With the Sean Kelly Tour coming up at the end of August people are now in training for the big event. Many cyclists have their own way of training. Some will stick regimentally to a training programme whilst others just get out on the bike whenever they can. Twice recently I have heard Sean comment on how …
Donegal is a treasure trove of cycling routes for all levels of cyclists. The hills around Letterkenny have produced Irelands best pure climber and a top professional, Philip Deignan. With incredible scenery and smooth quiet roads, every cyclist will enjoy a visit to the area. For those undertaking a Malin to Mizen challenge, Letterkenny makes …
Glenveagh National Park is the second largest of the six National Parks in Ireland. It took me less than thirty minutes to drive from The Silver Tassie Hotel after a good hearty breakfast to reach the car park and begin my experience of all that the park has to offer. First stop was the impressive …
When I mentioned going for a casual cycle in the afternoon, the receptionist in the Silver Tassie Hotel suggested that Ramelton was a very picturesque heritage town nearby, and that Conways pub was always worth a visit. So, off I set. Just across from the hotel is a road that is a designated …
The Silver Tassie Hotel in Letterkenny County Donegal is the first Hotel in Ireland to create Wild Atlantic Way themed rooms. The owner, Rose Blaney is a keen photographer and artist whose works can be seen throughout the hotel. My room was called ‘Atlantic waves’ and inside along with original photographs and paintings was an …
Jones Engineering are one of the sponsor names that you will see on the An Post Chainreaction Sean Kelly team jersey. For the past two years they have run a cycling day for employees and clients based in the scenic village of Ballymacarbry at the foot of the Nire Valley. Along with giving employees and clients …
Speaking to former Cycling Ireland president Rory Wyley one day he suggested that I should join him on one of his training spins to see roads down around Dungarvan and beyond that I may never have been on before. I was delighted to tag along. Rory is always a mine of information about the history …
Often a cyclists worst enemy on the roads can be the bus. With their big diesel engines way off down at the rear, the body of the bus is often swooshing up alongside you before you even hear them coming. Often the bus driver is under pressure to be at a destination on time and …
I recently spent a few days at the Dingle Skellig hotel and spa. As a cyclist your needs are slightly different from the majority of tourists and very often it is the small things that can make a big difference to your stay. Having a dedicated safe and secure bicycle storage room where …
The sun was shining down upon the Dingle Skellig Hotel as I set off for another day of exploring what the Dingle peninsula has to offer cyclists. The plan was to visit Inch strand and come back via the Connor pass whilst taking in all of the majestic surroundings of the spectacular Kerry coastline. Just …
Travelling to the Dingle Skellig Hotel with a car load of kids, bikes and bags you will happily discover that all of your possible needs will be catered for. With a predominantly car free quayside loop, where everyone can watch local fisherman unload the days catch, before cycling along to a harbour look-out point to keep watch …
Upon arriving at the Dingle Skellig Hotel and taking a look at the secure Bike Storage Room, my first instinct was to put on my cycling gear and head out for a spin on my bike. So that’s exactly what I did. Dingle is a very picturesque town built around a harbour on …
Some of the top riders in the World do earn good money, but the majority just make a living. These Kings of Sport do not do it just for the money. They do it for the love of the sport and of competition. They do it because they are bloody hard men !
The experience seems to replicate that of being a professional for three days. Each team of eight has a professional team leader like former Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre, and a fully logo-ed up team support car. Each rider has a race radio and has to sign on up on a podium on a glass sign on billboard each day, just like the Tour de France itself. It is even featured on Eurosport with an hour long programme about the event each year.
As a teenager who read every inch of ‘Winning’ magazine each month some pages held my attention longer than others. One such page was this full page advert for a Rossin Bike. At the time these colours were exotic. The delta brake calipers bordered on erotic and the Columbus SLX steel tubing was the materiel …
Ever before Dan Martin came on to the Irish cycling scene another Dan was making a huge impact. For many years Dan Grant spent his days organising league races and ferrying the youth of Carrick to parts of Ireland far and wide. All the hard work paid of in the creation of a Champion who …
Yesterdays stage win has much to offer any young cyclist who wants to rise to the top, or indeed anyone in any field who wants to know a golden rule about what it takes to succeed.
Stephen Roche was in an Airport recently when he bumped into a cyclist from Dungarvan. As the conversation went on Roche remarked that Sean Kelly was flying on the bike, going better that he has been in years and Roche put it all down to Kellys’ training with the Dole gang in Carrick. Whilst it …
Ireland has tens of thousands of kilometres of quiet back roads that are all absolutely perfect for cycling. The key is to get out there and use them.
8 am yesterday morning Jamie calls to the door, we hop into the van and hit for Dublin. The Giro was on it’s way and so were we. It was a while since we met up so there was plenty of chat and gossip to catch up on during the journey. Newlands cross appeared after …