Tag Archives: sean kelly

The Kelly effect

‘You are the reason that I am a cyclist’ was the most common thing I heard last weekend at the Rouleur Classic Show in London. Nobody was saying it to me, but as I was often the person holding their mobile phone as they stood next to Sean Kelly for a photo, I heard that …

The feel good factor

Food stops followed hammer drops. Tired legs and sore bums were soon forgotten when the children and their families cheered, hugged and thanked us for doing what we love to do.

3 Counties, 3 countries and 3 lessons

It is a privilege to be able to enjoy the sights of our countryside and one that should not be taken for granted.

Sean Kelly and Sam Bennett – 2 of just 38

Imagine for a moment, a young soccer fan putting on their kit and heading out onto a pitch for a training session with Ronaldo and Pele. A golfer playing 18 holes with Tiger Woods and Rory McElroy. Or a musician walking out on stage with Bruce Springsteen and Ed Sheeran. If you are a cycling …

Aladdins cycling cave is hidden in Drogheda

There are two types of bike shops. Those owned and operated by cyclists and those that are just commercial ventures. No prizes for guessing which will give you the best experience. Many of those owner operated shops do a lot more than just sell bikes. Many are a treasure trove of good advice whilst some …

Nissan Classic on the RTE News

RTE today released archive news footage from 1985. Included are the reports from each days stage at the Nissan Classic in its’ inaugural year.            

A day at the Tour with Eurosport

Last Sunday the 2017 Tour de France finished on the Champs Elysee in Paris. It was a short stage and a short commentary day for the TV pundits. Like many cycling fans I spend many an afternoon on the couch watching and listening to the commentators on Eurosport, and had a vision of them doing …

The Sean Kelly Collection

For those not fortunate enough to have made it to last weekends Rouleur Classic in London here is the Sean Kelly Collection that was on display at the event. Barry www.thecyclingblog.com www.seankellycycling.com

Sean Kelly exhibition at the Rouleur Classic

Yesterday morning I sailed out of Rosslare at 9am with Sean Kelly en route to the Rouleur Classic in London. The Classic is the Worlds No. 1 cycling exhibition and it is easy to see why when you see so many of the Worlds top brands and personalities represented in such an intimate setting. Our …

Cycling in Mallorca

There are many fantastic places within a short flight where you can go to cycle your bike, and for many cyclists Mallorca is near the top of that list, especially during spring and autumn times. With an abundance of quiet winding lanes and some iconic climbs, where the surface is as smooth as a billiard …

Kelly crashes Wedding

Yesterday was an ordinary afternoon in east Cork. People were going about their normal daily lives. Some were at, or going to and from work. Some were going shopping. Some were getting married and some were out walking their dogs. In one part of Cork city a well known visitor stopped by. With the current surge …

Reeling in the years

Recently I was handed a padded brown envelope. It’s contents were unknown before taking a look inside. It turned out to be a treasure trove of cycling memories from Carrick on Suir and beyond. These newspaper clippings might bring back some fond memories for many and also give an insight into the hinterlands that produced …

The night before Roubaix

On this the night before the 2016 Paris Roubaix, cycling fans throughout the World are restless with anticipation of the battle that lies ahead so here is a short post to help you get through the next 12 hours before coverage begins at 9.30am in the morning. One day we were looking through photos for the …

The Adventures of King Kelly and the Carrick Gang

Sunday morning, 9am, a group of over forty cyclists depart Carrick on Suir headed for Clonmel, picking up more bodies along the way. Torrential rain begins to fall and already minds were beginning to question the wisdom of getting out of bed this morning. With talk of floods around Clonmel filtering through the group some …

Tribute to Sean Kelly

Irish Cycling Review had a real cult following for its short lifespan. Recently I came across the edition dedicated to Sean Kelly at the time of his retirement from professional racing.   Kevin Kimmage did a great job of encapsulating the mood of the Irish Cycling public in the article below Barry www.thecyclingblog.com www.seankellycycling.com

King Kelly and the Dole Gang

When Sean Kelly first began cycling he trained with the local cycling group in Carrick on Suir. Throughout his career and multiple years as the Worlds Number One cyclist he continued to train with the local group whenever he was at home. Now that he is retired from competition, in between Eurosport commentating duties he …

From the Mothel Well to Paris Roubaix

On a cold and damp January morning, in a windswept farmyard in the shadow of the Comeragh Mountains a wooden door opened just as the first brightness of dawn arrived. Looking accross the yard at a blue Ford 5000 tractor with its white cab, and a perspex rear window slightly ajar, the young man now …

The 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 …

The Nissan Classic – Through the eyes of a teenager

‘ The Nissan ‘ as it will always be known, was one of the biggest ever contributors to the growth of cycling in Ireland. It was a platform to showcase the talents of Roche and more impressively , Kelly. At the time, the Nation in general was aware of these two World beaters but it …

Sean Kelly – What it takes to make it

Stay away from all the Kamikazes. I’ve had them all my life and still can’t get away from them !