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 …
New Years Day is always a time when people are gung ho about making the changes that will improve their life in both small and big ways. It is also the first day that many who have waited with anticipation to launch themselves into their new regime fall by the wayside within hours of beginning. …
Sometimes you look at 2 bikes, which on first inspection seem to have a similar spec and you think to yourself ‘How much difference can their actually be?’ That was my initial reaction when I put the Giant Trance 1 alongside my own 29er dual suspension. The answer that I discovered was quite a lot …
Unless you are a pro riding the Tour de France this is all that you need to know about climbing hills on a bicycle. It is not about weight. It is not about watts. It is not about age, size or shape. To get up and over any climb the most important things are heart …
I like iPhones. I tried switching to a Samsung last year and it lasted about 3 weeks before I went back to an iPhone. Some things you just get used to and there is no getting away from it. Bike computers are like mobile phones and since I got my first Garmin 500 I have …
RTE today released archive news footage from 1985. Included are the reports from each days stage at the Nissan Classic in its’ inaugural year.
‘Get off the road’ is a phrase that every cyclist that spends any amount of time cycling on public roads will be all too familiar with. In general it is voiced with aggression from a passing motorist or passenger. The natural reaction is to react aggressively and to question why should you get off the …
With the road season now drawing to a close many cyclists looking for other options to enjoy their winter cycling and build fitness are faced with a number of different options. Mountain biking is a great way to get out in a very healthy environment and stay fit in a very enjoyable way. This …
This morning as I stood outside a hotel waiting for my lift to the airport I watched the people passing by. Many were on their way to work, some were going shopping, but two really caught my eye. An old man slowly made his way carefully along the cobblestoned footpath. His eyes flicked from looking …
All the time I get asked all types of different cycling questions. Here are just a few. If you have any questions that you would like answered just drop me a line at barry@thecyclingblog.com Q : My day is very full. Where can I get the time to train? A : Get up earlier. Cycle …
Cycling a bike downhill fast is an experience close to flying. With the wind rushing again you, whilst you push your machine and your abilities close to their limits all senses are heightened. You learn to go fast by pushing beyond your comfort zone. You also learn by making mistakes. Sometimes you might overcook it …
Maurice ‘Mo’ Kiely was a larger than life character during his time on this earth. A man with a passion for anything with an engine, especially if that engine was attached to two wheels, he was known and liked far and wide. Sadly his time on earth came to an end far too soon but …