Some cyclists like to train on busy main roads where a continuous stream of passing cars, trucks and busses help increase their average speeds and get them closer to the coveted Starva KOM. Others prefer to amble along quiet country roads, lanes and bodhreens, looking in over ditches, taking in the scenery that surrounds them.…
You won't find the following in a newspaper supplement, or in very many online resources but for some it might just make the difference between achieving and dreaming when setting your goals for the new year ahead. First, a little background. As I sat on the couch the other evening, sipping a glass of Baileys…
The most common spin ever undertaken on the roads of South Tipperary and North County Waterford is a lap of Ballymac. The 100k route gets it's name from the small village of Ballymacarbry, that signifies the point of no return when starting in Carrick on Suir and going through Clonmel then on to Dungarvan before…
We do not train to avoid pain, we train so that our body and mind learn to tolerate pain. Recently I heard someone say that cycling was meant to be enjoyed, not endured. They were correct, to a point, but the fact is that it is not possible to fully enjoy cycling if you cannot,…
There are two types of bike shops. Those owned and operated by cyclists and those that are just commercial ventures. No prizes for guessing which will give you the best experience. Many of those owner operated shops do a lot more than just sell bikes. Many are a treasure trove of good advice whilst some…
If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change ! This morning when I awoke at 5 am to the sound of rain beating against the window my first thought was - Good! .......... or it should have been........ In fact it was something more along the lines of…
Last week the Dawn Raiders annual trip abroad took place and this years chosen destination was Bormio in the Italian Alps, as opposed to Borneo in South East Asia as one friend thought. The reason for choosing Bormio is because it is situated at the foot of the Stelvio Pass, one of the most famous…
This night next week, on Thursday June 20th a very special free event is taking place in Ryan Motor Power Clonmel. A panel of guest speakers are going to give an insight into what it takes to be successful at every level of your life, all of which will revolve around a sporting theme. The…
Shortly after seeing Sean Kelly in the Nissan Classic as a spotty teenager I decided that I wanted a piece of the action, so realising that I better start doing a few local races first, before the Tour de France, I was invited along by Joe Lonergan to a training spin with his son Bernard.…
The average age of cyclists who wear Lycra in Ireland is currently 42. Take the under 18’s out of that equation and it becomes 46. Let’s call the average 46 year old Irish cyclist Pat. Pat is married to Ailish. They have two kids Michael and Sorcha. There are two cars in their driveway, a…
One aspect of cycling that gets taken for granted and is often overlooked is the importance of how you breathe. You do it non stop, hopefully, but most people don't really think about tuning into what this non stop activity can tell you and how you can improve when you pay attention to it. The…
Some days in winter time you arrive home without any feeling in your feet. They are totally numb and sting like hell when you step into the warm water of your shower. Your hands and fingers too may well suffer from the same affliction. However there are ways to help, and avoid these frosty sensations:…
Today was new bike day. Normally, whenever I get a new bike I prefer to do the first spin solo with just a set of allen keys and a torque key for company, in case any adjustments are needed. The latest addition to the stable is a Giant Contend SL1 Disc. On paper a basic,…
A young boy learns to cycle his bike without stabilisers for the very first time, having tried and tried for months on end. Faint scars on both knees and elbows show just how hard he has tried to reach this milestone without ever even considering that it might not be possible. He now proclaims with…
Recently I was doing a bike fit for a member of the Ambulance service and as we were chatting I became more and more aware of just how important it is for us as cyclists to help ourselves should something happen when we are out there on or off the road. There is a window…
One of the first things that you have to bear in mind when ordering or purchasing a Giant Propel is the difference in frame size compared to other models. These were the words of wisdom that Will Curtin in the Cork Giant Store imparted when I was choosing the next bike to test out. I…
Recently I have been spending a lot of my training time with a group called 'The Dawn Raiders' whose ethos is to get up early, train early , get home early, get brownie points at home early (the brownie points part is not guaranteed but everything else is). This principal carries on into many things,…
Before heading to the airport today I decided to squeeze in a quick spin on the bike. The weather wasn't ideal but I need the training. It's now less than 3 weeks to the Munster 4 Airports Challenge in aid of Touching Hearts and looking at how much training the lads in the Portlaw Village Wheelers…
Have you ever lacked the motivation to get out on your bike on a cold or rainy day? Have you ever sat on the couch watching TV when deep down you knew you should be doing something else? Have you ever been afraid to step onto a weighing scales? Have you ever been frustrated with…
If you don't ask you won't learn is a wise piece of advice that I was once given. Very often I am asked many different questions regarding just about every facet imaginable that is cycling related. Here are just a few examples : Q : What is active recovery ? A : Active recovery means…