The knock or the bonk or whatever you wish to call it is something almost every cyclist experiences at some stage or other . And whilst Knock may be a place of pilgrimage for many Irish people 'the knock' is another form of pennance altogether . The most common location around us to view someone…
One of the most important ways to keep your bike running smoothly is to wash it often . It will save both money and frustration as it will improve chain wear and show up most minor problems before they develop into major ones . Here's how to do it properly ! What you will need :…
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With the summer now officially upon us along with the longer evenings and brighter mornings more and more people are being tempted to leave the car at home and cycle to work . The advantages are obvious , heatlthier , cheaper , faster if you live in a town or city , more enjoyable as…
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Each year during the third week in May several towns in Ireland reverberate to the sound of Paddy Fitzsimons voice encouraging the people of the town to ' Give a big Templemore ( or eight other town names each year ) welcome to the Men of The Ras '. ' The Ras ' holds a mythical…
What to do if you get a puncture miles from home ! 1 : Always carry at least one spare tube along with a few patches and some solution (glue) . Most people will also need a set of two or three tyre levers and of course a pump . 2 : If it is a…
Very often we have people come in to the shop who ask us for directions . Sometimes it will be a delivery driver looking for a particular street in the town or perhaps someone looking for the community partnership offices further down our block . We also get the odd tourist who may be looking…
Each year throughout the cycling world and beyond millions of fans tune in their televisions each afternoon to view live events at the Tour de France . On the continent sidewalk cafes fill with enthusiastic supporters every day . Some people even plan their annual holidays in order to watch it live on T.V .…
I have often been to Kerry . Sometimes on holidays or day-trips , other times whilst racing . Every time I go there I have a new experience of where Kerryman jokes come from like ; A Kerryman rang Aer Lingus and asked how long it took to fly from Dublin to London. "Just a…
A few years ago whilst doing my bit for international relations travelling across America, I spent a few months living in San Diego, California . I worked in that most noble of professions of telemarketing . At the time San Diego seemed to be the telemarketing capital of the world . The first company that I worked…
Working in a bike shop is not like working in most other retail shops . In a newsagents and similar shops people come in , get what they need ,and leave . There may be a brief comment on the weather or just a simple 'thanks' . Transactions are undertaken in a brief business like…
The inclement weather yesterday contributed to a tough hard mans' competition in the Cycleways cup in Navan . During the first half of the race a breakaway group of ten strong men established a commanding lead . Working well together they fended off the pursuit of a well organised group behind which contained the likes…
After returning to a full season of competition last year following a twelve year lay off Geoff Macnamara produced one of the finest performances of his rejuvinated career with an impressive victory in Broadford yesterday . Using his years of experience he out foxed his two junior breakaway companions by telling them that the race…
Yesterday in Broadford Sam Bennett once again gave an impression of things to come with another impressive performance to finish second overall and first junior in the race . This was his first competitive outing on his new Ridley Damocles and he really looked like a pro on his new machine . Barry www.worldwidecycles.com
Anyone who has ever ridden a stage race , whether that be a nine day Ras or two day in Adare has undergone the 'Breakfast dilemma' . That is the option to be like a 'real cyclist ' and have plain pasta or an omelet , or to stick to your normal corn flakes or…
Yesterday in Tralee the domestic racing season got underway with 'The Lacey Cup' . Run on a handicap basis this race always proves to be an interesting but very tough contest . Speculation was rampant before the start as to who would be going off in what group , as a number of elite senior…
Back in the late eighties and early nineties the Irish cycling season began on the first Sunday in March with the Jack Woodcock Memorial race in the Phoenix park in Dublin . Riders the length and breadth of the country used to train obsessively throughout the winter months to ensure that they would arrive on…
So far this year my training regime has been almost non existent and last Sunday when I decided to go all the way with the group for the spin I suddenly remembered what it was like to really suffer . The funny thing is that , rather than put me off it only served as…
A friend of mine who works in the A & E department of our local Hospital once told me that whenever there is a full moon they are sure to have a busy night . There was a full moon over the weekend and they almost had an even busier time with the driving antics…
