(Eddy Merckx was fanatical about his equipment) Before the days of twitter , Facebook and the Internet the greatest cyclists in the World were almost supernatural . Fans would spend days recounting any brief glimpse of a Champion in the flesh . Monthly magazines like ‘Winning’ were torn apart as pictures of Hero cyclists were …
In 1976 Freddy Maertens was in great form early in the season winning races like the Amstel Gold and Gent Wevelgem . He was going well and was looking towards a good Tour de France when his form began to fade . Just weeks before the tour was due to begin he was having trouble …
In 1989 Sean Kelly won one of the biggest races on the World cycling calendar , the Liege Bastogne Liege classic . Whilst the whole cycling world were congratulating him he made a call home and heard the news that a friend of his had also won a race that day . Whilst …
With sporting success comes a certain amount of public recognition . In Ireland a cyclist who competes on National teams representing their country will be recognised locally or sometimes further afield by those with an interest in cycling . A GAA star however , is recognised by every man , woman and child in …
Seventy five-year old Tom ‘Chops’ Kiely was in the shop recently and as a lifelong cycling fan made a point to Ray that the World Champion cyclist isn’t really the World Champion . He said that a one day race isn’t any sort of way to decide who should wear the World Champions’ rainbow stripes …
Cycling is a great leveler . It doesn’t matter if you are a doctor or a dolee on the bike , everyone is just a bike rider
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CofKpGRdb0]
Part of the N24 stretches the 20 kilometres from Carrick on Suir to Clonmel . Since I started cycling in 1986 I have travelled this road thousands of times in both directions in the company of many of Ireland’s greatest ever cyclists and also one of the worlds greatest ever. The shared knowledge and sound …
No matter how much you like your job , your family life or your dog or cat , life can sometimes become mundane . There is only so much of anything that can be done regularly before we loose our enthusiasm . And we all need a bit of enthusiasm in our lives . We …
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eOZVZLqaVk&w=640&h=385]
Nowadays almost everyone is obsessed with stats and figures . For many there is no such thing anymore as going out training on the bike . There has to be a programme and corresponding figures . Heart rate used to be the main determination of training intensity and performance but now it has been overtaken …
When you head out on a bike with another cyclist or a group of cyclists there are many different topics of conversation. You hear about their training and racing , their families and jobs and quite a bit else besides . Last weekend I was out on the bike with a friend who I had …
On June 5th the Carrick Wheelers Challenge Sportif is taking in some of the most brutal climbs in the country . The one nearest Clonmel is Tickincor and recently we have been asked by a number of people just how bad a climb it is . Well here is the answer ; Tickincor – Part …
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Msnz7mYd4B8&w=450&h=390] Barry www.worldwidecycles.com
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYkyR4XnkuU&w=500&h=390]
Once I had the privilege to be one of a very fortunate group of cyclists who accompanied the great Sean Kelly on his return to the famous cobbles of Paris Roubaix . Kelly won the Paris Roubaix classic in 1984 and 1986 . He also had many top ten placings and was always seen as a …
Recently a few members of Team Radioshack were having a coffee after a race . The conversation was flowing in different directions when the subject of the Olympics was raised . The American rider , Levi Leipheimer was exuberantly talking up the possibility of 2012 being his year . He had a good feeling about …
This is old , 1976 , and it is dated but Paris Roubaix is 104 years old . Eddy Merckx is the greatest cyclist who ever lived and features heavily , so this is well worth a watch . [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4IDCkcnnHg] Barry www.worldwidecycles.com
Watch this full length you tube video which gives a real sense of what it is like to ride the toughest race on earth ! This is not a promo clip but the full 1 hour 10 minute feature . [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhbeS1M-kjw] Barry www.worldwidecycles.com
Today as I approached the village of Golden from the Tipperary town side I noticed a large green John Deere tractor with a blue dumper trailer attached travelling at speed as I came up to a junction on the edge of the village . It was just something in my peripheral vision but as any …