Just before Christmas we ran a survey to get an idea of where the cycling market is in Ireland at present and to see what it is you as a cyclist want when spending your hard earned money on a sport that is more of a way of life than a hobby. The results are…
The New year is a time for fresh starts and new plans. Goals are set (or just dreams if you don't write them down) and motivation is high. Enthusiasm is seeping out of every pore as everyone prepares for what will be their best year ever, or not depending on the amount of stickability you…
Your first port of call at any coffee stop should be the bathroom to change your base layer.
Cycling and boxing are two of the very toughest sports in the World. When Stephen Roche was looking for motivation to train when preparing for the 1987 season he would sit and watch one VHS movie before going out on his bike. That movie was Rocky IV. I have written before about what Rocky's life…
The appeal of the bike for me and many others is not just to get fit, or to go and do specific training. It is to get headspace out in the fresh air. It also offers the opportunity to see parts of life that surround you that become lost in the noise of everyday living. Why would you go out in the rain? why would you leave home in a freezing fog?
Last Saturday morning Anthony was working so I headed off solo for the morning spin. Not feeling very motivated I decided to take the back road to Kilsheelan for the simple reason that I like to look at the colours of the leaves at this time of year, and there are plenty to see in…
For those not fortunate enough to have made it to last weekends Rouleur Classic in London here is the Sean Kelly Collection that was on display at the event. Barry www.thecyclingblog.com www.seankellycycling.com
Yesterday morning I sailed out of Rosslare at 9am with Sean Kelly en route to the Rouleur Classic in London. The Classic is the Worlds No. 1 cycling exhibition and it is easy to see why when you see so many of the Worlds top brands and personalities represented in such an intimate setting. Our…
My friend Ger is a recreational cyclist who cycles regularly when not climbing mountains, but has not yet made the step up to clipless pedals and shoes. Here he gives an interesting and entertaining glimpse into one of his average solo spins : You roll out the driveway onto your first bit of road and…
The vast majority of clips that appear all too regularly are posted by genuine cyclists who just want to enjoy a safe and enjoyable spin on their bike without a one tonne motorised missile piloted by an iPhone yielding, Facebook checker inner, sipper of a latte who sometimes gets confused between a windscreen and a tv screen as they are both secondary to their smartphone screen
Out cycling on the road it is important to be aware of your surroundings and what obstacles might lay ahead. 95% of cyclists wear sports glasses whilst out on the road, and they help to improve your vision whilst also keeping flies, dust and midgets out of your eyes. They also help your eyes to…
There is a huge amount of information out there on how to improve your power on the bike and how to go faster, climb higher and ride 200k in 8 hours. But what about the person whose purpose of riding their bike is so that they can eat whatever they like. Or the person who…
There are many fantastic places within a short flight where you can go to cycle your bike, and for many cyclists Mallorca is near the top of that list, especially during spring and autumn times. With an abundance of quiet winding lanes and some iconic climbs, where the surface is as smooth as a billiard…
Yesterday was an ordinary afternoon in east Cork. People were going about their normal daily lives. Some were at, or going to and from work. Some were going shopping. Some were getting married and some were out walking their dogs. In one part of Cork city a well known visitor stopped by. With the current surge…
Will Curtin has been on the Irish cycling scene for a long time now. As a former junior international who competed at the World Championships, he now coaches many of the top domestic under 23 riders who race with his Cork Giant race team, which he also sponsors via his Giant brand store…
I opened my email today to find this very thought provoking piece sent on by a cycling club in response to yesterdays blog post about safer cycling on our roads. This is well worth a read, and especially well worth showing to any motorists you know. Every cyclist and motorist has some kind of a family and people…
Yesterday as I made my way home from a spin I began to consciously watch what the motorists around me were doing whilst driving their vehicles. One after another the majority were nodding their heads up and down like those nodding dogs that used to adorn the rear shelf of many an Opel Kadett. They…
Grab a few exotic cycling goodies at extreme bargain prices LIGHTWEIGHT CARBON CLINCHER WHEELS Over €5000 new This pair with less than 100km done are now available to a discerning buyer for €2500 Come with original Lightweight brake pads, Shawlbe Ultremo ZX tyres and an 11 speed Ultegra cassette. The Ultimate wheel set can…
Recently I was handed a padded brown envelope. It's contents were unknown before taking a look inside. It turned out to be a treasure trove of cycling memories from Carrick on Suir and beyond. These newspaper clippings might bring back some fond memories for many and also give an insight into the hinterlands that produced…
In January I happened to be staying in the same hotel as the Giant Alpecin team at their now infamous Calpe training camp. The riders and bikes took a severe battering in a very serious altercation with a car and I managed to get an up close look into the internals of Giants range topping…