look across at each morning as I sit and eat breakfast. The road is only visible in places as a blanket of evergreen trees surrounds it all year round. At this time of year headlights glimmer every now and then, as an early morning riser makes their way…
Winter time training is the secret to summer time improvements. Time spent building strength and condition now and learning how to counteract physical imbalances rewards with greater enjoyment, comfort and performance benefits when spring and summer come around again. Injury prevention is another key factor to focus upon. To learn how to counteract physical difficulties that…
Sean Kelly is one of the greatest cyclists in the history of the sport. A man with 193 professional victories to his name. An Icon to many and a hero to all. If you could ask him a question, what would it be ? You can ask your question in the comments section below, or on…
Ireland is full of small village communities. Very often a group of neighbours in a rural village can come together to create something unseen in larger towns and cities. Being in such close contact with your limited amount of neighbours can create bonds that make the impossible seem possible. Ballymacarbery in County Waterford is a…