Reeling in the years
The 80's and 90's were boom years for Irish cycling. Here are a few images courtesy of Anthony and Dick O'Gormans collection of old images Barry www.thecyclingblog.com
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Read moreThe King and I
One day I was out on the bike when the phone rang. On the other end of the line was one of the most famous cyclists of all time Sean 'The King' Kelly. As we chatted he mentioned that he was heading over to the Cycle Show in Birmingham in a few weeks, and if…
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Read moreLook what happens when Kimmage gets thick !
Many Irish cyclists are notoriasly 'thick'. Not in the sense of not being the sharpest tools in the shed, but moreso in the sense of performing at their very best when angered by a particular situation, event or another person. Whilst Paul Kimmage may be the best known of the family of cyclists, his father…
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Read moreThe Giant Cork Junior Tour Festive 50
When Will Curtin of the Giant Store in Cork announced that he was running a sportive to raise money to help keep The Junior Tour alive, I immediately wanted to take part. Like many of what could be called the 'baby boomers' of Irish Cycling, I have great memories of my first taste of real…
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Read moreCarrauntoohiling
On a cold and frosty December morning I looked across at the mountain calling A goal was set A challenge was met I was going Carrauntoohiling ! There is a new phenomenon currently taking hold within the cycling World. People choose a climb and ride up and down until they amass a cumulative total of…
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Read moreSean Kelly’s Answers to your Questions :
' 'Degri' put me in to knock a bit of mutton off !'
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Read moreThe Climb
There is a climb that I look across at each morning as I sit and eat breakfast. The road is only visible in places as a blanket of evergreen trees surrounds it all year round. At this time of year headlights glimmer every now and then, as an early morning riser makes their way…
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Read moreThe Falls Hotel 58k
Heading for The Falls Hotel in Ennistymon this morning I took a slight detour via Lahinch to watch the surfers in action. The morning was wet and windy as The Wild Atlantic Way lived up to its' name. As I watched the neoprene clad adventurers walk gingerly towards the sea a thought flashed across my…
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Read moreThe Nissan Classic GC Sheet
Today I was doing a little organising when I came across a piece of paper that I had almost forgotten about. It was a GC sheet, not one from a race I myself had taken part in but from The Nissan Classic, and one stage in particular. The Nissan Classic time trial from Carrick on…
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Read moreRiding in the rain
I normally don't mind a dog popping out to say hello and often reply by giving them drink from my water bottle. The drink sometimes sprays into their face and they have to stop on the road before they can thank me but there was no offering this guy a drink, he was more interested in food.
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Read moreThe inspirational Burren CC conquer the Mountains
Cycling clubs, just like cyclists themselves come in all shapes and sizes. Some focus predominantly on racing, others on touring whilst some focus solely on the social aspect of people getting together to go ride their bikes. One of the best clubs in the country to take all of this in and more is The…
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Read moreGregans Castle 25k
As I sat down to dinner in Gregans Castle, one of Irelands blue book hotels, last evening looking out at the purple hue form the limestone mountain across the valley I noticed the the sky beginning to change colour. As each course of my meal was presented the sky went form pink to orange to…
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Read moreGregans Castle 110k
Breakfast in Gregans Castle is an experience all on its own. The finest selection of the freshest offerings greeted me upon arrival in the dining room. With tables allocated by each individual rooms identity, I returned to my table by the large conservatory window looking out across the magnificent Burren landscape all the way down…
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Read moreGregans Castle 50k cycling route
Gregans Castle, one of Irelands Blue Book Hotels, is situated on the lower slopes of the famous 'Corkscrew hill'. With its well earned place amongst Irelands most iconic climbs, it has been a feature of many races such as The Ras, The Junior Tour, Ras na mBan, The Tour of Ireland and The Nissan Classic.…
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Read moreViewing cycling as it moves online
This is where online coverage and social media are hugely important. To capture the hearts and minds of young people and to encourage them to take up the beautiful sport of cycling they must have a steady stream of content available in the form that they are going to be accessing. Online video and live streaming may well hold the key to the continued development of cycling in Ireland and beyond.
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Read moreThe Kenmare Bay 24k
Here is a downloadable map of the Kenmare Bay 24k Here is the Strava file And here is a smartphone downloadable file on mapmyride A glimmer of bright sunshine made its way into my room in The Kenmare Bay Hotel this morning giving hope of a bright day ahead. Being my final day the plan was…
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Read moreThe Clifden Station House Sky Road 17k
Leaving the front of the Clifden Station house and passing through the small scenic town of Clifden you get a taste of why this quaint picturesque place is so popular with visitors from both home and abroad. Taking the Sky road out of town gives you another reason again. The road rises as soon as…
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Read moreThe Clifden Station House 110k
Leaving The Clifden Station House this morning the sun was shining brightly and there was plenty of blue in the sky. The temperature was rising and I was in shorts and short sleeves. It turns out that September really is a perfect month for cycling in Ireland. Signposts for The Wild Atlantic Way (S) directed…
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Read moreThe Celtic Ross 26k
I rushed my breakfast in The Celtic Ross Hotel this morning. It was delicious, but the sight of two swans gliding gracefully along the clear water as I looked out from my breakfast table made me impatient to get out on the bike and make the most of my last day in West Cork. I…
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Read moreThe Celtic Ross 111k
Back at the hotel I bumped into a group of English motorists in some beautiful classic convertibles. They too had travelled along The Wild Atlantic Way today. Their total distance for the day was just over sixty one miles. I had travelled further on my bike :-)
