Sprinters are a rare breed. Off the bike some can be brash and overconfident, but the majority tend to be softly spoken and gentle creatures. However, when you put either kind on a bicycle within sight of a finish line they become ferocious raging animals, gladiators fighting as if their lives depended upon crossing that…
What cycling was like before Strava : Cycling due to the individuality of the sport and the competitive nature of bike racing in general is often seen to be a discipline where to win at all costs is the only thing that matters. For sure, in the heat of battle when the line is in…
The amount of talent needed to be a cyclist Cycling, as a sport is often referred to as being addictive, or as one former Ras stage winner put it whilst under the influence of Arthur's finest Guinness 'you'll never love your wife as much as you love cycling !'. This statement was replied to with…
How to ride a sportive Many cyclists take up the sport with the intention of just ‘getting a bit fit’. Within a short space of time they are amazed at how much their fitness has improved. Next up on the horizon comes the local charity cycle and very shortly after that a 100k event. Within…
At a time when cycling wristwatches are becoming more and more like laptops combined with mobile tracking and health monitoring devices it can be nice to get back to basics and to have something on your wrist the just tells the time and that you like the look of. This watch from the Camden watch…
How to go faster with less effort Most cyclists want to go a little faster, but without using any more energy or effort. Here are 7 ways to help you on your way: 1 : Increase your cadence : Many cyclists depend on their strength and power to get them around in a slightly inefficient…
How to lose weight I often hear people say that they cycle because they like to eat and cycling is a good way to burn off excess calories so they can pretty much eat what they like as long as they train enough. This poses one slight problem. Consider what happens if you put…
The Key to Success : Why are there pockets of cycling talent throughout the country? What is it that those who win races, or who achieve incredible feats on a bicycle all have in common? There must be a simple answer to these questions, and there is. Back in the late eighties, and throughout the…
At a guess I would estimate that I have probably changed over 10,000 tubes at this stage so have managed to get quicker at doing it over time. Here is an example : https://youtu.be/ykFbbLm3pow Barry www.thecyclingblog.com
How to deal with pain Pain in your feet : Your shoe straps are too tight. Your cleats are too far forward. Slide them back 2mm or less at a time. You may need orthotics. Pain in your achilles tendon : Your saddle is too low and your heel is dropping too much putting extra strain…
You have to own it, not bemoan it ! How many times have we all done it, made an excuse for a poor performance and blamed anything and everything other than ourselves. The list could be any of the following : If only I hadn't punctured If only my teammates hadn't chased me If only…
Just like most cyclists I have a range of rucksacks and gear bags. Some are souvenirs from events, others were purchased with a special purpose in mind that became soon forgotten, but I still usually find myself with one over my shoulder. Recently I was sent a Knomo Cromwell bag to try out and…
When a child gets sick everything in life gets put into perspective. When a child is hospitalised all other concerns disappear. Portlaw cyclist Dermot Cullen and his wife Louise found themselves in that situation when their daughter Layla needed to be hospitalised in Crumlin children's hospital a while back. Thankfully Layla made a good recovery…
This morning was a great morning to be out with the Carrick Dole gang. The Dole gang gained their title during the recession when jobs were scarce in Carrick, but whilst the name remains, most members are now gainfully employed once again. Some now work shifts whilst others work Saturdays in order to have their…
Last week the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors called for Hi Viz clothing to be made compulsory for all Irish cyclists. This seems to have been a token gesture without very much effort going in to the reasoning behind it. Those who do not cycle, complain when they see a cyclist who does not…
I remember a few years ago on a winter training spin one of the lads in the group mentioning that he had punctured 23 times so far that winter, and it was only December. He had changed tyres and tubes and even wheels at that stage. Two weeks later I was reminded of the conversation…
There has never been so many people cycling bicycles over the age of eighteen in Ireland as there are now. They come in all shapes and sizes. From those who wear oilskins, even in the height of summer, to cycle to work all year round, to those who having discovered the sport in the past…
As the season fast approaches there are a number of key items that any aspiring racer needs to be aware of, and to focus upon. You have trained hard all winter so you might as well put all of that work to good use. Here are 10 tips that should help you on your way…
Those who do not cycle or take part in any form of challenging exercise often wonder what the appeal is. Why would anyone want to cycle around crappy back roads or busy main roads for hours at a time on a bicycle they ask. The answer is twofold and is both external and internal. Externally…
Nowadays road bikes come in all shapes and sizes. Giant were the first manufacturer to introduce sloping top tubes. Initially people thought they looked weird compared to the horizontal top tubed steel frames that everyone was used to. However nowadays the vast majority of road bikes have sloping top tubes, they are the norm and…