How to go faster with less effort Most cyclists want to go a little faster, but without using any more energy or effort. Here are 7 ways to help you on your way: 1 : Increase your cadence : Many cyclists depend on their strength and power to get them around in a slightly inefficient…
How to lose weight I often hear people say that they cycle because they like to eat and cycling is a good way to burn off excess calories so they can pretty much eat what they like as long as they train enough. This poses one slight problem. Consider what happens if you put…
The Key to Success : Why are there pockets of cycling talent throughout the country? What is it that those who win races, or who achieve incredible feats on a bicycle all have in common? There must be a simple answer to these questions, and there is. Back in the late eighties, and throughout the…
At a guess I would estimate that I have probably changed over 10,000 tubes at this stage so have managed to get quicker at doing it over time. Here is an example : https://youtu.be/ykFbbLm3pow Barry www.thecyclingblog.com
How to deal with pain Pain in your feet : Your shoe straps are too tight. Your cleats are too far forward. Slide them back 2mm or less at a time. You may need orthotics. Pain in your achilles tendon : Your saddle is too low and your heel is dropping too much putting extra strain…
You have to own it, not bemoan it ! How many times have we all done it, made an excuse for a poor performance and blamed anything and everything other than ourselves. The list could be any of the following : If only I hadn't punctured If only my teammates hadn't chased me If only…
Just like most cyclists I have a range of rucksacks and gear bags. Some are souvenirs from events, others were purchased with a special purpose in mind that became soon forgotten, but I still usually find myself with one over my shoulder. Recently I was sent a Knomo Cromwell bag to try out and…
When a child gets sick everything in life gets put into perspective. When a child is hospitalised all other concerns disappear. Portlaw cyclist Dermot Cullen and his wife Louise found themselves in that situation when their daughter Layla needed to be hospitalised in Crumlin children's hospital a while back. Thankfully Layla made a good recovery…
This morning was a great morning to be out with the Carrick Dole gang. The Dole gang gained their title during the recession when jobs were scarce in Carrick, but whilst the name remains, most members are now gainfully employed once again. Some now work shifts whilst others work Saturdays in order to have their…
Last week the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors called for Hi Viz clothing to be made compulsory for all Irish cyclists. This seems to have been a token gesture without very much effort going in to the reasoning behind it. Those who do not cycle, complain when they see a cyclist who does not…
I remember a few years ago on a winter training spin one of the lads in the group mentioning that he had punctured 23 times so far that winter, and it was only December. He had changed tyres and tubes and even wheels at that stage. Two weeks later I was reminded of the conversation…
There has never been so many people cycling bicycles over the age of eighteen in Ireland as there are now. They come in all shapes and sizes. From those who wear oilskins, even in the height of summer, to cycle to work all year round, to those who having discovered the sport in the past…
As the season fast approaches there are a number of key items that any aspiring racer needs to be aware of, and to focus upon. You have trained hard all winter so you might as well put all of that work to good use. Here are 10 tips that should help you on your way…
Those who do not cycle or take part in any form of challenging exercise often wonder what the appeal is. Why would anyone want to cycle around crappy back roads or busy main roads for hours at a time on a bicycle they ask. The answer is twofold and is both external and internal. Externally…
Nowadays road bikes come in all shapes and sizes. Giant were the first manufacturer to introduce sloping top tubes. Initially people thought they looked weird compared to the horizontal top tubed steel frames that everyone was used to. However nowadays the vast majority of road bikes have sloping top tubes, they are the norm and…
It feels good for the lion or the gorilla but what about poor Tommy or Billy at the back. They feel like an antelope after being savaged by a pride of Lions. It takes a different form of mental strength to keep coming back for more but they always do because they know that their day will come too.
The alarm clock bleating at 5am on a cold and frosty morning in early January is not often greeted pleasantly, but when it means a trip to Dublin airport to board one of Micky Ryans' Aerobuses to the Spanish sunshine, it's not so bad having an early start. Bike racks abound in the red car…
Just before Christmas we ran a survey to get an idea of where the cycling market is in Ireland at present and to see what it is you as a cyclist want when spending your hard earned money on a sport that is more of a way of life than a hobby. The results are…
The New year is a time for fresh starts and new plans. Goals are set (or just dreams if you don't write them down) and motivation is high. Enthusiasm is seeping out of every pore as everyone prepares for what will be their best year ever, or not depending on the amount of stickability you…
Your first port of call at any coffee stop should be the bathroom to change your base layer.
