Like most cyclists , I have taken part in a good number of charity cycles . Most have been one day spins around somewhere in Ireland but back in 1993 I did the 'Florida 500 ' with the National Council for the Blind . I got involved through a friend who is blind called Stefan…
A group of ten Irish cyclists have entered a new type of off season competition called 'I'm a cyclist - get me out of here ! They will be marooned in a deserted house in Merchtem in the Belgian outback . Each day they will be given some very difficult tasks to complete and the last…
I have had a number of people asking ' what happened next ? ' after a recent post about a cycling version of Sylvester Stallone's most famous character so here is what I think might have been the next instalment ; Both cyclists are lying on massage tables in the Na Piarsaigh GAA club hall…
Last Sunday in a prelude to Ray's stag night we decided to check out the new mountain biking centre in Ballyhoura . We have been hearing about it for the past twelve months now , so we were all curious to see just what it is like . It was first due to open back…
Yesterday afternoon whilst recovering from another fantastic spin off road we were having lunch when a blast from the past appeared before us . Both Ray and myself had to do a double take when Shane O'Meara formerly of The Shannon Transport club in Limerick appeared before us . We had all raced together up…
The racing season is over and the 'good bikes ' have been washed and hung up for the winter . The quest for an adrenaline rush and some fitness still remains so where else would we look than the adrenaline junkies paradise of off road riding , or mountain biking as we like to call…
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Yet another tour and yet another doping scandal is in the pipeline . The words 'cycling' and 'drugs' have of recent years become almost one to the general public . However there is a much bigger picture which most are slow to acknowledge or even give the time to think about . An example of…
Brian Alton the youngest rider in the race takes victory on the mountain top finish of Powers the Pot [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7Prv7Q7B1g]
My boss from my first job after leaving school was in the shop recently and whilst we were chatting I was reminded of something he told me shortly after I began working with him . One day I was in his office and he asked me if I knew why I got the job over…
Day two thousand one hundred and fifty nine . 9.17 am : Housemates Ray and Barry arrive for work and to open the big brother house (shop) for Business at 9.30 am . 9.31 am : First customer of the day enters the showroom and makes his way towards the counter . Customer…
A number of years ago former Murphy and Gunne team mechanic Seamie English and myself went to work in a meat factory in Holland . The factory was located in Enschede near the German border . Seamie was an experienced boner but I was an unexperienced Aer lingus trimmer . ie : Seamie would cut all…
A very wet night saw Sam Bennett take yet another victory ![youtube=ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiucmotDB_E]
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…
A few simple ways to check that you have the correct position on the bike ; 1 Knees . If the front of your knee is sore it may be that your saddle is too low , if the back of your knee is sore it may be too high and you may be overstretched…
